7 Best Tennis Shoes for Bunions [March 2024] (2024)

So, What Exactly Are Bunions?

Bunions occur when the bones in your feet start to move out of place. Sounds painful, right? Well, sometimes yes, sometimes not.

This foot malady typically occurs around the big toe. Even when using a pair of the best tennis shoes for bunions, an improper fit may push some of the smaller bones upward and subsequently out of alignment. If left in this position long enough, it has the potential to create a hard, bony lump on the side of the foot next to the big toe [2].

Bunions can occur in anyone. Most often, there won’t really be any real pain associated with the condition. It will just exist. It is rare that tennis players will need to go to the doctor to have it surgically corrected.

Of course any abnormality for tennis players is not going to be a good thing. Finding the best tennis shoes for bunions is important for the well-being of overall foot.

After all, tennis players do a whole lot of running, dashing and overall movement. All of this is going to be putting a huge amount of pressure on the toe joint. This can irritation and of course, means that it becomes more likely that you will need to have the problem fixed.

Can Tennis Shoes Cause Bunions?

Women are more likely to get bunions. It is unknown whether this is because women are more likely to wear shoes that result with this condition, or whether a woman is just more likely to get bunions in general. Men can also get them, but it is not as common.

Bunions tend to be a problem that runs in the family too. For example, if your parents have had this happen, then you are more likely to suffer from them.

People get bunions by trying to squeeze themselves into tennis shoes that are often far too small for their feet. Grabbing the right pair from our best tennis shoes list will prevent all of those bones from being pushed into obscure positions.

Of course, while bunions are often caused by tight shoes, this isn’t the only cause. Having flat feet can cause the problem. Having tennis shoes that do not support your feet properly can create the problem. Basically, anything where there is too much pressure exerted by footwear and front toe area can increase the risk of suffering from this.

Having one of the pairs of best tennis shoes for bunions will ensure that none of these footwear pitfalls are present.

How Are Bunions Treated?

We didn’t really want to turn this into a medical guide. However, knowing how bunions are treated is actually important for what we want to talk about. This is because our aim isn’t to just tell you just about preventing them from happening, but also ensuring that they do not cause you too many issues.

There is a misconception that if you have bunions, you have to have them surgically corrected. This isn’t the case [3]. While it would probably be wise to have them corrected if you are playing tennis a lot, you don’t really need to have the problem dealt with unless they are causing you serious amounts of pain. All you need to do is ensure that you purchase the right tennis shoes for bunions that will support you correctly.

If you choose the right pair of shoes, there should be minimal pressure on the front support area. While your bunion won’t get any better (the bones won’t fall back into place), you won’t be making the problem worse. This is always a plus.

Does a Bunion Splint Work?

A bunion splint works like a form-fitting glove surrounding your big toe. It does offer some support and help relieve bunion pain if it’s relatively mild. However they do nothing to address the cause, which of course is the footwear itself.

If bunion pain does start to the point where it is painful to walk or run, it’s time to see a doctor. In rare cases, the problem may need to be surgically corrected. It is a simple procedure, but it will often involve a trip to the hospital.

One thing that we do want to point out is that if you do have bunions, you may have to adjust the way in which you play tennis. You may need to tone down some of the more explosive and complex movements, such as jumps and pivots.

Unfortunately even when using shoes for bunions, these items can still cause pain and discomfort. You just have to take the time to find a shoe that is going to be perfect for you.

What’s Behind Great Tennis Shoes for Bunions?

One of the brilliant things about tennis shoes for bunions is that they will encompass everything to comfort and support any players with this condition. Everything that you could possibly want in a bunion shoe is going to be in a quality tennis shoe. However the reverse is not always true.

We want to run you through some of the things that you really need to be on the lookout for. This will actually give you a rough idea about how we came up with the criteria for the list of best tennis shoes, which is included below.

Correct Sizing

As we said, one of the biggest contributing factors towards the formation of bunions will be choosing shoes that are the wrong size. If they are too tight, then you will probably end up suffering from a bunion, even if it is just a minor case.

Therefore, you need to ensure that you choose shoes that are the perfect size for your feet. We tend to stick to some of the bigger manufacturers here. This is because most of them have their sizing down pat.

Often times with cheaper tennis shoes, there doesn’t seem to be as much control over the manufacturing process. This, quite often, contributes to a bit of randomness when it comes to the shoes that you receive.

The best shoes for bunions will have a roomy toe box. This is where you want to be placing the least amount of pressure. If each toe is cramped within the shoe, then chances are that the shoe is incorrectly sized.

Low Heel

The heel on the shoe shouldn’t be that much higher than the rest of the shoe. Although, this isn’t really a huge problem when it comes to tennis shoes.

If the heel is too high, then it essentially bends your foot forward. In this awkward position, the footwear exerts pressure downward, placing pressure near the front toe. This, in turn, is going to result in a higher chance of a bunion.

Supportive

Support is critical for any tennis shoe, but especially for players that experience a bunion. If you are playing tennis properly, then your feet are going to be bouncing from side to side as you move around on the court.

If there isn’t proper support there, this is likely to knock the bones about in the big toe and foot over time. It isn’t uncommon for athletes to develop issues for this reason.

Cushioned

Many tennis players will have a good amount of jumping in their game. When players land, players want there to be a bit of cushion and support in the rubber sole of the shoe. This will help to absorb some of that pressure.

If the pressure is absorbed, then it is less likely that the bones around the toe will get knocked out of place. Again, this is something that you are going to be able to find in most popular tennis shoes anyway.

Stretchy Fabric or Mesh Construction

We recommend that tennis players choose tennis shoes that have a bit of ‘stretch’ in the fabric. If the fabric doesn’t have a lot of give on it, then the material may end up putting undue pressure on the foot and toe room area.

As players already know, it is pressure like this within the shoes that ultimately causes bunions in the first place.

No Pointy Toe Box

This isn’t really going to be a major issue with tennis shoes, but there may be some other sports shoes out there that players may consider wearing for tennis. If the toe room is too small or pointy (i.e. the shoe doesn’t look like it is the shape of a foot), then this may contribute to causing a bunion.

Insoles for Flat Feet

Alright, this is more of an accessory to a shoe, but to be complete, we need to mention the sole that players put inside of the shoe is called an insole.

If a player has flat feet, then it is recommended to purchase an insole when you buy your tennis shoes. As near as we can tell, no tennis shoes out there are going to be fine for flat feet ‘out of the box’. A player will typically need to buy an inner sole to make them better more suitable for your feet.

Wrapping Up The Best Tennis Shoes for Bunions

So, there you have it. We did as promised. Showcased above is each pair deemed worthy of the best tennis shoes for bunions lineup. For tennis players suffering from this impairment, we do urge you to check out the shoes that we have listed here to see what suits you best.

Our promise is that the right pair of shoes will feel absolutely fantastic on your feet. Remember, if you want to ensure that you are truly protected, then you will need to purchase shoes that are the right size. If you are unsure how to size your feet properly, then consult a sizing guide on the internet.

References

1. https://www.nike.com/id/t/revolution-4-running-shoe-2nJm4H
2. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-about-bunions
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/what-to-do-about-bunions