The Best Bunion Correctors to Help You Get Relief

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When it comes to foot problems, bunions provide a double dose of discomfort: They not only make your foot hurt, but they can also change its shape, making your favorite shoes uncomfortable.

A bunion looks like a knobby bump that’s sprouted from the side of your big or little toe, but it’s not actually a growth of any kind. Rather, a bunion forms when the existing head of the metatarsal joint of the big or pinky toe starts to drift outward and away from the rest of the foot. Some people have a genetic predisposition to developing bunions. But another common cause is wearing shoes that are too tight or narrow, which puts more pressure on outer toe joints.

For most people, bunions lead to pain, often from the friction of the protruding bone rubbing against the inside of a shoe. Walking and standing can be uncomfortable as body weight is no longer evenly distributed across all five toes, explains Sidney Weiser, DPM, a podiatrist and founder of Quality Podiatry Group in Illinois and Florida. This can lead to pain in other toes too.

To truly rid yourself of a bunion, surgery is usually the only option, according to research and podiatrists. But non-surgical options, like some of the best bunion correctors below, may offer enough relief to make your life a little easier. Bunion correctors likely won’t provide a long-term fix, but they can temporarily straighten the toe or cushion the bunion so you can move about your day more comfortably. “Bunion correctors are worth a try for symptom relief,” says Natalie R. Danna, M.D., a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon at the University of Maryland Medical System. “And it’s certainly an easier intervention than surgical correction.”

We put bunion products toe-to-toe to see which ones you should try.

Bunion Corrector

This brace has more than 20,000 positive reviews on Amazon. It comes in a pack of two, and fits men’s and women’s shoe sizes 5 to 11. It’s made with breathable, flexible elastane, which is also washable. The manufacturer recommends wearing the bunion corrector 20 minutes a day and also overnight. The corrector has a layer of shock-absorbing foam and cushioning around the toe area to relieve pressure.

Toe Separators

Ever had a pedicure? This toe separator is just like the foam spacers that keep your toes apart while your polish dries. Made of squishy medical-grade gel, the separator slides over your toes (not your whole foot), and gently pulls them apart to encourage better alignment.

The Mind Bodhi separators have more than 36,000 reviews on Amazon — most of them four or five stars. Reviewers say they help ease bunion pain by keeping the toes slightly splayed, though that sensation can take some getting used to. Start by wearing them for short periods of time and gradually work up to more if you find it helpful.

Bunion Relief Sock

These are actual socks — not a splint or brace like many other bunion correctors on this list. The socks work by enveloping the big toe and slightly pulling it into alignment. The toe closure is padded for extra protection against rubbing and pressure from shoes. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, in a moisture-wicking, merino-wool blend. And podiatrists approve, earning them the American Podiatric Medicine Seal of Acceptance.

Bunion Corrector

Craig Radnay, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at the Florida Orthopedic Institute, doesn’t recommend many bunion products, but he does like this one. “Tenicore is adjustable, sturdy and easy to use,” he says.

The splint slides over the foot and has a knob on the side to adjust it to the angle of the bunion and make the big toe straighter. Velcro straps make it even more adjustable to different foot sizes. It has a silicone pad on the inside to prevent chafing. Some reviewers complained the straightening was slightly painful. Most reported wearing it in bed while they slept, as the knob is too big to wear with enclosed shoes.

Bunion Cushion Protector

Many bunion correctors are splints or braces that fit over the entire foot, but this product has a much smaller profile. The pads slide over the toe like a shield to cushion the bunion on the outside and separate overlapping big and second toes. It's made of silicone gel that comes in different colors — beige, black, white, clear — so they blend better with skin. They can be worn with regular shoes and may also ease pain from calluses and corns.

Dr. Radnay likes this product, as well — mainly because the pads offer a gentle straightening of the toe. “Promifun is not as rigid as other bunion products, so it doesn't attempt large corrections, and it’s low-profile fits easily in shoes,” he says.

Orthopedic Bunion Corrector

The Bunion Bootie is worn just like a sock, sliding over the entire foot rather than being strapped around the heel and toe like other correctors. The material is super-thin (only.4 mm), making it flexible and able to be worn with shoes (or barefoot). It’s meant to promote a natural alignment of the toes, rather than forcing the toe into a straightened position.

The manufacturer recommends sizing down if you’re wearing shoes a half- or full-size larger to accommodate the bunion. Some reviewers liked the thin profile, while others said it wasn’t cushiony enough.

Gel Toe Separators

This is a version of a toe separator, but it’s just a single gel ring that goes around the second toe. The loop separates the big toe from the second toe to straighten it. It’s small enough to be worn with or without shoes. It comes in a variety of colors to match skin tones. But the loop comes in one size, which may or may not fit on everyone’s toes.

Compression Bunion Corrector

While copper hasn’t been scientifically proven to provide pain relief, it may help eliminate odor — a definite bonus with something that’s worn on the feet. The compression component of this sleeve, however, just might help ease bunion discomfort. Stretchy fabric allows for flexibility and easy movement. Because they fit snugly to the foot, they can be worn with shoes and socks.

Bunaline

The construction of this corrector is simple: one strap goes around the heel and another goes around the big toe, with Velcro to adjust and hold them in place. A brace with an adjustable knob runs along the side of the toe. “Bunaline is silicone, so it’s comfortable,” Dr. Radnay says. “It fits all sizes, so it works for men and women.”

What are bunions?

Bunions are bony deformities along the inside part of the foot, usually at the big toe, that are sometimes painful, Dr. Radnay says.

“The bony prominence will make shoes more difficult to fit into,” he says. “Bunions can also cause other toes to develop hammertoes, which can add even more discomfort and trouble during regular activities.”

Over time, bunions will become increasingly painful. And they won’t go away on their own. Treatment is necessary to get rid of them. Bunion products, however, may be able to make moving on your feet more comfortable.

What are bunion correctors?

Bunion correctors are products that are worn on the foot or toes and apply gentle pressure to hold the toe straight.

“These are noninvasive devices that can help with discomfort and slow the progression of the bunion deformity,” Dr. Radnay says. “Though a bunion corrector may help improve quality of life for a period of time, they cannot cure the bunion completely.”

How to choose a bunion corrector

Choosing a bunion corrector largely comes down to personal preference, from the amount of pressure or straightening it provides to how it’s able to be worn, including with or without shoes.

Dr. Radnay recommends looking for the following features: “A bunion corrector should be easy to use, provide pain relief when wearing it, fit all sizes and be durable, light and easy to clean.”

Can you straighten a bunion without surgery?

Not permanently. “The only thing that you can do to truly correct a bunion is a surgical procedure,” Dr. Weiser says.

A corrector can work while you’re wearing it, but once it’s removed, the bunion will likely go back to the way it was. That said, picking the right shoes can help with longer-term pain relief by reducing pressure put on the bunion. Dr. Danna recommends looking for shoes with a wider toe box that are made from stretchy, more forgiving fabric. Sole Bliss, Vivaia, Calla and KURU are brands that make casual and dressier shoes for people with bunions.

No one loves the prospect of surgery, but it’s the only way to banish a bunion for good. If you do decide to go the surgical route, don’t be scared. “Fortunately, we have excellent, new minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat painful bunions that yield great outcomes in terms of deformity correction, pain relief, and resumption of activity,” Dr. Radnay says.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

This article was written by Stephanie Anderson Witmer, who has covered health for Good Housekeeping, Prevention and other top brands for more than 25 years. For this story, she conducted interviews with three podiatric medicine doctors for their expertise and recommendations, spent hours researching bunions, and scoured product websites and customer reviews to find correctors that may help relieve bunion pain.

Jihan Myers edited this article. She has spent the last 12 years as a health editor, covering all things health, fitness, nutrition and wellness and adheres to the highest journalistic standards.

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