Best Shoes for Corns And Calluses

It goes without saying that our feet really do take a lot of strain and we don’t think much about our feet – until a foot problem develops. At Begg Shoes we strongly believe in ensuring our customers are properly fitted for their shoes whether it’s a pair of ankle boots or summer sandals. This goes a long way to helping or at least slow down the development of foot problems includes corns and calluses.

What is the difference between a corn and a callus?

• Corns are small circles of thick skin that usually develop on the sides and tops of your toes or even on the sole of the foot but they can occur anywhere.
• Calluses are similar to a corn, these are hard, rough areas of skin that are often yellowish in colour.

What Causes Corns or Calluses?

One thing everyone should know is that if shoes don’t fit well, then there is a high chance of added pressure or rubbing and abrasion. Your skin will react and adapt. This applies to men, women and children equally. Consistent pressure will result in the body producing a cushion to act as a shock absorber against the pressure.

If this persists it starts with a blister and the outer layer of the skin thickens. Over time this becomes hard and calloused, while a corn is smaller and more localised, often found over the toe joints.

Corns appear wherever the foot is receiving a repetitive shock. Such as the rubbing on footwear or bones striking the ground unusually. It should be noted that a corn may only be the symptom of a larger problem and not the cause.

Can Lifestyle Cause Corns and Calluses?

Lifestyle can be one of the main factors in causing corns or calluses:-

• Does your job see you on your feet all day wearing specific (or badly fitting) footwear?
• Do you need special safety shoes for work?
• Are you looking for style or comfort?
• Do you take part in regular sports activities where you feel discomfort from your footwear or socks?

We always recommend adapting your footwear choices to match your lifestyle but there are some simple things you can do to help.

Which shoes should you wear? our Top tips

Fundamentally the best way to avoid corns and calluses is to ensure a secure and comfortable fit, with every shoe that you wear. This is not always easy or practical though if you follow these tips, it should help you find the right shoe for the job. You might even be able to adapt and improve some of your favourite shoes you have at home.

• Invest in good quality work shoes. Corns and Calluses are often caused by work shoes, worn all day. These may have specific safety features such as steel toe caps, or perhaps something with a heel for a smarter office environment. Look for a secure fastening, plenty room to wiggle toes but also a nice secure fastening. Buying the cheapest shoe out there makes it a lot more likely that you will have a bad experience.
• Make sure your shoes are the size. Buying shoes that are too small, or just not the right shape for your foot, can cause excess pressure. This will become worse as the day goes on and your feet swell. It’s really important for work shoes or shoes that you are going to wear all day that you get the size right.  Too big and they can rub as your foot slips backwards & forwards while walking.
• Only buy wide fit shoes if you need really them. A really common mistake is to buy shoes that are too wide and allow your foot to slide around inside. This builds up heat and wears really hard on your skin – expect calluses. You can reduce the volume inside a shoe using insoles and we always recommend upgrading to an arch support insole for best results. Generally, cheap foam insoles are a false economy, best not to skimp on good quality insoles when you invest in good quality shoes. Insoles with a naturally absorbent sock lining such as leather as a great choice.
• Check for a hard lump of glue or a seam on the inside causing friction. It is possible to remove or soften the lump or seam with help from a shoe repairer. For lumps of glue or fastening tacks (small nails), it may even be possible to remove these yourself – very carefully avoid damage to your lovely shoes.
• Ensure there is sufficient cushioning on the insole of the shoes, for their intended purpose. For some shoes, you can add an extra insole, or better, a padded arch support insole for added overall comfort and cushioning. For very neat fitting shoes or dressy styles, this may not be possible but it can certainly help.

Nikki – Store Manager in our Inverness Store and Professional Shoe Fitter advised on another common problem:

“From seeing lots of customers coming in over the years, I would say that people wearing ballet pumps all the time most commonly develop corns. Quite often I see that to get a secure fit, some will buy their pumps a little bit too short on length, which helps keep the shoe firmly on the foot. This has the unfortunate side effect of causing them to be cramped up in the end of the shoe and toes can rub against the top of the pumps for long periods. I always advise customers to go for something that fits really well, as a priority, when wearing for long days.”

 

Things you can do to Prevent Corns & Calluses

Looking after your feet and choosing the right shoes goes a long way to helping to prevent corns and calluses. You need to stop any hard skin developing and we have the following suggestions:

The best shoes for corns and calluses

Think about the shoes you wear the most. These are the shoes you should ensure have used the highest quality materials as these are usually the softest of leathers while the insole is more often than like very cushioned. One of our go-to brands for overall comfort and excellent fit is Rieker shoes but there are many others and we’d be happy to advise you on any questions – please get in touch.

1. IMAC Ellen, £69.99

Best Fashion Trainers

If you’re looking for a pair of trainers which are bang on trend with the latest fashion then these are an excellent choice. The soft leather upper will be gentle against your skin while the padded footbed will feel comfortable underfoot. This will make walking in these a delight even with corns or calluses.

 

2. Softinos Ino, £89.99

Best Slip-On Shoes

For an easy everyday shoe, these leather slip-on shoes from Softinos must be tried on to appreciate their high level of comfort. The soft leather upper is made even more comfortable by the soft leather lining. This combined gives you a supple footwear choice which is ideal for those who struggle with corns & calluses. The elastic straps will give you the little bit of stretch you may need to get these on while still offering a supportive & comfortable fit. While the cushioned footbed means you can wear these all day long without discomfort on your calluses or corns.

 

3. Ara Osaka, £100

Best Wide Fit Shoes

Comfort and fashion are beautifully combined together in these ladies trainers which are ideal for those needing a wider fit. This style is an H Fit which is typically a little bit wider than your standard fit.  With a padded insole and soft leather upper, you’ll love these on your feet without irritation to your corns or calluses. Made with Ara’s special HIGHSOFT feature, this means that the wonderfully soft upper adapts perfectly to the shape of the foot. These supportive wide fit shoes also feature a removable insole which allows you to use your own orthotics.

 

 

 

4. Legero Tanaro Zip gore-tex, £110.00

Best Waterproof Shoes

As is evident by the long list of great features that these Legero comfort lacing shoes provide, you can’t be quality + comfort in these. From the leather upper and lining which will be soft against your corns & calluses to the supportive yet removable insole. This will offer you a roomier fit or allow you to use your own orthotics if needed. The laces give you an adjustable fit while the size zip offers a little help with getting shoes on & off. The cherry on top would be that these are manufactured using GORE-TEX technology which means your feet are guaranteed to stay dry while still allowing them to breathe no matter what the weather.

 

Best Shoes for Corns & Calluses on SALE

Once a pair of shoes goes into sale at Begg Shoes it stays on sale, but when it’s gone it’s gone! Here are our top 3 picks of sale shoes which are ideal for corns & calluses due to their soft materials & cushioned insole.

5. Rieker Y8999-35 Toolbraid

The leather upper and padded footbed ensures optimal wearing comfort, keeping you moving all day long.

£79.99 – £69.99

6. IMAC Vicky

IMAC have used their cushioned lining and premium Italian leather uppers, offering superb comfort combined with a flattering silhouette.

£69.99 – £59.99

7. Gabor innocent

With a medium heel height of only 45mm, a padded insole and a leather upper, these Gabor boots will give you many happy and comfortable steps.

£120.00 – £90.00