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Shoes for orthotics
A prescribed orthotic is only as good as the shoe you put it in. Most trainers have a glued-in footbed and no spare depth, so the device lifts your heel out of the shoe. These are built to take it.
The depth problem, explained
A custom orthotic is typically 4–8 mm thick under the arch and heel. Drop that into a shoe with a thin glued footbed and you have raised the whole foot inside a space that was already full. The heel now sits higher than the collar was designed for, so it slips; the toes now sit closer to the roof of the toe box, so they press.
The fix is not a bigger shoe. It is a shoe with a removable insole of similar thickness to the device going in, and enough vertical room in the toe box that the swap is neutral. The insole in every one of these styles is a removable multi-layer unit — blue gel over 5 mm and 3 mm EVA — and it lifts out whole, which for most devices is a straight exchange.
What else the shoe has to do
A firm heel counter. An orthotic controls the foot from underneath; the shoe has to hold the heel steady above it. A collapsible heel undoes the device's work.
A flat, wide footbed. Contoured shoe footbeds fight a contoured orthotic. The base under the device should be flat and full width.
Adjustment over the instep. Adding a device changes instep volume, and a hook-and-loop strap lets you take that back up rather than living with a shoe that has quietly become too shallow.
Torsional stiffness. If you can wring the shoe out like a cloth, the orthotic cannot do much.
Which style to start with
| Style | Opens to | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|
| DW-006 Twin-Strap Wide Fit Trainer | 34 mm | Standard trainers feel tight across the ball of the foot but you can still get them on, and you want the most structured, most shoe-like option |
| DW-013 Mesh Wide Fit Trainer | 46 mm | Feet run hot, damp or sore across the forefoot, and you want the most breathable shoe and the easiest step across from an ordinary trainer |
| DW-015 Extra Wide Wrap Trainer | 58 mm | Bunions, hammer toes or a forefoot that has spread, or an orthotic that needs vertical room as well as girth |
| DW-019 Full-Wrap Extra Wide Trainer | 72 mm | Oedema, lymphoedema, bandaging, a dressing, or feet whose volume changes markedly between morning and evening |
There is no width fitting to choose. Every style comes in one extra-wide adjustable fitting per size, UK 3–12 (EU 36–46), whole sizes only, £49.99 on every style and every size. You choose the size, then set the width on your foot with the strap. "Opens to" is the gap the shoe makes across the instep with the strap fully released — the number that decides whether a foot, a dressing or a bandage can actually get in.
With a device going in, choose the style one step wider than you would otherwise. Most orthotic wearers land on DW-015 Extra Wide Wrap Trainer: the deep rounded toe box gives back the height the device takes away, and the wrap strap resets the instep volume. If your device has a deep heel cup, an added wedge or a rearfoot post, or if you have swelling as well, DW-019 Full-Wrap Extra Wide Trainer gives you the most room to work with. DW-006 Twin-Strap Wide Fit Trainer suits slim, flexible devices where you want the most structured shoe.
There is a step-by-step fitting check in the guide to fitting an orthotic into a trainer.
Checking the fit once the device is in
Put the orthotic in, put the shoe on, and stand up. Your heel should not lift when you walk. There should be a thumb's width beyond the longest toe — which is not always the big toe. The device should sit flat with no rocking and no gap at the front edge, and the arch of the device should sit under the arch of your foot rather than behind it. Walk for five minutes indoors before you commit.
If the device is too long for the shoe, do not trim it yourself. Take it back to the person who made it.
Common questions
Will my NHS orthotic fit in these?
Do I need to size up when using an orthotic?
Can I use over-the-counter insoles too?
Is the footbed flat?
Are the shoes stiff enough for a rigid device?
Where to go next
Four styles, one price, sixty days to get it right
Every style is £49.99 in one extra-wide adjustable fitting, UK 3–12 (EU 36–46). Delivery is £4.95, free on two pairs, and if the style you chose does not open wide enough we post the replacement before the first pair comes back.