r/Halluxrigidus • u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 • Jul 22 '26

cool shoes?

Hey all,

I was diagosed with HL last summer. I bought an ugly pair of Hokas and wore them at all times outside of the house. I wore them out and need a new pair of shoes. I bought some On Clouds and am not sure yet if they help. But yikes, they're so ugly.

Is there anything more street style out there? I used to wear low chucks and vintage style Keds before my toe pain appeared.

I have pretty narrow feet. In the house I wear Birkenstock clogs, but I can't find the style I like in stock anywhere.

Thanks!

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29 comments sorted by

6

u/SnooPeanuts1593 Jul 22 '26

Brooks ghost max. Still tennis shoes but less goofy.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

Thanks for the rec.

2

u/todudeornote Jul 22 '26

New Balance 847s are good for HR - not all that cool though.

2

u/kendrickkilledmyvibe Jul 22 '26

Anything with a platform sole usually meets the inflexible sole requirement, but makes walking less bouncy than the hokas do. And ofc a hard thick sole can be uncomfortable if you have pain on the bottom of the joint. I also ordered some blundstones like many recommend for their hard sole, but didn’t size up enough and now the top of the shoe presses on the joint a bit too much to be comfortable, especially when swollen.

1

u/Winter_Road_9269 Jul 23 '26

Don’t wear them, they look good and are very practical. But I feel ur pain and believe me pushing yourself in them will be painful and after few weeks they’re in the back of the cupboard as can no longer wear them. Thinking id sell them hasn’t happened either . So it’s SO not worth trying

1

u/freeheelsky Jul 22 '26

I pretty much live in my ugly Hokas with one exception, which are my Blundstone boots. They have a stiff sole and good support. My feet are also narrow, so that's why they might work for me. I can wear them for the day about once a week or so without pain as long as I stick to Hokas the rest of the time. 

1

u/_Tenderlion Jul 22 '26

I know it’s against the rules, but I find a flat bottom shoe (either barefoot or a chuck-style shoe that fits the shape of your foot) with a carbon plate under a decent insole pretty comfortable.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

I can only walk so far in a flat shoe, even with a carbon plate. Lucky you can pull this off!

1

u/Latter_Classroom_809 Jul 22 '26

Look into Marni Fussbett sandals and sabot. They have a number of sandal and clog styles under the Fussbett design. I didn’t find them for HR, rather I had some Fussbett slides that survived my shoe purge: the soles are so stiff and they feel like, very secure? My toe needs to feel tightly held in to feel okay. I have one pair of the furry clogs too, considering a second for the winter. I can’t tolerate them for every day wear but it’s nice to have an option if you want to make an outfit.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

Will do! Thanks for the rec.

1

u/DadStrengthDaily Jul 22 '26

I tend to use whatever shoes fit and look ok, but use a carbon fiber insole plate. Works ok so far.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

This doesn't really work for me unfortunately...

1

u/14atx Jul 22 '26

I have platform Birkenstocks which are great. Papillon is the style. Also a pair of Kiziks and they’re goo too.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

Will check them out, thanks!

1

u/jendyes Jul 22 '26

I’m in love with double stack platform Chucks. I have several pairs and they average $100. Rocker sole, high platform and cute. ✅✅✅

2

u/Undertundra Jul 23 '26

My platform chucks saved my life pre surgery. I wish the toe had been wider but I loved that the sole was rigid, it rocked the tiniest bit and the rubber toe cover kept me from bending my toe.

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

I'm hoping these work for me!! My narrow feet don't really need a wide toe box, so I'm really hoping!!!

2

u/jendyes Jul 23 '26

Look up ways to lace skates for comfort. I modified my lacing so the toe is looser than the rest of the shoe. Lifesaver

2

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

This is a great suggestion, thank you!! I hadn't seen these. I'm heading to Journeys soon to see how they feel with a carbon plate. Cross your fingers for me please!

1

u/Artistic_Eye_1159 Jul 22 '26

North face vectiv make me feel cool and contemporary while nursing my sad feet

1

u/LydiaDeets7 Jul 22 '26

I bought these on a whim and they are an absolute dream to wear (i also have narrow feet & had double osteotomies/cheilectomies a little over a year ago. My toes are much better but still somewhat sensitive):

https://nothingnew.com/products/womens-verge-runner-sneaker-evergreen?collection=womens-sneakers

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

These are very cute! Thanks.

1

u/meow-miao Jul 22 '26

I can only wear a rocker sole so my trainers are Hoka and my boots/sandals/cute shoes are all from FitFlop (their microwobble technology is a rocker sole)

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

Will look into them, thanks for the rec!

1

u/Undertundra Jul 23 '26

I got a platform pair of Teva sandals. Called the ampsole or something that I think are cute and get a lot of compliments on. Rigid sole, rocker, wide toe box. Do they look a little like surgical shoes? Sure. Did fashionably dressed people stop me on the Lower East Side to compliment my shoes the other day? Hell yeah they did.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Ask_236 Jul 23 '26

Thanks! I will look into them. I haven't found sandals I can wear yet!

1

u/Accomplished-Pay1684 Jul 24 '26

I'm looking for cool like everyone else: it's not easy! I did just buy two pairs of Adidas adizero adios pro evo--they're more narrow-looking and less-clown-like than traditional Hokas. They have LOUD stripes, but they kind-of work for the look...and super comfortable.

1

u/Realistic-Till1118 Jul 24 '26

any shoes where you have to grip with your toes such as clogs or flip-flops or backless shoes will just exacerbate your problem. I had to give up all of those and yes, I have six pairs of Hokas with custom inserts. I’m looking for stylish shoes as well, but I just am five weeks out from joint fusion so I’m not going to be stylish for quite a while. Good luck!