Not as a sponsored reviewer, not as a brand ambassador. As someone who dealt with swollen feet, bunions, plantar fasciitis and arch pain through most of my 50s looking for real answers.
The problem is the market is full of brands selling "comfort" shoes for $120 to $175 that manage symptoms at best and actively weaken your feet at worst.
After testing 5 brands recommended for women our age, here's what I actually found. Starting from the worst.
#5
Hoka
Bondi 8
Too much cushioning: it seems comfortable the first few weeks but then my arch feels sore
My balance got noticeably worse after a few weeks: the foot can't feel the ground, which is dangerous at our age
Very bulky and hard to put on, especially with morning stiffness
$165 and the outsole grip goes flat after a few months
Wide Toe Space
4.6
Grip & Stability
3.9
Quality & Durability
5.0
Verdict: Probably good for young people, not for my age. The loss of ground feel is a real risk for women over 50.
4.5/ 10
$165
#4
Birkenstock
Birkenstock Arizona Sandal
Open toe leaves you completely exposed on cobblestones. I stubbed my toes twice in one afternoon
The cork footbed feels great the first day, but toes start sliding forward on downhills and blisters form exactly where the strap hits
Zero protection from heat: feet swell faster than in any closed shoe I tested
Wide Toe Space
4.7
Grip & Stability
3.5
Quality & Durability
6.3
Verdict: A summer classic that works for a brunch, not for 6 hours of sightseeing on uneven stone streets.
5.0/ 10
$110
#3
Skechers
D'Lux Walker
Like Hoka, too much cushioning. Comfortable at first, but then the arch becomes sore.
Toes start complaining by midday: narrower than it looks at the front
Fine for a short walk to the shops, not for anything longer
Wide Toe Space
5.4
Grip & Stability
6.2
Quality & Durability
7.0
Verdict: Comfortable for the first hour. Too soft and too narrow for anything beyond casual use.
6.2/ 10
~$85
#2
Orthofeet
Yari Hands-Free
(Almost) Hands-Free offers everyday convenience for those who have trouble bending over and tying their shoes
The fairly flat sole slightly reduced the arch pain I had
Good for swollen feet, but toes get cramped on walks over an hour
$135: manages foot problems, never fixes them
Wide Toe Space
6.5
Grip & Stability
7.2
Quality & Durability
7.5
Verdict: A decent short-term fix. Not what you want to be wearing for the rest of your life.
7.0/ 10
$135
⭐ #1 Pick (Best Price & Comfort)
#1
Gronanda
SoftStep (Anatomical Barefoot Shoe)
Wide toe box and sole shaped to each individual toe: my bunion stopped hurting within two weeks
Hands-free with a convenient elastic drawstring to tighten
5x better outsole grip: way more confidence on slippery pavement than any other shoe here
The arch pain I'd had for years reduced significantly in 3 weeks thanks to the zero-drop sole
1-Year Outsole Warranty + 20 exercise foot strengthening course with every order
Only $67 with Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off currently active
Wide Toe Space
9.0
Grip & Stability
8.8
Quality & Durability
7.8
Verdict: The only shoe here that has really helped my foot problems in years. At $67 with a warranty nobody else offers, the decision was easy.
This was my exact concern, and the answer surprised me. Bunions are largely a product of footwear: decades of narrow toe boxes compressing the forefoot and forcing the big toe inward. A shoe with a genuine anatomical toe box, like the Gronanda SoftStep, lets the toes spread to their natural position rather than maintaining the compression that's causing the problem. For most women this reduces bunion discomfort rather than worsening it. Arthritis is similar: less compression, more natural movement, and better circulation all tend to reduce the daily ache over time. The key is transitioning gradually. Start with two to three hours per day in the first week, not a full day.
This is where thick-soled shoes like the Hoka actually create a real problem. The more cushioning between your foot and the ground, the less sensory feedback your brain receives about the surface underneath you. That feedback, called proprioception, is exactly what keeps your balance sharp. A shoe with a thinner, more flexible sole restores it. Combine that with the wider toe base of an anatomical shoe (toes spread means a larger contact surface and better stability), and barefoot-style shoes can actively improve balance over time. The Gronanda SoftStep has enough transitional cushioning to make this accessible without going fully minimalist immediately. The grip on wet surfaces is also significantly better than any other shoe on this list.
It can be, if you go too fast. The foot muscles that have been underused for decades need time to reactivate. The smart approach is a shoe with a transitional cushioning layer, not zero cushioning and not 12mm of foam, and a gradual increase in wear time over four to six weeks. With Gronanda SoftStep, most women I've spoken to are at full-day wear within three to four weeks without significant discomfort. The mild calf soreness in the first two weeks is normal and temporary: it's your muscles waking up, not a warning sign. The training course included with every order gives you specific exercises to support the transition.
Arch support insoles are good at one thing: reducing pain in the short term by taking load off the arch. What they don't do is strengthen the muscles that support the arch. When a device does the work for you, those muscles continue to weaken. It's the same reason physiotherapists don't recommend long-term bracing for ankle injuries: you brace to get through the acute phase, then you rebuild the tissue. For long-term foot health, you want the arch to become self-supporting again, which means gradually exposing it to weight-bearing work in a shoe that allows natural movement. Insoles and anatomical shoes are not mutually exclusive: some women use supportive insoles during the transition while their intrinsic muscles rebuild, then reduce dependence over time.
Fair question. I had two pairs of Skechers Go Walk before I found Gronanda, and for the first month every pair felt genuinely great, especially first thing in the morning. The problem is they are so soft and unstructured that the cushioning flattens fast, the foot muscles do no work inside them, and the narrow front half starts to irritate the toes after a few hours of real use. Gronanda SoftStep at $67 is actually close in price to many Skechers models, but what the shoe does for your feet is completely different. Skechers makes a comfortable shoe for the first hour. Gronanda makes a shoe that helps your feet get stronger over time. At our age, that difference matters a lot more than it did at 40.
As of when I'm writing this update in April 2026, yes. They've been running it for a while but I genuinely don't know how long it stays active. At $67 for one pair it's already good value. Two pairs for just over $100 is very hard to argue with, especially given the warranty. If you've been thinking about it, I wouldn't sit on it.
Comments
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K
Kelly V.
1 day ago
So comfortable, feels like ive got nothing on my feet
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
6 people found this helpful
H
Helen S.
1 day ago
Orthofeet shoes are not as comfortable as I hoped, and they look really thick on my feet. I actually was considering sending them back, but I haven’t had a minute to do it.
Purchased: Orthofeet Yari Hands-Free
9 people found this helpful
J
June A.
1 day ago
Bought a pair of Skechers from a high street store in September 2025. Apparently they’re guaranteed for six months. Six months and one week(!) later, both soles developed deep splits. Avoid!!
Purchased: Skechers
38 people found this helpful
M
Margaret T.
2 days ago
I'm 64 and have had bunions on both feet for over 20 years. Every shoe I've tried either hurts immediately or creates a pressure point by the afternoon. Six weeks in Gronanda SoftStep and my feet feel genuinely different. The bunion on my left foot is visibly less red and the constant ache I'd had there for years has almost completely gone. I've ordered a second pair!!
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
41 people found this helpful
P
Pamela N.
3 days ago
Need to try these!
Purchased: Nothing
3 people found this helpful
D
Deborah N.
4 days ago
I LOVE GRONANDA SHOES!! I have several pair. So comfy to wear to work all day with my neuropathy. I gave 3 stars because I received the wrong size in my last order and have not gotten any customer service response.
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
13 people found this helpful
D
Dorothy H.
5 days ago
I've had Skechers Go Walk for years and always liked them for short trips. Easy to slip on, but my feet ache at the end of any longer walk. Now trying the Gronanda and it's a completely different experience. Toes have room to spread, much more connection to the ground. Will update after a few more weeks....
Purchased: Skechers Go Walk / Gronanda SoftStep
18 people found this helpful
C
Carol H.
1 week ago
Tried the Birkenstock Arizona sandals after seeing them everywhere. Looked great but completely flat sole gave me heel pain within a week. No arch support at all for my plantar fasciitis. Returned after 10 days.
Purchased: Birkenstock Arizona Sandals
22 people found this helpful
P
Patricia W.
1 week ago
Received my gronandas. Quality is genuinely good, and the fit is very comfortable. Delivery took longer than expected. I also recommend ordering half a size up as they run slightly small.
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
13 people found this helpful
J
Julie W.
1 week ago
Orthofeet shoes are mediocre at best. Personally I'd say overpriced for the product I received. Not happy. Quality of materials is poor - insoles and sole of the shoe broke down after 2 months of minimal wear.
Purchased: Orthofeet Yari Hands-Free
29 people found this helpful
C
CHRIS L.
3 weeks ago
1st why can I not give 0 star for ????? The only people that would put these Orthofeet rubbish on there feet people in mid life crisis lol slip ins lol this is 1 star only
Purchased: Orthofeet
31 people found this helpful
R
Ruth M.
1 month ago
Totally agree with you👍 Bought a pair of Gronanda SoftStep two months ago. So impressed I've since bought two more pairs. Worth every penny and then some.
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
33 people found this helpful
M
Marcelle P.
1 month ago
I gave this company a 3 only because I like the shoes I've purchased from them in the past. But their customer service is severely lacking.
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
12 people found this helpful
J
Joyce B.
1 month ago
AVOID HOKA SHOES AT ALL COSTS!! Their products are RUBBISH Paid over $200.00 for a pair only for them to go in multiple holes after just 6mths of use. Warranty is not worth the paper it is written on AVOID THEM at all costs!!!!
Purchased: Hoka Bondi 8
16 people found this helpful
A
Alexandra A.
1 month ago
My Mom's legs are essentially numb from the knees down (due to diabetic neuropathy) and she really likes these gronanda shoes I got her. We've found that the less clunky, the better
Comments
48 comments
Leave a Comment
So comfortable, feels like ive got nothing on my feet
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
Orthofeet shoes are not as comfortable as I hoped, and they look really thick on my feet. I actually was considering sending them back, but I haven’t had a minute to do it.
Purchased: Orthofeet Yari Hands-Free
Bought a pair of Skechers from a high street store in September 2025. Apparently they’re guaranteed for six months. Six months and one week(!) later, both soles developed deep splits. Avoid!!
Purchased: Skechers
I'm 64 and have had bunions on both feet for over 20 years. Every shoe I've tried either hurts immediately or creates a pressure point by the afternoon. Six weeks in Gronanda SoftStep and my feet feel genuinely different. The bunion on my left foot is visibly less red and the constant ache I'd had there for years has almost completely gone. I've ordered a second pair!!
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
Need to try these!
Purchased: Nothing
I LOVE GRONANDA SHOES!! I have several pair. So comfy to wear to work all day with my neuropathy. I gave 3 stars because I received the wrong size in my last order and have not gotten any customer service response.
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
I've had Skechers Go Walk for years and always liked them for short trips. Easy to slip on, but my feet ache at the end of any longer walk. Now trying the Gronanda and it's a completely different experience. Toes have room to spread, much more connection to the ground. Will update after a few more weeks....
Purchased: Skechers Go Walk / Gronanda SoftStep
Tried the Birkenstock Arizona sandals after seeing them everywhere. Looked great but completely flat sole gave me heel pain within a week. No arch support at all for my plantar fasciitis. Returned after 10 days.
Purchased: Birkenstock Arizona Sandals
Received my gronandas. Quality is genuinely good, and the fit is very comfortable. Delivery took longer than expected. I also recommend ordering half a size up as they run slightly small.
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
Orthofeet shoes are mediocre at best. Personally I'd say overpriced for the product I received. Not happy. Quality of materials is poor - insoles and sole of the shoe broke down after 2 months of minimal wear.
Purchased: Orthofeet Yari Hands-Free
1st why can I not give 0 star for ????? The only people that would put these Orthofeet rubbish on there feet people in mid life crisis lol slip ins lol this is 1 star only
Purchased: Orthofeet
Totally agree with you👍 Bought a pair of Gronanda SoftStep two months ago. So impressed I've since bought two more pairs. Worth every penny and then some.
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
I gave this company a 3 only because I like the shoes I've purchased from them in the past. But their customer service is severely lacking.
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep
AVOID HOKA SHOES AT ALL COSTS!! Their products are RUBBISH Paid over $200.00 for a pair only for them to go in multiple holes after just 6mths of use. Warranty is not worth the paper it is written on AVOID THEM at all costs!!!!
Purchased: Hoka Bondi 8
My Mom's legs are essentially numb from the knees down (due to diabetic neuropathy) and she really likes these gronanda shoes I got her. We've found that the less clunky, the better
Purchased: Gronanda SoftStep