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Ingrown toenails can be very painful. Dealing with them can be quite a challenge.

If you are planning to run with ingrown toenails, then that is a whole new thing altogether…

It takes a lot of research and trials and errors to find a running shoe that will fit you perfectly and will support your toenails.

That is why we have come up with a list of running shoes that will provide you with comfort and confidence to run with ingrown toenails.

This list is by no means an exhaustive list, and the least it can do is to minimize the amount of research that you need to do.

Also, Brooks Glycerin is our top choice for this purpose. However, if you are an overpronating runner, then go for Brooks Glycerin GTS.

Now let’s check out the shoes that we have selected as the best runnings hoes for ingrown toenails.

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1. Brooks Glycerin 19 – Best Brooks Running Shoes For Ingrown Toenails

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Brooks Glycerin 19 is a very good running shoe for ingrown toenails. It is well cushioned and comes with a stretchable upper.

It is true to size, which is very important if you have ingrown toenails. It will provide you with a snug fit, which is not too tight or too loose.

This will not let your feet slide and you will not keep on bumping with the walls of the toe box.

This helps you to avoid any further pain or injury that comes with ingrown toenails.

The toe box of Brooks Glycerin has a decent depth. This makes your toes not hit the ceiling of the toe box and this provides you with additional relief.

Also, the softness of the cushioning of Brooks Glycerin is also very good. It provides you with excellent shock absorption and comfort.

The transition is also very smooth and will provide you can do it with much ease. This also doesn’t let the running put additional pressure on your toes causing you to wither in more pain.

The longevity of this shoe is decent and is excellent for long-distance running.

Also, as mentioned above, if you are an overpronating runner, you can go for the GTS version of Brooks Glycerin. This is good even if you have flat feet.

 CONS

• ⤫  Expensive
• ⤫  For some, the length seems short.

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2. New Balance 1080v11 – Best New Balance Running Shoes

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New Balance 1080v11 is our second choice for a running shoe for toenails. It is cushy, soft, and provides you with excellent comfort.

The midsole of New Balance 1080 is made from Fresh Foam X which is a softer and lighter material than the more traditional Fresh Foam.

This is why it is excellent for your ingrown toenails, as they will provide you with excellent cushioning and shock absorption. This will reduce the stress that your toes will have to go through and will minimize the discomfort during running.

One good feature that this shoe has and will help you further is the ultra heel setup that 1080 has. This will hold your heel in place and will also provide an additional guard to the Achilles region.

This doesn’t let your heel slide front or back and doesn’t let your toes collide with the toe-box walls to aggravate your problem.

Also, the toe-box will provide you with a snug fit and will not cramp or pinch your toes. This is a favorable situation for your ingrown toenails which becomes more painful in a cramped situation.

Other than the favorable running environment that these shoes provide, you will also have utmost comfort in other aspects also, while you are running in them.

They are lightweight and excellent at shock absorption. The foam is very stable and provides you with the right amount of feedback while running.

However, as with any cushioned running shoes, these shoes also is a bit less responsive. So, you may not feel that kind of snappiness as you feel in the short distance or racer shoes.

These shoes are good for long-distance and for those who are looking for comfort.

 CONS

• ⤫  Expensive
• ⤫  Not for high arches.
• ⤫  Difficult to adjust the laces.

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3. Adidas Ultraboost 22 – Best Adidas Running Shoes

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Adidas Ultraboost is a good running shoe when it comes to running with ingrown toenails. It is stretchy, cushy, and will provide you with the right amount of support while running with Ingrown nails.

Also, 50% of this shoe is made from recycled material making it very eco-friendly.

Although comfortable, I felt like the cushioning under the balls of the feet has been reduced in this version.

Does that put more pressure on the ingrown toenail?

I didn’t feel there is much difference in shock absorption than its previous version. So, it may not put any additional pressure on the ingrown toenails.

However, if you have a severe case, then it may. Again, in that case you may actually have difficulty in walking as well, so a running shoe may not be you additional problem.

One thing that I’ve noticed is that, there is a bit of a squeeze near the ankle area. This is there to ensure that there is no heel-slip. Then again, so some this may become uncomfortable.

I like this ankle squeeze as it will not let the shoe slip and that way will provide a good protection against injuries.

However, these shoes are not fit for gym or cross fitness as they don’t provide any rigid support. But for running, they are one of the most comfy running shoes out there, even with your toe nails.

 CONS

• ⤫  Expensive
• ⤫  Feels bulky.
• ⤫  Looks basic.

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4. Asics Gel Kayano 28 – Best Asics Running Shoes For Ingrown Toenails (Overpronation)

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When we are discussing different running shoes for ingrown toenails, we cannot miss out on discussing Asics Gel Kayano.

Asics Gel Kayano has been a consistent performer throughout the years. It is comfortable, stable, and is durable.

It provides support to the overpronating runners as well, which is one of the primary reasons that we included this running in this list.

Until now, all the shoes mentioned for ingrown toenails are neutral running shoes. However, the ingrown toenail problem is not present in only neutral runners. Both pronating and under pronating runners are also susceptible to this problem.

Also, if you are an overpronating runner, you may be suffering from bunions as well or may have problems with your knees. This will cause more trouble to your ingrown nails as the second toe and your running shoe wall will put pressure from two sides.

Result?

You will have a very painful ingrown nail and an equally painful big toe joint.

So, you need a running shoe, which has a wide or spacious toe-box area and a narrow heel area to lock in the heels.

This is exactly what is present in the Asics Gel Kayano. The toe-box felt wider than the previous version and doesn’t put much pressure on the bunion area. (Trust me I know, dealing with them and torn shoes in that area since childhood)

However, the pressure from the second toe can only be minimized by using something like silicone bunion support.

They will separate the big toe and the second toe. The additional pressure on the ingrown toenail will also be minimized in that way. (In such cases only using the best possible shoe will not help).

However, one more thing that is important to check is the depth of the toebox. If the ceiling is too low, it will keep on hitting on the ingrown toenail causing additional injury.

I found the height of the ceiling to be just right and it doesn’t keep on hitting on your toenails continuously.

Moreover, these shoes have additional gel cushioning in the forefoot and the rearfoot. These are very shock-absorbing and reduce the pressure on your forefoot considerably and don’t let the ingrown toenail situation aggravate.

 CONS

• ⤫  Stability felt a bit less than previous versions.
• ⤫  Narrow heels may not suit every type of user.

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5. Gravity Defyer G-Defy XLR8 Run

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Gravity Defyer running shoes are not as popular as their Brooks, Asics, New Balance counterparts, however, they should be.

These shoes are very comfortable and will provide you with excellent comfort while running. 

That is for people with normal feet without issues…but you have ingrown toenails, then will it work?

Let’s find out…

When I was researching, I found that Gravity Defyer, themselves recommend these shoes for ingrown toenails which is a bit unexpected.

Actually, if you do a bit of research, you will find that not even the biggest brands take ownership of their shoes helping you with a foot problem.

So, that was something, I was happily surprised about.

And I mean, that is not too unexpected, given the kind of shoes that they build. These shoes are very comfortable and have excellent midsoles.

They are shock absorbent and had hardened TPU full-perimeter shank. This provides you with protection against any midfoot trauma and hyperflexion injuries.

This means, your chances of getting hurt in the toes which already have ingrown nails are slim.

Also, they don’t put much stress on the toes during toe-off thus not putting additional pressure on your ingrown nails. They have a rolling forefoot design that helps you with this.

Another important feature is the width of these shoes. They are comfortably wide, even for their narrower versions. It gives your enough room for your toes to spread out during landing and toe-oof.

This also means, your toes will not get squished when wearing these shoes and you will not end up with painful toes due to ingrown nails.

Speaking of being big, these shoes are a bit bigger than the regular running shoes available in the market. So, it’s better to go a half size down when ordering for a pair.

One more thing to keep in mind is that, even if you have wide feet, go for something like medium width with these shoes. This should fit you better, rather than the wide shoes.

Although these shoes are good with your ingrown toenails, they are not devoid of flaws.

There are a couple of things that I did not like about these shoes.

First of all, the tongue of these shoes is thin. Also, they will move to the left or right side while running. Sometimes, there may be the problem of the tongue scrunching up.

Another problem is, the lace holes are made in the fabric and don’t have any metal or plastic rings around them.

So, when lacing the shoes, putting in the laces, and pulling them to adjust is a bit problematic. Being made in fabric, they offer more resistance if you try to do anything with the laces.

Although these are not big issues, they are there. However, they don’t seem to deal breaker and you can get a very good ride in these running shoes, even with your ingrown toenails.

 CONS

• ⤫  Not true to size.
• ⤫  Lacing the shoe is a bit tedious.
• ⤫  A flimsy tongue that may shift or scrunch up.

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6. Salomon XA PRO 3D v8 – Best for Trail Running With Ingrown Toenails

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If you are a trail runner who suffers from ingrown toenails, Salomon XA PRO 3D may be a good choice for you.

It has a spacious toebox with decent depth to accommodate your ingrown toenails without having to deal with additional pain.

Ingrown toenails curl inside your toe and take on a more pointed hard structure. This makes the upper of the shoe in front of the toenails get pierced easily.

However, the material of Salomon XA PRO 3D is strong enough to withstand this and will hold its structure for a longer period of time.

Also, the overall build of this shoe is solid and it will not wear down easily. If you are just going for a walk, its treads can withstand more than 500 miles. However, by then the treads will wear off too much, and also, the profile of the shoe will start showing marks for replacement.

With this version of the shoe, I observed that the collar area gets worn down more easily and the plastic may start showing. Also, I did not like the stitching near the tongue which tends to come off easily.

However, the quick lace system is still my favorite and gets the lacing done pretty quickly. Also, the lock-like structure of the quick lacing system doesn’t break down as easily as in some other trail running shoes like Adidas…

However, they are not waterproof shoes and if you want one, you can go for the GTX version of these shoes.

Also, it doesn’t have a steel toe and is made from hard plastic, but nonetheless, it is durable.

The cushioning of Salomon is also good and is great at shock absorbing. What I found is, if you have to deal with small pebbles or rocks, your feet will not feel that sudden shock or pain.

Also, this doesn’t leave your already troubled toe with more pain and a more aggravated situation with your ingrown toenails.

 CONS

• ⤫  The collar padding may get worn off easily as compared to the previous model.
• ⤫  There may be some creaking.
• ⤫  Not true to size.

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7. Altra Torin 5 – Best Zero-Drop

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As per Altra, these zero-drop shoes are the Swiss Army Knife of the road running shoes. They are cushy, comfortable, and have a good amount of space in the toe-box.

But will they work on your feet?

Or more importantly, will they cause any more damage to your ingrown toenails? Let’s find out…

Although we will look into if this shoe keeps you comfortable while running with ingrown toenails, we will also provide you a glimpse of the other features of these shoes.

First of all, what I liked most about these shoes are the amount of space that shoes have on the forefoot.

When you land on the ground, your toes spread out. If you don’t have enough space in your toe-box, then your toes will feel cramped and it will put too much pressure on the toes and your ingrown toenails.

After some time, you will feel pain in your toes due to this added pressure. However since Altra Torin has a spacious forefoot, it will not give you that cramped feeling and will not add to the discomfort to your toenails.

Also, the depth of the Altra Torin toebox is decent. The upper will not put pressure on your ingrown toenails and will not aggravate your condition.

The cushion of the midsole is spread uniformly from the back of the heel to the tip forefoot. This midsole is squishy and excellent at shock absorption. This will provide the right amount of cushion to your toes and will keep you comfortable while running.

Even with your ingrown toenails, you will be able to feel the comfort and no additional shock will be passed on to your toes and in turn your toenails.

Also, the outsole has sticky rubber and the upper is also comfortable and breathable. This will help you to have a comfortable ride, despite your ingrown toenail situation.

 CONS

• ⤫  The tongue is flimsy and may rub against your feet.
• ⤫  The durability of the outsole is not great.

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8. Mizuno Wave Rider – Best Responsive

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Mizuno Wave Rider is one of my favorite running shoes of all time. It is comfortable, responsive, and is great for running almost any kind of distance (only road running or treadmill running).

However, I did not feel that it would be a good fit for someone who is suffering from ingrown toenails.

But I guess I was wrong…

The new version is spacious enough for you to have comfortable running even with ingrown toenails.

Also, the cushioning of this shoe is very good. It is shock-absorbing and responsive and will not let any kind of shock pass to your forefoot.

This is a bonus as this will help you to have a comfortable running experience with your ingrown toenails.

Also, the upper of the shoe is made with double-layer material and will not break early with the constant pocking by your ingrown toenails.

Overall it will a good choice if you are a neutral runner and are suffering from ingrown toenails.

However, if you have overpronation, you can always go for Mizuno Wave Inspire. They have almost the same materials as Mizuno Wave Rider but are great at providing you with additional stability for overpronation.

Although a good shoe for ingrown toenails, it has its own share of flaws.

First of all, the sizing has changed and it is not true to size anymore. You have to order half size bigger than the one you wear now. For example, if you are a 10.5, you will have to go for an 11.

Also, the arch support also feels a bit changed and that may be a bit of a problem for runners on the heavier side.

 CONS

• ⤫  Need to order a half size bigger for a good fit.

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9. ON Cloudflyer Running Shoes – Excellent cushioning

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I’m always in awe of these ON shoes. They are extremely stylish and edgy to look at are bound to turn people’s heads.

They are not only stylish but very functional as well. They are comfortable, cushy, and are excellent for road running.

With this version of ON Cloudflyer, you get one of the cushiest road running shoes that are perfect for any kind of running.

Also, the overall structure of this shoe is spacious, especially in the toe box. You will not feel squished when you land or during toe-off and also when you are just standing.

This makes it very comfortable for someone with ingrown toenails. They will not feel additional pressure or added pain due to this.

Also, the material of the upper is also double layered. This actually enhances the lifespan of your shoes and it will not develop holes prematurely due to ingrown toenails.

This model of ON shoe has maximal cushioning. This provides you with excellent cushioning and is great for even long-distance running.

The support that shoes provide is not up to the mark and not every overpronating runner will have a good time in these.

However, they do cater to a large group of stability runners and provide them with good support. If you have severe overpronation, Brooks Beast or Brooks Ariel may be a better option for you.

 CONS

• ⤫  The fit varies from version to version.
• ⤫  Overpronation support could have been better.

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10. Saucony Kinvara 12 – Best Value For Money, Good for Underpronation

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Saucony Kinvara has stood the test of time and is one of the first shoes that was adapted for running.

It is a very budget-friendly shoe and is great as a daily trainer and as a longish distance running.

However, can you really run in these pocket-friendly shoes with your ingrown toenails?

Let’s find out…

Saucony Kinvara is true to size running shoe and has a good amount of width to adjust for toe splays.

This releases any pressure on the toe during landing and toe-off and will provide you with a good amount of comfort while running with ingrown toenails.

In any closed shoe environment, ingrown toenails become uncomfortable. Any pressure on the toes will make the nails dig more into the softer flesh.

That is why, if you have a wider toe-box, it will let the toes expand easily and your feet can get adjusted easily.

However, one thing that might not be that much supportive is the height of the toe box. The overall depth of the toe box is good but for normal feet.

However, ingrown toenails create additional bulges and need a bit more room at the top.

So, Saucony Kinvara will be a good choice for those who have a mild case of an ingrown toenails. With someone with a big protrusion, may not work.

 CONS

• ⤫  Can be a bit noisy.
• ⤫  Lack responsiveness.

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FAQs

Can running shoes cause ingrown toenails?

Yes, there is a possibility of your running shoes causing ingrown toenails, especially if it is tight on the forefoot. However, this can be avoided by selecting running shoes that have a more spacious forefoot and a good toebox depth, so that the pressure on your toes is minimal.

Tips for selecting running shoes for ingrown toenails

• Shop your running shoes in the evening when your feet are the largest.
• Walk around in the shoe store wearing the running shoe to check for any tightness in the forefoot.
• Jump ahead wearing the shoe as this will give you a proper understanding of toe splay while running.
• Wear a sock and then try on the shoe.
• Go for a wide shoe if the need be.

How do you prevent ingrown toenails in shoes?

To prevent ingrown toenails in shoes, go for wide shoes and try to avoid any shoes that will put additional pressure on the forefoot. This means avoiding shoes with a high heel-to-toe drop.

Preventing ingrown toenails may not be as difficult. However, if you follow the above guidelines, you should be fine.

However, in certain situations, you may have to prioritize what you want to focus on, or you may have to a bit compromise.

For example, if you suffer from Achilles Tendonitis, then having a good heel-to-toe drop is critical. However, if you suffer from ingrown toenails as well, then having a high heel-to-toe drop is detrimental.

In such cases, you have to go for trial and error. Since you need a minimum drop of 8mm for Achilles Tendonitis, you have to choose something that has this drop and has a wide toe box.

You may have to deal with the situation in a similar way if you have ingrown toenails and calf problems.

How can I permanently fix an ingrown toenail?

You cannot permanently fix an ingrown toenail as this kind of change is permanent in nature. You can, however, make some changes or take some precautions to minimize the pain.

Here is a couple of things that you can do to minimize the effect or pain from ingrown toenails:

• Keep your foot clean: Use warm soapy water or a bucket full of apple cider vinegar water to soak your feet and pat dry them.
• Use some antibiotics inform as an ointment or oral pills as prescribed by your doctor.
• Use proper shoes.
• Use toe protectors.
• Consider toenail removal: In extreme cases.

How do you get rid of an ingrown toenail overnight?

You can’t get rid of ingrown toenails overnight. You may consider removing it with the help of a professional, but that’s it. You cannot get rid of it overnight.

Also, once you get it, it’s better to take proper precautions so that they don’t get infected.

If you get an infection nonetheless, it is better to get yourself checked by a doctor rather than to self-medicate.

This may cause you more harm and may aggravate your condition.

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