Hampshire is a large county, and specialist footwear is not something you find on the average high street. If your feet have changed shape — through swelling, bunions, arthritis, diabetes or surgery — the shoes that used to work stop working, and the usual shops have nothing in the right width.
This guide covers what makes a shoe genuinely orthopaedic, who tends to need one, and how to be measured properly, whether you live in Portsmouth, Petersfield, Alton or Farnborough.
Where to buy orthopaedic shoes in Hampshire
There are two sensible routes: be measured in person, or buy online from a maker that publishes real width fittings and a size chart you can check at home against your own foot.
We do both. TDO Therapy has made orthopaedic and diabetic footwear in its own factory since 2005, and our fitting room is at 49 Downing Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7PH — just over the county border, and an easy drive from north and east Hampshire. We are open Monday to Saturday, 10:00–17:00. Call 01428 751602 before you travel if you want to check we have your width in stock.
You can book a shoe fitting in advance, and there is more detail about what a fitting involves on our Hampshire fitting page.
What makes a shoe orthopaedic, and not just wide
Width alone is not enough. A shoe that is wide but shallow will still press on a bunion or a hammer toe, because the pressure is coming from above rather than from the side. The features that matter are:
- Depth as well as width. Extra depth gives clawed or overlapping toes somewhere to sit, and leaves room for an insole of your own.
- A real fitting range. Ours are EE, EEE, 4E and 6E. A fitting is a measured width at the ball of the foot, not a vague “wide fit” label.
- Seam-free linings. An internal seam you cannot feel on day one is the one that rubs on day ten.
- A supportive sole unit. A rocker profile helps the foot roll through the step when the joints at the ball of the foot are stiff or sore.
- Adjustable fastening. Laces or a touch-fastening strap let you open the shoe right up in the morning and slacken it off by the evening.
- A removable insole. If the insole lifts out, your own orthotic goes in without stealing depth from your toes.
Who tends to need them
Most of the people we fit fall into one of these groups:
- People living with diabetes, where a smooth interior and a shoe that does not rub matter more than anything else
- Feet that swell through the day, or with oedema or lymphoedema
- Bunions, hammer toes and other changes in toe shape
- Arthritis, plantar fasciitis and other painful joints
- People who wear a prescribed insole and need shoes with the depth to take it
- Anyone recovering from foot surgery whose usual shoes no longer close
If you are under the care of a podiatrist or a diabetes team, take their advice first. Footwear supports what they tell you; it does not replace it.
Being measured in person, or buying online
In person is better the first time. Feet are rarely the same size as each other, and the difference between an EEE and a 4E is obvious on the foot and invisible on a screen. A fitting also tells you which of our lasts suits your foot shape, which makes every order after that straightforward.
Once you know your size and fitting, ordering online is simple. Every shoe has its own size chart, and our shoe fitting guide explains how to measure at home. Delivery and returns are covered by our published shipping policy and returns policy.
If your footwear is for a chronic condition, you may not have to pay VAT on it. Our VAT relief page explains who qualifies and what you need to declare.
What to check before you buy
- Measure late in the day. Feet are at their largest in the afternoon and evening. A shoe fitted at 9am can be tight by teatime.
- Measure both feet. Buy for the larger one.
- Leave a thumb’s width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe — and the longest toe is not always the big toe.
- Check the depth, not just the length. Press gently across the top of the shoe; you should not feel it resting on your toes.
- Wear the socks you will actually wear. A thick sock can take up a whole width fitting.
- Walk on a hard floor, not carpet, before you decide.
Where our Hampshire customers travel from
Farnham sits right on the Surrey–Hampshire border, so a good part of our fitting room diary comes from Hampshire. We have written a short page for several of these towns:
Browse the range
Orthopaedic shoes for women · Orthopaedic shoes for men · Wide fit shoes for women · Wide fit shoes for men · Wide fit sandals
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to come to Farnham to be fitted?
No. Plenty of customers order online using the size chart on each product page. But if your feet are an awkward shape, or the two are noticeably different, a first fitting in person saves a lot of guesswork.
What widths do you make?
Four: EE, EEE, 4E and 6E. If none of those work, we also make footwear to measure — bring your feet in and we will talk it through.
Will orthopaedic shoes stop my foot pain?
Footwear that fits properly takes away the pressure points that make walking uncomfortable, and most people notice the difference quickly. It is not a substitute for treatment. If you have ongoing pain, see a podiatrist or your GP as well.
Do they have to look medical?
No. The range includes lace-up shoes, touch-fastening styles, boots and sandals in ordinary colours. The engineering is on the inside.
Can I use my own insoles?
Yes, on any style with a removable insole. Take the factory insole out and your own goes in its place, so you keep the depth over your toes.
