These Brands and Retailers Sell Single Shoes, Making Footwear More Accessible
These places are helping consumers who have uneven foot sizes, limb differences, or braces buy what they need.
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If you have limb or foot differences, you know how unfair shoe shopping can be. If your feet are different sizes, buying two pairs of shoes just to get the correct size for each foot can get pretty pricey—and feel downright unnecessary. And if you only need one shoe, why should you be paying double?
Our top picks:
- Best overall: Nordstrom
- Best design: Billy Footwear
- Best for kids: Ikiki Shoes
The good news is there are retailers and brands that offer split-size and single-shoe programs so you don’t have to pay for what you don’t need. Even mainstream brands such as Adidas, which recently launched a single-shoe ordering program across over 20 European countries (and hopefully the U.S. soon!), are working to make footwear shopping fair and accessible for more people, regardless of foot size or limb difference. Still, these programs aren’t always heavily advertised. For instance, I was surprised to find out that a retailer as big as Nordstrom offers a split-size and single-shoe program.
When you do find a place that sells single shoes, ordering can get a little tricky as well. So to make things easier, I’ve rounded up a list of the best places to buy only one shoe and included details on pricing, how to order, and what they offer.
Nordstrom is one of the places with the largest array of single and mismatched-size shoes—as long as Nordstrom is the seller, you can choose any brand and style you’d like.
HOW TO ORDER: To order a single shoe, customers must call Nordstrom’s customer service team, who can check current single-shoe availability in your size and place the order over the phone. Choices may be slightly limited since options will be dependent on what is available at the time you’re ordering. Because Nordstrom’s single-shoe inventory is created from split size-returns, availability is constantly changing. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, it’s worth checking back. Nordstrom updates its single-shoe inventory every Monday, meaning new styles become available weekly.
For split-size shoes, you can either call customer care, work with a salesperson in-store, or order online. You’ll purchase two pairs of the same style in your desired sizes, then return the two unwanted shoes once the order arrives. Nordstrom will issue a refund for the returned shoes.
REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS: For the split-shoe program, the only requirement is that the shoe has to be sold and shipped by Nordstrom.com. As long as Nordstrom is the seller, you can choose from any brand and style you’d like. Both the single and split size shoes are available in men’s, women’s, and kids’ sizes.
For split-size pairs, Nordstrom’s website says, “To qualify, shoe sizes must be at least one and a half sizes different, at least one size and one width different, or two widths different.” However, when I called, customer service representatives told me they may still be able to help accommodate customers outside those parameters on a case-by-case basis.
PRICING: If you’re purchasing a single shoe, you will be charged $26 plus a flat shipping rate of $9 no matter which shoe you’re buying.
A split-size pair will ultimately cost the same as a matched pair once the return of the unwanted shoes is complete.
Billy Footwear offers a broad assortment of shoe styles for both adults and children. Everything they make is created with the goal of making their footwear accessible to a wider range of people, regardless of their needs or abilities. The brand offers options such as wheelchair-friendly, easy-on-and-off, and sensory-friendly styles, among others designed with different needs in mind. Their signature design features a zipper that wraps around the side and toe, allowing the upper to open completely. This makes slipping your foot into the shoe significantly easier.
HOW TO ORDER: First, you’ll need to create an account and then reach out to their customer service team to request approval to use the code “SINGLESHOE,” which enables customers to place either a single shoe or split size order.
For a single shoe, add your desired style to your cart. When you’re ready to checkout, click on the cart, apply the code and write your message in the “leave a note” box specifying whether you need them to send you the right or left shoe.
For split-size shoes, the process is the same, except you’ll add two pairs of shoes in your desired sizes to the cart. Like with the single shoe, you’ll apply the code and leave a note specifying which sizes you need for which foot (left or right).
REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS: The only requirement is that you must purchase full-priced shoes because the code will not apply to sale items. Another thing to keep in mind is that the code will apply to all items in the cart, so if you’re trying to order both a matched-size pair and a single or split-size pair in the same order, it won’t work.
PRICING: Something to note here is that if you’re purchasing a single shoe, you won’t pay exactly 50% of the pair price, as the discount code only reduces the cost by 30%, meaning single shoes ultimately cost about 20% more proportionately than purchasing a matched pair.
Specializing in toddlers and small children (from Toddler size 3 to Little Kids’ size 13), Ikiki’s styles are designed to be easier to wear for children who use leg braces, have sensory needs, or experience motor skill challenges. Additionally, the brand is best known for its innovative “squeaky” shoes, which feature a heel squeaker (that can be turned on or off) designed to encourage heel-to-toe walking.
HOW TO ORDER: The single shoe ordering process for Ikiki is one of the most straightforward I’ve come across. In the dropdown menu under “shop,” you simply click on “single shoes,” where you’ll be shown all of the styles available for split-size and single purchasing. Once you click on your desired footwear, you’ll be able to select your preferred size and foot (left or right) before adding the item to your cart.
For split-size pairs, you’ll simply select two single shoes in different sizes.
REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS: Ikiki does not currently require customers to request special approval before ordering.
PRICING: The pricing, like the ordering process, is also uncomplicated and relatively fair, with a single shoe costing approximately 50% of the price of a matched pair (the cost is less than $1 away from being cut exactly in half).
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