Best Duck Feet Shoes

Engineered with KURUSOLE technology, made to promote and support natural foot mobility.

Ever been told you have “duck feet”? While the name sounds like it might belong on a school playground, this colloquial term is actually a condition that deserves some attention.

The term “duck-footed” is used for those with an increased level of external rotation—or toes turning outward from their hips. Over time, this walking pattern can contribute to a weakening of our glutes and lower legs from improper mechanics, or it can lead to overpronation, the excessive rolling inward at the ankle.

While shoes can’t “cure” or “heal” duck feet on their own, they can be a fantastic complement to a healthy exercises program based on your doctor’s recommendations.

KURU’s line of shoes with built-in arch support and deep heel cups can help promote a healthy gait for almost any foot type!

What are Duck Feet?

“Duck feet,” or out-toeing, is a colloquial term for the medical condition femoral retroversion, or an excessive outward rotation of your hips.

Duck feet are most common among toddlers and young children, who often grow out of the condition, though this condition still affects adults.

Duck feet can lead to overpronation over time, or rolling inward excessively from the ankle. Comfortable shoes with a rounded heel cup and arch support can help support feet, knees, and hips for long term health benefits.

The best shoes for duck feet are those that can help support an over-pronating foot. These include shoes with a cushioned, wide base—like KURU shoes! Whether you need duck feet boots or duck feet slippers, KURU can help cushion and support your feet.

In addition to footwear, yoga can be a helpful tool in improving the alignment and posture of those with duck feet. Dandasana, or staff pose, is a simple yoga posture that can help strengthen the muscles of the legs and improve alignment of the feet and hips. Check out the video below to learn how to practice Dandasana and improve your foot alignment.

  • Man wearing KURU PACE shoes for duck feet.

Most Common Causes & Risk Factors for Developing Duck Feet

Duck feet, also known as splayed feet, is a condition where the toes point outward, causing the feet to look like a duck’s webbed feet. Although it is a common condition, it can lead to discomfort and even injury if left untreated.

Here are some of the causes and risk factors that can contribute to developing duck feet:

 

  • Genetic predisposition
    Some individuals are more likely to develop duck feet due to their genetics.
    Genetic predisposition
  • Sedentary lifestyle
    A lack of physical activity can weaken the muscles in the legs and feet, contributing to the development of duck feet.
    Sedentary lifestyle
  • Posture problems
    Poor posture can lead to muscle imbalances and affect the alignment of the feet.
    Posture problems
  • Injury
    Trauma to the feet or legs can affect the natural alignment of the feet and lead to duck feet.
    Injury
  • Having flat feet
    Individuals with flat feet tend to have a wider forefoot, which can contribute to developing duck feet.
    Having flat feet

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Duck feet is a condition where the feet point outward instead of straight ahead, causing individuals to walk like a duck. This can be a source of discomfort and pain for many people. The symptoms associated with duck feet can vary from person to person, and it’s important to recognize them to get the right treatment. Below, we will discuss some of the most common duck feet symptoms.

  • Uneven wear on the outer or inner edge of your shoes
  • Achilles tendon, hip, back, or knee pain
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Weak or tight glute muscles
  • Weak or tight calf muscles

Your doctor will be able to provide the best pathway forward for treating your unique case. For a few tips on conservative treatments you can try at home, check out our Duck Feet treatment section below.

Duck Feet Facts and Stats

  • “Duck feet” is the colloquial term for the medical condition, “femoral retroversion.”
  • Duck feet are most common in toddlers and many outgrow the condition by age 8.
  • Having flat feet can lead to the appearance of duck feet.
  • In adults, the condition could be caused by lifestyle habits or they could have a congenital predisposition.

Treatment

Duck feet is a foot condition in which the feet point outward instead of straight ahead, leading to poor posture and increased risk of injury. If you suffer from duck feet, there are several ways to treat and prevent the condition. In addition to talking to your doctor for specific recommendations, below are some tips for managing duck feet.

  • Strengthening exercises
    Strengthening exercises, particularly hip strengthening exercises, are essential for individuals with duck feet since they often have weaker glute and leg muscles. These exercises can encourage active use of these muscles while walking and promote proper alignment.
    Strengthening exercises
  • Choosing the right footwear
    Choosing the right footwear is crucial to neutralize your gait and reduce injury, so consider shoes for duck feet that provide cushioned insoles and high-quality arch support. Proper shoes can also help to stabilize and align the foot, guiding ankles to proper alignment for injury prevention and pain relief.Shoes for duck feet can stabilize and align the foot, promoting proper ankle alignment, which can help prevent injuries and relieve pain. It is important to select shoes that are designed for your specific foot shape to get the most benefit.
    Choosing the right footwear

FAQs

  • I just received a pair of your shoes and my feet are sore/hurt after wearing them. Why is that?

    Some customers experience tenderness when they first start wearing a new pair of KURUs.That’s ok! Your body may need time to adjust to the new levels of anatomical support you experience with our patented KURUSOLE technology.

    Our shoes are also designed to mold to your unique foot shape, which takes a bit of a break-in period.

    To help mitigate this, we suggest you follow our break-in procedure, including wearing your KURUs for a couple hours perday around the house in the first couple of weeks as they break in and form to your foot.

  • Can I use custom orthotics with KURU shoes?

    Due to the anatomical shape of the KURUSOLE, custom orthotics with a rounded heel fit best inside our shoes.

    If the underside of the custom orthotic (the part that sits on the footbed) is squared off, then it may not fit into our deep heel cup—which is rounded like your foot.

    That said, many of our customers tell us the KURUSOLE technology offers better support and stability than they expected, and they don’t need to wear their custom orthotics with KURU shoes.

  • Are your shoes considered orthopedic shoes?

    Even though KURU shoes were not initially intended to be orthopedic shoes, thousands of our customers say they experience relief from various foot conditions—including bunions!

    While our shoes are not currently considered orthopedic by a medical standard, we have received thousands of positive reviews from customers who say their KURUs helped reduce or eliminate their pain.

  • How do I know which shoes to buy? Which is best for me?

    KURU shoes are engineered with revolutionary technology to cradle your feet and provide distributed support from your toes to your heels and up through your ankles, knees and hips. The synergy of KURUSOLE, KURUCLOUD and ULTIMATE INSOLES provides support with cushioning that gives your back a foundation for healing.

    Whether you’re looking for shoes for degenerative disc disease that’s bothering your middle back, or the best women’s shoes for lower back pain, or for great work shoes that keep your back pain at bay hour after hour: You’ll find what you need in a KURU shoe.

Three Layers of Support

At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.

Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.

  • 1

    KURUSOLE

  • 2

    KURUCLOUD

  • 3

    ULTIMATE INSOLE

    • How KURU brings relief

    KURUSOLE

    Our patented KURUSOLE plate protects and stabilizes the heel and provides dynamic flexion with each step. This plate extends from the arch to wrap around the heel—but not under it—to support and leverage your heel’s natural cushioning system: the fat pad.

Our Secret

Animated GIF showing KURUSOLE tech in KURU shoes vs. typical flat interiors for plantar fasciitis pain.
Why Others Love KURU

Why Others Love KURU

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ratings.

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Best shoe ever. My feet do not fit regular shoes. They are shaped like a ducks feet—narrow heel and wider forefoot with toes that fan out. But my feet are relatively skinny, so wide width shoes do not work. My arch is average. I loved these shoes so much I bought a second pair in the same color (electric grape). I receive a lot of compliments on this shoe, despite my less than feminine feet. Thank you, Kuru!

zorrokitty

The Quantum–the shoe that solved my lower back anb. I have been through every shoe and foot doctors trying to relieve the lower back pain, knees and muscle strain. Long story short– The Quantum solved the problem in one week! I am 68 years old, 156 pounds at 5′ 8″…it is not weight but I have flat feet like a duck!

John R. K.

Awesome. Love my Kuru wide Quantums! Wide enough for my duck-shaped feet and cushy on my sore heel. I work many nights in a restaurant on my feet and they’re a lifesaver.

Vivian K.

Shoes that feel like they’re part of your foot. This is my third pair of Kivi. Although I wish they would come up with some new style/color in a leather shoe, I’ll always wear KIVI!

Hugo Brooks

My feet have a new friend! I spent half a grand and bought 4 pairs of shoes after reading reviews of them. I’m glad I did that, also knowing enough to take them with a grain of salt. Plantar fasciitis and having “duck feet” were my issues, making any new shoes problematical. I HATE shoe shopping! This time I picked winners. The pain of fasciitis was immediately greatly reduced, and all four pairs are comfortably wide enough with high enough toe boxes, something that always gives me surprised relief (because it is so rare) when I find it. KURU finds some talented designers. Finding them online was a happy accident; I had never heard of them. My feet have a new friend!

Naomi B.

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