Insights & Stories

The holiday season is upon us, and finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones can be a daunting task, especially for those with unique foot care needs. 

Healing from foot surgery over 60 was challenging, but the right shoes made a world of difference in my recovery.

In this article, we will explore the characteristics, causes, and treatment options for both lipedema and lymphedema to help you distinguish between the two.

In the world of retail and e-commerce, customer satisfaction is the heartbeat of success. At Pandere Shoes, formerly known as Pandere, we take immense pride in the smiles and stories of our happy customers. Our commitment to excellence isn't just about providing exceptional products; it's about fostering a community where every customer feels valued and heard. Our Dynamic 'Happy Customers' Page One of the hallmarks of our commitment to transparency and customer engagement is our Happy Customers page. This dynamic platform is more than just a collection of reviews; it's a living testament to the experiences and satisfaction levels of thousands of individuals who have embraced Pandere Shoes. Here, you can witness firsthand the genuine feedback and testimonials that shape our brand's identity.

Finding suitable shoes for your patients or your parents with swollen feet can be a daunting task. The discomfort and pain caused by edema make it crucial to find footwear that provides both comfort and support. Achieving and sustaining mobility for seniors is critical to quality of life and maintaining the ability to accomplish daily activities.

As a therapist you often encounter patients who struggle and complain about their shoes. PTs, OTs, and LMTs aren't trained in shoe fitting nor do most therapists have time to add this research into their already packed schedules. But you see them every day -- tender swollen feet stuck wearing slippers or crocs or cheap shoes 3 sizes too long.

For Perfect Customized Fit, Laces hold the key. Pandere Shoes are known for their innovative design and ability to accommodate a wide range of foot sizes. However, even with their adjustable features, the laces hold the key to a lot more adjustability than you may be aware of. If you need more room in certain areas, like the toes or midfoot, don't worry! There's a simple solution that can provide you with the extra room you need and enhance the overall comfort of your shoes – adjusting the laces.

RestAngles was invented out of necessity while sitting on very long flight routes from my home in Alaska to my job in Antarctica. I felt pressure on the back of my knees and pain in my lower back, hips, and lower extremities due to my legs dangling off the edge of my seat. My legs were dangling because my popliteal height is only 15 inches. Popliteal height is the distance from the bottom of your feet to the area behind your knees while sitting. The average popliteal height is from 15 to 19.9 inches; the average chair seat height is from 17 to 19 inches, leaving a 2-to-4-inch gap and creating “dangling legs:” This is common in many chairs and seats. Comfortable sitting posture happens when you can rest your feet flat on the floor.

Lymphedema is a chronic condition that results in swelling, usually in the arms or legs, due to a buildup of lymph fluid. It occurs when the lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining excess fluid from tissues, becomes damaged or blocked. This can happen as a result of surgery, radiation therapy, infection, or injury. Lymphedema can be uncomfortable and even debilitating for those who suffer from it, but there are ways to manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. One such way is by wearing lymphedema shoes.

The Globetrotter ankle boot isn't just any shoe. It's one of Pandere's best selling swollen feet solutions, and it's ready to elevate your footwear collection. This versatile unisex shoe is available in a range of sizes - both men's and women's sizes - ensuring a perfect fit for everyone.

Thousands of people suffer from swollen feet every day for a variety of reasons and it can make finding a pair of comfortable shoes a big challenge. The best shoes for people with swollen feet are wide or extra wide styles that can be expanded in the midfoot, ankle, and toe box area so that each shoe can be easily tightened and loosened as needed throughout the day. Pandere Shoes provide these special expansion capabilities along with some additional compression that can bring relief for people experiencing feet swelling.

A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint where the base of the big toe meets the foot. As the bunion grows, it causes the big toe to point inward toward the second toe, crowding the other toes and causing pain and discomfort. Bunions can be genetic or caused by arthritis or a foot deformity but they are often triggered by wearing tight, narrow shoes that put prolonged pressure on the feet and compress the big toe.

Many of our customers come to us after they have put up with wearing uncomfortable shoes for years. They are desperate for a comfortable and fashionable shoe that will fit their swollen feet caused by a variety of health conditions. Once our customers try out their first pair of Pandere shoes, they are usually thrilled with the comfort, look, and expansion capabilities that are built into our shoes and unmatched in the industry.

Developing a swollen ankle or swollen foot after foot surgery may be common, but that doesn’t make it any less concerning or uncomfortable. For most foot and ankle operations, tenderness and swelling may be present for three to four months; but it can take a full year or more for swelling to resolve after more complicated procedures. Speak to your doctor for tips about how to take care of your feet after surgery or if you have any concerns about how your foot is healing.

Ingrown toenails are the most common nail impairment, and affect millions of people worldwide  It is amazing how something as simple as toenails can have a huge impact on our well being. We wanted to remind our customers how important foot care is and help people recognize when they need to get help. Many people with chronic foot conditions such as diabetes, vascular diseases and swelling from lymphedema or pregnancy, may be flirting with disaster by ignoring toenail and foot skin problems. Lack of nail care can aggravate pain or lead to wounds, and reduce mobility. Any of these can trigger a bad health cycle to set in. Today we are sharing some advice from the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) on how to identify ingrown toenails, when to consult a podiatrist and some best home-care practices to keep you and loved ones on their feet, and feeling better.   What are Ingrown Toenails?  The Mayo Clinic describes ingrown toenails as “a common condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh. The result is pain, inflamed skin, swelling and, sometimes, an infection.”  Usually, toenails grow straight out. Sometimes, however, one or both corners or sides curve and grow into the flesh. The big toe is the most common location for this condition, but other toes can also become affected. Ingrown toenails are most commonly caused by improperly trimmed nails, shoe pressure, crowded toes due to poorly fitting footwear, repeated trauma to the feet, as well as heredity. Many people with chronic foot conditions forget to check their nails in the midst of caring for their other ailments. This can turn a once small problem turn into a much bigger medical crisis. Additionally, people with swelling, bunions and braces commonly cannot find shoes to fit their feet properly and end up wearing tight shoes that can impede proper nail growth.  People with ingrown toenails may experience pain, redness and swelling, drainage, odor, or skin issues. With any one of these symptoms (or, heaven forbid, all of them) walking and exercising, and focusing on work or family, becomes challenging and even impossible at times. Immediate medical attention is needed if you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms.  Any podiatrist will tell you, this is NOT a time to grin and bear it.  Here are the top three recommendations for foot care from leading US podiatrists.  If you suspect you have an infection due to an ingrown toenail, immerse the foot in a warm salt water soak, or a basin of soapy water, then apply an antiseptic and bandage the area. People with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, or other circulatory disorders must AVOID any form of self-treatment and seek podiatric medical care as soon as possible. Other “do-it-yourself” treatments, including any attempt to remove any part of an infected nail or the use of over-the-counter medications, should be avoided. Nail problems should be evaluated and treated by your podiatrist, who can diagnose the ailment, and then prescribe medication or another appropriate treatment. Podiatrists are experts for Feet and Foot Problems When it comes to ingrown toenails, however, things can go from mild to very bad very quickly.  It is time to visit a podiatrist if your symptoms are not improving. Additionally, you should seek a podiatrist immediately if you have any drainage or excessive redness around your toenail.  While seeking medical advice can seem daunting, a podiatrist will be able to treat your hurting foot immediately, and you should feel relief shortly after. A podiatrist will remove the ingrown portion of the nail and may prescribe a topical or oral medication to treat the infection. If ingrown nails are a chronic problem, your podiatrist can perform a procedure to permanently prevent ingrown nails. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure That sentiment is truer than ever when it comes to footcare. Treat your feet like royalty and you will feel like a King or Queen!  Three tips from podiatrists associated with APMA on toenail care to prevent ingrown nails: Be sure to trim toenails properly: cut them straight across, not longer than the tip of the toes. Do not dig into corners and only gently round off corners with a nail file. Use toenail clippers. Avoid shoes with pointy or narrow toe boxes. NEVER rip or tear edges of nails. Information sourced from APMA.org. https://www.apma.org/ingrowntoenails

It's the question anyone trying to buy online is thinking! If you’re trying your first pair in a new brand, it can feel like you're flying blind. If you have foot swelling, venous insufficiency, or any other foot anomalies, it can go from frustrating to impossible very quickly. Pandere has figured all of this out for you! We have two great ways to determine your size, even when you’ve never bought from Pandere before. Option A: Let us size you   -   Option B: Size yourself Both of these options are novel. There is nobody else in the shoe industry using our proprietary sizing process. And there is nobody else that’s providing sizing charts like ours either.  And there is a reason for this. One of the secrets behind our success is that unlike every other shoe company, we have added an extra measurement to consider when determining size. Every other company looks at only length and width. But if you have swelling or bunions or wear a brace, length and width alone will not do the trick. We need a third dimension in order to tell if your swollen foot or brace (or other issue) will fit into the shoes. This is where Pandere excels in sizing people online. It’s another one of our hidden superpowers! Let’s walk through the two options together so you can determine which one makes most sense for you. Option A: Let us size you Full disclosure. We always prefer that you let us size you because the size recommendation is based on more data points than when you size yourself. (Eight data points, to be exact.)  We need four foot measurements to size you, plus answers to four questions. How do I measure? Step 1. Foot length - Measure from heel to longest toe The easiest way to measure is to trace around your foot on a piece of paper. Then measure the distance between the heel to the place on the page where your longest toe ends.  If you are wearing any daily device or garment (examples: a brace or wraps) you’ll need to measure while wearing your item Don’t add any additional length for room. We add the extra room on our end. Step 2: Circumference of the ball of your foot (all the way around your foot) The ball of your foot is at the base of your toes meet the main part of your foot. It’s the same area that has the padding on the bottom of your foot. Step 3. Circumference of the instep (all the way around your foot) The instep is in the middle of your foot. This where many people have difficulty fitting into traditional shoe sizes. You might have swelling on the top of your foot or just a high instep. Step 4. Circumference of ankle (all the way around your ankle) We are looking for the measurement near your ankle. If you have lower leg swelling that interferes with putting shoes on (overhang) or if you are wearing a brace or any other device that takes up space in the ankle area, please let us know. Step 5. Input your measurements on our website Go to our FIND YOUR SIZE page and then input measurements into the Size Finder tool. Once in a while we hear a report that the form won’t submit or other frustrating obstacles. If this happens to you, just email us the measurements and we can enter the data manually. Email us at hello@pandereshoes if you have any problems or questions!  What happens next?  We will analyze your data and make a custom recommendation on both size and style for your particular circumstances. We will email you within 24 hours of submitting measurements. (Often less than 24 hours!) If it’s been 24 hours and you haven’t received our email with recommendations, please check your spam folder. That is usually the top culprit! If you didn’t receive anything from us, email us at hello@pandereshoes.com or chat with a Fit Specialist on our website. Option B: Size Yourself Some people just want to have the tools to determine their own size. This is fine if you don’t have a lot of complicated issues. In our happy perfect world, would love to have everyone give us foot measurements and then we would tell them what size would be recommended, because that leads to the highest success rate. We have posted new sizing charts for our Closed Toe shoes and if you follow the steps, you can probably get pretty close to what we would recommend. We would always encourage you to chat with us if you have any questions or if the outcome of the size chart doesn't seem right to you. Generally speaking, we find that lots of people need a larger size than they expect. We have developed our size charts very (VERY) differently than a size chart you'll find on any other website. (If you find anyone who has a chart like ours, they copied ours!) How do I use the chart? Step 1. Measure your foot length.  Put your larger foot on a piece of paper Trace around your foot with a pen/pencil Measure the longest length from heel to toe Go to the chart and find the size that your foot length fits into Find the shoe size that your foot length falls into on the chart Make sure that your foot length is not smaller than the Minimum Foot length Then make sure your foot length is not longer than the Maximum Foot length Step 2. Measure all the way around your instep Find the middle of your foot - this is where your arch is on the bottom and your instep is on the top Measure the circumference all the way around the middle of the foot Make sure your instep circumference measurement does not exceed the Maximum Instep circumference on the chart Pro Tips for sizing yourself! Don't size down! If you're on the Minimum Foot length, don't size down to the size smaller. This is especially true if you have foot swelling or any other condition that impacts shoe fit. Wear any garments or devices that you will be wearing with shoes. For example, wear your socks or compression garments when you're measuring. Wear your brace or velcro compression system when you're measuring. Chat with us if you have questions. We can help! What do I do if the shoes don’t fit? I wish we could claim that we get it right 100% of the time, but we don’t. Our customers come to us often with a lot of foot problems. Sometimes people measure wrong. (Actually this happens a lot - but we have a built in flag for this when you let us size you.) And other times, the measurements don’t take into account certain issues that don’t get captured through measurements. But it’s ok! We have an ah-Mazing exchange policy and you’ll hardly have to wait for your exchange pair to arrive. Exchanges are always Free! We pay shipping in both directions. We do this because a lot of our customers are hard to fit and we know that sometimes it takes more than one try. We prefer to have your foot measurements before you exchange because it helps us get an idea of foot shape and we can make pretty good predictions about what size and styles will work best for you.  Bonus! We don’t even make you wait for the original pair to get back to the warehouse! As soon as you request your return label through the return portal, we will set up the exchange order so it ships out the next business day! Return labels are emailed to you. If you need us to snail mail you a return label, just ask. We’re happy to do it!

Pandere CEO Laura Oden’s lymphedema really took a hold of her life in 1998. By this point, she realized cute shoes were probably out of the picture for good. Adding to the challenges, her chronic swelling was just in one foot. The other foot was perfectly normal.

You want your shoes to be comfortable. You want them to fit your feet well. And if you have trouble with swelling in your feet, you absolutely want to find the best shoes for edema. Too often, however, we struggle with finding the right shoes for edema feet. It can be challenge to find shoes that are comfortable, fit well and meet the right tone for various occasions. This is why we settle on shoes that might not be totally comfortable all of the time. Or we risk embarrassment by wearing comfortable shoes that are not appropriate for various events or activities. Nobody wants to wear shoes that don’t fit. And nobody wants to waste money and time on returning shoes. That’s why it is important to try to find the right edema shoes when you are looking for the best shoes in your situation. It’s easy to understand how you might wind up with the wrong shoes, of course. We all make mistakes. Here are the most common mistakes everyone makes when buying edema shoes. 1. You bought the wrong size Many of us don’t actually know our own shoe size. You might have an idea in your mind about what size shoe you wear, but that doesn’t mean it is actually the correct size. Buying shoes in the wrong size isn’t just a problem with shoes for edema patients. It’s a universal problem. What is most important to note is that you will never wear a single shoe size. Shoe manufacturers have different size guidelines and different styles of shoes fit your feet differently. You might wear a 7 in dress shoes, but need a 6.5 in sandals to keep them on your feet and even an 8 in athletic shoes. This can make shoe shopping a challenge, even before you add in the swelling that creates problems finding shoes for edematous feet. Your best bet is to first get measured for shoe sizes on a regular basis. Feet grow and spread over time. Your feet can change shape. Get measured every six months to a year to be sure you’re wearing the right size shoe. Then, try on your shoes as best you can before you buy them. If you know that in one brand you wear a larger size than in another brand, you can use that information as you shop online for shoes. Or, even better, skip the sizing issues all together and simply buy adjustable shoes for edema. 2. You didn’t read reviews Shopping online has tremendous benefits over shopping in stores, specially for shoes for people with edema. You have greater options in footwear. You have expanded sizes. You also have specifically made shoes for edematous feet. But what makes online shopping even better is that you have access to reviews as well. If you are looking at edema footwear, but want to know more about how the shoe fits, what other customers are experiencing with the shoe or simply what the material feels like, you can read the reviews. There are multiple websites dedicated to reviews on footwear and to the companies that make it. If you don’t read the reviews, you may not know what to expect in terms of delivery and returns, or if the shoes tend to run big or small. Read what others have said, and write up your own experience in turn to help those shopping later. 3. You didn’t fit the widest part of your foot Edema footwear needs to fit the widest part of your foot. If you suffer from edema and also have high arches or a bunion, you should take that into account when you’re shopping. Just like you should buy clothes for the widest part of your body, you should be buying shoes for the widest part of your foot. If you realize that your shoes are too loose in other ways once you fit the widest part, it may be that you need to shop for another brand of shoe, another style or perhaps just find a pair of adjustable shoes for edema. 4. You chose fashion over comfort We all want to look and feel good in our shoes. But looking good shouldn’t matter more than feeling good. If you choose fashion over function, you might get away with it for a little while. But eventually you’re going to have problems. Fashionable shoes often are made without much consideration for comfort, and they are certainly not designed to accommodate wider feet or those with feet that swell during the day. Even if you absolutely love a pair of shoes because they are so stylish, forcing your feet into those shoes can lead to long-term foot damage and short term pain. Buy shoes that fit comfortably instead. 5. You didn’t leave room for growth Buying shoes for children requires leaving a bit of room in the toe for feet to grow. Buying the best shoes for edema means almost the same thing. You need to buy shoes that have some wiggle room or give to accommodate your feet and ankles throughout the day. Adjustable shoes for edema offer plenty of ways to make room as your feet swell, especially if your feet swell a great deal during the day and then come down in size overnight. But even without adjustable shoes for edema, choose your shoes carefully to be sure they have room at the sides and the top of the shoe to accommodate swelling. 6. You bought a shoe designed for men If you’re a man looking at men’s shoes for edema, this is a mistake that doesn’t apply to you. However, if you’re looking for shoes for women with edema, you might be tempted to check out the selection for men. This might be a mistake, however, because women’s footwear is not the same as men’s. While some shoes are interchangeable between men and women – slides, for example – others are not as versatile. If you are looking for professional shoes tailored to a woman’s smaller foot, you can’t just buy men’s shoes and expect them to fit the bill. The best shoes for women with edema are shoes that incorporate feminine styles but include options for growth and stretch during the day. Men’s shoes are often bulkier, heavier and might not be much wider than traditional women’s shoes. 7. You bought shoes too quickly If you grab the first pair of shoes that comes in your size, you may be buying your shoes too quickly. Shoes fit differently and they can vary in fit even in the same manufacturer. Don’t just grab the first pair you try on that seem tolerable. Instead, try on a few different pairs or buy multiple pairs online with plans to return the ones that don’t fit well. Just be sure you research the return policies first! Trying on multiple shoes before committing to a purchase allows you to test different brands and different styles. Grab and go footwear purchases might leave you a pair that fits, but you might have missed an opportunity to get something much better. At the very least, you’ll have a better idea of sizes and fit across multiple brands and shoe styles by trying on a large selection. 8. You think all shoes are naturally a bit uncomfortable If you’ve been wearing regular shoes instead of edema shoes, you have likely experienced some of the discomfort that comes from poorly fitted footwear. But if you’ve been jamming your feet into poorly fitted shoes for a long period of time, you may not even recognize how accustomed you’ve become to discomfort. It is not normal for your shoes to be uncomfortable. Your feet should not hurt every time you have to wear your shoes. If you can’t find comfortable edema shoes, then consider new brands or special adjustable shoes for edema that you can customize to your liking.   9. You didn’t buy shoes with enough support One thing that has been known to happen when looking for edema shoes, is trading too much comfort for a lack of support. Not having a solid shoe supporting your arches and heels can result in foot and even hip pain over time. You need plenty of give and room in your edema footwear, but wearing slippers all of time can be dangerous to your ongoing foot health. Find shoes that are soft like slippers around your feet, but blend that softness and comfort with a study sole that includes proper arch support and some give for when you walk to protect your feet, especially if you are on your feet for long stretches of time on a daily basis. 10. You didn’t try your shoes on with socks If you are used to wearing slippers or slides on a regular basis, you might have gotten in the habit of wearing your shoes without socks. But when you go to try on your shoes for edema feet, you need to be sure that you are trying on shoes the way you’re going to wear them on a regular basis. That means if you are trying on shoes for work, then you need to be trying on your shoes with socks. Shoes fit differently over bare feet than they do over socks. Different socks also can make a difference as well in how shoes fit as well. Thicker socks can help protect your feet, especially as feet adjust in size throughout the day. Thinner socks can help shoes fit more smoothly over your feet. Be sure that you try on shoes with the socks you plan on wearing with them on the daily basis. 11. You shopped for shoes in the morning All feet grow in size over the course of the day. This is especially true for those suffering from edema. Edema shoes should take this natural growth into account, but we don’t always remember how much our feet can swell if we shop for shoes in the morning. The best time to shop for new shoes for people with edema is when your feet are most swollen, likely at the end of the day. This ensures that you have shoes that fit comfortably when your feet and ankles are at their least comfortable. Even if you are shopping online for new shoes for edema patients, be sure to measure your feet at the end of the day and use those measurements as you are finding the proper size. Remember that adjustable shoes for edema will have the most grace in sizes, often allowing you to change the size of the overall shoe as the day progresses so that the time of day doesn’t matter as much for shoe shopping purposes. 12. You only tried on one shoe We’ve all done it. You’re in a hurry or trying on lots of pairs of shoes, so you simply try on one shoe in the pair to get an idea of how they fit. This can be a mistake. Everyone’s feet are different sizes. And when your feet swell due to edema, they are going to be even less evenly matched. To decide if a shoe fits comfortably, you should be trying on both shoes in a set. It is very possible that a shoe may fit your right foot differently than it fits the left. To find the best shoes for edema, you need to try on the full set – don’t buy a pair of shoes when you’ve only tried on half of the purchase. 13. You assume a shoe will stretch over time In the case of leather shoes and boots, you can expect a bit of stretch over time. Some people still buy shoes a bit snug anticipating some stretch over time. After all, if a shoe stretches too much, it will wind up too big. This is not the right advice for edema footwear, however. You can count on your feet growing over the course of the day and possibly the week. Modern shoes are often not constructed of leather, which means they aren’t going to do any stretching. If they do, it will be minimal and it will come at the expense of your feet. Buy shoes that fit the first time you try them on. Don’t assume the shoes will stretch to accommodate your feet, because they probably won’t. 14. You bought one pair of shoes for all occasions Edema shoes can be a challenge to find, and when you find a pair that is comfortable and fits well, it’s natural to want to wear that shoe as often as possible. After all, isn’t a comfortable set of edema shoes the goal? It is absolutely true that you want your edema shoes to be comfortable. But you don’t want a single pair of shoes for all occasion. Don’t fall into the trap of buying a single pair of shoes and then trying to make that pair work for every single thing you do over the course of the day or week. You can’t jog in your work shoes. You can’t work in an office in the same shoes you use to cut the grass. Find a brand of edema shoes that works for you and fits well. Then invest in multiple pairs to help you cover the range of activities you can expect in your daily life.