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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
6 min read
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
September 15, 2026
Last reviewed: 15 September 2026
Applies to: UK
Written by: Georgina, Founder of Purpl
If you only need one shoe, it can be incredibly frustrating to have to pay for a pair when you know the second one will never be worn.
The good news is that there are options in the UK. schuh and adidas both offer eligible customers the option to buy a single shoe for 50% of the normal pair price, while Jo’s Odd Shoes helps match people with donated single shoes and odd-sized footwear.
The arrangements vary between retailers, though, and an “odd shoe scheme” is not always the same as being able to buy one shoe. We’ve pulled together the options we could confirm, how they work and what to check before you make a journey to a store.
There are currently a few different routes depending on whether you want to buy a particular style or are happy to explore donated footwear.
| Supplier or community | What is available | Cost | How to access |
|---|---|---|---|
| schuh | Single shoes, subject to stock and exclusions | 50% of pair price | Primarily in store |
| adidas | Single shoes for eligible customers | 50% of listed pair price | adidas-owned UK stores and outlets |
| Jo’s Odd Shoes | Donated single shoes and odd-sized footwear | Postage and packing | Facebook community |
| Clarks | Odd Shoe Scheme for different-sized feet | Ask in store | Clarks stores |
The biggest distinction is whether you need one shoe or two shoes in different sizes. Retailers may treat these as completely different requests, so it is worth being clear about exactly what you need when you contact them.
schuh offers a particularly useful option for customers who need one shoe because of a disability or limb difference.
Eligible customers can buy a single shoe for 50% of the pair price. So if the pair normally costs £80, the single shoe would cost £40.
The service is primarily available in store and depends on the footwear being in stock. Section 22 of schuh’s terms and conditions also notes that some products or promotions may be excluded.
If getting to a shop is difficult, or your local branch cannot fulfil the request, schuh recommends contacting its Customer Experience Team to discuss what support may be available.
It is worth calling ahead before travelling, particularly if you already know the style, size and whether you need the left or right shoe.
Purpl Tip: schuh also offers Purpl members 10% off eligible purchases, but this discount cannot currently be combined with a single-shoe purchase.
adidas also runs a dedicated single-shoe service for customers with a leg limb difference.
You can buy one shoe for 50% of the listed pair price at participating adidas-owned UK stores, including outlets. The service applies to footwear that is in stock and can include adult shoes, children’s shoes, sale lines and outlet footwear.
It is important to check the type of store before travelling. The service does not apply to standard online orders, adidas franchise stores or third-party retailers that happen to sell adidas footwear.
You can read the current details on the adidas UK single-shoe service page.
If there is a particular trainer you want, calling the store first could save you a wasted journey.
Not everyone needs or wants to buy a brand-new shoe, and this is where Jo’s Odd Shoes offers a different kind of option.
The community helps people who only wear one shoe, or who need odd-sized footwear, find shoes that other people no longer need.
Finding Your Feet, a charity supporting amputees, recommends the group and explains that the shoes themselves are offered free, with recipients normally covering postage and packing. You can find more information through its Jo’s Odd Shoes page.
Because the service relies on donated footwear, availability naturally changes. When posting a request, include as much useful information as you can, such as:
Finding Your Feet itself does not accept shoe donations, so anyone wanting to donate should use the link to Jo’s Odd Shoes rather than sending footwear directly to the charity.
Clarks is slightly different.
It advertises an Odd Shoe Scheme for customers who have significantly different-sized feet. That can be extremely useful if you need two shoes in different sizes, but the information published by Clarks does not currently confirm that the scheme allows an amputee to buy only one shoe.
The Clarks in-store ordering information advises customers who need different sizes to speak to a store.
If Clarks is your preferred brand, it is worth contacting your nearest branch and explaining what you need. Ask specifically whether they can supply just one shoe and what you would be charged.
Purpl Insight: “Odd shoes” and “single shoes” sound similar, but retailers do not always mean the same thing by them. Always explain whether you need one shoe or a pair in two different sizes.
A quick call before you travel can make the whole process easier.
Tell the retailer the style and size you are interested in, whether you need the left or right shoe and whether you have any particular fitting requirements.
You may also want to ask:
Returns can be particularly important if you need to check how the footwear works alongside a prosthesis, orthotic or other mobility equipment.
Saving the retailer’s single-shoe information on your phone can also be helpful if staff in a particular branch are unfamiliar with the scheme.
schuh and adidas both have confirmed single-shoe services for eligible UK customers, with one shoe costing 50% of the usual pair price. Jo’s Odd Shoes is another option if you are happy to look for donated footwear.
Yes. Both schuh and adidas have arrangements that allow eligible customers to buy one shoe rather than a full pair, subject to their individual terms and stock availability.
The schuh and adidas schemes covered in this guide are not available through their normal online checkout.
If visiting a schuh store is difficult, contact its Customer Experience Team and explain your circumstances. Their published terms do not guarantee a particular remote ordering arrangement, but the team may be able to advise on your options.
Not at schuh. The terms of the current Purpl schuh discount specifically exclude single-shoe purchases. Other retailer offers may have different terms, so always check before ordering.
Jo’s Odd Shoes is one place to explore. Check the group’s current process before posting or sending footwear.
If you are approaching another organisation, contact them before sending anything because not every disability or amputee charity is able to accept footwear donations.
That is usually treated differently from a single-shoe purchase.
Clarks has an Odd Shoe Scheme aimed at people who need significantly different shoe sizes, while schuh recommends contacting its Customer Experience Team about mixed-size requirements.
Always check the pricing because the single-shoe 50% arrangements do not automatically apply when you need two shoes.
If you only wear one shoe, you should not automatically have to pay for two.
schuh and adidas are already showing that major retailers can offer a more practical alternative, while Jo’s Odd Shoes gives people another way to find footwear through the amputee and limb-difference community.
What is still missing is greater choice.
Someone may need work shoes, walking boots, smart shoes, trainers or something suitable for a particular medical or mobility need. The more retailers that introduce single-shoe purchasing, the easier it becomes for people to choose footwear based on what they actually want and need, rather than which brands happen to offer a scheme.
Online access would make a significant difference too, particularly for people who find travelling to shops difficult.
Georgina is the Founder of Purpl, a disabled-led UK discount and support platform created to help reduce the extra cost of disability.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis herself, Georgina writes practical guides about disability benefits, household savings, accessibility and the everyday financial realities faced by disabled people and people with long term health conditions.
She created Purpl to give disabled people, people with long term health conditions and carers access to verified discounts, useful support and practical tools that can make everyday life more affordable.
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