My experience with products associated with the ‘barefoot movement’.

Noticing a Problem

I had a strange and sudden revelation. My feet hurt and I couldn’t stand it anymore. It was all I could think about. When I was walking, I noticed the sides of my feet growing tender from pressure. When I was running, I was constantly adjusting my toes to minimize pain. It wasn’t always like that. What happened? My best guess is that I was getting older, and my inflammation response wasn’t as quick to subside. I couldn’t accept this as the norm, so I started to seek out a solution.

Doing Some Research

I took to the internet. I read about bunions and tailor’s bunions. I looked at dozens of pictures and diagnosed myself with both of those. I read about bone spurs and examined my feet exhaustively. I read about how shoes can exacerbate these problems and I’m horrified at myself for shoving my feet into narrow shoes. I bought shoe stretchers with bunion-shaped pegs and got to work on my footwear.

Foot appearance before any changes.

Also in my internet search, I came across the barefoot community. These folks talk about how our footwear disables feet from functioning properly. They explain that shoes scrunch up our toes and we lose muscle strength and flexibility. I look at x-rays and pictures of feet in and outside of shoes. There’s talk about liberating yourself from oppressive modern footwear — with products for sale! There are toe straighteners and special shoes. It’s seems kind of gimmicky, but some of what I’m reading resonates with me. After all, the pain in my feet is real.

Before I buy into the products, I do my due-diligence with critical thinking. I read that bunions are not genetic, but are inflicted by narrow footwear. I don’t believe this because of my hands, which also have some outward bone growth. I’m not going to be too hard on myself that the bunions are all my own fault. But, my pinky toe is totally curved under. I don’t see my pinky toenail without purposely uncurling my toe. That doesn’t seem right to me. Suppose shoes have suffocated my toe into that position.

Testing Solutions

I decided to try out some things that may improve the health of my feet, or something. Three things, in fact: two products and one change in habit. I purchased Correct Toes toe spacers, and ‘barefoot’ shoes. For the habit change, I ditch my running shoes and run barefoot on the treadmill. Here are my first impressions of these changes.

Correct Toes toe spacers. I saw these advertised on most of the foot health websites I browsed. If you’re here, you probably already know about them. But if you don’t, peruse their website here to see what they’re about. I thought they were gimmicky and pricey for something similar to pedicure toe spacers. However, I bought into the idea that if I put my toes in the correct position, my muscles could build up enough so that they stay that way. When they arrived, I put them on after work (when my feet were hurting) and they felt amazing. I guess my toes really needed to stretch out. When I wore them to work the next day, I expected them to bother me and to have to take them off mid-day. Surprisingly, I didn’t have any problems. I liked them. I was very aware of my toes, and I kept flexing my feet and getting a sense for them. Barefoot shoes. Making this purchase was super hard. I scoured online retailers for a discrete-looking pair of barefoot shoes. Basically, I wanted Keds with a wide toe-box. I thought all the options looked goofy, or too hippie, or not something I could wear to work. I finally settled on an all-black pair of SoftStars. When they arrived at my apartment, I skeptically opened and examined them. I put on my toe spacers, and tried on the shoe. I was excited that they fit well with the toe spacers. They felt like soft leather slippers and I felt really light on my feet. I was a little self conscious wearing them to work in fear that people would question me about them. I think you only notice the shape if you look directly down on them, and the only person to do that is the wearer. Barefoot running. I bought barefoot day-to-day shoes, but didn’t want to spend money on barefoot gym shoes without learning if I liked them. Therefore, I chose to run barefoot (in my toe spacers and socks) on the treadmill. While running barefoot, I’d notice pains and adjust my stride or strike point. I think cushy running shoes allow you to throw your feet in front of you at any rate without noticing misalignment or pressure points. I was surprised that I could run just as fast barefoot as I could with my previous gym shoes. And, of course, I had no issue with squished toes.

50 Days Later

It’s been almost two months since I ran my N=1 experiment to try to improve my foot health. I can report that I don’t have any foot pain, and I believe that narrow shoes truly were my culprit. Since my product first impressions, I’ve bought a second pair of day-to-day barefoot shoes and a pair of barefoot gym shoes for running.

Do I feel better?

Absolutely yes. I can’t pinpoint all the causal relationships, but I don’t have any foot pain currently. Did my bunions go away?

No, and I don’t think they will. Are my toes straighter?

I think so! My pinky toe is still curled inwards, but in my opinion it looks better. Are my feet stronger?

I think that I have more control over my toes. However, I can’t attribute it to the products or if I’m just extra aware of my toes and have been flexing them frequently. Will I keep wearing the toe straighteners?

Maybe every once in a while, but i don’t see myself wearing them continually long-term. Will I keep wearing barefoot shoes?

Absolutely whenever possible. I hope more companies start making them to provide more styles & options. Will I keep running barefoot?

I bought barefoot running shoes from Merrell. But, if I’m ever without them I would run barefoot over wearing typical gym shoes for sure.

Conclusions

Ultimately, I recommend everyone try toe spacers, barefoot shoes, and barefoot running if they have foot pain. Don’t settle thinking daily pain is the norm. If your feet don’t fit into conventional shoes, don’t be embarrassed about it and don’t suffer through it! Find what works for you. I’m happy to answer questions for anyone who has them, and I hope this writing helps you!