Love these!
Toe Spacers Review I bought 3 different types of toe spacers by 4 different brands and will copy and paste this review under each product. They include the Vyce PrimalStep in sizes Sm/M, L, and XL which wrap around all the toes, the Mind Bodhi size L that also wrap around the outer toes, the Golbylicc size Med that do not have the outer toe wraparounds (similar to Correct Toes with similar reviews but way less expensive), and the Yoga Toes Gems for Men, the most expensive of the bunch. Quick review: I love them all but they do have distinct differences. The PrimalSteps (overall winners) and Mind Bodhi style are best for all purpose use. You can wear them barefoot, in regular or toe socks, in wide toe shoes, flip flops and huaraches. They are very soft, squishy and flexible, and they come in different sizes. The Golbylicc or Correct Toes style spacers are a much stiffer material with very little flexibility and work best with shoes and regular socks because the lack of outer toe wraps allows them to slip off more easily. The Yoga Toes Gems are best suited for lounging around watching TV or whatever. They are very stiff, with a large base that makes them difficult to walk in, and they give the biggest stretch out of them all. These seem like they are meant for people large feet who already have a decent gap between their toes or for people who have been wearing toe spacers for years, have met their splay goal, and just want a little extra stretch at the end of the day. A couple quick observations: Firstly, if you haven’t bought wide toe box shoes yet, do it now! There’s no point in spacing out your toes just to cram them back into the same shoes that caused the problem in the first place. If it’s the $80-$130 price point that’s stopping you, buy cheap brands. I got my Hobibears for $30-$40. I plan to also try Whitins and Saguros as well. IMO, they’re minimalist shoes so I expect them to wear out and need replacing often. I don’t see the need to drop $120 every time when the $30 brands offer the same features. Secondly, buy a brand toe spacer that has multiple sizes. Based on the measurements for the PrimalSteps, I should wear a large. However I could not get my toes into a large at first. I’m a size 10.5-11 with narrow feet and long, skinny, squished toes but no true bunion. After a few weeks with the Sm/M’s, I was able to fit into the large. After a month in the large, while wearing them, I could splay my toes wider than the spacers. So I moved to the extra large and feel I get the best stretch with them. Thirdly, I don’t think passively wearing toe spacers will yield much benefit. IMO, toes should be stretched out while they are being used. The old school of thinking was that to gain the most flexibility, a muscle should be stretched without any activation of that muscle. That might allow for a greater stretch but not better real world flexibility. Newer science tells us that greater flexibility is achieved by stretching the muscle while it’s under load and being activated. Kind of in the same way our toes became squished in the first place. It wasn’t by wearing tight shoes while laying on the couch. It was from walking around in tight shoes, day in and day out, year after year. Also, don’t expect results from wearing toe spacers alone. You need to be doing range of motion and strengthening exercises for your feet and toes as well. These, plus replacing your narrow shoes with wide toe shoes will give you the results you’re after. Lastly, WATCH OUT FOR PLANTAR WARTS! I haven’t seen any brands warning about this, but if you wear them outdoors barefoot or shower in communal showers or have open cuts on your feet or toes, you will be susceptible to plantar warts. It will completely stall your progress if you have to treat your wart for weeks or months. I suggest inspecting your skin often and washing your feet and spacers with soap and water at least once or twice a day minimum. In depth review: After wearing toe spacers for a few months now, I feel I have a better understanding of what I want from a toe spacer and how they should be used. IMO, the outer material that comes into contact with the skin should be soft and delicate with enough give that if I activate the muscles in my toes, they should be able to overcome the strength of the material, squishing in if I squeeze and stretching out if I splay. The material should give under this pressure. Inside the soft outer shell, should be a harder, denser material that should have a little give, but can also withstand the pressure of my toes wanting to come together, even with muscle activation. The PrimalStep XL does this well, but the smaller sized PrimalSteps and the Mind Bodhi size L tend to give in to my toe pressure when I actively squeeze. I noticed Vice has an adjustable PrimalStep with plug inserts for extra strength and stretch, but they are not available on Amazon at this time, and they do not come in XL, just a 4 pack with 2 S/M’s and 2 L’s. I don’t mind if they wear out quickly. I want that outer material to be a little flimsy because I’d rather it wear out instead of the skin on my toes. Just be mindful when putting them on, taking them off and wearing them barefoot on hard scratchy surfaces. At under $20 a pair, they’re still way cheaper than some other brands. I would try the Mind Bodhi in an XL if they ever offer it. After washing they will be become sticky, making them difficult to put on. Just sprinkle a little baby powder or corn starch on them and they’ll glide on easily. After wearing them a while and your toes have spaced out a bit, you’ll want them a little sticky to help keep them from sliding off. The Golbylicc Correct Toes style does have its purpose. If you’re on your feet all day and need something that won’t take up too much space in your shoes, these may work best. They offer very little toe splay so they might be better for someone just starting out. They are significantly stiffer than the other styles so expect to form calluses between your toes. Again, inspect your toes daily for signs of irritation or broken skin. Be patient and give your skin time to adapt. Yoga Toes Gems. I don’t know if it’s just me, but these really feel like they’re meant for seasoned toe splayers or those with huge feet and a decent natural toe gap. I can only wear them for an hour before my toes feel like they’re dislocating from the joint. Maybe i should have gotten the smaller size but these are what the manufacturer recommends according to my foot measurements. Once I’m happy with my toe splay and no longer wear spacers all day, I plan to wear these while lounging around for a little extra stretch or to maintain flexibility. Read more
