Educational Articles

Toe Spring

Posted By Robyn Hughes, ND

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Comments
February 22, 2021
Emilio

I wonder why it’s so practically impossible to find a shoe with 0 degrees of toe spring, even in the world of minimalist shoes. One company explained to me that toe spring is to facilitate walking, but if the materials involved are flexible, toe spring has no sense. Rather, I think it is a challenge for shoe manufacturers to achieve a totally flat shoe, with no heel and no toe spring. But in principle, I’m sure that zero toe spring is incomparable because the big toe, in particular, will have no need to fight with the sole, both when standing and during the different phases of gait.

February 22, 2021
Natural Footgear

You make some excellent points, Emilio! You might enjoy this article from our Popular Q&A blog that discusses the two main types of toe spring built into footwear:

www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/popular-q-a/what-are-the-different-types-of-toe-spring-built-into-shoes

I think it is very difficult for footwear companies to produce footwear with zero toe spring. Even in minimalist shoes with supremely flexible soles, there is usually some degree of (highly compressible) toe spring that is a byproduct of the manufacturing process—something that stems from how the upper of a given shoe attaches to its outsole. So, in a perfect world, all shoes would be devoid of toe spring, but a shoe with a flexible sole can still be compatible with optimal foot health.

I hope this info helps!

All the best,
Robyn Hughes, ND

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