Tapering Toe Boxes

Toe box taper—the narrowing of a shoe from the ball of your foot to the ends of your toes—is one of the most harmful features of conventional... Read more
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Rigid, inflexible soles are a common inclusion in most conventional footwear. Most shoe manufacturers have taken the idea of foot sole protection and gone well beyond what is necessary or healthy for your foot. In most cases, only a thin layer of material between your foot and the ground is required for adequate foot protection. And people who have grown up in a barefoot culture may not require any sort of external foot protection.
The biggest problem with rigid, inflexible soles is that they hold your foot in a compromised and deforming position, both during activity and at rest. Stiff soles, then, when combined with other problematic shoe design features—tapering toe boxes, toe spring, and heel elevation—effectively immobilize your foot in an abnormal configuration and prevent your foot structures from performing the way nature intended. Think of it this way: What other body parts do you immobilize for prolonged periods? Why would it be effective or advantageous to do this to your feet? When you wear shoes with rigid soles, it’s like putting your foot in a cast and expecting it to get stronger.
Stiff-soled shoes are also an impediment to mindful walking or running. With a stiff-soled shoe, there is no need to consider your foot placement, how your foot is striking the ground, and what effect this is having on your gait, posture, and musculoskeletal health (including joint health). Stiff, inflexible soles cause you to lose the tactile sensation of the ground—a true detriment to anyone interested in the full array of sensations possible when hiking or running.
Rigid soles, though believed by many to be beneficial, may actually hinder your foot’s propulsive ability, contribute to immediate and long-term foot, ankle, and other musculoskeletal problems, and increase your likelihood of injury from poor foot placement. Search for shoes that can easily be folded in half (sole of the forefoot touching sole of the heel), preferably with just one hand. This folding ability is an indication of a flexible and foot-healthy sole. Also consider the degree to which you can twist the soles of your shoes. A shoe that's easily twistable is another excellent indicator of sole stiffness and appropriateness. You should be able to bend your shoe in multiple directions with minimal effort.
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The above content is for educational or informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or augment professional medical instruction, diagnosis, or treatment. Read full disclaimer here.$105.00
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Toe box taper—the narrowing of a shoe from the ball of your foot to the ends of your toes—is one of the most harmful features of conventional... Read more
Heel elevation is a design element present in almost every shoe, from dress shoes to work boots to running shoes, though there is... Read more
I was amused to read about the hazards of hard soles when that is exactly what I am seeking for my bicycle adventures. The rat-trap pedals hurt my feet when they dig through the soft rubber soles. I remember when shoes were hard leather soled. I can’t use modern bike shoes due to the silly straps atop them. I use toe clips, which means I must insert the toe of my shoe without hindrance.
Hi, John,
Thank you for your message and for checking out our article about rigid soles! I would suggest trying out the Topo Sante (a current shoe offering on the Natural Footgear site). It incorporates a Boa closure system and is a good option for flat-pedal cycling, as it has a slightly stiffer sole than some of our other offerings. In addition, instead of “rat-trap” pedals, have you heard of Power Grips? This is a great product for cyclists who want to stick with (or shift to) flat pedals. Also, you might like this article about cycling shoe surgery:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17861648-cycling-shoe-surgery
Wishing you the best in foot health, and please let us know if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Laura Trentman
My understanding is that rigid soles are actually a good thing for people with a Morton’s neuroma because they keep the foot from flexing and pinching the nerve.
Hi, Dan,
Thank you for your comment. There are two principle forces that cause neuromas to develop in any part of the body, including the foot:
1. Pinch forces
2. Stretch forces
Wearing conventional footwear subjects the foot to both these forces via tapering toe boxes (pinch) and heel elevation and toe spring (stretch). So, the nerves in the ball of the foot are already vulnerable in conventional footwear, and then adding rigid soles into the mix increases the pressure on the nerves (and other sensitive ball of foot structures) that much more.
Here are some resources that you might find helpful if you want to dive deeper into the topic of neuromas:
Neuromas eCourse:
www.naturalfootgear.com/pages/do-you-have-foot-pain
Neuromas & Natural Foot Health:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17888880-neuromas-natural-foot-health
Neuromas: Conventional vs. Natural Approaches:
www.naturalfootgear.com/blogs/education/17888868-neuromas-conventional-vs-natural-approaches
I hope this info helps!
Kind regards,
Laura Trentman