Foot-shaped shoes

The problem with conventional shoes

The human foot, in its natural form, has toes that spread out. But most shoes will force the toes together, eventually changing the shape of the foot.

This affects almost everyone who wears shoes. Some people are more affected than others, but by age 50, half of all people in the USA develop a noticeable toe deformity, such as bunions or hammertoes.

The unnatural fit of the shoe, even when not directly noticed, might also be a reason why some people don't enjoy exercise.

The problem with "barefoot"-style shoes

So-called "barefoot"-style shoes are an option, but they don't provide much cushioning at the sole. While it's true that humans were probably "meant to walk barefoot", we weren't meant to walk barefoot on pavement for long periods of time.

Solution: Foot-shaped shoes

Basic design

Lots of sole cushioning, just like a conventional shoe.
Lots of room in the toes - enough to accommodate even the most natural foot shape.
Snug at the ankle, to prevent the foot from slipping forward too much in the shoe.

Next steps

Help design this kind of shoe: See page:

/Design 1

More

Fashion-wise, there are two ways to design the shoe's appearance:

Option 1: Embrace the new look (...)( some say it looks like "clown shoes" - maybe just roll with it, make it even more clown-like just for fun )
Option 2: Mask the new look (...)( i.e. by using light/dark accenting to form the silhouette of a conventional shoe )

Foot-shaped shoes could be worn with toe spacers to maybe help undo some of the effects of wearing conventional shoes.

Until the shoe design can be realized, here are some other things you can do to give your feet a rest from conventional shoes:
- Walk barefoot on grass Note: For safety, do it only in the daytime, pay attention to the ground, make sure there are no needles to step on, etc.

Existing shoes that somewhat fit this general principle

This section has not been filled in yet.

FAQ

"What about wide shoes?"

Wide shoes are wide at the ball of the foot but not at the toes. Not a solution.

"Aren't bunions genetic?"

Bunions are hereditary, but are not proven to be genetic.
- In other words, there's only a correlation between {having a bunion} and {having parents that have a bunion}. The correlation is not necessarily because of genes. It could just as easily be because parents & children tend to live in the same society with the same types of shoes available (and also may have similar habits regarding physical activity, statistically speaking). Scientific articles usually mention this, but journalists often don't. Most people aren't expected to know the difference between "hereditary" and "genetic", but in this case, it's extremely important.
There are probably genes for foot width and ligament plasticity, which might make a person more prone to developing a bunion. But it is still the shoe that is causing the bunion by chronically displacing the big toe. Bunions are almost unheard of in places where people don't wear shoes.

"How did conventional shoes get to be so restrictive in the first place?"

Someone probably thought it looked good, the style caught on, and not enough people bothered to question it.
Foot measuring tools (for shoe size) never included the width at the toes (only the width at the ball of the foot).