You have your duffel bag packed, membership card in hand, and looking forward to another day at the gym. But as you step your first step outside your home, you feel mild discomfort from your feet. You didn’t mind it at first, but the pain only grew more intense with every step you took.
Anxious about what this could be, you hurried back to your home, cracked open your laptop, and did an internet search for your symptoms. You grew even more anxious as you learned that this could be a symptom of a multitude of foot ailments, such as metatarsalgia, bunion, hammertoe, plantar fasciitis, and heel spur.
Luckily for you, your podiatrist told you that you could get back on your feet as soon as possible with the help of a gel toe separator. These orthotic devices can help relieve foot pain without costly and invasive surgical procedures. While you still need to address the underlying causes of the foot pain, you can achieve temporary and immediate pain relief with toe separators.
In this article, we rounded up the best three gel toe separators available in the market. Read on to know more about them, and take your pick!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are Toe Separators Good for Your Feet?
More severe foot ailments usually cause mild discomfort and sharp foot pain. Some foot problems can be resolved by correcting bad habits and regular exercise, while others may require a trip to the surgeon. Whichever the case may be, a toe separator can always help lessen the pain you have to endure.
Typically made of comfortable materials such as foam and silicon, toe spreaders are designed to put space between your toes to promote better podiatric health. Since most foot problems start with bad habits such as wearing tight-fitting shoes, toe spreaders can restore your toes’ natural alignment and prevent the development of more serious ailments.
How to Separate Toes Using Gel Toe Separators?
Using gel toe separators is pretty straightforward: simply put them on your feet. When you slip them on, make sure that each spacer sits snugly between your foot’s digits. Otherwise, they would only make your foot pain feel worse and may lead to more severe complications.
If you wish to use them regularly, you have to ensure that your shoes fit your foot with gel toe separators. Your shoes might have a small toe box that crams your toes together. Besides purchasing a pair of toe spacers, you should also consider changing your footwear.
How Long Should You Leave Toe Separators On?
Depending on your needs and personal preferences, there are many ways to answer this question.
You may choose to wear toe separators during your daily activities, from your morning jog up to your commute from work. However, you have to acclimate your feet first by wearing them for a few hours each day and gradually having them on a little bit longer after each day that passes by.
If you’re not comfortable with wearing a toe spacer inside your shoe, you can wear them during your sleep every night instead. Think of it as putting your feet to sleep while allowing the toe separators to do their job by realigning your toes during your slumber.
What Are the Best Toe Separators?
Gel Toe Separators by Bestrice
Specs at a Glance:
- Offers immediate pain relief for feet afflicted with various foot problems such as bunions, corns, plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, and cramps
- Provides comfort and flexibility to your toes with its soft, high-quality, durable, and medical-grade silicone gel material
- Suitable for all range of activities from relaxing on your sofa to hiking up a mountain trail during the weekends
- Promotes healthy blood circulation with its anatomical design that is scientifically tested and proven
Immediate Pain Relief
Made of medical-grade soft gel silicone, the Bestrice toe separators provide comfort and support to your toes while also soft to the touch. Thanks to their podiatrist-approved anatomical design, these toe separators hit the right spots to provide your foot with immediate bunion pain relief.
As a bonus, it also regulates good blood circulation to the different parts of your foot, preventing problems like cramps.
Easy to Wash and Maintain
Most athletes think twice about wearing orthotics because of the sweat generated during their physically intensive activities. Foam toe separators often absorb sweat and other bodily fluids, increasing the likelihood of fungal growth.
Because they are made of soft and durable silicone gel, the Bestrice toe separators don’t absorb moisture and can easily be cleaned with soap and water. As a result, athletes don’t have to worry about microbes and bacterial infections while wearing these toe spacers.
Downsides
Some customers report that these toe separators may be too rigid for their toes. One customer even said that their toes turned blue once they slipped them on. In addition, cutting blood circulation in your toes is a serious health risk that can lead to even worse problems for your feet.
Take advantage of the return and refund policy by trying them on for a few days to ensure a perfect and comfortable fit for your toes.
Small Purple Gel Toe Separators by Yoga Toes
Specs at a Glance:
- Comes in different sizing options for both men and women
- Recommended by podiatrists due to effective pain relief and promotion of good foot health
- Made of BPA-free and medical-grade silicone gel material for sensitive skin
- Restores the natural positions and alignment of the toes for healthier feet
- Relaxes the toes by introducing ample space between them
Made of BPA-Free and Medical-Grade Material
Synthetic materials such as plastics and silicone can be harmful to many people, especially those with sensitive skin. Allergic reactions can be triggered by bisphenol A or BPA, an industrial chemical found in many products made with plastic and resin.
The YogaToes toe separators can accommodate most people with the latex-free, BPA-free, and medical-grade silicone gel material. You can rest easy knowing that these toe separators sitting in your toes will not irritate or harm your skin in any way.
Patented Design for Snug Fit
A common problem among people with active lifestyles is that their toe separators can’t just keep up with their intense daily activities. For example, ill-fitting toe separators can come loose during your morning jog or yoga sessions. Different toe separators have their own designs to remedy this problem.
Among these designs, YogaToes’ patented EZ-Fit Ends stand out among the rest. This design secures the separator on your foot without the risk of them coming loose. You might think that the mechanism feels uncomfortable, but it feels more closely to a warm embrace that envelopes your toes.
Downsides
Multiple customer reviews complain about ill-fitting units. When it comes to sizing, your mileage may vary because of how unique foot sizes and shapes are.
ToePal Gel Separators by DR JK
Specs at a Glance:
- Comes in two pairs
- Features a unique loop design
- Made of stretchable and soft silicone gel
- One-size-fits-all sizing
Promotes Healthy Blood Circulation
Tight-fitting shoes cramp toes together, which can prevent blood from flowing towards your toes. The unique loop design of the ToePal gel separators by DR JK promotes good blood delivery to every nook and cranny of your foot.
Comes in One Size
DR JK opted to offer the ToePal gel separators in only one size. However, these are designed to fit most people and provide their feet with comfort and support.
Downsides
Due to the one-size-fits-all sizing scheme, numerous customers report wearing these toe separators while either having them slip off or feel too tight.
Final Thoughts
Whether you suffer from a bunion, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, or heel spurs (just to name a few), gel toe separators can help relieve your foot pain and get you back on the right track. So if these ailments are preventing you from moving forward in life without excruciating pain, it's definitely the time to grab a pair of gel toe separators.
Take control of your podiatric health by getting yourself orthotic toe separators today!
July 19, 2022
