Hoping someone has an idea for me. Seeking warm, waterproof winter footwear with a very wide, untapered toe box or five-finger-type toe box.
I've been into barefoot running and hiking for over a decade, and through hard work have experienced significant healing and strengthening of my feet, and as a result, also my back, legs, and overall wellness.
Due to a combination of conventional footwear and cold temperatures, until about five years ago i didn't even realize that toes could be in any position other than basically fused together, with the last two toes on each foot curled under themselves, numb, and immobile. Since I realized how unhealthy that was, i've been doing all kinds of stretches and exercises to regain feeling and mobility in those toes, and am happy to say that although there's more to do, i can now feel those toes, use them for balance, make meaningful contact with the ground with them, and the effects throughout my body have been profound. It's been a slow and difficult process, and it's been worth it.
Because I don't want to lose progress, I no longer wear shoes if i don't have to. I wear open toed sandals at work, and Vibram or KK five fingers when the ground is a little too cold. Wide toe box shoes are a step in the right direction, but they still taper too soon and encourage my toes to curl back under themselves when they should be contacting the bottom of the shoe and helping me balance and move. In order to correct the damage from being crunched together for so many years, I need my toes to be able to move apart further than they might otherwise need to. I also have wide feet and long toes.
I love being outside in the winter, but I need a better footwear solution. I ditched my old boots and got some a pair of bogs that are several sizes bigger than what i was always told my size was, which is a big improvement but the tapering of the toe box still encourages my toes into the wrong/old position. I strain against it the whole time, and because they're big that works for a little while, but I really need something that will allow, or better, encourage, my toes to splay fully while i am exercising outside in the winter.
I've looked at many companies that make barefoot shoes for solutions. I bought a pair of Lems boulder boots which were advertised as having a very wide toe box, and it was a slight improvement but not nearly wide enough, tapered way too soon, and honestly they're not really winter boots anyway, not something you'd wear in deep snow. Xero shoes and keen advertise some boots that might be an ok compromise, but still the issue with the tapering of the toe box. I've reached out to the five finger companies suggesting they make winter boots, that would be the most ideal, but so far they do not. I've also reached out to some people who make custom boots, no match yet though.
I'll eventually also be looking for a better pair of ski boots, but that seems like an even longer shot right now.
Hoping some people on this site will know what i'm talking about, and maybe there's something I haven't heard of. I'd appreciate any suggestions or recommendations. Thanks for reading
I've been into barefoot running and hiking for over a decade, and through hard work have experienced significant healing and strengthening of my feet, and as a result, also my back, legs, and overall wellness.
Due to a combination of conventional footwear and cold temperatures, until about five years ago i didn't even realize that toes could be in any position other than basically fused together, with the last two toes on each foot curled under themselves, numb, and immobile. Since I realized how unhealthy that was, i've been doing all kinds of stretches and exercises to regain feeling and mobility in those toes, and am happy to say that although there's more to do, i can now feel those toes, use them for balance, make meaningful contact with the ground with them, and the effects throughout my body have been profound. It's been a slow and difficult process, and it's been worth it.
Because I don't want to lose progress, I no longer wear shoes if i don't have to. I wear open toed sandals at work, and Vibram or KK five fingers when the ground is a little too cold. Wide toe box shoes are a step in the right direction, but they still taper too soon and encourage my toes to curl back under themselves when they should be contacting the bottom of the shoe and helping me balance and move. In order to correct the damage from being crunched together for so many years, I need my toes to be able to move apart further than they might otherwise need to. I also have wide feet and long toes.
I love being outside in the winter, but I need a better footwear solution. I ditched my old boots and got some a pair of bogs that are several sizes bigger than what i was always told my size was, which is a big improvement but the tapering of the toe box still encourages my toes into the wrong/old position. I strain against it the whole time, and because they're big that works for a little while, but I really need something that will allow, or better, encourage, my toes to splay fully while i am exercising outside in the winter.
I've looked at many companies that make barefoot shoes for solutions. I bought a pair of Lems boulder boots which were advertised as having a very wide toe box, and it was a slight improvement but not nearly wide enough, tapered way too soon, and honestly they're not really winter boots anyway, not something you'd wear in deep snow. Xero shoes and keen advertise some boots that might be an ok compromise, but still the issue with the tapering of the toe box. I've reached out to the five finger companies suggesting they make winter boots, that would be the most ideal, but so far they do not. I've also reached out to some people who make custom boots, no match yet though.
I'll eventually also be looking for a better pair of ski boots, but that seems like an even longer shot right now.
Hoping some people on this site will know what i'm talking about, and maybe there's something I haven't heard of. I'd appreciate any suggestions or recommendations. Thanks for reading