While you may not really think about your feet until they give you problems, they are one of the most frequently used parts of the body, and keeping them in good shape can significantly affect your quality of life, especially if you are a runner. Although most of us wear shoes throughout the day, our feet spread and bend when we walk barefoot. Over time, this type of movement can cause our toes to come together, which can lead to serious problems like hammertoes, bunions and severe calluses.
One of the best and cheapest ways to keep your toes from coming together and keep your feet comfortable is to use toe spacers. We usually make toe spacers or toe separators of gel and come in different options that can be worn all day or for a short period. When used correctly, they can help spread your toes to a more natural and comfortable distance, and can help prevent or even reverse damage to your feet. Since there are so many options with original use cases, we’ve rounded up our favorites to help you choose.
The best toe separators
How to choose a toe separator
If you’ve never been to a podiatrist or are new to toe separators and spreaders, you may not know where to start your search. If you’re simply looking to spread your toes a little wider and release some tension in your feet, you’ll want to opt for a five-toe spreader. There are options you can wear all day, which are great for relieving chronic pain and more severe foot problems, and others that help adjust and spread your toes when worn for a short period.
If you have a more specific problem, such as bunions or hammertoes, you can opt for a unique toe spreader that focuses on your big toe. We usually wear them around the second toe and push the big toe out while leaving the other toes as is. Wedges also come in different materials, but we make the most popular ones of gel, which is not only comfortable, but doesn’t rub during the day. There are also options on the market that come as socks, which are ideal for activities like yoga.
How we chose
To find the best toe separators among the many options available on the market, we researched the most popular models and looked at their materials, comfort, design, effectiveness, and price. We then looked at expert reviews and customer ratings, written by people who have purchased these toe separators on sites like Amazon, to choose the products you’ll find below, all of which received an average rating of four stars or higher.
1. GEMS gel toe separator and toe extender
This sparkly option may not be made of real gems, but it can be a girl’s or boy’s best friend. We wore these separates for 15 minutes to an hour at a time, so don’t worry about trying to slip them into your shoes to wear all day. Because of this, they are a little thicker than models designed to be worn with shoes, and they will give your toes a little more stretch than the ones you are supposed to wear all day. However, since we make them of a soft gel, they are still very comfortable.
Buy: GEMS gel toe separator and toe extender
2. Toe separators Toe smoother Hammer
If your problem is a hammertoe or bunion, you probably only need to create a space between your big toe and your second toe. This separator surrounds the second toe and has a pad that extends toward the big toe, forcing the space. It’s made from a soft gel, comfortable enough to wear all day, and it’s discreet enough to fit most shoes.
It also comes in five different colors, some of which are designed for darker skin tones, making it less noticeable if you wear it with sandals.
Buy: Toe separators Toe smoother Hammer
3. Toe separator
If you don’t like the feel of gel between your toes, you may prefer this sock option. It has plush pads that fit between each toe and help separate them gently. We can wear them in shoes - although your toes aren’t covered - and while they separate your toes, they aren’t as aggressive as a gel option. They’re also machine washable and one size fits all.
Buy: Toe separator
4. Visco-Gel Smart Toe Spreaders
If only one toe is causing the crowding, you can opt for a single toe spacer like this one, although it comes in a pack of four if you decide to use more. We used these washable and reusable gel pads between the big and second toe. It also enriched the gel with mineral oil, which it releases when used to prevent rubbing, chafing or blisters.
Buy: Visco-Gel Smart Toe Spreaders
5. Original ToePal
These toe separators come in a pack of four with a curly and open option. They are both made from a soft gel and are perfect for stretching your toes at home. The curly option will give you a little more stability, while the open option is great for yoga or stretching.
Customers also liked that the open option separates the toes when applying nail polish and won’t damage the polish when removing.
Buy: Original ToePal
