With so many options out there for what to wear to keep your toes comfy and blister-free in your pointe shoes, I have compiled my top 3 products available at Dancewear Central that I have tried and tested. Each providing something slightly different to suit individual preferences.
As dancers we spend so much of our time on our toes, so for me comfort is the most important thing when making your decision on what to use. You want whatever you’re wearing to feel snug but not too tight, mould to your feet and also that they do not move around in your shoes (a big no no). My personal preference is something that isn’t too bulky in my shoes, I like to still feel movement at the bottom of my shoes and as I already have quite wide feet, therefore a thinner type was more beneficial for me whilst still maintaining the support I need. This is where I introduce my first option:
Só Dança Toe Pads
These fit perfectly for my feet. They provide the support I need and keep me blister free even through a 20 show Nutcracker run! For me the material feels super snug and grips both to my tights or when I am required to have bare feet in my shoes. This is another really important aspect to consider when choosing what’s right for you. They need to be adaptable to tights, socks or bare feet and withstand the hours of hard work in rehearsals, classes and shows. Another reason I love these is that although they are comfortable and cushioning they also felt like I was hardly wearing anything in my shoes.
My second favourite would have to be lambs wool, and why not go for the rainbow colour to brighten up your shoes (both neutral and rainbow are available on the website if you want the choice)?! These are particularly good to really personalize where you need that extra support. I place the wool curved around all my toes and I pad out certain areas to be slightly thicker, such as around my bunion, my slightly longer 2nd toe and my pinky toe as this was more prone to blistering when I had a busy week of rehearsals and shows. They really do mould to your feet perfectly and absorb any moisture in your shoes so no slipping around in your pointe shoes. Lambs wool is also extremely soft on your toes, a huge bonus when you have no tights on!
Bunheads Rainbow Lamb's Wool
Lastly, are the silicone toe pads linked below. These are the perfect colour to match your tights too. One thing I particularly like about these toe pads is how easy and quick they are to wash and we all know we should clean our toe pads a little more often, so these are great to keep your foot hygiene on point. These toe pads provide more coverage than the other 2 options on your feet so if you prefer more of your toes and joints to be protected then these are for you. Again they mould perfectly around your feet and provide the cushioned feel you want as well as fitting like a glove to your feet. As with the other 2 options I’ve selected these grip well to your pointe shoes and there’s no movement whilst you’re jumping or turning in your shoes which to me is essential, there’s nothing worse than being distracted by toe pads moving around every grand jete or pirouette and the more movement the more likely you are to experience blisters or pointe shoes rubbing on your skin!
Wear Moi Silicone Toe Pads
