Pointe Shoe Accessories

Α look at different products that pad, cushion, correct and alleviate pain in pointe shoes.

Gaynor Minden, box liners: They come in 3 sizes to match the GM Box size. 3/4/5. What's a box liner? Its a flat light foam piece cut to be inserted in the front of the box of the pointe shoe. It makes for extra padding on your toes and inserted in a GM shoe the liner can pitch the shoe more over your toes. As GM shoes are made at a 90 degree angle this is helpful for dancers who like to be more over their toes. You put the rubber side facing the front of the shoe and the soft side towards your toes. Pointe Shoe Hack…I actually use these, trimmed down, in my Freed pointe shoes. It takes a little bit of the extra space away that I have in the pointe shoe. It's great for taking up a gap or if you have one really short toe you can put it on an angle. Experiment with these as I think they are a great alternative to a full toe pad and can even correct a shoe that persistently twists when positioned and trimmed correctly. Worth trying out..

Bunheads, Space Makers, Space Pack 2: Comes 2 in a package. This company makes a variety of gel pads that are all great for alleviating stress and pressure on your toe joints and for preventing corns. First I show you their normal toe spacer made of soft gel material. This one is a medium sized thin toe spacer that you put in between your big and second toe. You can probably put it further down if you have long toes. However, these cushions can sometimes move around and get pushed out of place . So Bunheads now has this one, Spacepack 2 which is a soft gel toe spacer with a sleeve! This will prevent it from moving and give you some bonus blister padding! This can be slipped over the big or second toe and it's going to take that pressure off the big toe joint. This is important for preventing a bunion from forming or to relieve bunion pain. This would even work in high heel!

Bunheads, The Big Tip: Package of 2. These are medium size sleeves made of, fabric on the outside, thin gel on the inside. Like mini socks for your toes, they go right over a toe. Good for bruised toe nails, sensitive knuckles, blister and blister prevention.

Bunheads, The Bunion Guard: This is specifically for dancers with bunion pain, (the lower big toe joint). Created to provide both alignment and a thin gel padding on the outside of the big toe. Similarly to the Spacepack 2, it has a separator for the big and second toe plus the padding I mention along the outside of the big toe. I compare them visually in the video.

Bunheads, Cozy Toe, 2 pack s/m/l: This a toe pad. This goes right over your toes and into your pointe shoe. It’s made of a soft fabric on both sides and inside is a cushy gel that you find in the toe socks. It’s U shaped so that you can feel under your Demi point in your point shoe. It is higher at the sides. Love that it can be trimmed and the gel won’t migrate. If you have little feet or the vamp of your shoe is really low and you don't want that sticking out you can trim it to size. Often I think toe pads are just too big, so this is a bonus that you can cut it to size.

Bunheads, Pro Pad, 2 pack, 2 sizes: This is a toe pad, as above. What I like about the Pro Pad is that you can wash it. It’s fabric on the bottom and it has that bit of gel in between material on the top, so not a lot of covering. You might enjoy wearing this, if you just want a little bit of cush. These are nice and lightweight and fit in your shoes.

Just note on toe pads and pointe shoe accessories. Almost every point shoe company offers different accessories and finding what works for you may take some experimenting!

Sansha, Pointe Shoe Toe Pads: This is a toe pad similar in that it covers your toes however, it is made of a silicone type material. This will provide a lot of cushioning. This would be worth exploring if you really struggle with toe pain, joint pain or when you first start learning point work and your feet aren't really used to that type of pressure.

Pointe Shoe Hack: The shape of the toe pads often have the fabric higher on the bottom of your foot, but sometimes I find it doesn't feel good when you point your toes have too much stuff under there, you can actually switch it if you want it, and just reverse the whole thing.

Bunheads Ouch Pouch, Junior, S/L: Similar to the Pro pad except that it has Gel cushioning on both sides of the fabric toe pad.

Bunheads, Super Spacer Sleek: these are moulded gel toe spacers. Recommended as lower profile big toe spacers. Comfort is your guide when finding the right spacers for yourself.

Bunheads, Space Pack, 2 small bunion spacers and 2 small gel spacers: My go to. Small gel spacers are excellent for the smaller toes and especially helpful for corns between the toes. Also good for tight fitting street shoes!

Russian Pointe, 2 gel toe spacers: A bigger, denser spacer for the big toe. Good if you really want to keep the space between the toes. Excellent if trying to treat a corn.

Lambs wool: Literally lambs wool! Source from local dance store or on line. Soft lightly woven wool that feels like cotton balls. Good for using wherever you need some cushioning.

Spenco, Second Skin dressing 1” squares, (sourced at your local drug store or online): Absolute feet savers! This water and gel based dressing soothes and prevents re occurring bruised toe nails and blisters.

Gaynor Minden, Gaynor Dots: Similar to above only in this retail brands version and comes in 2 sizes in the jar.

3M, micropore paper tape 1”, (sourced at your local drug store, dance shop or on line): Excellent tape, doesn’t leave much of a residue, stays on through sweat.

Try your local or on line dance wear store for supplies and pointe shoe accessories and check out my taping your toes video!