A demi pointe equalizer, exerciser, and tensioning device that is a small pad in the general shape of a common big toe. The equalizer pad extends from the tip of the big toe to a point behind the metatarsal parabola. The equalizer pad is designed to support only the big toe. The support system is also designed to be applied in layers, so that correction can be built up slowly, as needed. By using layers of equalizer pads, the ideal thickness of pad can be achieved. This equalizer pad may be attached directly to the bottom of the big toe, or to the sole of a shoe, slipper, sock, sandal, or to an insole to form a system. The pad or system may be constructed from a variety of materials that are matched to a particular activity.

Footwear for infants and toddlers which allow the child's foot to relax in a natural, "barefoot" condition, i.e., without exerting substantial pressure on the toes and sides of the foot, and which facilitate the fitting of the shoe onto the foot. The shoe comprises a sole and an upper fastened to the sole for surrounding the sides and heel of the foot. The upper includes a pair of flexible side regions having a respective pair of edge regions which extend rearwardly substantially from a forward end of the toe portion of the sole in mutually spaced relationship for overlying the toe and instep regions of the foot. A tongue is fastened to the upper at its forward end and only to a side region of the upper which itself is fastened to the forward end of the toe portion of the sole so that the side edges of the tongue are unconnected to any part of the upper. The tongue extends rearwardly for covering both the toe and instep regions of the foot.

A slipper which has an aperture in the bottom and three different types of inserts which can be inserted into the aperture. The first insert will be filled with a material that conforms to the wearer's foot, while the second insert will be filled with a mixture of sand and marbles. The third insert will be filled with neoprene balls.

Half sock, in general, can cover the anterior limb of a foot, leaving the heel bare. The half sock includes a sock housing with a rear opening for insertion of the foot therein. It is made of a suitably cushioning, durable, flexible, thermally-insulating and physically-proportioned material, for one illustration, a neoprene-containing material, for example, an about 3-mm neoprene material having a flexible nylon lining on either side thereof. The half sock can have, in essence, mirror image symmetry through an imaginary plane bisecting its top and bottom portions. It can include inwardly-directed front tapers to accommodate the big and the smaller toes of the foot, and include inwardly-directed rear tapers to accommodate the arch of the foot. It can be made of a one-piece web in a clamshell like pattern, having side edges butted and sewn together so that there is little or no bump. The half sock can be employed for keeping warm toes during a cold weather activity, especially to include when wearing boots such as hunting, military or, in particular, ski boots.

The invention relates to a sock for wearing on a foot in a shoe, boot or the like. If shoes, boots or the like are worn by different users one after the other, as for instance at bowling alleys, ice rinks, ski slopes etcetera, users can contract diseases and the like. The invention provides a sock which is provided with an absorbent inner layer and an outer layer which contains an at least practically air and moisture-impermeable part.