Baby Powder in shoes -- when sockless

[wmarson]

Greetings ... now that we are into the summer season, I have a question about shoes. Walking around town, I see many guys going sockless -- loafers, bucks, boat, and sneakers. When I was little, my mother always squirted a poof of baby powder into my shoes when going sockless. She said that this was to help absorb the sweat and also keep the feet from sticking inside the shoe. Of course, I listened. But now that I am older, I'm wondering if this is a good move. Could baby powder actually damage the inside of shoes -- whether simply alone, or in combination with sweaty feet? Should you attempt to clean the powder away after wearing? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[StevenRocks]

Baby powder couldn't do any more damage than foot sweat would.

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

I don't really see it as a shoe damage issue, but I'm kind of grossed out by the idea of mixing up a scum of sweat-and-baby-powder mud in there.

Urk. Good point.

 

[Jetta]

I dont know about sneakers, but with loafers, mocs, whatever I always put a little foot powder in if I am going sockless. Really keeps my toes from getting ripped up from friction against the leather and will keep your feet more comfortable. If you make sure to shake the shoe to distribute the powder then tap out the extra powder it should prevent the powder mud effect. You really dont need much, just a fine coating will do the job.

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

I don't really see it as a shoe damage issue, but I'm kind of grossed out by the idea of mixing up a scum of sweat-and-baby-powder mud in there.
ugh!.. graphic

 

[dare-]

why not just wear no-show socks?

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by Jetta

I dont know about sneakers, but with loafers, mocs, whatever I always put a little foot powder in if I am going sockless. Really keeps my toes from getting ripped up from friction against the leather and will keep your feet more comfortable. If you make sure to shake the shoe to distribute the powder then tap out the extra powder it should prevent the powder mud effect. You really dont need much, just a fine coating will do the job.

Word. What I actually do is powder my feet and in between my toes, shake off the excess and then put my foot in the shoe. There is also a cool baby powder spray can that is easier to use and less messy. My feet stay dry and comfortable all day and when I take the shoe off at home, my feet smell of baby powder. How a person can go a whole day in the sweltering heat wearing loafers sockless is beyond me. I would assume that the leather and foot sweat would make such a smell as to render the shoes useless after a wearing or two.

 

[TCN]

Originally Posted by edmorel

Word. What I actually do is powder my feet and in between my toes, shake off the excess and then put my foot in the shoe. There is also a cool baby powder spray can that is easier to use and less messy. My feet stay dry and comfortable all day and when I take the shoe off at home, my feet smell of baby powder. How a person can go a whole day in the sweltering heat wearing loafers sockless is beyond me. I would assume that the leather and foot sweat would make such a smell as to render the shoes useless after a wearing or two.

Do ordinary socks add some antibacterial filter layer that prevents this?

 

[Jetta]

Originally Posted by dare-

why not just wear no-show socks?

I have never found a pair of no-show socks that didnt show. Maybe if you are wearing sneakers they wouldnt show, but with a loafer or other lower cut shoe, you can definitely see them. I have actually thought of getting some of the no-show ones made for women out of sheer stocking material, I imagine that even if they show, they wont be noticeable, at least not as noticeable as a white sock.

 

[StevenRocks]

Try loafer socks from Banana Republic. They don't show at all.

 

[kitonbrioni]

It's my experience that putting a quality body lotion on my feet works better and is less messy than powder.

 

[Jetta]

Originally Posted by StevenRocks

Try loafer socks from Banana Republic. They don't show at all.

ohh excellent, thank you!

Those look like they will work great.

 

[CalSatSea]

If not wearing socks, foot powder is a must.

"Really keeps my toes from getting ripped up from friction against the leather and will keep your feet more comfortable."

That is very true. More so when sweat stays damp and the skin and the leather remains damp. Also, making sure shoe fits right at first purchase at the shoe store without a sock. Fit, was stressed at my local shoe store. The gal there relized that men were going sockless more often with leather shoes, that fittings should be do without a sock. This was back in 1999. I tried on a few good quality Oxfords. The shoe was completely opened up and held open to allow the foot to slide in. She used the end of the shoe horn to check for arch and heel fit. No initial rubbing was the key. Plus leather needs to break in over time. And since I had planned to wear them out of store, she applied a light dusting of foot powder in them. Today, she does the samething; if you want. The difference; there are no show socks available to wear now for men. I decided to try them with a new pair of Oxford's. I was getting tired of controlling the sweat with powders and damp leather in the summer. Also, the final thing was being told by a doctor during a routine physical that you have some athletes foot forming around the bottom of the toes. Which was a surprise to me at the time since I wash and scrub my feet daily. The doctor got the nurse to bring in some socks and a pair of odd looking hospital sandals for me to wear home. The doctor said I was lucky not to have any toe nail issues. And said it's very unsanitary to be wearing closed toe shoes without socks.