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NakeFit is the new barefoot

Cloudy with a chance of spray-on shoes?

By Lisa SuhayPublished 4 years ago 5 min read
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NOTE: This is not a sponsored review. I got sent a pair of these by a friend. With COVID-19 germ fears on my mind, I finally decided to try them out because I love going barefoot, but thought about all the little nicks and abrasions that happen in bare feet and how viruses might have another point of access I could protect. Below are the surprisingly awesome results.

Flint Lockwood's "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" dream of spray-on shoes is one step closer to being a reality. Channel your inner Flint and say goodbye to sand in your shoes, stinky water shoes and picture walking the hot sand, dock or parking areas barefoot.

"Yay!" cried my inner Flint. "No more schlepping shoes or sandals all over the beach and then trying to remember where you left them. Welcome to the brave new world of NakeFit adhesive soles!"

Maybe some of my child-like excitement comes from just a short trip outdoors after months of lockdown here in Norfolk, VA, but I love these things.

They're lightweight, waterproof sole protectors made of a material very similar to that used in KT (kinesiology) tape, only with grip on the bottom and slightly more dense.

Sady, these are not a full-time shoe replacement for everyday wear, ala Spray-on Shoes, nor are they made of any special thermal protective material. Yet they work like a charm and I adore them.

I found the application to be quick and easy. Just peel and stick to the soles of clean, dry, feet. Then just walk away. It's actually much faster and easier than applying KT tape.

Pro Tip: For best effect when using in water make sure you wait 30-minutes after application before getting them wet. Wear them with your shoes while driving to the beach, dock or wherever and by the time you get here you're good to go.

Here’s their pitch: “NakeFits conform to your feet and stay on for hours to protect your soles from dirty, rough, or slippery surfaces. With NakeFit, you can enjoy sailing, walks on the beach, and walking across rocks without any of the risk of splinters, cuts, slipping, or hot surfaces. Certified hypoallergenic, NakeFits can be easily removed without any pinching, peeling, or irritation of the skin.”

Because we're all bored in the house and we're in the house bored, I decided to engage two of my sons, ages 16 and 25 in the test. The soles come in 3-packs which made that easy. They do make men's sizes but the pack I had were actually a bit large for me and so we fudged it -but it worked.

We picked the hottest day we’ve had so far, 85-degrees here in Norfolk, VA to stick these to our clean feet and brave the hot pavement, the docks of Old Dominion University Sailing Center and the waters of the Elizabeth River to put NakeFit through its paces.

As a mom, I’m forever telling my sons to put something, anything, on their feet because I worry about verrucas, Plantar warts, that can result from going barefoot.

Over the years anyone who spends enough time barefoot around boats, beaches, parking areas and docks may have the misfortune of experiencing Plantar warts. These are the result of human papillomavirus (HPV) getting into the feet through tiny cuts or abrasions. Typically, these warts are contracted through walking barefoot on dirty surfaces since the virus thrives in warm and moist environments. They are mostly found on the heels or balls of the feet.

We all managed to get our NakeFits stuck to our feet with minimal trial and error.

My 16-year-old, who hates everything I ever suggest, had to admit that he likes these.

“I'm surprised because I really didn't think these would work," said Quin. "They do soften your step. They were protective enough to walk on the street."

Meanwhile, Ian, 25, is still testing them out on the game Dance Dance Revolution where, apparently, they’re, “Fantastic. No-slips. You can feel like you’re barefoot but safe from foot fungus!”

Absolutely works like a charm.

I wore them for five hours. I even wore them inside my sneaker for a three-mile walk and they stayed put without peeling or shifting on my feet.

That test was to prove a theory I have about where these little babies are going to be a game-changer. I put them on, slipped on my sneakers and when I got to the marina I left my shoes in the car. It was perfectly comfortable to then walk “barefoot” across the smokin’ hot asphalt parking area and down the splintery dock.

Then I walked straight into the river where I didn’t have a moment’s pause or worry about what I might be stepping on. If I’d wanted to I could have had a swim with them on and then hopped onto a boat or run back to the parking lot.

The pads NEVER peeled off until I peeled them myself.

Fun Fact: If your feet are ticklish then peeling these off at the end of the day will leave you laughing. I found myself with a wicked case of the giggles while peeling them off.

Pros:

  • Convenient
  • Gives your feet a layer of protection when you are walking on a hot sand
  • Saves your feet from verrucas and dangerous slips and save your feet from hot sand.
  • Hypoallergenic, skin-friendly, super sticky, until you want to remove it.
  • Waterproof and non-slip, suitable for swimming and all paving.

Cons:

  • If you have sensitive feet, unaccustomed to walking outdoors, I would not recommend them for long walks.
  • Not user-friendly across those fields of burrs and dry, prickly nettles. I now know this from personal experience.
  • That said, these are my new best friend for boats, beaches, boardwalks, parking areas and docks.
  • Once removed you do need to do a little extra scrubbing to remove the residual sticky ring around the edges that picks up and holds the dirt. Warm water and soap. No big deal.

Somehow, after all these stressful months, I found there’s no better product than one that protects me from discomfort/harm and leaves me smiling.

While this product is all about that outdoor life, please remember to observe social distancing and wear a mask in public. Enjoy!

product review
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About the Creator

Lisa Suhay

Journalist, Fairy Tree Founder, Op-Ed and children’s book author who has written for the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, NPR and The Virginian-Pilot. TEDx presenter on chess. YouTube Storytime Video playlist

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