Barefoot Science Insoles were something I picked up about 4 years ago at the Calgary Exhibition here at Stampede time. I had no idea that they were even featured on TV. It looks like HSN ran a segment on them and so I thought these insoles were fair game to put up on my blog. If you have foot, knee or back pain you may want to have a look at this foot strengthening system.
Barefoot Science Insoles make your feet stronger
Barefoot Science Claims
Barefoot Science is the only insole that strengthens and rehabilitates your feet
Reduces stress and strain on hips, knees, back and neck
Relieves foot related pain and discomfort throughout the body
Helps prevent risk of injury by building a stronger more flexible foot
Benefits anyone - from seniors to children
What’s the Difference Between Regular insoles and Barefoot Science?
The first thing I liked when I was introduced to them was that they were not like conventional insoles or shoe inserts. The regular insoles or orthotics only work to support your feet. They add cushioning, support, or bracing but that only weakens the muscles in your feet.
The Barefoot Science Foot Strengthening System goes to the root of foot problems. It retrains and strengthens the muscles that support the feet. As the foot’s arch becomes stronger, higher, and more stable your alignment will improve throughout the body. Painful symptoms caused by stress and strain are reduced or eliminated.
You replace the inserts every week
My Experience with Barefoot Science
I never thought I’d ever be telling the whole world about my bunion problem. I have high arches which have caused really bad bunions on my feet especially on the left foot. About 5 years ago I had really bad pain in my bunion and pain in my knees which really scared me because I’m only in my thirties. So I bought these and gave them a try. I can honestly say my bunion and knees has never caused me pain since. They are easy to use and I feel that they are very comfortable to wear. Before buying these I bought some custom made orthotics but the problem with the custom made ones are that they are expensive and you have to get new ones made I think they said every year or so. VERY expensive! So Barefoot Science has saved me lots of $$ and pain and suffering as well. So I do highly recommend this product. I also like the fact that the little insert that you change seems to be in the perfect spot that your foot needs for support yet I still feel that my feet are getting a work out and getting stronger.
What Do Others Think about Barefoot Science?
So my opinion is only one opinion. Since everyone has different types of foot problems I wanted to read other peoples experiences to get a general feel if they’re working for the majority of people. So on HSN I counted how many positive to negative reviews for this insoles. Out of 159 there were around 30 people (about 5 %) that flat out did not like this product. The rest were very pleased with their purchase and have seen positive results.
On another site Buzzillions, 8 out of 59 people (7%) didn’t like them and the rest were very happy with Barefoot Science insoles.
Summary of Consumers Positive Comments
Problem with right foot and unbearable pain that shoots up leg - Can now go shopping and be on their feet all day. So happy they purchased them.
Problem with flat feet, bad veins, circulation problems - The supports have been a true blessing. No more swelling in the ankles and legs don’t feel heavy at the end of the day. Felt they were much different than regular arch supports
With orthotics still limps and foot cramps - Tried Barefoot Science and after just a few weeks feels significant improvement.
Flight attendant with foot and back problems - Tried Barefoot Science and back pain immediately disappeared. Thought they were a miracle.
Anyways, I could go on and on about positive stories.
A few Annoying Things
I got the half sole ones but I can’t wear them with my open toed heeled shoes in the summer. They show on the side of my shoe!
The smaller inserts tend to get a little squished and loose their shape.
Handy Hints
So if you follow the instructions, you’ll be fine. I’m just wondering if some people who have written negative reviews might not have read the instructions? You need to have a specific kind of shoe. These are the guidelines from Barefoot Science.
Choose Your Shoes With Care: Look for shoes that feature plenty of toe room, adjustability over the arches (i.e., shoes with laces or straps), with heels lower than 3.5 cm or 1.5 inches and that have pliable, rather than rigid soles. Important: Your shoes should provide a roomy fit for adequate circulation and movement. Loosen the laces over your instep – cranking them tighter only intensifies the bracing effect of the footwear. The right shoes will enable your feet to move with less restriction and will allow Barefoot Science to provide the highest degree of immediate, as well as long-term, benefit.
So you’ll start at level 1 and work your way up one week at a time. I originally started off without the inserts and then gradually worked my way up with the various inserts. Also if you find that they bother you, just wear them a few hours at a time. Especially if you’re on your feet all day. Your comfort will increase with each day. If you give your feet time to adjust, you’re going to do well.
Barefoot Science Insoles are definitely worth a try especially if you’ve never had success with regular orthotics. The thing is, my feet have dramatically changed and if I try to go back to my pair of shoes with the orthotics in them they are soooo uncomfortable. I should actually throw them out. So you’ll have to stick with the Barefoot ones once you start using them. You might have heard of another TV offer for an orthotic called Walkfit Orthotic Insoles if you want to check out that review.
Walkfit Orthotics are foot inserts that claim it will help your feet and back feel better by aligning your lower back, hips and knees. If you ever looked at the price tag on some custom made orthotics, you’d be shocked at the price, almost $400! So can the $20 Walk Fit insole really help you get rid of back and foot pain?
Walkfit Insoles claims to realign your spine.
Walkfit Orthotic Infomercial Claims
Come in 11 sizes for both men and women.
It comes with three arch support heights(low, medium and high) that you can easily switch.
Are completely washable and odor-free.
Come with a Lifetime Replacement Warranty - simply send your WalkFit insoles in for a new pair, no questions asked.
What The Experts Say
Dr. Speight Grimes of the University Medical Center
These orthotics work by taking the weight off the ball of your foot and putting it onto the curve of the arch insert.
For someone who has a foot slightly flattened this would probably be a nice device to help them.
The insert will work best in shoes that fasten or tie with Velcro.
In general, Dr Grimes does not recommend foot inserts unless a patient is suffering from a foot deformity. At that point, he recommends a custom insert.
He thinks the Walk Fit Insoles are worth giving a try but they won’t benefit everyone. He says that for $20 Walk Fit Orthotics are worth a shot. You might end up saving money on buying the more expensive orthotics.
Dr Foltz of the Ferguson Medical Group in Sikeston
In the video above, podiatrist Dr Foltz mentioned that many of his patients brought the Walk Fit Orthotics into his office complaining of foot pain. Dr Foltz also suffers from flat feet which also caused him knee problems. He agrees to give these orthotics a try for a week.
He thought that Walk Fit Insoles were quite narrow which might be a problem for people with wider feet.
He used the highest arch support right away and thought there was a lot of pressure in his arch. After walking around a bit his feet got used to them.
He advises his patients that for any orthotics start off easy. If you feel uncomfortable, take them out of the shoes and gradually work up the time wearing them.
He tries them for a full week and says he was only able to wear them for 4 hours a day.
They won’t work for everyone since its the inserts are quite narrow and firm. They have no cushioning and his feet were overlapping which may be uncomfortable for some.
The bottom line is if you have feet that are able to fit into these insoles you should be fine. Otherwise you might find them uncomfortable. In that case personally fitted insoles will be better for you.
Find out if WalkFit Orthotic Insoles really work
Consumers Comments
These insoles work for some and not others - There are so many different foot types and ailments that it can’t possibly work the same for everyone. Consumers who have been able to get them to fit are finding health benefits such as less pain in there back, knees and feet.
Remove all of your shoe’s cushion - Many who have tried these orthotics agree you must remove every layer of cushioning already in your shoe. So in the end you only have the Walk Fit in your shoe, nothing else. Otherwise it’s too much for your foot.
Find a shoe with flat cushioning to wear with these orthotics.
Make sure you get the correct size - One lady mentioned that the the orthotic size that worked best for her were actually a smaller size than the size of her shoe. The orthotic should go from the back of your heel to just under the bottom edge of the ball of your foot.
Also you can try the different cushion thicknesses provided with your Walk-fit orthotics in order to get the right fit for you.
WalkFit Orthotic Insoles show some promise. Don’t fall for the hype on the infomercial with everyone claiming they cured every single foot problem. They are only $20 and you can buy them in stores if you want to give them a try.
The “Cheers to You” Motivational CD series claims to have been featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show not once, but twice! Now that could either be a good or bad thing because we know how much Ellen loves to mock infomercial products. The only way it’ll pick your mood up is by laughing at the samples of cheesy soundtracks.
Just doing a quick comparison of the top scientifically-proven audio technology program in the world (Holosync) vs “Cheers to You”.
The Holosync site reads like a 30 page sales letter with detailed explanations of the scientific studies and personal success stories. Insights into you can effortlessly change your brain wave patterns to achieve deep and meaningful change in your life. “Meditate deeper than a Zen Monk” explains Jack Canfield from The Secret.
What explanation do you get from “Cheers to You”? Hmmm I think they left out certain things like…does this actually even work?? How much science actually went into these cds? Apparently they figured that just saying that your “great and wonderful” along with background noise of a screaming crowd will change your mood for the better.
And what does the Good Cheer Company site have to say to convince you that they truly do work?
Imagine 30,000 people cheering!
Appreciation… Encouragement… Acknowledgement… And Praise For You!
CDs with adoring words with cheering applause!
Motivational soundtracks with words like….
Hoooray for youuuuu! and Cheeeers to youuuuu! You are great! you are wonderful!
I am good enough, I am smart enough, and dog gone it people like me!!
And most important several test clips of their cheesy announcer guy sound tracks.
And that’s not all! When you order your cd now, you get three bonus puzzle pieces with inspiring words of encouragement. Soooo what exactly do you do with them? I had to check out their site to make sure. They say you can can be made into bracelets, necklaces, attach them to key rings or carry them in your pocket. Not sure how you’d string these things together in the first place but I don’t see them as being something I’d want to wear in public.
What next, a motivational puzzle pieces for your pet? Well of course! They’ve got you covered there with their own line of pet tags with inscriptions like…. “a good girl, adorable, a good kisser??? and mommies little angle”. And now here’s another revolutionary new product called the Infomercial Stopper helps you get rid of those late night infomercials for good!
Snuggie for Dogs…oh what next. Do dogs really need to be a part of the Snuggie culture? I’m not opposed to dog fashion. They sure do look kind of cute in them. So this more of a novelty item or practical doggy clothing for outdoor use?
Issues With Snuggie for Dogs
The material is like felt, not even a fleece so it’s really not warm enough to take your pet outside with it.
Doesn’t cover the tummy or the legs which is another reason why it doesn’t really keep pets warm outside.
Somewhat confusing to put the Snuggie on your dog but easy to take off and on once you get the hang of it. You’re supposed to turn the “Chest Area tag and turn it so the writing is up when you put it on.
Poor fitting. The sizes on the vendors site seems be all wrong once you get it on your pet.
Some pet owners are complaining that the straps just flap around freely.
Below you can get an idea of how they fit but the size chart is not entirely accurate. They only come in the pink or blue color.
Snuggies for Dogs size comparisons
This is so adorable…Odie the daschund takes a cruise outside in his new Snuggie and loses it after getting snagged on a branch.
The Snuggie for Dogs overall seems to be disappointing for dog owners who wanted to have their pooch wear it outside. If you’re able to get it to fit properly it would be ok for around the house but not outdoors in the winter. Also good if you just want to have a laugh at your poor dogs expense. So have you ever heard of the Potty Patch? The latest indoor port-a-potty for your dog!
The Potty Patch pretty much resembles a plastic boot tray with a golf green on top. Oh so this is suppose to be an indoor doggie Port-a-Potty! Apparently, the infomercial claims that your dog will think that the Potty Patch is your front lawn and do his business on it instead of your carpet. This faux grass potty isn’t anything new. There are others already on the market. Like UgoDog, Ingrass Puppy Poppy and the Lil PetZoom Pet Park and many more. Depending on the size the prices can range from from $40 to $150. So what do dog owners think about the Potty Patch?
In the video, Paris the dog won’t go outside in the cold so her owner thought she’d give Potty Patch a try.
Dog Owner Issues With the Potty Patch
One owner actually got his dog to actually use the Potty Patch but by only the second day the smell was incredibly bad.
You’ll need to wash it every single day thoroughly with warm soap and water but some say it still smells like urine!
One lady found her dog laying on it like a new bed instead of a toilet. Her other dog actually tried eating the grass and ended up vomiting all over.
Two other ladies found the parts slide around easily.
Another pet owner found that after he washed the pad it took too long to dry. Then he discovered that his dogs wouldn’t go on the wet grass.
The patch has uncomfortably spikey needles and dogs are confused as what to do with it. It looks like grass but obviously doesn’t smell the real deal!
My only thought is that it would be better if there was some sort of pheromone to attract doggies to the grass which would actually make them want to use it.
The Potty Patch may work easier if you train your pup to go on it from a young age. If they’re already potty trained they probably won’t want to go on it. Hmmmm anyone else have an experience with this product? By the way, if you’re interested I just posted the Emery Cat review yesterday if you want to take a look.
The Emery Cat Board is creating a lot of buzz around the internet…mostly from internet marketers trying to make a buck from promoting this product. I’m sure you’ve seen the infomercials of cats having a blast scratching their nails on the honeycomb board and playing with the attached dangling toy.
So you can see in the video review that the Emery Cat is easy to assemble and these cats seem to like to play with it when there’s catnip on it. It may depend on your cat if they will actually take to it or not.
The problem is that over time the scratch pad is like a honeycomb cardboard with some sort of coating on it. The coating actually comes off over time and your cat will eat it if you put the catnip on the board.
The tray is cheap plastic and tips over when cat’s play with it.
Some cat owners are having a hard time getting their cats to use it.
Consumers are saying that the Emery Cat website is very confusing. It doesn’t give you a chance to review your order before submitting it.
Consumers are enraged that they are being overcharged with shipping and handling.
Customer service at the Emery Cat site is terrible if you want to go back and fix your order.
Being a cat lover myself, I just feel like crying when I saw this pet owners comment….
we bought this product to help our cats maintain their own nails as they scratch. they loved it but then our older cat got his nails STUCK in the hard crevices and holes needless to say they cats only option was to draw his claws back and he paid for it. he bleed all over and now half of all his nails are missing and there is a huge gash on the soft spots of his feet. i do not think the emery cat is a great idea for anyone. please rethink your decision before purchasing one and let your friends know if they are thinking its a wonderful gift for their pets. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOUR CAT
Emery Cat Board not all it's cracked up to be
WARNING TO ALL CONSUMERS
I want you to be aware of what is really going on around the internet that you may not be aware of. This really makes me sick to my stomach. This may be a shocker for some of you but Emery Board offers people a payment if you blog about them but only if you say something positive about them. I PERSONALLY DO NOT GET PAID TO WRITE THIS BLOG POST because I can’t stand the thought of sending someone to an offer for a product that does not work as advertised. Plus the website doesn’t take orders or bill properly. You can see when you go to the Emery Cat site and look at the bottom of the page there is a link get paid to blog about them.
Do you see how this person has written a nice little article about the Emery board and how consumers are reacting and commenting on the article? Please see this link and see the largest and most prominent article site on the internet Ezine Articles. Consumer Complaints - Emery Cat Board
Here are REAL CAT OWNERS NOT INTERNET MARKETERS talking about the Emery Cat Board in this forum. Real consumers forum
The Emery Cat is written about all over the internet because internet marketers are making money by referring you to the products. They either make a commission off of every sale they make or in this case get paid to blog and say something positive about their product. Of course this is not the only As Seen on TV product that does this. I have been online for many years and have taken many courses and I see what others are doing. Dishonest marketers have infiltrated the internet….They’re on Facebook, Twitter, write articles, they post on forums, they set up squidoo lenses, Hub Pages set up countless sites and blogs etc etc. I’m just trying to be honest with you. I have absolutely NO PROBLEM with others who do an unbiased honest review and then refering someone to the retailers site. In this case I can see that all they are trying to do is make a buck on a product that is not working as advertised. I was going to say other things but I’ll try to control my anger right now. RRRRRRR I will just sit here and fume for a while…. Please, pleaaassse leave your comments below if you’ve had an experience with this Emery Cat Board.
This Smart Mop review will take a look at a mop that claims to easily wipe up both wet and dry spills. I’ve seen the real life demo of these mops many times at a Home Show here in Calgary and have owned one of these mops for a few years now. Here’s the run down of what you should know.
The Smart Mop also claims to reduce back bending and also keeps your hands out of the mop water. Well the thing is most mops these days will also allow you to do this. The big selling feature for me was that it mopped up large quantities of solid food and liquids with ease. It also gets into small crevasses and up against the baseboards extremely well. The mop comes in three pieces and can be assembled easily and quickly. The head of the mop is made out of the same material as the Sham Wow which is a chamois type cloth. It’s in strips and is attached to both ends of the mop handle. There are a few downsides you should know about.
Smart Mop Test
Please click on the blog headline above to view the video. It should pop right up!
Positive Points
In the video review, Jeanette put the mop through the same tests that you see on the infomercial.
The can of soda on the floor - Jeanette easily picks it all up and is able to wring it out in a glass.
Brown sugar, ketchup and mustard - The mop picks it up and after you dip and wring the mop comes out pretty clean.
I viewed another Smart Mop video review and they attempted really vigorous tests!
They used a combination of broken egg, barbecue sauce, egg nog, chocolate syrup, brown sugar,salt, salsa, and a can of fruit punch.
It actually mopped it all up but it did leave some egg shell and chunks of veggies on the floor. After a couple of passes they were able to pick these up as well. This is where the Smart Mop shines… if you got a big mess like this it will get the job done.
Negative Points
I had the exact same problem as Lauren. You can take the mop head off to wash it in the washer but it’s quite a tricky process. Remember you’ve got to do it all over again putting it on after the wash. MAJOR pain in the butt.
Lauren found orange lint in the washer after she used the mop although I don’t remember personally having this problem.
I also found that over time, the strips of Sham Wow would not lay nice on my mop. So when you’d go to wring it out it wouldn’t be in the proper position for wringing. Even though it did this I still found that I was able to effectively mop the floor and wring the mop. It was a minor annoyance though.
Another annoyance is when you have hair on the floor, it will ravel up into the material and its a pain to get out. Again, a minor annoyance and you definitely have to sweep before using the Smart Mop.
I also have to mention that in the second test that I viewed, the mop handle broke right off although they were still able to use the mop. Again this never happened to me.
The Smart Mop is more useful for anyone with kids or pets that leave major spills around the house, otherwise a regular mop will suffice. And now for the revolutionary Mr Steamy review!
If you dread lugging out your iron and board out or making that trip to the dry cleaners, you’re not alone. Mister Steamy to the rescue! Yeahhh we’ll see about that. I always chuckle to myself when I hear the name. What marketing genius came up with that? The infomercial claims it will save you money by releasing steam in your dryer and immediately removing wrinkles from both damp and dry clothes.
Each order comes with two Mr Steamy balls plus two small bottles of Fresh Shot which is a fabric freshener/softener. It claims to work for most fabrics including polyester, cotton and fabric blends.
The Mr Steamy instructions say to…..
Pour one capful of the Sure Shot liquid into the ball. If your clothes are really stinky, pour in two capfuls.
Now add water inside the Mr. Steamy ball then toss it into the dryer.
You’re supposed to see results in 15-30 minutes.
Lauren bravely tries a comparison test with an assortment of her nice clothes. She’s got a cotton dress shirt, a satin tank, and a cotton-lycra blend turtleneck.
Mr Steamy Test Results
With both wet and dry clothes, everything still looks as wrinkled as when she started.
The Sure Shot Liquid escapes from the ball and leaves sticky water droplets and spots on her clothes.
Some viewers said that it creates more static cling and does not work even on towels.
Mr Steamy website is asking $20 for two balls, plus $7 shipping and handling. Put that phone down, save your money and do not order Mister Steamy! And here’s a cleaning product that actually does work. Pheww finally…it’s called Silver Lightning!
Cleaning silver has never been my forte. I’ve discovered that it’s both a messy and time consuming process. So if the Silver Lightening Tarnish Cleaner can remove tarnish instantly with an electrolytic reaction, this just might be a great time saver to have around the home.
Silver Lightning is supposed to be the fastest, easiest and most effective way to clean all of your sterling, silver plates, stainless steel, gold and copper around the home. It’s also guaranteed to last forever. No scrubbing or mess with toxic cleaners and all silverware can be done at once instead of being polished one at a time.
All you need to do is take one of two trays provided into a non-metal container or sink and add boiling water. Then you add two teaspoons of baking powder or salt which starts the chemical reaction. Then add your tarnished things onto the mat.
So does it really work? Of course we are all extremely skeptical but what do you know…. As you can see in the video, it really does work. It only took a minute to see a dramatic difference. Two thumbs way up for Silver Lightning. Yessss! Check out more As Seen on TV household product reviews right here!
Do you ever wish there was a way to stop those annoying infomercials dead in their tracks? Well now there’s a way to rise up to reject this outrageous intrusion in our homes! Our TV channels were never meant to be clogged with 24 hour shopping and workout kings offering to tighten everything from your face to your thighs.
Don’t you just love those infomercial pitches teach us things we didn’t even realize we needed to know? Well you have to admire the sheer nerve of the promoters who think we do.
Have a look at the newest spoof infomercial on the Infomercial Stopper! Get rid of additive bonus gifts, overused catch phrases, stupid rhymes, blinking “call now” signs, GUARANTEED or your money back!
I have high arches which have caused really bad bunions on my feet especially on the left foot. About 5 years ago I had really bad pain in my bunion and pain in my knees which really scared me because I’m only in my thirties. So I bought these and gave them a try. I can honestly say my bunion and knees has never caused me pain since. They are easy to use and I feel that they are very comfortable to wear. Before buying these I bought some custom made orthotics but the problem with the custom made ones are that they are expensive and you have to get new ones made I think they said every year or so. VERY expensive! So Barefoot Science has saved me lots of $$ and pain and suffering as well. So I do highly recommend this product. I also like the fact that the little insert that you change seems to be in the perfect spot that your foot needs for support yet I still feel that my feet are getting a work out and getting stronger.
their feet all day. So happy they purchased them.
