What is with the footwear? Footwear is a double edged sword. On the other hand we need footwear to protect us from the environment. Our environment has the hard ground that we need cushioning to protect us from. The environment also included the hot and cold temperature of the external environment that we need protection from. The environment also includes the harmful objects, the animals and the insects that we need protection from. On the other hand footwear cause most of the problems, such as bunions, hammer toes, claw toes, weaker arches and heel bumps that are so common in adults these days.