Pretty much the front half of my foot, from mid-metatarsal to the toes. I wear my shoe straps pretty loose, especially the strap closer to the toe. I don't have any heal pain at all. The old pair of shoes I had, I felt like I had too much room in them and had more of a numbing problem, which I always thought was odd. The shoes fit my feet perfectly with regards to snugness (if that is a word), but the pain is at times unbearable.