A foot insert is provided that is capable of providing protective cushioning to an area at the front of a wearer's foot including an area extending from the front tips of the toes to the metatarsal region of the ball portion of the foot. The foot insert includes a half-sock formed from a stretchable fabric material and is capable of extending over a toe portion up to about a mid-point of a length of a wearer's foot. A cushioning pad is attached to a lower sole portion of the half-sock and is formed from a shape-memory material that is capable of substantially permanently molding into a shape of a bottom portion and toes of the wearer's foot upon use.