Aug 15, 2026
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Add us on GoogleIt was 15 years ago that Americans first became fascinated with toilet accessories.
The Squatty Potty made its debut in 2011, with a fairly paltry $17,000 in sales. But by 2017, these numbers were approaching $33 million. Now, another gadget meant to help nature take its course is vying for your bathroom dollars.
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If having a stepstool attached to the base of your toilet seems either a bit too much (or, perhaps, too mundane), then Let Loose Sh*t Shoes are presenting themselves as an alternative. The seven-inch platform shoes accomplish the same task as the Squatty Potty, elevating your feet to assist with bowel movements. But they add a fashionable twist to the process.
A fashion no-no? Probably. Unusual? Absolutely. But popular? Unquestionably.
The first round of these shoes was quirky enough to capture the internet’s eye and sold out within seven days. Another round is in production right now and will ship to buyers in roughly two months. The shoes cost $69 per pair.
An elevating experience
The shoes lift the wearer’s feet seven inches off of the ground, raising their knees above their hips. This mimics the squatting position, which some medical professionals say can reduce resistance during bowel movements and reduce the chances of getting hemorrhoids.
“Science calls it anatomy. We call it letting loose,” the company said on its website.
There are a few things to know, though.
First off, the company says Sh*t Shoes are meant for pooping, not for walking. As tempting as it might be to march around the house in these for laughs, the company specifically says the shoes are meant for seated use only and denies any liability for slips, injuries, falls “or any chaos that results from ignoring this warning.”
Additionally, these shoes aren’t meant for kids. If your young one is having trouble making a boom boom, you’ll have to try some other method to alleviate the constipation.
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And don’t even think about asking for a refund. (Ew.)
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A surprisingly big market
While a pair of sky-high clogs meant to help you make bowel movements is easy to make fun of, a surprisingly robust market has cropped up around the “number two” industry.
When the founders of Squatty Potty received their first shipment of 2,000 footstools, they wondered how they would ever sell that many. These days, they sell that many in a single day. After the founders appeared on Shark Tank in 2011, they sold $1 million worth of the product in just 24 hours.
Lori Greiner invested $300,000 on that episode to take a 10% stake in the company (later investing another $600,000 for another 10%). The company’s life to date retail sales have topped $260 million.
Will Let Loose hit those numbers? That’s anybody’s guess, but whatever the company’s fate, it has added a bit of panache to an activity few people like to discuss.
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Chris Morris is a veteran journalist with more than 35 years of experience at many of the internet's biggest news outlets. In addition to his activities as a writer, reporter and editor, Chris is also a frequent panel moderator and speaker at major conferences, including CES and South by Southwest.
