Grater vs. File: Best foot fixing implement

A podiatrist recently told me that my feet are in extremely good nick. I was as surprised to hear this as she was to discover it, I think, especially after I admitted I never do anything nice for the feets. Except give them awesome paint jobs, but she didn't seem to think that counted for anything; apparently; she was more concerned about my penchant for flat pumps. Hmph.

As if my support-free shoe fetish wasn't bad enough, I don't moisturise unless I'm planning a spot of fake tanning, rarely treat them to pedicures, and never think to do anything about any build-up of hard skin until minutes before I have to expose them in flip-flops or wedge sandals. The poor podiatrist nearly passed out, but before she did she recommended a daily dose of foot-specific moisturiser and once-a-week removal of dry skin with a foot file to keep everything in tip-top shape. Did it have to be an emery board stylee number, I wondered, or would a metal file with microplanes be better?

"The ones like cheese graters, you mean?" said she. The very ones, I affirmed. The podiatrist said that she's not a fan of those metal jobbies because it's too easy to overdo things and accidentally remove healthy skin - guess she's never seen an infomercial for the Ped Egg, so.

With her advice ringing in my ears, I rooted out my Diamancel #11 Foot Buffer to use on one foot and my Ped Egg to try on the other.

You've probably seen the Diamancel Buffer, perhaps without realising what it was: it's that black-handled, paddle-shaped foot file made with diamond dust that frequently crops up on must-have best buy lists, and is apparently used in Bliss Spas worldwide. It's the Rolls Royce of foot files. It's also bloody dear. I bought mine more than five years ago on a trip to the UK and can still remember the light-headed feeling parting with my £40 caused.

That's the price of using diamonds on the soles of your feet, I suppose.

Despite its pedigree, prestige, and price, I don't love the Diamancel. Frankly, I don't think it's performance is in keeping with any of those other "p" words: sure, my feet feel a bit smoother than when I don't use it, but it takes ages to make any impact, doesn't make a really massive difference and the effect isn't cumulative. In addition, the long handle is flexible and makes it hard to get purchase on the areas you're trying to tackle. Meh.

The Ped Egg might not be podiatrist-recommended, but at least it does exactly what it says on the tin and makes easy work of getting rid of hard skin quickly.

Now, any takers on a gently used diamond dust-encrusted foot file? One careful lady owner from new ...