Do people not walk barefoot in their homes?
At home? But that’s where I keep all my rusty nails.
I wear sandals or slippers indoors because I hate the texture of my carpet and can’t afford to replace it. I hate how socks feel as well, so those don’t get worn unless I’m going somewhere.
People in the US generally wear shoes in their homes. When they come home, they might take off their shoes if the shoes are uncomfortable, in the same way they might remove a bra or a tie, but it’s more for reasons of comfort rather than hygiene or preserving flooring. Guests are usually allowed to keep their shoes on.
In households of people who have recently immigrated, it’s different. It can also be a thing with people whose homes have a high aesthetic value. In general though, in the US it’s expected that the host requests that the guests remove their shoes, rather than it being a presumption.
Basically society at large has deemed certain shoe shapes to be aesthetically pleasing. A lot of these designs put pressure on your toes leading to problems like bunions.
Big Shoe is lying to you.
I have very wide feet, so women’s shoes do terrible things to me. Even extra wide women’s shoes aren’t wide enough without going up a full size.
It’s amazing the difference properly roomy men’s shoes make for me, tho I still strongly prefer being barefoot or wearing flip-flops because it’s hard to find a good pair, and I don’t want to wear them out. Size 7 2/4EW that don’t obviously look like men’s shoes are super hard to come by - those horrific mis-matched neon colors nearly ubiquitous in smaller size men’s athletic shoes (I assume because they would mostly be worn by kids and teens) are a non-starter for daily wear.
That fucker would go through most regular shoes, too.
I have exclusively worn barefoot, minimalist shoes for ~5 years now. I have never had a foot injury. If anything, I experience significantly less back and knee pain since making the change. I have an old martial arts injury in my right knee. As long as I wear primarily barefoot shoes, it never passively hurts anymore. As long as I don’t make a habit of it and go right back to my Merrells, I can wear heels all day without any joint pain because my joints are stronger and healthier than they used to be. I don’t have trouble with sharp things, in part because I look where I’m stepping, but also in part because I can feel what I’m stepping on before I put my weight down. I don’t often go barefoot outside the house because I live in a dirty city, but I am a full time barefoot shoes convert. It’s the obnoxious thing I tell people the benefits of all the time because I know so many people in constant pain who wear big old bulky sneakers and boots.
What barefoot shoes do you normally wear? I’ve tried a few, but nothing fits quite right.
I’m a serious Merrell enthusiast. I love their trail glove line, especially anything with the Trail Glove 3 soles. I’m wearing my Power Gloves right now, which are weird rare high tops. I also have a pair of Trail Glove 5s. They’re not quite as comfortable as the 3 sole style, but they are so high performance it’s ridiculous. No matter how or where my foot lands, I have both grip and mobility. My dream shoes are Wildlings, with the split soles. But there aren’t a bunch of those on ebay like there are Merrells, so I can’t just keep and beat up multiple pairs.
What sort of shoe do you usually find comfortable? Do you have wide or narrow feet? Is your arch deep or shallow?
I have fairly narrow feet. I tend to strike with the heel of my foot when I walk. I’ll take a look at the ones you have listed.
Yeah, I have narrow feet as well. There are barefoot brands with wider fits, but I like the snug fit I can get with Merrells. And heel striking has to go when you switch to barefoot. Mid to forefoot stride is the way! Heel striking puts stress on your ankles and knees. Changing your stride will strengthen your feet and protect your joints.
Thanks for all the info! I’ll have to work on my stride then.
Feels like something Zoidberg would say.
“It’s good for you probably! Your carapace will protect you fine. … what do you mean humans don’t have a carapace?”
Rusty iron is good for the blood, why not?
I do believe going barefoot is beneficial for both your body and mind, however I don’t think everybody should start going barefoot out in public, grocery stores, sidewalks, etc. Too many rocks from our rocky infrastructure. Next time you go on a hike, however, take your shoes off and feel the earth.
This depends, too, because soils in many areas aren’t safe to walk around just anywhere barefoot in due to parasites. This issue sounds more simple than it is, and that’s the danger.
I love walking barefoot in my local park full to the brim with bottle caps, rusty nails and heroin needles 😍
Every article ever.
It feels like you can’t even make 3 clicks on the web without someone trying to gaslight you into doing or buying whatever the want
Are you just talking in general or do you believe walking barefoot is harmful? At least I was born without shoes so I believe it would be beneficial, also the only times I’ve stepped on a nail it was attached to a plank and I was wearing shoes.
Nothing like an inch long barb from a trimmed hawthorn bush to put you right off the idea of thin soled shoes.
I have walked several hundred miles barefoot over the past two years.
Only thing ive stepped on was a tiny poiny rock. Easy to pull out.
A wild trick i use: my eyes. And look where i place my feet.
Do you worry about picking anything up? Like hookworms or athletes foot, or anything?
going barefoot will make fungal infections all but impossible since they want a warm moist enclosed space to grow in.
Maybe consider writing an article about how to do it safely, otherwise if the best Ive got is an idiot at Forbes and some brilliant but crazy ultrarunner, and there’s no middle ground? Yeah I’m never trying it.
At this point my soles are so thick that i can’t even pierce them with a sewing needle, i’m vastly more worried about stepping hard on a pebble and getting a blister than any sort of puncturing.
I bet I could pierce them with a sewing needle
Theory: You can pierce anything with a needle if you push hard enough. I say we test it out on their foot.
It’s much safer to step on a rusty nail without a shoe. In order to remove it, odds are they’ll want to cut through the shoe first, but while barefoot, it’ll be much easier.
Reminds me, I need a tetanus shot
Barefoot shoes just seem like the latest in bullshit hipster health nonsense to me.
There are researches, you may want to read some of them and decide if it’s nonsense or not.
