Every spring (since 2010), as soon as the ground stops freezing, I stop wearing shoes. I continue to go unshod until it freezes again in October or November.
Every year I become more convinced that shoes are completely unnecessary in most circumstances (except, I think, in sub-freezing temperatures and while performing certain kinds of labour. Like, say, using a shovel. I haven’t managed to do either without shoes [UPDATE: Apparently, you can use a shovel barefoot]).
I believe that the human foot is perfectly designed for walking and running on almost any terrain without being enclosed in a shoe. The arch is perfect for absorbing shock, and the soles (with proper use) naturally form a protective callous while remaining sensitive enough to detect (and avoid) injurious surfaces. Both my research and my personal experience confirm it.
As a result, here are thirteen reasons I prefer to go barefoot.
- It feels good. Plain and simple. It feels good to walk barefoot through dew-drenched grass in the morning, or to feel sun-warmed concrete under my feet on a cool summer evening. I love to feel all the different textures and temperatures, from gravel to ceramic to pine-needle carpets on the forest floor. It’s delightful.
- I love discovering what I can get away with not using/buying/owning. There’s freedom in knowing you don’t have to depend on material possessions in general, and market commodities in particular, to get by. (Hence the reason I also don’t use shampoo).
- I like being connected to my environment. Going barefoot requires me to be more alert to my surroundings, and being able to feel the surfaces under my feet naturally encourages an enhanced awareness of my surroundings.
- As a result, I’m actually less clumsy without shoes. I trip and stub my toes much less often.
- Going barefoot is consistent with my desire to live a minimalist lifestyle. That’s one less thing in my possession I have to worry about.
- The money I don’t spend on shoes is money I can spend on other things I value more. (Like, say, high-quality food).
- I believe that the entire footwear industry is a sham, based on the false belief that we need shoes to protect us from our surroundings and (worse) to offer our arches “support.”
- I believe that shoes are unhealthy. They generally cause more problems than they solve, by encouraging an unnatural gait (causing joint problems), promoting bacterial and fungal growth (causing a whole host of gross problems from athlete’s foot to toenail fungus), and creating harmful friction on various parts of the feet (causing blisters and corns).
- Since ditching shoes, I no longer suffer from foot odor.
- I never have to worry about getting blisters when I walk long distances. (And no, I don’t have to deal with cuts or splinters, either. I haven’t had a single foot injury in the last three years, and I’ve walked all over major cities, through forests, and all over my sketchy neighbourhood without shoes. I use my eyeballs and my heightened awareness of my surroundings to avoid sharp objects.)
- I never have to worry about the weather or getting my shoes soaked. I can walk through puddles without concern. (It’s quite fun, actually.)
- I can go in and out the door without having to stop to fiddle with laces or buckles.
- I don’t have to launder, hang-dry, sort, or fold socks (except my husband’s).
- I don’t have to grapple with the very troubled question, “How can I ensure my footwear purchase isn’t feeding into a system of injustice and oppression?” or “Which type of shoes are most ethical?” (My husband, by contrast, has to deal with this question every year or so when he has to replace his worn-out shoes. How can we be sure his shoes haven’t been made by slaves?)
(Update: Informed Mama [in the comments below] directed me to this fascinating article about Earthing. The idea is that direct contact with the earth balances the electrons in your body and improves your health. Check it out!)
So for these reasons and more, I am happy to kick off my shoes each spring and leave them on the shelf for the remaining three seasons.
For further reading, check out the Daniel Howell (a.k.a. The Barefoot Professor’s) Fact Sheet on living barefoot. I’ve also written about going barefoot here and here.
Can you think of any other reasons to go barefoot?
(This post was linked up with Your Green Resource, hosted by Sorta Crunchy. Check it out!)
Even though I wear shoes a good portion of the day (at work) when I’m at home they get kicked into a corner. I love walking thru the yard barefoot and encourage Henry to be barefoot as much as possible so that he gets used to bumps, scrapes and getting dirty!
That being said I don’t think I could give up wearing shoes out running errands – but that stems from what I’ve seen walking across floors in my years working grocery and retail and an inexplicable fear of ripping off my toenails (I know weird, right?).
I still hope you get to enjoy the pure bliss of handknit wool socks in the winter!
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Great points! Barefoot is so fantastic. I love it. My favourite point you made is point number 6. I wonder how much dark chocolate I can buy since I’m not buying new shoes? ;)
I still don’t have enough guts to go into stores without shoes — I maybe have done this once. The kids do it whenever they want and I don’t worry about it because people seem to be able to forgive kids more easily if they don’t have their shoes on. I sometimes get the odd remark of ‘You need to wear shoes in this store because there could be broken glass, we drop things!’ haha I think they are speaking out of what they would say to their kids though rather than on behalf of the store. Well I think I should just get brave and go through a store with no shoes… if I keep my head up people will look at my smile rather than my feet, right? ;)
All in all I know that if I had worn barefeet more often through out my life my feet would have been awesome! But they are much happier now and stronger too since I’ve worn shoes less and less. But that dead grass is a killer hey! Prickly! ;) Happy Barefooting!
i love going barefoot and agree with all your reasoning. unfortunately my toes go white very easily (raynaud’s probably but i don’t care to over-medicalize) and it’s not warm enough often enough here for me to go out barefoot much. shame because i love to walk on warm concrete and soft grass and even gravel.
mine barefooting comes mainly having large feet and shoes being such a nightmare to find full stop let alone considering ethics.
You make it sound very appealing. Unfortunately for me I have fallen arches which result in a lot of pain if I go barefoot for long on unnaturally flat surfaces (anything man-made)
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I’ve actually heard several accounts of fallen arches improving through going barefoot, including my husband who had very flat feet, but now has a noticeable arch. Now I’m obviously not in your shoes (or out of them, as the case may be, haha!), but I would wonder if the pain came from using muscles that simply aren’t used to being used. It might be worth looking into more if you were interested.
I’ve read that before too, Vanessa, but didn’t have to personal experience to back it up. Thanks for sharing!
Love this. I used to never wear shoes for a couple years during high school. I did get glass in my foot regularly, walking through city streets.
Now I’m never barefoot, but your post inspires me. I do at least always buy my shoes used, so I don’t have to worry about what I’m supporting with my purchase, or spend a lot on them!
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I think I read one of your previous posts on this like two months ago, and it’s come to my mind several times since! I think it makes complete sense to go barefoot on grass and dirt, but I do wonder if it’s really good doing it on hard surfaces such as concrete (as in, perhaps there you do need man-made support, for your arches or whatever, for man-made surfaces?). I did try running barefoot once, but I’m not in the habit of stalking the edges of golf courses, which is the only area I’d feel safe enough to do so (I’m not very observant). What are your thoughts on those barefoot running shoes?
I do try to let Miriam go barefoot a lot. I remember walking barefoot across the gravel lot on our farm growing up all the time and it was never a big deal. Now I’m a wimp and kind of limp and jolt over it when I try! I want her to at least have the freedom of being barefoot now while she’s young and able! She also is much less clumsy when barefoot.
Oh, and man, I never realized there were ethical concerns with shoe manufacturing. I have so much to learn! I’m having a hard time just finding some that are comfortable! If you know of any particularly good brands, I’d love to hear them.
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I’ve also wondered about whether our feet might need protection on man-made surfaces. So far, I haven’t come across any research that says so. My own experience seems to suggest that going barefoot is still superior than wearing shoes. Since going barefoot changes your gait to be more springy, encouraging you to put more weight on the balls of your feet rather than slamming your heels into the ground, I think you’re actually better off that way.
And oh, I know what you mean about the ethical concerns. Every time you turn around you run into another thing that’s morally problematic. It’s so easy to fall into despair! Unfortunately, we haven’t come across any particularly good brands (hence the reason I’ve just eschewed shoes generally). If I do, I’ll have to do a post on it!
I thought one of your main reasons would be earthing. Look into it – barefoot and grounding, or barefoot and earthing. Here is one link – http://news.yourolivebranch.org/2011/05/18/why-does-walking-barefoot-on-the-earth-make-you-feel-better/ I am consciously trying to spend more time outdoors without shoes on. I have to overcome thoughts of germs!
PS. great blog!
Wow, informed Mama — I hadn’t heard of this before! Thanks for passing it on — fascinating!!
ok, here is my comment blitzkrieg starting…and in no particular order, first about shoes! i would love to do this. i remember hearing about this when i was younger and loving that i could play outside with no shoes and it be GOOD for me! and then i grew up :/ unfortunately what’s (mainly) stopping me now is an extremely bad plantars wart smack dab in the center of my left foot. i have literally been trying for 5 years to get rid of it. i’ve been to several doctors about it (one who had the gall to suggest that if i just “believe it will be healed, it will heal”….thanks dufus). in short, getting stuff in it really hurts! have you heard about going barefoot helping those of us who already have a tendency to get warts? i think its a genetic thing.
anyway, maybe one day when i’m finally able to concur this thing.
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I can’t say for sure… but going barefoot might help you conquer that wart. I imagine being cooped up in shoes all day is just what the little monster wants! Try it, gradually at first. I bet it’ll work!
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Alison — when my son was 18 mo, he had plantar warts all over his hands, and I was at a loss what to do about it. Didn’t want to put anything toxic on that he might (who are we kidding… “would”) put in his mouth; I’d heard that duct tape will work (basically by “suffocating” the wart), but how to keep it on his hands? For completely unrelated reasons, one night before bed I covered his hands with vaseline and put socks on over. In the morning, all the warts were gone! Unfortunately (as far as confirming the experiment), we’ve never had a reason to try the same thing again so I don’t know if it was a fluke, or if this really does work. But it probably couldn’t hurt you to try it!
I know I’m terribly late, but I would agree about the shoes being the culprit of the plantars wart! My right foot was covered in them for close to 10 years. It was incredibly painful (and embarrassing for me) and nothing I tried was helpful; neither were the doctors.
However, I moved from NY to FL and within 2 months they had all completely dried up and flaked away. I attributed it to being barefoot in our home and wearing only sandals anywhere else. Now, when I’m visiting in NY I take my shoes and socks off as quickly as possible when I get inside. I haven’t had a recurrence of the warts in 2 years now.
I really love the idea of going barefoot! I recently read a few excellent articles on the improvement one gets from running barefoot versus running shod. Freeheel Runningpads (or something like it) might be an alternative for walking barefoot in urban areas. Just a suggestion! :)
Im definitely going to try going more barefoot though!
Awesome article! I also am a barefooter. I live my life without shoes, and I thoroughly enjoy it! A few months ago, I moved to the jungles of Burma. Everyone assured me that my barefooting would have to be temporarily put on hold. I didn’t believe it, but I brought some boots just in case. I’m happy to report that I’ve trudged through mountains and dense jungle without shoes and been perfectly fine! Although, I did have my first foot injury – a small thorn. So you’re ahead by one point.
Way to go on being all natural! Woot!
I quit wearing shoes to keep cooler in my shop in summer. As I adapted, I found joint pain in my hip that I’d get after walking not too far, completely ceased.
It also occurred to me, that being dependent on shoes makes one weak.
I have friends in the special operations community, and it’s funny… All their training aside, they’re about defenseless without shoes, as they cannot walk fast, let alone run.
In an emergency, I can always put shoes on and not lose speed, albeit after adapting, they’re uncomfortable… They’d be immobile for a week at least trying to adapt. :)
I agree-for the most part. While in college I went barefoot for a whole year-this included the cold, snow and ice of a Maryland winter- and only rarely experienced any problems from cuts or such. You do tend to feel better connected to the world when you’re barefoot-go electrons:)!
However, in many work situations I don’t think it would be appropriate or safe. I’ve seen trash workers in Indonesia standing and working atop mountains of garbage that includes glass and metal, wearing only flip-flops or barefeet…egads!
Commonsense is not a common virtue. Often, better to opt on the side of caution. Try to buy local and buy leather when shoes/boots are needed.
This was an interesting post. I once worked for a shoe manufacturer, and part of the managerial training was a pretty in-depth understanding of foot mechanics. I don’t know how many times I had to talk a mother out of trying to find baby shoes with arch support, or gently lead a woman with one foot in a podiatrist’s cast (!) away from the 3″ heels.
I prefer to go barefoot whenever possible, myself. The folks at the small office where I work grin at me padding around barefoot, and at home the shoes generally come off inside the door. Outside is more of a challenge, since I have bamboo growing around the house. I cut it when it gets into the yard, but this results in little hard skewers just below grass level all through the yard, and can make walking barefoot painful. I’m hoping to put a stepping stone labyrinth in the backyard that I can walk barefoot over the next summer.
Going barefoot here in public is problematic. Not only are shops generally disinclined to allow it, but the temps between May and October can easily be over 90 degrees F, with July – September being often 100+. If you’ve never walked across an asphalt parking lot barefoot on a sunny 100 degree day, let me tell you — you don’t want to! I remember it often from my childhood.
I always walk barefoot at home. In the summer, I even walk barefoot outdoors occasionally, as well. I just hate shoes. I can’t stand wearing them! It is so much more comfortable to set my feet free and go barefoot, not to mention it is also much healthier for your feet! :-}
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Kathleen, what is the longest period of time that you have gone completely barefoot? Do you ever wear shoes when the weather is warm and if so, where?
So, I love this! I just have 1 question”public places” like stores and such say “no shoes, no shirt, no service” so what do you do then? Flip flops? Just curious thanks!