Not that I mind, but… wearing shoes has a purpose… and the most important one IMO is to make sure our feet stay harms way from broken bottles, nails, stuff like that.
I’m not even gonna get into how cold it must be not wearing them in the winter… or how hot the asfalt might get during the summer. The asfalt can go up to 80, 90°C where I live during the summer, people have fried eggs on it for kicks.
Walking barefoot can help with better postures and alleviate back pain, but the same can be achieved with proper soles or shoe inlays.
These guys are probably just doing it for the clicks though… As if they’d have cut open their $20k shoe collection.
And if you like walking on bare feet, you can just… you know… not wear shoes to begin with.
Source: I like walking barefooted. I also have elephant hide under my feet and usually do short trips outside, such as take out the trash, barefooted. This includes during scandinavian winters. I have to stand still on ice for quite a while before it becomes uncomfortanle.
EDIT: “Our shoe collection is worth iver $20.000”… yeah, I call bullshit. That video is probably just ragebait to attract engagement and followers, similar to those incredibly stupid make-art-by-driving-over-a-paint-bucket tiktoks.
I also call BS. His foot looks too clean if they are going barefoot outside.
People in poor countries: he’s too poor to afford shoes.
These dipshits:
My sock collection is worth 10k.
I went in to Sephora and people complimented me on my socks.
Exactly.
I totally think it is not a thing. Just two random ignorant fools doing it (maybe, and maybe not).
Barefoot shoes are a thing though, with a very thin sole and a very direkt Response to ground texture. I have a small collection of these and i am a big fan of them. However, if i want to go completely barefoot (or simply forget my shoes again), i just don’t Wasser shoes.
What is the appeal to you of feeling the surface you walk on more directly? In my experience, having bulky soles enables your feet to take rough terrain for longer ( I did some multiday hikes in the Alps )
Also the soles (of B or A/B class hiking shoes) can have a very comfortable bedding, so it feels like a luxury item to me. I guess that’s why if feels strange to me to that some would rather forgo them all together :-)
You have thin soles so you can tell where you are in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
I hike a lot in my barefoot shoes
I’d say the biggest benefit of feeling the surfaces you walk on more clearly is that my balance is a lot better
But the biggest benefit IMO is that the shoes being super flat improves my posture relieving some shoulder and back pain. And the shoes being super wide in the toe box also improves my balance and means I can walk longer with fewer breaks.
The last hike I went on with my barefoot shoes was 18 miles and I felt better than before I started
I hike a lot completely barefoot, and let me tell you, it’s amazing. Highly recommend. I’ve also hiked in barefoot shoes and minimalist sandals, but regular ol’ not wearing shoes on a hike is like a spiritual experience.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing. Lucky for me, both balance and posture during hiking have not been a source of discomfort or pain for me before. Although I can imagine clambering over rocks might be faster with less bulky footwear because it’s easier to balance.
It might sound silly, but different terrains tend to be „interesting“. I also feel it has an impact on how i walk and how i stand - so actually back problems and (minor) aches are either easier or gone.
I, too, travel the alps, nock mountains, katschberg mountain, Dachstein etc. I totally wear bulky hiking shoes in the mountains, though, as you definitely want the protection for your foot and ankles. However, i more often than not even hike easy trails in those barefoot shoes. I guess i just am used to it so much that those protective shoes feel too heavy and bulky, even if the bedding is comfortable.
But fir the day to day footwear you have to wear necessarily I almost always choose barefoot shoes over the few remaining normal ones. I will keep one set business shoes, one pair of winter boots and my mountain equipment, everything else will be gone quite soon.
Thanks a lot for elaborating. I can definitely imagine different terrains being interesting. Your explanation of when you would (and wouldn’t) use them is very useful for understanding the appeal. If I ever find a nicely priced pair that fit me well, I might give it a whirl!
I’d also recommend something like my “Splay” shoes if you’re going to try it. They’re barefoot shoes that also have a wide toebox so that your shoes fit your toes instead of your toes fitting your shoes!
Before I switched to the wide toebox I also used boating shoes if you find some of those cheaper.
Things like converse are of course more mainstream, but at least have the “zero drop” aspect, so you’re closer to the ground but don’t quite feel the ground.
Everyone will say barefoot is bad for your knees, but that’s really only true if you’re running or jogging on concrete without letting your body adjust.
My feet used to ACHE at the end of the day, now they can still hurt sure, but it feels much more like a tired muscle instead of incorrect exercise if that makes sense.
All I can think about is how disgusting their feet would be. For me shoes are a berrier between all the dog piss/shit, and other grime and filth and are to be removed at my front door. No way I’d let these animals walk into home with those nasty feet.
I love walking barefoot and I cannot stand those two people who I have never seen or heard from before but now I don’t like them.
Why would they not just buy some cheap shoes to destroy.
good question, but how they will get views if they dont destroy their 20k shoes?
By spending $100 at Goodwill.
They did. And then they lied about the value.
I mean, the whole destorying your shoes thing is stupid. And I give you winter.
But in the summer I walk around barefoot all the time.
Yes, asphalt can get quite hot, but it’s usually managable if you walk fast or occationally step on some gras or surface in the shadow. It’s also not that hard to avoid stepping into things. Also once you build up some callus you can actually step on some suprisingly sharp objects without really hurting yourself.
Adding to avoiding things, when the consequence of stepping on is a lot of pain, you get good at watching where you’re going and adjusting mid-stride to avoid stepping on things that even appear sharp.
One of the nice side effects of shoes with soles is that you don’t have to concentrate on exactly where you are stepping all the time.
Edited for clarity
People just do stupid shit for internet attention
They should cut off their feet next so they can really be closer to the fucking earth or some shit. What a bunch of fucking morons.
Don’t be like the idiots in the video. If anybody actually wants something like this, barefoot shoes are a thing. They’re thin enough that you can feel the ground underneath you, while still protecting you from random nails and glass and shit. If you like being barefoot, give them a try. They’re a nice middle ground.
This is something I can avtually get behind.
Pretty sure this is also a good way to verucas and other infections.
I grew up being barefoot in the tropics, but in colder climates there are reasons for shoes.
Used condoms are great for moisturising bunions.
What a waste. Usually we freeze them to make coffee creamer.
A buddy of mine has sandal straps tattooed on top of his feet and that’s usually enough for him to get away with being barefoot.
Looks like a YouTube stunt. I like going barefoot, but I just go barefoot (and carry a set of flip-flops for when I need to enter a business).
