Barefooting

[Dr. Manhattan]

I've been experimenting with being bare foot, so far I've done two bare foot walks around my hometown. Is there any other barefooters here who could give me advise on starting out, especially since I have very sensitive feet.

[Disenchanted]

I never go bare foot in public, only around my house and my yard. The only times I go barefoot in public are in water parks.

[First_Disciple]

I never can stand to go barefoot for too long... unless it is on a beach or in long grass, sandals are the thing for me. But as for your sensitivity problem, I imagine that will become less of a problem as you go barefoot more often, since your skin will naturally become thicker and stronger when left to the devices of nature. Just watch where you step!

[turtle75]

i can't give you any advice other than it hurts and i'm sure like anything else your feet will adapt after a while doing it

[bjoseph]

yeah i dont go barefoot around town i'd be afraid id step on glass or somthing but i dont really wear shoes very often if i am in a park at school or at someones house or at the lake so i only really wear shoes when necessary and its more comfy

[Lady_xgsft]

I usually only go barefoot around the house and yard.  However on Saturday we were walking from the house to the hanger and I walked barefoot down the road.  I have done this before, when my shoes are just to uncomfortable, and when I was younger I never wore shoes, around the barn or anything.  I used to keep my shoes in my car so that I could get in, drive, put on shoes, take my shoes off, go home, .
Stay away from stone and hot asphalt.  By hot asphalt I mean the dark parking lots and roads in the summer, they can burn your feet quickly.  Stones are rough on feet because it's a lot of weight on a very small pointy surface area.  Otherwise you should be ok.  I try not to go around a yard I don't know to well, bees can build nests there and those darn prickly weeds can really hurt at times.  Also, be aware that most places have regulations about wearing shoes in buildings, those are put on by the health department.  I wear sandals a lot because they are easy on, easy off and I can be barefoot a lot more when I do this.  In the middle of Winter I would wear sandals so that I could take them off during school, because let's face it, 2 hours in a classroom was uncomfortable. 
As you walk barefoot more, you get used to it.  Your feet can get really rough and lotion is a great thing to help keep them from getting to rough.  There are pumice stones and other items as well but I have never used them.
Hope this advice helps.  And enjoy!

[Dr. Manhattan]

thanks Lady_xgsft

[barefootphotographeruk]

As my name may suggest, I go barefoot a great deal myself, especially in summer, and pretty much anywhere and everywhere.  Already been around town barefoot shopping a couple of times this summer, and other than work or when I'm out riding mountain bikes, I'll pretty much be barefoot until it starts to get cold in Autumn.

As for having sensitive feet, in a way that's probably a good thing, although my only advise would be to take it easy, and only stay barefoot when it's comfortable to do so.  The more you go barefoot, the more you'll get used to it.  I'm actually going out to Christchurch Harbour tomorrow as it's my day off work to do some photography, as it's mainly along the beaches and of course the harbout itself, I'll probably stay barefoot for about 7 hours while I'm out.

Will.

[Noodie]

Outdoors, I usually have something on my feet - even if I'm not wearing anything else (usually sandals / flip-flops, if I'm nude). That's partly because a lot of surfaces just feel uncomfortable to walk on, barefoot, and also because I tend to get cut very easily on such surfaces and start bleeding all over the place. Which is not good.

I do go barefoot indoors though, or on smoother surfaces outdoors (patios, poolside areas, etc)

[avion321]

I can pritty safely say that I will go bare foot any where around my house, yard or barn, this include my barn driveway what is stone and across my street to get mail.  My advise, aviod black top but do walk on it if only for a few seconds it will condition your feet.  The same goes for walking on stones, at first walk over them slowly (I still do) to minimise pressure on gaged edges but i think it helps to condition your feet by doing these things that are uncomortable.  I aviod anywhere that I think there could be broken glass, you still have to be smart.

[Nude_not_rude]

I'm usually barefoot in the house and yard. My feet are too soft to be without pain when walking down the street, unless I slowly build up to it and try to get my "walk-about feet" toughened up for summer.

[jeep]

When growing up i was always bare foot and in fact wore little esle than shorts amd maybe a tank top (How old is that name). Even now i will only wear footwear when i have to. I will usually go to the shops barefoot, and yes i do get a few looks from people probably thinking that "That poor guy in the kilt must be so poor he cant afford shoes or shirt" but i'm just comfortable that way.
   
I am always doing things bare foot that i shouldnt such as mowing lawns or restoring jeeps or artillery in the garage without foorwear, when common sence would dictate that i really should put on steel caps or something and have had a few things fall on them. maybe i'm just silly or a slow learner.

My soles are not as hard as they were as a kid tho, and the best way to condition your feet is just to go bare foot and on the likes of concrete or rough surfaces. A bit like your fret hand on the guitar, you can not avoid going through the blister stage to harden your finger tips up to deal with double wound strings

[lacey1stacey]

I think the feet don't count when you "go nude" and the terrain is unsafe or unknown.  Even the deck attached to our cabin can produce the occasional splinter.  To go barefoot when dressed would use the same rules.

[PirateJohn]

I think the feet don't count when you "go nude" and the terrain is unsafe or unknown.  Even the deck attached to our cabin can produce the occasional splinter.  To go barefoot when dressed would use the same rules.

I learned that the hard way walking around the pool area of my resort when I stepped on a bee...

[barefootphotographeruk]

I think the feet don't count when you "go nude" and the terrain is unsafe or unknown.  Even the deck attached to our cabin can produce the occasional splinter.  To go barefoot when dressed would use the same rules.

I guess depends greatly on the enviroment you're in, but I usually find being barefoot is a lot more natural and comfortable.  And often gives more of a connection with nature.  But then maybe I'm just weird, lol.