Thanks for posting on this topic. like another poster, i wish there was an arttilce specifically on walking, not running. Plus differences between walking on grass and dirt vs sidewalks and crosswalks.

p.s. I just followed the link here to Earth shoes. Seriously? virbam rubber? flip flops? And here I thought i was in the company of like minded people and was happy; now its back to being isolated again. I can’t wear vibram rubber outsoles and I don’t understand anyone who feels these are like barefoot. they are very stiff and hard fo rsmall fett to bend. flip flops are very far away from going barefoot, so now i’m confused…

And BTW I have never in my life had any foot problems at all. Other than the occasional thorn or something like that, I have never had any bunions, infections, ingrown toenails…nothing!!

Thanks.

It is so sad that you make your children wear shoes in the summertime. ?

For walking — not running — it’s entirely natural for your heel to be the first part of the first to touch the ground. It’s really a question of whether you strike the ground hard with your hear or just sort of roll you weight to your forefoot. This will come naturally once you get used to using your feet to feel what you are stepping on. Try walking on a path with gravel or a sidewalk with twigs or acorns. You will learn quickly that you need to put your foot down lightly and sort of feel what you are stepping on first before applying you full weight to avoid the ouch of stepping on something pointy or hard. Think about how you would walk if you walked on your hands and think of your feet as an extra pair hands you walk on — use your feet to touch and explore, not to strike or hit, and you’ll be fine. I also have to emphasize that learning to walk barefoot is a lot easier if you make a real commitment to spend as much time as possible barefoot while it is warm outside and to ditch the flip flops entirely. Shopping, errands, school are all great times for going barefoot — not just in your own yard or at the beach. Developing good muscle tone and barefooter’s soles — thick skin and a nice cushion of supple fatty tissue on the bottom of your foot — will make barefooting sooo much more comfortable. But you need to put in the time and exercise. That’s why for my kids we allow shoes only for school and little league and (sometimes) church as soon as its warm enough not to wear a coat outside in the spring and all through summer. I know they have tough little feet that can carry them safely and comfortably anywhere.

I agree with Micah and Karen, you really need to be used to barefoot walking before committing to barefoot shoes of any kind as they are all very expensive. As you get used to walking for on the balls of your feet you’ll begin to feel the great cushioning it provides and a lot of the pain will go away. I found one inexpensive way to begin barefoot walking outdoors is to buy a couple of packs of black or grey ankle socks and wear these. They give you a bit of protection from hard and sharp surfaces, but allow your feet to flex as they should. Mimicking the best barefoot shoe and barefoot experience. Plan on wrecking a pair for each venture you make most of the time as they will be worn through pretty fast on pavement…but socks are way cheaper than barefoot shoes. They are also a fun way to ease into the habit of not wearing shoes at all when you go out. (I would stay away from white socks for obvious reasons).

Cathy, I agree with Micah. I would not invest in a pair of barefoot shoes until you have spent enough time going barefoot to re-learn how to walk barefoot and to develop the muscle memory to make it stick. That means this summer you need to commit to spending lots of time barefoot in lots of different activities and working up to the point where most days are barefoot days for you for the whole day and shoes/sandals are for no more than just a few hours total each week. I know it may feel a little weird at first to be out and about without anything on your feet, but you should never have to go through a life of chronic pain just because other people think you need something on your feet. The best way to get over being self-conscious about being barefoot is just to do it. People who actually are your friends will be happy you have found a way to deal with your pain. Once the cold weather comes, you’ll be ready to start wearing a barefoot or minimalist shoe and still keep all the good habits of gait and posture you learned by walking barefoot because they will be baked in as second nature.