My dad told me that during the 1940's a lot of the children on farms would run about for the whole of the summer holidays in their bare feet. By the time it was time to return to school their feet would be like leather
I was in the Army for 19 years, lots of boots. Since leaving the Army I’ve been wearing sandals with rubberised soles. The difference with joint pain, mobility even leg comfort while sleeping has drastically improved. I completely agree with you minimalist shoe is life changing.
I bet you had issues. I only wore a pair of surplus army boots for my security job for about a year and my feet literally bled and my fifth toes curled under. I found all sorts of tricks to help, but I always called those boots hobbles.
I've been doing some backyard archery during summer and I was so glad when I realized I can just do it bare feet and forget about shoes. Those colder late summer evenings with the cool grass under your feet, it honestly feels amazing.
I'm an archer and know that feeling, or one like it. I live in a place that has little besides rock and cactus now. Still, I need to use my oversized five fingers more.
Until the cold grass starts leeching away the warmth of your feet. Summer of 2018 I went barefoot to a larp and a summer camp, and have spent significant time in places that allows for barefootedness. It is great otherwise (when you aren't walking on sharp gravel, that is).
I'm a teacher of barefoot/minimalist running technique. Great video! One word of caution, there is more to barefoot/minimalist walking and running technique than landing on the forefoot. It's vital to also land close to or directly under your center of gravity.
Oddly enough it’s a shade of Fieldgray, which one of the colours used with German uniforms from the Second World War. At least that what it looks like in the footage.
@Baby Hunn Of all things we take from animals, wool is probably the least problematic. I don't like seeing them freezing in winter, but if you're sane and leave them their wool during winter times, they can go perfectly fine without the rest of the year.
7:15 do not forget the hookworms and the rest of the parasites that affect us, of course they are not present everywhere so location matters in that regard
@@seemysight if you're in a swamp they can be quite stealthy, there's a reason they've been chowing down on a lot of land animals for the past several million years
There is an American company by the name of Lems that does a similar “barefoot” boot to the ones you show here. And not prohibitively expensive either. I’ve been wearing them almost exclusively for about a year and my feet, my balance and my back pain have never been better. Just one man’s opinion.
@@paytontheraccoon Basically for everything as soon as the temperature drops (they are really warm, in a good way) One of the biggest benefits for me is that it feels a lot better to stand around and I can assume a posture that is a little less caveman-like.
As someone who spent most of his life barefoot, I can attest that there are definitely drawbacks to modern footwear. First time I wore modern athletic shoes was for a gym class in high school and they gave me shin splints within a couple days (from the heel strike and the strain of elevating the toes). My feet were also tough enough to run over most blacktop without pain (all but the freshest streets) and I never needed to trim off excess skin. But sadly, I haven't been able to run barefoot for years. Moved into a place filled with a plant called "Goat's Head," after the caltrop-shaped seeds. I can watch the ground and skip over cactus, sharp rocks, and stuff like that, but I can't see the goat heads on the ground, and one step can leave a dozen seeds stuck into each foot. Stuff like that forces you into thick-soled shoes whether you like em or not.
I’ve always gone barefoot as much as possible - even remember going outside in snow barefoot in my teens ( when on boarding School).. Now in my mid 40 I still go barefoot as much as possible, unfortunately my job requires me standing on really hard surfaces and that gives me back pain if I do it barefoot ( which I have done for years) so now I need to wear something while working for longer... but I still go barefoot as much as I can - inside and out....
I spent most of my childhood and teens either barefoot or in thin flip-flops year-round (except for school, ugh) and still do. When I absolutely HAVE to wear boots, I wear Teva De La Vina ones. They have a tiny bit of a heel, but what I like about them is that the front of the sole is both thin and grippy.
i hear lems are a good compromise! they have a little more cushion than most barefoot shoes, but still have 0 drop, thinner than typical shoes, and nice wide toe boxes. they're not the best if you deal with a lot of water, but the boulder boots might do you good!
around 2010 i dated this girl who was adamant about nature and living naturally, she demanded to be barefoot at all times. I respected it and thought it was cool, But i constantly begged her to wear shoes when we would hike in the woods etc because 1. It slowed down the group 2. She constantly got cuts and scrapes and i worried about infection. 3. Whacking her foot meant the hike was over... and on top of that most humans are filthy and there is glass, metal, needles and who knows what laying around most of the planet Anyway a year or two after we broke it off i found out she got lymes disease after she was camping and got ticks on het feet. She always choose self treatment/holistic medicines over going to the doctor so it went unchecked until eventually It really fucked her up, she gained a LOT of weight and was tired all time, lot of joint problems. Pretty much destroyed her way of life and love for the outdoors. All that said, Even i love kicking off my shoes for a few hours and chillin.. But always take precaution of any potential dangers and be smart. One bad slice from a rusty piece of metal.. A sliver of glass or poisonous creature can ruin the rest of your life.
That's why you buy modern technology that's focused on minimalism and get the best of both worlds. Heck, I even have some fairly minimalist shoes with a steel toe for some yard work.
Yeah going barefoot is great! But so is common sense. On public hiking trails shoes are a must. Drunk people are everywhere and litter glass randomly. This is very evident if you do canoeing! You have to know your surroundings before just going barefoot.
That sounds like it had everything to do with holistic medicines and nothing to do with bare feet, ticks will keep climbing if they don't find skin and end up on you anyways. It also takes them a while to actually bite so if you are bare feet you just have to check your feet anyways. If you are not bare feet sometimes they even get as high as the ear or hairline and hide.
@@comment_deleted They actually hang at the level of the animals in an area, so if there is moose in the area they will hang around head height but if its only small animals like rabbits they will be much lower down.
I was going to 'watch later', but just couldn't go past getting a cheerful earful of your accent. And thanks! Now I've gotten some more ammo for when mum (who's a physio) makes fun of my wide feet because I prefer roomy boots and barefoot
As I am a physio, who likes being barefoot and keeps explaining that wide feet are seen as a problem only recently with too tight shoes I can't quite understand your mother.
A lot of people give oriental cultures that practiced foot binding a lot of grief, but in reality many people today participate in it in at least a small scale. Smaller feet tend to be more pleasing to the eye? Depends on the person, I guess.
I only wear shoes when going to town and so on, other than that always barefoot. Always walking on the balls of my feet, sometimes to the point of my heels are off the ground. Not so much 'tip toe' but the human equivalent to a digitigrade. Yes, the monkey feet trait to easily pick things up was unlocked a long time ago. It'd be nice if this sort of foot wear would catch on rather than being a 'specialty' item. When the toe shoe concept first came around I was honestly excited, and then disappointed when they became the butt of jokes and just faded away.
walking on the balls of your feet is also common in people with rippled muscles in their calves. run your finger down the front of your calf you might have it.
I'm barefoot most times when I'm in my house 😉 Seriously, I wear boots at work because I'm required to do so, as well as being on concrete for 8 hours; yer dogs take a beating. I'm a big fan of Birkenstocks and was very happy to see the line of footwear they brought out that was more than a sandal. My cousin's husband, who does a lot of bushcraft and has since he was quite young, wears a very minimal sandal. He really likes how his feet feel when they're not confined. The Freet shoe/boot is very attractive to me, and Merrill makes a couple shoes (of which I own a couple) that mimic a bare foot posture. Great video, sir, and please forgive my lengthy reply. Keep up the good work.
Due to the good response from this video, "Freet" have now kindly set up a DISCOUNT CODE for all you lovely people! Use the code: fand-10 and get 10% off all non-sale footwear. Here is the website: freetfootwear.co.uk/ Enjoy your barefoot journey!
I’m an exercise science major and all of my professors recommend being barefoot as much as possible especially when working out, if you aren’t able to go barefoot they recommend minimalist shoes (specifically Xero shoes which have a wide toe box so that your feet can splay out creating better balance). They also recommend getting Naboso insoles which are proprioceptive (you have to go sockless if you want these insoles to work). Another product is correct toes which helps splay your toes back out to where they need to be (of course any generic yoga toe spreader will do the trick and there are also socks you can buy that have spacers built into them)
I have the Prios and the dress shoes Xero makes. I really like them. Don't look them up though unless you want to buy. Their marketing is aggressive. So many ads
I bought a pair and I forgot what foot pain was. Sadly they worn out pretty fast with all the abuse I put then through :( I'll be getting a pair for work so I stop looking like a hobo with shredded shoes
I've been walking mostly barefoot for about 8 years now. You mention a lot of things already in the video, but I feel like I should add a few things. The cold still bites and hurts my feet when I get to sub-zero temperatures, but I have the overall impression that I handle low temperatures better now than when I still wore shoes regularly. This includes a feeling of retaining… uh… core temperature better, which far outweighs the minor inconvenience of cold feet. Wet feet aren't a problem at all. I can't remember ever having shoes that actually reliably protected me from water. Instead they'd get wet after about 15 to 30 minutes, and then stay wet until I let them dry out at home. In comparison, my feet dry in a matter of minutes or even seconds, depending on the weather. I feel like the grip of my bare feet is better than most any shoe profile. That's probably not true for shoes for specific purposes, but it is true for everyday footwear. I assume that this is due to feeling what's going on underneath so much more directly and more finegrained control through these hundreds of muscles you mention. For me this is one major reason to not switch to minimal footwear. The other major reason is that my feet don't sweat anymore at all. I significantly hurt my feet one time during those last 8 years, by stepping on the stump (can't call it anything else) of some weed while running. Walking across gravel is painful, I usually can't manage without sandals, which I have learned to take everywhere (unless I am in known, foot-friendly terrain). Same goes for the little stones they put on the streets during winter (sorry, English isn't my mother tongue), which is especially frustrating for me, since going barefoot I am pretty surefooted on ice either way. Of course I understand that the streets aren't for me alone, so I won't complain in any significant fashion or pretend that this shouldn't be done. In cities I stepped into glass a few times, never any big shards (which are very visible). The really small shards usually get stuck in the calluses and can be picked out easily, sometimes they get pushed deeper into the calluses, becoming a real nuisance that require a needle and maybe even scissors to get out. These glass shards never made it past the calluses though, and they never needed intervention from a doctor. Thorns are about similar to glass, but they're more easily missed, even when large, so they sometimes do actually draw blood. Gladly enough I live in an area where this is a rather uncommon problem. There are, of course, quite a few places that require me to wear shoes. Sandals suffice, I do not actually own any closed shoes at all. I would need closed shoes for some workplaces, of course. *Do not ever do heavy physical work without the proper footwear!* And another thing: Flip-Flops are the worst footwear I ever had.
Great video! Growing up in the country and being part Choctaw, I’ve always loved going bear footed when possible. My nine-year-old son is the same, hard to keep shoes on him while not in school and summertime, we don’t even try! He and his friends have our three acres to run around on and another 240 acres of farm behind our property. Oh and if you want funny looks, try wearing a kilt with elk hide moccasins on St. Andrew’s Day...........in Baltimore, Maryland lol!
Great video! I used to wear heavy logging boots for work, did for 20 years. Had knee pain for a few years and one day randomly stumbled upon all the barefoot information. I had just retired early so figured why not give it a shot. Been completely barefoot for 3-4 years now and its great! Took a good while to get used to it including all the odd looks from other people. Last year we moved out to the Australian bush and there was another time period of getting used to the harsher conditions but all good now. All in all I've found it to be a beneficial and fascinating experience. Thanks for touching on the topic.
THIS IS THE VIDEO!!! I couldn’t remember where I originally got the idea to walk on the balls of my feet first and barefoot to see if it helped my joint problems, but this is it! My man, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Since I changed my foot habits, as it were, I’ve gained control of my knee and back problems, improved my balance remarkably, improved my terrible posture, grown gargantuan, strong calves, and even lost weight! I can run comfortably for the first time in my life, and my calves are so strong it almost feels effortless because they’re such effective springs, and I’m not even in great shape or anything. My foot shape has completely changed and my toes are way more spread out already, it’s been a year and some months I think. It’s really changed my life for the better, I am SO grateful for you and this video, man I hope you see this so you know how much you’ve helped me. Incidentally, I also had quite a bad experience wearing normal shoes for the first time recently. Since covid I’ve only worn very flat shoes if I have to enter a building where shoes are necessary and go barefoot otherwise. I just went to my first public shindig where I wanted to get gussied up so I wore some boots that have just a normal boot amount of heel and I became incredibly uncomfortable after standing in them for a couple hours. It was crazy, my feet ached and felt stuck in an unnatural position, and my back was in agony. I couldn’t wait to get to the car to take them off. I love the way my boots look, I have several pairs, but I think I’m going to have to give them up! My experience has shown me that modern shoes are ridiculous and terrible for us. The difference is so stark to me that it seems utterly mad that most other people walk heel-first and in thick-soled, constrictive shoes. How do we show people the way? Cheers, mate. Thanks again.
That's quite remarkable actually, it's something I'd never thought of. It's probably why streching out one's feet is so pleasant because they're always cooped up in shoes.
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I watched a vid awhile back in which an experimental archaeologist constructed and wore replicas of Otzi's footwear (tied up leather wrap stuffed with grass) and claimed they were better than any hiking shoes he ever wore. the "slippy" problem was addressed by a few wraps of cord around the foot (think of snow chains). in America, native americans usually carried extra moccasins when on the move because of their basic fragility and gear repair was a normal camp activity. the Lakotah word for moccasin is the same as the word for foot.
Go figure that similar climates and similar animals (deer) means that the people will probably go down similar paths. I could only imagine the stuff that could've existed in pre columbian had they had domesticated animals too asside from dogs.
@@hollowhoagie6441 Animal husbandry wasn't as necessary on the American continents due to the hordes of plentiful wildlife, also it's generally more lush and fertile than Scandinavian, or Scottish land, less rocky.
Great video! Thanks. I've been wearing moccasins and moccasin like footwear now for a few decades. When i was young I thought that the heavier the boot the better but then as I got older and more experienced I gradually ignored the advertising and went to lighter and lighter footwear and barefoot whenever possible. You descriptions of the various pros and cons all around are excellent. Well done!
I live in a climate that goes down to -50 F (-40 F = -40 C) and I have gone barefoot most of the time inside and outside. I'm overjoyed people are discovering the truth about being barefoot. I just would like to point out something about snow, glass, sharp twigs and rocks and slippery mud when your feet adapt to these and realise when your feet adapt to these your whole body does an adaptation as well. I have walked and ran/run on all of these surfaces with no damage to my feet but like all things it's not 100 % of the time. My point is your feet adapt and being barefoot is not that hazardous when your feet are 'seasoned'. The slippery mud condition needs some explaining. Our groin and inner thigh muscles are not strengthened enough to handle it. When they are you can walk in slippery situations and will feel those muscles working and holding your 'body together', holding your body in a controlled position while you walk or run. However, nothing stops the spin-out situation where your feet are moving but you aren't. :-) Same with ice. There is a lot the general public doesn't realise about being barefoot. It's like trying to imagine what ice cream tastes like without ever tasting it. Imagine what your knees and back would feel like or benefit from stronger groin and inner thigh muscles. AND there is so much more than just this. One is the already mentioned 'earth living' part of it. Imagine how your body feels and reacts to the 'earth living' experience over time.
Thanks for all the info! Really interesting. Your body defo adapts to balancing and even the way your feet hit the ground changes. I am still starting on my barefoot journey so still lots to learn for me :)
What the fuck? How can you survive in a climate at -45Cº? I barely can endure being at -5Cº a few moments even being heavily clothed to the point it is hard to move. Amazing
@@diablo.the.cheater - hahaha. I know what you mean. 40 years ago I lived in Florida for 3 years and wore the same winter clothes and boots there that I wore here. With the barefoot, the ground and body adaptation life I found it very interesting. Florida adds crushed sea shells to their asphalt so that was another interesting thing to adapt to; broken sea shells are sharp like broken glass. The temperature occasionally got up to 62 C (144 F) with the humidity index, that was difficult to endure. I learned from coming from a cold climate that you can put clothes on to help with weather but there is only so many clothes you can take off. :-)
I completely agree with what you say, only problem here in Namibia where I spent a lot of time out doors, more than half the trees are acacia with serious thorns, thorny ground covering plants, not to mention razor sharp rock formations in the desert that can slice offroad tyres. At times the sand in certain areas in the desert can also reach temps in excess of 50 degrees C. And then we get to our impressive collection of venomous spiders, scorpions and some of the worlds most dangerous snakes, so I'll stick to walking barefoot in the house! Being of Scottish decent I really enjoy your excellent video's
Love what you’re doing! Posted a survival related video a few months back and happened to be wearing sandals. You wouldn’t believe the number of negative comments about my choice of footwear. Bunch of wimps!
I was just trying to find a foot solution last night. My foot has undergone 4 surgeries and I need to encourage the spread to come back. I needed this video. Thanks!
Great video. I’ve been wearing “barefoot” shoes for several years now. It started with my interest in Earthing. I agree with everything you said. I own Mocs, turn shoes, sandals, gym shoes & hiking boots all with either leather or minimalist soles. I love feeling the ground beneath my feet!
As a Swede this was pretty interesting, we don’t wear shoes as much as many other European and European influenced cultures. You pretty much never have shoes when you’re inside. Especially not in your home, not in most schools, not in smaller work places either. But in stores and public spaces you wear shoes inside. But more or less any place you spend a longer period of time inside in Sweden you are likely to walk around in socks. We generally have wood floors inside, or other ‘soft’ floors with a little bit of give to them that are comfortable to walk on. And in the summer months its pretty common for people to walk a lot bare foot. There is at least like a 20% of the population spend all of summer 99% barefoot, and many spend probably more than half their time bare foot especially at home and in their garden. Your soles harden up pretty fast
In the beginning of summer you have to be somewhat careful, but after a while you can walk on gravel and pine needles without discomfort. If you put in a few careful hours in the beginning of summer, the sole becomes a bit like leather. It’s a lot like how guitarist fingertips harden a lot from from playing. A beginners fingertips won’t last more then 15 minutes playing steel strings without discomfort. But just by the end of your first week practicing you’ll get the muscles and the hardened fingertips to be able to play for over an hour. And soon you can play for however long you want.
I love doing those barefoot trails where they have different sections with different kinds of "texture" on the ground i guess, like mud and rocks and stuff like that. There was a really good one where i used to live but i moved, sadly.
I have used my moccasins during archaeological excavations, and they are absolutely lovely for those purposes, especially if you have to get down in the excavations. Being made of leather (vs rubber soles of modern footwear), one can actually feel the earth and is aware of the texture. Much less damaging than modern shoes! And yes, they are fantastic to use during stalking! I stalk wildlife to WATCH them, not to hunt! Thank you for your excellent presentation of footwear. Stay well!
I read anything I could find on frontiers men, Trappers, pioneers, mountain men from childhood and many old timers who wore moccasins for years ended up with chillblains in their feet. Just a note of caution. Turmeric can be good for the knee injury.
I started to change into more flat or minimal foot ware and I enjoy it. Some casual options for me options are skate style shoes and converse. Skate style shoes because the skaters want to feel where their board is underneath their feet and heels can throw off their balance. Converse because they’re thin flat and flexible. In fact before skate shoe companies Tony hawk liked using converse for those reason. Another benefit is skate shoes use a really soft rubber making them relatively grippy and flexible.
Such a beautiful back-drop - thanks for taking us there. This is a message close to my heart - I have been getting closer to 'barefoot' over the past few years and it has done wonders for me. I walked in the alps last summer barefoot shoes, and did not have a moments discomfort from my back-pack - the benefits really do work their way all the way to the top of your head! Thanks for exploring this subject, and I I'd encourgae anyone watching who is tempted to give it a go
Right on, nice video! I grew up barefoot on a gravel road, and once your feet get tougher even rough terrain like off-trail rocks and twigs becomes very stimulating and pleasant! Lots of nerves down there so it does feel very grounding, also you just have to be more alert so you don't hurt yourself.
I've almost always gone out the back barefoot, unless I was helping with building things, and I've always said that's evidence of my extremely good immune system (I've stepped in chicken manure, barefoot, and just cleaned it in the grass, many times.) I have never had an infection. Little did I know, walking barefoot might be the _reason_ my immune system is so good
The articles he claims "prove" barefoot walking boosts the immune system are hilariously weak scientific evidence. Don't believe everything you hear on the internet.
Did a lot of running and walking in Five fingers when they were a thing and still have several pairs. I need to look at some of the more conservative designs for more every day wear.
@@towels4269 I have broken mine back out since I made that comment and have added a couple pair of closed toed barefoot shoes to the closet. Very happy that I did, I forgot how much I enjoyed it.
This is good - I too have gotten into the "barefoot" movement. I have a couple videos on how to modify modern "sneakers like the low cut Pro Keds and Vans by removing the heal riser under the insole. I've been trying modern "barefoot" sandals as well - Recently spending several months in my home town which is a beach town and being barefoot as often as possible I noticed an interesting thing, my feet calloused the way they needed to - You see, I always pronated which caused many issues with shoes as a child and led to many injuries/surgeries. When my ankle is aligned properly my first metatarsal is up in the air, my feet calloused along the outside, heal and the balls but not the first metatarsal meaning my feet/body naturally do what they need to do - Pretty amazing and I've never felt better....
And thank you so much for the detailed informations about shoes and walking barefoot! So interesting 🌼 I have noticed that it's healthier to use shoes who let us walk naturally; but to be honest I never thought about how much we damage the environment with our shoes sometimes. Thank you for pointing that out too!🙈
I went around barefoot, or with moccasins, or sturdy hiking boots for years. Not an indoor/office person and working outdoors in all kinds of weather, I mostly wore boots. But now that I am in the autumnal part of life I have found that walking around barefoot on hard, flat, human made surfaces has given me severe falling arches and plantar fasciitis. So I went to a recommended foot store and bought a pair of excellent around the house, or even outdoor, cork-soled "slippers". This has made a remarkable change in my life. I thought that I was not going to be able to walk long distances again. Thank you Haflinger! When we are young and healthy and our bodies are resilient and fresh, all is wonderful with the world. But beware. We get old. Our bodies get worn out, no matter how much we think we are taking care of it. Before we know it, we are having pains (horrific pains!) that we never had before. Walking around barefoot is great in the outdoors on pliable surfaces. And be gentle with yourself and use relevant technologies when you need to. Cheers to mobility!
Heya Fandabi Dozi. Here in quarantine and rewatching your videos to keep me sane. Just wanted to thank you for keeping me grounded in uni and now through quarantine, thank you.
Great video with awesome information! Thank you very much for putting this together. We make moccasins and love going barefoot in the summer. We were introduced to barefoot shoes a couple years back and bought some from Vivobarefoot. Have been very happy with them. Greetings from snowy Northern Alberta, Canada.
When I started running barefoot, all my running issues and my knees and hips went away. Running barefoot forces you into a better running form that puts considerably less stress on your joints and instead absorbs the impact with your muscles. I also participate in triathlons so reduce my second transition time by going directly from the bike and start running without taking the time to put on shoes.
As someone who's lived in Appalachia all my life it's absolutely mind-boggling to me whenever I hear about people walking barefoot in the woods. Do that in places like Appalachia and you're going to get absolutely mangled by thorns every single step you take. Then add tons of infections to all of those fresh open wounds.
In my patch of Louisiana half the ground is covered in tiny thorn-bearing plants that grows right in the grass that will absolutely pepper your feet if you walk on them barefoot. And the summer heat baking the sand easily gets up to 100F+.
@@adolfhipsteryolocaust3443 There is a reason why shoes where invented, some places are too thorny even for leathery feet, you destroy your feets before they even turn leathery and even when they turn leathery you still get infections, even if it doesn't hurt anymere developing a resistance to pain does not mean that there is no damage, it just means that the brain is now used to that level of pain and doesn't register it anymore. The human feet is not adapted to all environments on Earth, in some they do great and once leathery they are protected enough, in others you need shoes if you want to avoid having a very bad time with infections.
Hi Tom thanks for your endorsement of Freet shoes. I live in Moscow (Russia) and normally I just wouldn't risk ordering shoes off the Internet, too much risk they won't fit. But hearing you talk I made a leap of faith and did order. Two weeks later they arrived in the mail. They fit perfectly! Such a great grip on the ground when you can spread your toes a bit. I love it.
I would walk barefoot more often but there is one thing that make me unable to: I absolutely HATE getting my hands and feet dirty, for my hands I just wash them when I can but for the feet ? No other choice than to wear socks and shoes. Maybe those shoes from "Freet" might be a good middle ground. I do wear only anti-slip socks at home though, never understood people who wear shoes at home.
I’ve been wearing minimalist shoes for over a year now. I’m not much of a long distance runner but I have noticed a huge difference in my posture, strength and balance. I love them.
About six years ago I'd started to develop what seemed to be chronic pains in my feet: the big toe on my left foot, the left side of the heel of my right foot and the joint below the toe on my right foot. Not expecting much, I did a mindfulness exercise, just paying attention to the feelings in my feet. I was wearing what I thought of as a really comfortable pair of Pumas at the time and quickly I realised: they're pinching my feet! They're not wide enough! And they were normal-width shoes, so this had been going on all my life, the discomfort insidiously building up to the point where I couldn't ignore it. I went shopping for wider shoes and my first stop was the Birkenstock shop, but I didn't like the feel of the sole, so, with some trepidation, I went next door to Vivobarefoot and spent about 45 minutes quizzing the sales guy. I bought a pair of their Ra shoes and within 24 hours it was clear to me that I couldn't go back to anything else, even trainers with a relatively low heel. Most of my foot pain went away in about two weeks, though my feet were, I realised, so wide that even these wider toe-box shoes weren't enough for me and my little toes didn't feel free. Eventually, I found my way to a pair of Softstar Primal Dash Runamocs, built for extra wide feet. They're expensive, especially bought from the US and shipped to the UK, but they're worth it because they're the only really comfortable shoes I've ever owned. I don't think the moccasin design in this video's the one for me, but I'm sort of thinking about trying to make my own shoes now. Why isn't there a simple canvas barefoot shoe for summer, like an espadrille but with a really wide toe box and ultra-minimalist sole? It's totally feasible. A lot of so-called minimalist footwear has a kind of high-tech look, lots of moulded rubber and synthetic patterned fabrics, which may be justified for certain uses, but also justifies a high price tag. The irony is, it's not really that minimalist. The kind of thing I'm talking about would really be footwear reduced to the absolute basics and would have to be cheap.
a while ago, my dad bought me hiking shoes, cause they were hugely on sale (like 90% off, store was closing). i tried them on in the store, and thought they were just stiff cause i didnt break them in. he told me when i got home that theyll always be someone stiff, to "support" your foot. at the time, i was wearing very broken in leather boots with a very thin sole, so it felt almost as comfortable as being bare foot, and these hiking shoes were so stiff it was like planks of wood were sewn to my foot. sure, it was nice to have shoes that stopped the pain of every little pebble you stepped on, so you didnt need to feel every twig or speck of gravel. but wearing "stiff" boots make me more careless when walking, since i wasnt worried about avoiding twigs that id end up slipping on, or uneven/wet rocks since i relyed on the grip to hold me. my feet would be much more sore after a hike in heavy boots than my thin, slipper like boots. now it makes sense. ive always walked on my toes (thanks autism), so being barefoot was always easier since i had more control with my toe walking, plus i built up my muscles enough to support it
I have wanted to do the Earthing thing for a long time but where I live the ground is littered with pain inducing shrapnel we call stickers. Or grass burrs as some folks call them. It's a shockingly painful experience especially for people that aren't prepared.
I wish I would have seen this video a year ago when you uploaded it. I have a distant heritage from the Scots/Irish and love to see the traditional and historical everyday things displayed by someone from the region. I hate wearing shoes and tend to wear sandals or go bare myself while not at work because my feet are so wide around the ball and toes that boots and shoes are too restrictive to be comfortable. I am so happy to see there is a company that makes shoes that don't conform to modern standards and make a more natural shape. I will definitely check them out. This video earned my subscription, keep up the great content!
I think one of the biggest things I learned as I started running with more minimalist shoes especially on trails is that as terrain gets more rough you have to slow down and make sure your steps are solid since you know there’s no ankle or foot bracing to protect you from a mistake. Modern boots can definitely give a new hiker or trail runner a false sense of confidence to not pre plan their route through a rough section rather than just bash through and hope for the best. Great video.
I love walking barefoot, it feels sooo great. Especially over gras in the early morning when there is fog. Awesome video✌🌻 I rarely get the chance to watch your videos atm but they always make me feel better and remind me of something positive instantly. Thank you a lot!
@@johndowe7003 Yes I live in a city in Germany and tried walking barefoot in summer. It was fun but many people gave me a weird look and on train stations etc I always stepped into something. So yeah, in a city that's not so useful. But maybe in the mountains or at any place where you can forget that glass and people exist.🌼
One thing to consider is that people used to walk on soft ground in the forest and natural enviorenment, whereas we usually walk on hard surfaces like asphalt, cobble an such. Therefore it would be useful to have the soft ground with you, but the raised heel as you say is quite harmful still. I think it is important to keep in mind while walking and running how you are using your feet and legs and adjust your technique if needed.
This was great. I've been looking for a video I can send to people I know who have waned to know more about the benefits of bear foot running and walking. Or people who disagree with me on why you should run bear foot, and I think this is the best video on the topic so far Keep up the good work 🤙🤙
I’ve got plantar fasciitis (were meant to walk and run NOT to sit and stand) so barefoot and barefoot shoes are so so important. They actually help a lot, since it’s damage to he tendons in the heel and walking barefoot forces you to use the front of your foot more.
This happens to show up in my feed as I'm making my first pair of historical boots, which is driving me up the wall :') I knew shoes were overrated all along
As someone who has naturally wide feet, finding a good set of shoes was always a pain, and I hated wearing any kind of "womanly" or winter shoes, they just weren't made for me. Right now I wear sneakers with a soft foam inside (never going back to foamless shoes again, they just don't feel as good), and in summer, a good pair of crocs
I'd just like to say - the "powerofpositivity" article seems off. It's using some science as legitimate basis for their claims, but then they sneak in stuff like walking barefoot will help with menstrual cramps? Sorry, but as a woman with endometriosis, ain't nothin but continuous birth control helping that unbearable, stabbing, burning, aching, stinging, basically every kind of pain there is, I get it on my period. That and the part where they said "since earth has negative charge and 'we come into contact with positive charge all day'" so lying on the ground somehow "balances" that energy? Thats just pulling stuff out of their ass tbh. This is a very interesting topic to me, but misinformation should not be spread absolutely no matter what. Please look into your sources a bit better next time. If you're going to claim you can educate you absolutely have a responsibility to *only* provide robust scientific evidence, not some Goop vibration frequency body stickers level crap. Tbh I particularly dislike these things bc real advice that works CAN be found in these areas. But since you're going off about how the earth is negatively charged and therefore lying on it "balances our charge", no one is going to believs Wim Hoff method really works, which it does. When you group misinformation with real facts, it makes those real facts appear as misinformtion, and then people don't get the help they need. As someone who has struggled with depression, anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, & severe chronic pain (8/10 or up daily), and I know of so many others searching for info that won't waste their time and little money they have, but sometimes we jusy give up bc it's all mixed up so it's almost impossible to verify everything ourselves. Now, if you don't care then whatever I guess, can't force people to take us seriously. I'm just asking politely for you to consider what I've said before linking more dubious, Goop-level BS articles. Edit: sorry if it sounds harsh, was having a bad pain day
This reminds me when they sold the stupid copper disced sandals and shoes because people bought into the silly charge baloney. Wooks take something that makes some sense (barefoot on grass IS comfy) and make it nonsensical time and time again.
Hi mate, great video and well explained. The Sami in Norway and Inuits (and possibly others) used seal skin for shoes with the fur on the outside digging into the ice/snow to provide grip. They also did a similar thing on skis, allowing them to move forwards but preventing them moving backwards.
Personally barefoot seems like a 1 stop shop to joint damage, I think the cushioned shoes protect your joints against the hard concrete and linolium that we always are walking on. Especially with running on concrete. No way that can be good for you.
Ironically, when barefoot enthusiasts break their ankles or get hypothermic in the field, they end up getting rescued by men wearing sturdy leather boots.
Hells yeah, I’ve been wearing minimalist footwear for years too. As a matter of fact certain models of minimal shoes are the only shoes manufactured that actually fit my very wide flat feet, and I’ve not once thrown my back out, that I can recollect, since I started wearing minimal footwear. My favorite model is the the Tactical Research Mini-Mils. Minimal military and police boot. It’s got it’s practical limitations in the winter months, but widely otherwise it’s the perfect boot or shoe whatsoever for me.
Interesting and informative. There is a good book called Rob Roy McGregor by WH Murray that brilliantly portraits everyday life in the Highlands in the early/mid 1600's, clothing, foods, the home, the Clan, an excellent book.
I need yall to know that moccasin means "someone's shoe" in our language, in a lot of the related one's too. Not even shoes, no, someone's 1 shoe. Beyond that, hell yeah. Started running barefoot years ago when it was super niche and had to get things like mocassins and tabi boots for a thin enough sole, hurt at the start, worth it years after for sure. This video is wonderful, though I'm commenting on it late, great job!
For anyone that's interested in the minimalist shoe style without a pronounced heel, try converse chuck taylors. They're pretty thin and flexible. Maybe a good way to taper off from modern shoes!
It's very possible it will, my sister had flat feet her whole life, and she has arches and healthier hips now that she wears barefoot shoes. She like Vivo Barefoot brand, that have nice designs.
@@FreggFaerie thank you, yes I've got a pair in my Amazon cart I will probably buy. I admit I'm not a fan of how they look but hey, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. I also have back problem that effects further down. Probably try them over summer
@@astrazenica7783 take your time breaking them in, my family tends to wear them around the house for a month or so, your feet need to adjust , it might be a little painful at first, but if you're like me, once you adjust, you might forget you're wearing the shoes eventually, it just feels so natural and comfortable.
I did too. The key was getting into minimal shoes slowly. You have to reprogram the way you stand, walk and run. But it’s worth it. I find shaking practice is particularly good for preventing and rehabilitating tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. Plus cutting sugar and simple carbs, the systemic inflammation from sugar is a major driver of tendinitis.
Neat video! I have been going barefoot or minimalist shoes for about 25 years as often as I can. I definitely have a harder time if I try to buy shoes that are normal- my feet and toes are so wide and spread apart. I just do this because it's comfortable for me but I'm glad to know it actually has benefits!! BTW my feet aren't ugly at all- so don't think it will make your feet disgusting- I honestly have people asking if I am a sandal model and people creep on my feet a lot... 😵
I love walking and hiking barefoot!! If you want to start, seriously give it time. So many things will adapt, besides the nerves in the feet, the walking technique etc. also your vision will begin to adapt, allowing you to take your direct vision off of the ground in front of you, but still, from peripheral vision spotting pointy things not to step into, for example. A big benefit besides health is also the comfort of almost never getting cold feet in winter again ; )
now some mocasins are on my crafting list for sure :D i have a bad knee also, and as a woodworker, i'm usually standing on concrete all day long. and that turned my eye to an old NY Times article about how 'we're walking wrong.' as soon as i switched to minimal shoes, my daily lower back pain eventually disappeared, and that set me on the minimal path. a couple years ago i purchased Xero's Cloud sandals, and i've now put over 500 miles on them. now it's becoming time for full barefoot hiking :D it amazes me how much changes when deciding to go barefoot regularly.
In case you were still wondering, moccasin is definitely from Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe language or a closely related one. One reason is that the related languages cognate words, with the same sound changes as other words, showing that the word was already present in all of those languages a few thousand years ago before the various languages diverged. For example in Cree we say maskisin.
6:33 "Links to all articles in video description" - Those benefits you and articles listed, doesn't contain almost any sources (except one book, or other study with ONLY 12 participants, etc.) to scientific studies. No offense, but l'd like to have more proof, because it is easy to say "this is better than that", and no list for sources. I try to check that earthing book, but it will be hard outside of anglo-american sphere. Even if l know that human race have lived without shoes like almost forever, but claiming this or that requires scientific proof.
Did you also notice the citation to Joseph Mercola? One of the world's biggest source of fake medical claims, who stopped seeing patients amidst charges from the medical board of "“false and potentially harmful medical advice"
The claim that we didn't were any footwear for most of our existence is also unsubstantiated, we have no idea when footwear became a thing. For all we know, as soon as our ancestors left the plains of Africa, they could have wrapped their feet up. This video seems kindly intentioned, but realistically poorly researched/substantiated.
@@s1lverbullet1234 we have some ideas like fiber sandles being carbon dates and be observations of how primitive or advanced leather footwear is. We also can assume that we were wearing shoes long before that though skeleton evidence. You can see toes get thinner over 30-40k years ago being evidence of have some short of protection like moccasins or foot bags
Yeah, plus there is a limit to how much skin can get "leathery" i suspect that it is less that the skin gets leathery and more that the brain gets used to that level of pain and starts ignoring it, after all the human brain is a lying piece of shit and sensations can't be trusted one bit. There is a reason why shoes have been indepently invented in practically all civilizations across history in some way shape or form, our feets are probably pretty shit considering they are just reporpoused hands and it hasn't been long enough for evolution to take its time and make them good feet, compare them to the paws of cannines, those are good damn feet,
I agree; I go barefoot around the home place here probably 90% of the time, and I only wear shoes when out in public. No more high heels! I no longer need my old orthotic inserts for my shoes and my feet don't hurt at all anymore. The closer we can get back to nature, the better!
![SAFEPLANET - ดาวเคราะห์ [ THE PLANET ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4X1XL3I_k3c/mqdefault.jpg)
a quick summery: Pros of wearing armor: It protects you from your environment. Cons of wearing armor: It restricts movement as well as posture.
Also flatfoot
tldr
@@jem4274 bruh it’s 2 sentences
@@jem4274 Armor - pro: no hurt. Con: bad move
id recomend just being good at being safe. don't wanna have back problems and stuff you know?
My dad told me that during the 1940's a lot of the children on farms would run about for the whole of the summer holidays in their bare feet. By the time it was time to return to school their feet would be like leather
I did that as a kid, of course the hot and rocky roads were a cause of much hopping to get across and back on the grass
My family and I had a cottage on the country side we rented in the summer and we'd go bare feet most of the time, feels great on grass especially!
as a kid I used to spend my summers barefoot in the country
I still go barefoot
Vans and converses are pretty flat. Are they good "barefoot" starters?
I was in the Army for 19 years, lots of boots. Since leaving the Army I’ve been wearing sandals with rubberised soles.
The difference with joint pain, mobility even leg comfort while sleeping has drastically improved.
I completely agree with you minimalist shoe is life changing.
Thats great to hear man! I still wear my boots when hiking steep mountains, but it feels like I am wearing bricks compared to minimalist shoes!
I bought a pair of Freet shoes after watching your review. Love them, cheers mate.
I bet you had issues. I only wore a pair of surplus army boots for my security job for about a year and my feet literally bled and my fifth toes curled under. I found all sorts of tricks to help, but I always called those boots hobbles.
34 years Military. I wear Birkenstocks as much as possible in the last 26 years now.
Well if you build up your feet and their endurance you'll need slides to sandals and snow proof shoes or moccasins
And this is why wearing shoes indoors is even more insane than heel first shoe design on it's own.
It's probably less injurious to go barefoot, outside my house, than it is inside! There's nails sticking out of floorboards, and spelks and all sorts!
I've never worn shoes inside as the rule. Shoes can look cool, but I don't like them, and I will always prefer to be barefoot.
Here in Canada people would think you're a psychopath if you were your shoes inside your own home lol
@@batintheattic7293 What kind of house do you live in?
Oh you lucky man, my house is really cold on winter so I have to wear something, but on summer it's shoeless all day.
I've been doing some backyard archery during summer and I was so glad when I realized I can just do it bare feet and forget about shoes. Those colder late summer evenings with the cool grass under your feet, it honestly feels amazing.
I'm an archer and know that feeling, or one like it. I live in a place that has little besides rock and cactus now. Still, I need to use my oversized five fingers more.
Until the cold grass starts leeching away the warmth of your feet. Summer of 2018 I went barefoot to a larp and a summer camp, and have spent significant time in places that allows for barefootedness. It is great otherwise (when you aren't walking on sharp gravel, that is).
Dogs, chickens in your yard?
ცვრიან ბალახზე, თუ ფეხშიშველამ არ გაიარე,რაა მამული...
me too!
I'm a teacher of barefoot/minimalist running technique. Great video! One word of caution, there is more to barefoot/minimalist walking and running technique than landing on the forefoot. It's vital to also land close to or directly under your center of gravity.
Thank you! Thanks for more info. I am still learning
Thank you.
I may have said so before, but I *do* adore the plain green jacket. You look so smart in it!!
I'm sure it's felt, i love felt, it has to be wool!
I'm hoping he'll eventually explain where or how he got/made it.
Oddly enough it’s a shade of Fieldgray, which one of the colours used with German uniforms from the Second World War. At least that what it looks like in the footage.
@Baby Hunn
Of all things we take from animals, wool is probably the least problematic. I don't like seeing them freezing in winter, but if you're sane and leave them their wool during winter times, they can go perfectly fine without the rest of the year.
@Baby Hunn It can actually be very problematic if some animals are not sheered for their wool. It can grow so much that it restricts their movement.
7:15 do not forget the hookworms and the rest of the parasites that affect us, of course they are not present everywhere so location matters in that regard
Very true. Not a problem where I am from, but very true in some countries! Thanks for the info!
snakes, spiders and crocodiles
@@mikegibbo I don't think a crocodile is usually a surprise
@@seemysight if you're in a swamp they can be quite stealthy, there's a reason they've been chowing down on a lot of land animals for the past several million years
@@mikegibbo yeah,nothing worse than getting attacked by a crocodile when your not wearing shoes.
Whenever people give me shit for being barefoot, I just tell them,
“I WAS BORN THIS WAY!”
we are also born naked but we use clothing LoL
Same bro
@@tomasparra720 only because it's illegal to be naked in public. lots of people wear either only underwear or stay naked in their own room
@@paracame8162 it's illegal for good moral reason for once, keep your naked ass away from me
@@dopaminecloud dont worry, I can bet no one wants their naked ass near you.
Or cloo5hee ass for that matter mate.
There is an American company by the name of Lems that does a similar “barefoot” boot to the ones you show here. And not prohibitively expensive either. I’ve been wearing them almost exclusively for about a year and my feet, my balance and my back pain have never been better. Just one man’s opinion.
Got some Lems shoes... awesome!
I've been wearing their boulder boot as my main shoe for almost 3 years. Couldn't recommend a better shoe!
The boulder boots are incredible. I have really wide feet and they fit like a glove.
@@kichelmoon6365 Do you wear them as everyday shoes or for hiking and things?
@@paytontheraccoon Basically for everything as soon as the temperature drops (they are really warm, in a good way)
One of the biggest benefits for me is that it feels a lot better to stand around and I can assume a posture that is a little less caveman-like.
As someone who spent most of his life barefoot, I can attest that there are definitely drawbacks to modern footwear. First time I wore modern athletic shoes was for a gym class in high school and they gave me shin splints within a couple days (from the heel strike and the strain of elevating the toes). My feet were also tough enough to run over most blacktop without pain (all but the freshest streets) and I never needed to trim off excess skin. But sadly, I haven't been able to run barefoot for years. Moved into a place filled with a plant called "Goat's Head," after the caltrop-shaped seeds. I can watch the ground and skip over cactus, sharp rocks, and stuff like that, but I can't see the goat heads on the ground, and one step can leave a dozen seeds stuck into each foot. Stuff like that forces you into thick-soled shoes whether you like em or not.
goatheads are nasty.
I’ve always gone barefoot as much as possible - even remember going outside in snow barefoot in my teens ( when on boarding School)..
Now in my mid 40 I still go barefoot as much as possible, unfortunately my job requires me standing on really hard surfaces and that gives me back pain if I do it barefoot ( which I have done for years) so now I need to wear something while working for longer... but I still go barefoot as much as I can - inside and out....
Sabina Hertzum exactly. our bodies have developed for natural surfaces. sometimes some cushion or support when on hard man made surfaces helps.
I spent most of my childhood and teens either barefoot or in thin flip-flops year-round (except for school, ugh) and still do. When I absolutely HAVE to wear boots, I wear Teva De La Vina ones. They have a tiny bit of a heel, but what I like about them is that the front of the sole is both thin and grippy.
i hear lems are a good compromise! they have a little more cushion than most barefoot shoes, but still have 0 drop, thinner than typical shoes, and nice wide toe boxes. they're not the best if you deal with a lot of water, but the boulder boots might do you good!
around 2010 i dated this girl who was adamant about nature and living naturally, she demanded to be barefoot at all times.
I respected it and thought it was cool, But i constantly begged her to wear shoes when we would hike in the woods etc because 1. It slowed down the group 2. She constantly got cuts and scrapes and i worried about infection. 3. Whacking her foot meant the hike was over... and on top of that most humans are filthy and there is glass, metal, needles and who knows what laying around most of the planet
Anyway a year or two after we broke it off i found out she got lymes disease after she was camping and got ticks on het feet. She always choose self treatment/holistic medicines over going to the doctor so it went unchecked until eventually It really fucked her up, she gained a LOT of weight and was tired all time, lot of joint problems. Pretty much destroyed her way of life and love for the outdoors.
All that said, Even i love kicking off my shoes for a few hours and chillin.. But always take precaution of any potential dangers and be smart. One bad slice from a rusty piece of metal.. A sliver of glass or poisonous creature can ruin the rest of your life.
This needs more love. 😂
That's why you buy modern technology that's focused on minimalism and get the best of both worlds. Heck, I even have some fairly minimalist shoes with a steel toe for some yard work.
Yeah going barefoot is great! But so is common sense. On public hiking trails shoes are a must. Drunk people are everywhere and litter glass randomly. This is very evident if you do canoeing! You have to know your surroundings before just going barefoot.
That sounds like it had everything to do with holistic medicines and nothing to do with bare feet, ticks will keep climbing if they don't find skin and end up on you anyways. It also takes them a while to actually bite so if you are bare feet you just have to check your feet anyways. If you are not bare feet sometimes they even get as high as the ear or hairline and hide.
@@comment_deleted They actually hang at the level of the animals in an area, so if there is moose in the area they will hang around head height but if its only small animals like rabbits they will be much lower down.
I was going to 'watch later', but just couldn't go past getting a cheerful earful of your accent.
And thanks! Now I've gotten some more ammo for when mum (who's a physio) makes fun of my wide feet because I prefer roomy boots and barefoot
Wowww🤯 I never even began to think about damaging mycorrhizae!
As I am a physio, who likes being barefoot and keeps explaining that wide feet are seen as a problem only recently with too tight shoes I can't quite understand your mother.
A lot of people give oriental cultures that practiced foot binding a lot of grief, but in reality many people today participate in it in at least a small scale. Smaller feet tend to be more pleasing to the eye? Depends on the person, I guess.
I only wear shoes when going to town and so on, other than that always barefoot. Always walking on the balls of my feet, sometimes to the point of my heels are off the ground. Not so much 'tip toe' but the human equivalent to a digitigrade. Yes, the monkey feet trait to easily pick things up was unlocked a long time ago. It'd be nice if this sort of foot wear would catch on rather than being a 'specialty' item. When the toe shoe concept first came around I was honestly excited, and then disappointed when they became the butt of jokes and just faded away.
Walking on the balls of your feet is a hallmark autistic trait
@@StoneCorazon Poor social adjustment is another. Cast no stones.
walking on the balls of your feet is also common in people with rippled muscles in their calves. run your finger down the front of your calf you might have it.
I'm barefoot most times when I'm in my house 😉
Seriously, I wear boots at work because I'm required to do so, as well as being on concrete for 8 hours; yer dogs take a beating. I'm a big fan of Birkenstocks and was very happy to see the line of footwear they brought out that was more than a sandal.
My cousin's husband, who does a lot of bushcraft and has since he was quite young, wears a very minimal sandal. He really likes how his feet feel when they're not confined. The Freet shoe/boot is very attractive to me, and Merrill makes a couple shoes (of which I own a couple) that mimic a bare foot posture.
Great video, sir, and please forgive my lengthy reply. Keep up the good work.
Around here the most dangerous animal is apparently tick.
Due to the good response from this video, "Freet" have now kindly set up a DISCOUNT CODE for all you lovely people!
Use the code: fand-10
and get 10% off all non-sale footwear.
Here is the website:
freetfootwear.co.uk/
Enjoy your barefoot journey!
@ fandango dozi,if freet would apply vibram soles to the shoes ur showing,it would make for better grip on rough terrain n hills.
Does the discount apply for international orders?!
@@redlaserfox3988 Yes :)
@@raysova7666 I'll have a chat with them about it
Just ordered my first pair! I can't wait for them to arrive! 😁 Thank you for this informative review and handy discount code! 😊✌️
I’m an exercise science major and all of my professors recommend being barefoot as much as possible especially when working out, if you aren’t able to go barefoot they recommend minimalist shoes (specifically Xero shoes which have a wide toe box so that your feet can splay out creating better balance). They also recommend getting Naboso insoles which are proprioceptive (you have to go sockless if you want these insoles to work). Another product is correct toes which helps splay your toes back out to where they need to be (of course any generic yoga toe spreader will do the trick and there are also socks you can buy that have spacers built into them)
I have the Prios and the dress shoes Xero makes. I really like them. Don't look them up though unless you want to buy. Their marketing is aggressive. So many ads
I bought a pair and I forgot what foot pain was. Sadly they worn out pretty fast with all the abuse I put then through :( I'll be getting a pair for work so I stop looking like a hobo with shredded shoes
As someone who in the warm months spend 90% of the time barefoot, I can confidently say that putting on shoes is kind of like putting on a blindfold!
I'd say Gloves or hard mittens
I've been walking mostly barefoot for about 8 years now. You mention a lot of things already in the video, but I feel like I should add a few things.
The cold still bites and hurts my feet when I get to sub-zero temperatures, but I have the overall impression that I handle low temperatures better now than when I still wore shoes regularly. This includes a feeling of retaining… uh… core temperature better, which far outweighs the minor inconvenience of cold feet.
Wet feet aren't a problem at all. I can't remember ever having shoes that actually reliably protected me from water. Instead they'd get wet after about 15 to 30 minutes, and then stay wet until I let them dry out at home. In comparison, my feet dry in a matter of minutes or even seconds, depending on the weather.
I feel like the grip of my bare feet is better than most any shoe profile. That's probably not true for shoes for specific purposes, but it is true for everyday footwear. I assume that this is due to feeling what's going on underneath so much more directly and more finegrained control through these hundreds of muscles you mention. For me this is one major reason to not switch to minimal footwear. The other major reason is that my feet don't sweat anymore at all.
I significantly hurt my feet one time during those last 8 years, by stepping on the stump (can't call it anything else) of some weed while running.
Walking across gravel is painful, I usually can't manage without sandals, which I have learned to take everywhere (unless I am in known, foot-friendly terrain).
Same goes for the little stones they put on the streets during winter (sorry, English isn't my mother tongue), which is especially frustrating for me, since going barefoot I am pretty surefooted on ice either way. Of course I understand that the streets aren't for me alone, so I won't complain in any significant fashion or pretend that this shouldn't be done.
In cities I stepped into glass a few times, never any big shards (which are very visible). The really small shards usually get stuck in the calluses and can be picked out easily, sometimes they get pushed deeper into the calluses, becoming a real nuisance that require a needle and maybe even scissors to get out. These glass shards never made it past the calluses though, and they never needed intervention from a doctor.
Thorns are about similar to glass, but they're more easily missed, even when large, so they sometimes do actually draw blood. Gladly enough I live in an area where this is a rather uncommon problem.
There are, of course, quite a few places that require me to wear shoes. Sandals suffice, I do not actually own any closed shoes at all. I would need closed shoes for some workplaces, of course. *Do not ever do heavy physical work without the proper footwear!*
And another thing: Flip-Flops are the worst footwear I ever had.
Great video! Growing up in the country and being part Choctaw, I’ve always loved going bear footed when possible. My nine-year-old son is the same, hard to keep shoes on him while not in school and summertime, we don’t even try! He and his friends have our three acres to run around on and another 240 acres of farm behind our property. Oh and if you want funny looks, try wearing a kilt with elk hide moccasins on St. Andrew’s Day...........in Baltimore, Maryland lol!
Great video! I used to wear heavy logging boots for work, did for 20 years. Had knee pain for a few years and one day randomly stumbled upon all the barefoot information. I had just retired early so figured why not give it a shot. Been completely barefoot for 3-4 years now and its great! Took a good while to get used to it including all the odd looks from other people. Last year we moved out to the Australian bush and there was another time period of getting used to the harsher conditions but all good now. All in all I've found it to be a beneficial and fascinating experience. Thanks for touching on the topic.
It was the work...not the boots...
@@pepepepito623 na, I still do the work without the problems.
Now I understand why I find crocs more comfortable than regular shoes, they have massive amounts of toe room
THIS IS THE VIDEO!!! I couldn’t remember where I originally got the idea to walk on the balls of my feet first and barefoot to see if it helped my joint problems, but this is it! My man, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
Since I changed my foot habits, as it were, I’ve gained control of my knee and back problems, improved my balance remarkably, improved my terrible posture, grown gargantuan, strong calves, and even lost weight! I can run comfortably for the first time in my life, and my calves are so strong it almost feels effortless because they’re such effective springs, and I’m not even in great shape or anything. My foot shape has completely changed and my toes are way more spread out already, it’s been a year and some months I think. It’s really changed my life for the better, I am SO grateful for you and this video, man I hope you see this so you know how much you’ve helped me.
Incidentally, I also had quite a bad experience wearing normal shoes for the first time recently. Since covid I’ve only worn very flat shoes if I have to enter a building where shoes are necessary and go barefoot otherwise. I just went to my first public shindig where I wanted to get gussied up so I wore some boots that have just a normal boot amount of heel and I became incredibly uncomfortable after standing in them for a couple hours. It was crazy, my feet ached and felt stuck in an unnatural position, and my back was in agony. I couldn’t wait to get to the car to take them off. I love the way my boots look, I have several pairs, but I think I’m going to have to give them up!
My experience has shown me that modern shoes are ridiculous and terrible for us. The difference is so stark to me that it seems utterly mad that most other people walk heel-first and in thick-soled, constrictive shoes. How do we show people the way?
Cheers, mate. Thanks again.
That's quite remarkable actually, it's something I'd never thought of. It's probably why streching out one's feet is so pleasant because they're always cooped up in shoes.
I watched a vid awhile back in which an experimental archaeologist constructed and wore replicas of Otzi's footwear (tied up leather wrap stuffed with grass) and claimed they were better than any hiking shoes he ever wore. the "slippy" problem was addressed by a few wraps of cord around the foot (think of snow chains). in America, native americans usually carried extra moccasins when on the move because of their basic fragility and gear repair was a normal camp activity.
the Lakotah word for moccasin is the same as the word for foot.
Oh I like the cord idea! I will try that! Thank you!
Really interesting! I should go more primitive;)
let's go!
sounds like you just bought the wrong shoes. got to buy shoes with toe room
Well, we've been uncivilized plenty longer than we've been "civilized". IMHO nothing civilized about modern society these days 🙄
Return to Monke
Walk on Rocky dirt roads a lot barefoot and you'll have basically Hobbit feet
That "moccasin" connection is wild considering the Celtic/ Scandinavian parallels among N.A Indigenous peoples
Go figure that similar climates and similar animals (deer) means that the people will probably go down similar paths. I could only imagine the stuff that could've existed in pre columbian had they had domesticated animals too asside from dogs.
@@hollowhoagie6441 Animal husbandry wasn't as necessary on the American continents due to the hordes of plentiful wildlife, also it's generally more lush and fertile than Scandinavian, or Scottish land, less rocky.
ooh indeed
@@user-jb1tu9ic7y the animals available to natives also didn’t lend well to domestication. Deer are incredibly skittish and agile, as an example.
@@hithere5553you're exactly right, not to mention the millions of bison that zhaganoosh destroyed, ain't no getting them in pens
Great video! Thanks. I've been wearing moccasins and moccasin like footwear now for a few decades. When i was young I thought that the heavier the boot the better but then as I got older and more experienced I gradually ignored the advertising and went to lighter and lighter footwear and barefoot whenever possible.
You descriptions of the various pros and cons all around are excellent. Well done!
Thank you :D
I knew I was born to be a Hobbit!
Look who he is ahahah ... how the world is so small :D
ESO!!! Fancy meeting you here! :D
Omg it's ESO
I live in a climate that goes down to -50 F (-40 F = -40 C) and I have gone barefoot most of the time inside and outside. I'm overjoyed people are discovering the truth about being barefoot. I just would like to point out something about snow, glass, sharp twigs and rocks and slippery mud when your feet adapt to these and realise when your feet adapt to these your whole body does an adaptation as well. I have walked and ran/run on all of these surfaces with no damage to my feet but like all things it's not 100 % of the time. My point is your feet adapt and being barefoot is not that hazardous when your feet are 'seasoned'. The slippery mud condition needs some explaining. Our groin and inner thigh muscles are not strengthened enough to handle it. When they are you can walk in slippery situations and will feel those muscles working and holding your 'body together', holding your body in a controlled position while you walk or run. However, nothing stops the spin-out situation where your feet are moving but you aren't. :-) Same with ice. There is a lot the general public doesn't realise about being barefoot. It's like trying to imagine what ice cream tastes like without ever tasting it. Imagine what your knees and back would feel like or benefit from stronger groin and inner thigh muscles. AND there is so much more than just this. One is the already mentioned 'earth living' part of it. Imagine how your body feels and reacts to the 'earth living' experience over time.
Thanks for all the info! Really interesting. Your body defo adapts to balancing and even the way your feet hit the ground changes. I am still starting on my barefoot journey so still lots to learn for me :)
What the fuck? How can you survive in a climate at -45Cº? I barely can endure being at -5Cº a few moments even being heavily clothed to the point it is hard to move. Amazing
@@diablo.the.cheater - hahaha. I know what you mean. 40 years ago I lived in Florida for 3 years and wore the same winter clothes and boots there that I wore here. With the barefoot, the ground and body adaptation life I found it very interesting. Florida adds crushed sea shells to their asphalt so that was another interesting thing to adapt to; broken sea shells are sharp like broken glass. The temperature occasionally got up to 62 C (144 F) with the humidity index, that was difficult to endure. I learned from coming from a cold climate that you can put clothes on to help with weather but there is only so many clothes you can take off. :-)
I completely agree with what you say, only problem here in Namibia where I spent a lot of time out doors, more than half the trees are acacia with serious thorns, thorny ground covering plants, not to mention razor sharp rock formations in the desert that can slice offroad tyres. At times the sand in certain areas in the desert can also reach temps in excess of 50 degrees C. And then we get to our impressive collection of venomous spiders, scorpions and some of the worlds most dangerous snakes, so I'll stick to walking barefoot in the house! Being of Scottish decent I really enjoy your excellent video's
Love what you’re doing! Posted a survival related video a few months back and happened to be wearing sandals. You wouldn’t believe the number of negative comments about my choice of footwear. Bunch of wimps!
I was just trying to find a foot solution last night. My foot has undergone 4 surgeries and I need to encourage the spread to come back. I needed this video. Thanks!
Good luck! I hope you find some help though going more minimal. Take your time though :)
Great video. I’ve been wearing “barefoot” shoes for several years now. It started with my interest in Earthing. I agree with everything you said. I own Mocs, turn shoes, sandals, gym shoes & hiking boots all with either leather or minimalist soles. I love feeling the ground beneath my feet!
As a Swede this was pretty interesting, we don’t wear shoes as much as many other European and European influenced cultures.
You pretty much never have shoes when you’re inside. Especially not in your home, not in most schools, not in smaller work places either. But in stores and public spaces you wear shoes inside.
But more or less any place you spend a longer period of time inside in Sweden you are likely to walk around in socks.
We generally have wood floors inside, or other ‘soft’ floors with a little bit of give to them that are comfortable to walk on.
And in the summer months its pretty common for people to walk a lot bare foot. There is at least like a 20% of the population spend all of summer 99% barefoot, and many spend probably more than half their time bare foot especially at home and in their garden.
Your soles harden up pretty fast
In the beginning of summer you have to be somewhat careful, but after a while you can walk on gravel and pine needles without discomfort.
If you put in a few careful hours in the beginning of summer, the sole becomes a bit like leather.
It’s a lot like how guitarist fingertips harden a lot from from playing.
A beginners fingertips won’t last more then 15 minutes playing steel strings without discomfort. But just by the end of your first week practicing you’ll get the muscles and the hardened fingertips to be able to play for over an hour.
And soon you can play for however long you want.
I love doing those barefoot trails where they have different sections with different kinds of "texture" on the ground i guess, like mud and rocks and stuff like that.
There was a really good one where i used to live but i moved, sadly.
I have used my moccasins during archaeological excavations, and they are absolutely lovely for those purposes, especially if you have to get down in the excavations. Being made of leather (vs rubber soles of modern footwear), one can actually feel the earth and is aware of the texture. Much less damaging than modern shoes! And yes, they are fantastic to use during stalking! I stalk wildlife to WATCH them, not to hunt! Thank you for your excellent presentation of footwear. Stay well!
I just love the swimming shoes for daily use, it's so liberating & uplifting 😀
Very educational! Spending time in the Hawaiian islands, I’ve noticed the islanders have spreader toes like the picture shown of a barefoot runner.
I read anything I could find on frontiers men, Trappers, pioneers, mountain men from childhood and many old timers who wore moccasins for years ended up with chillblains in their feet. Just a note of caution. Turmeric can be good for the knee injury.
Heels were originally meant for horseback riding
Why do we still wear them?
@@edwardownbey8078 Because they make you look taller and can be replaced when they are worn out.
@@lth9520 oh that makes sense
this might explain why I prefer sandals to shoes all my life
I started to change into more flat or minimal foot ware and I enjoy it. Some casual options for me options are skate style shoes and converse. Skate style shoes because the skaters want to feel where their board is underneath their feet and heels can throw off their balance. Converse because they’re thin flat and flexible. In fact before skate shoe companies Tony hawk liked using converse for those reason. Another benefit is skate shoes use a really soft rubber making them relatively grippy and flexible.
That's true but they are really narrow and don't allow your toes to spread apart
have a wonderful day I don’t have wide feet so it really doesn’t really bother me.
Van's are really good too.
Such a beautiful back-drop - thanks for taking us there. This is a message close to my heart - I have been getting closer to 'barefoot' over the past few years and it has done wonders for me. I walked in the alps last summer barefoot shoes, and did not have a moments discomfort from my back-pack - the benefits really do work their way all the way to the top of your head! Thanks for exploring this subject, and I I'd encourgae anyone watching who is tempted to give it a go
SO glad to hear it :) Thanks for sharing
Right on, nice video! I grew up barefoot on a gravel road, and once your feet get tougher even rough terrain like off-trail rocks and twigs becomes very stimulating and pleasant! Lots of nerves down there so it does feel very grounding, also you just have to be more alert so you don't hurt yourself.
I've almost always gone out the back barefoot, unless I was helping with building things, and I've always said that's evidence of my extremely good immune system (I've stepped in chicken manure, barefoot, and just cleaned it in the grass, many times.) I have never had an infection. Little did I know, walking barefoot might be the _reason_ my immune system is so good
The articles he claims "prove" barefoot walking boosts the immune system are hilariously weak scientific evidence. Don't believe everything you hear on the internet.
Did a lot of running and walking in Five fingers when they were a thing and still have several pairs. I need to look at some of the more conservative designs for more every day wear.
jeremy reed I walk for 5 years in Vibrams five fingers. They got some pairs in black leather that are suitable even at work for me.
@@towels4269 I have broken mine back out since I made that comment and have added a couple pair of closed toed barefoot shoes to the closet. Very happy that I did, I forgot how much I enjoyed it.
This is good - I too have gotten into the "barefoot" movement. I have a couple videos on how to modify modern "sneakers like the low cut Pro Keds and Vans by removing the heal riser under the insole. I've been trying modern "barefoot" sandals as well - Recently spending several months in my home town which is a beach town and being barefoot as often as possible I noticed an interesting thing, my feet calloused the way they needed to - You see, I always pronated which caused many issues with shoes as a child and led to many injuries/surgeries. When my ankle is aligned properly my first metatarsal is up in the air, my feet calloused along the outside, heal and the balls but not the first metatarsal meaning my feet/body naturally do what they need to do - Pretty amazing and I've never felt better....
And thank you so much for the detailed informations about shoes and walking barefoot!
So interesting 🌼
I have noticed that it's healthier to use shoes who let us walk naturally; but to be honest I never thought about how much we damage the environment with our shoes sometimes.
Thank you for pointing that out too!🙈
I went around barefoot, or with moccasins, or sturdy hiking boots for years. Not an indoor/office person and working outdoors in all kinds of weather, I mostly wore boots. But now that I am in the autumnal part of life I have found that walking around barefoot on hard, flat, human made surfaces has given me severe falling arches and plantar fasciitis. So I went to a recommended foot store and bought a pair of excellent around the house, or even outdoor, cork-soled "slippers". This has made a remarkable change in my life. I thought that I was not going to be able to walk long distances again. Thank you Haflinger!
When we are young and healthy and our bodies are resilient and fresh, all is wonderful with the world. But beware. We get old. Our bodies get worn out, no matter how much we think we are taking care of it. Before we know it, we are having pains (horrific pains!) that we never had before. Walking around barefoot is great in the outdoors on pliable surfaces. And be gentle with yourself and use relevant technologies when you need to.
Cheers to mobility!
I purposely wear extra wide boots and shoes and I’ve never had any of the posture and joint problems associated with modern shoes.
Heya Fandabi Dozi. Here in quarantine and rewatching your videos to keep me sane. Just wanted to thank you for keeping me grounded in uni and now through quarantine, thank you.
Great video with awesome information! Thank you very much for putting this together. We make moccasins and love going barefoot in the summer. We were introduced to barefoot shoes a couple years back and bought some from Vivobarefoot. Have been very happy with them. Greetings from snowy Northern Alberta, Canada.
When I started running barefoot, all my running issues and my knees and hips went away. Running barefoot forces you into a better running form that puts considerably less stress on your joints and instead absorbs the impact with your muscles. I also participate in triathlons so reduce my second transition time by going directly from the bike and start running without taking the time to put on shoes.
As someone who's lived in Appalachia all my life it's absolutely mind-boggling to me whenever I hear about people walking barefoot in the woods. Do that in places like Appalachia and you're going to get absolutely mangled by thorns every single step you take. Then add tons of infections to all of those fresh open wounds.
In my patch of Louisiana half the ground is covered in tiny thorn-bearing plants that grows right in the grass that will absolutely pepper your feet if you walk on them barefoot. And the summer heat baking the sand easily gets up to 100F+.
Walking barefoot makes your feet leathery untill thorns won't affect them
...Sure, just fuck your feet up with agonizing thorns and heat until the infections and the pain stop; it's super easy /s XD
@@adolfhipsteryolocaust3443 There is a reason why shoes where invented, some places are too thorny even for leathery feet, you destroy your feets before they even turn leathery and even when they turn leathery you still get infections, even if it doesn't hurt anymere developing a resistance to pain does not mean that there is no damage, it just means that the brain is now used to that level of pain and doesn't register it anymore.
The human feet is not adapted to all environments on Earth, in some they do great and once leathery they are protected enough, in others you need shoes if you want to avoid having a very bad time with infections.
But your cousins and the long history w/ ringworms...look at Adolf yoloman...
Hi Tom
thanks for your endorsement of Freet shoes.
I live in Moscow (Russia) and normally I just wouldn't risk ordering shoes off the Internet, too much risk they won't fit.
But hearing you talk I made a leap of faith and did order.
Two weeks later they arrived in the mail.
They fit perfectly! Such a great grip on the ground when you can spread your toes a bit.
I love it.
I would walk barefoot more often but there is one thing that make me unable to: I absolutely HATE getting my hands and feet dirty, for my hands I just wash them when I can but for the feet ? No other choice than to wear socks and shoes. Maybe those shoes from "Freet" might be a good middle ground. I do wear only anti-slip socks at home though, never understood people who wear shoes at home.
I dunno, I wash my feet in the sink just like my hands, I just do it one foot at a time.
I’ve been wearing minimalist shoes for over a year now. I’m not much of a long distance runner but I have noticed a huge difference in my posture, strength and balance. I love them.
Great video mate. Love from Australia.
About six years ago I'd started to develop what seemed to be chronic pains in my feet: the big toe on my left foot, the left side of the heel of my right foot and the joint below the toe on my right foot. Not expecting much, I did a mindfulness exercise, just paying attention to the feelings in my feet. I was wearing what I thought of as a really comfortable pair of Pumas at the time and quickly I realised: they're pinching my feet! They're not wide enough! And they were normal-width shoes, so this had been going on all my life, the discomfort insidiously building up to the point where I couldn't ignore it.
I went shopping for wider shoes and my first stop was the Birkenstock shop, but I didn't like the feel of the sole, so, with some trepidation, I went next door to Vivobarefoot and spent about 45 minutes quizzing the sales guy. I bought a pair of their Ra shoes and within 24 hours it was clear to me that I couldn't go back to anything else, even trainers with a relatively low heel. Most of my foot pain went away in about two weeks, though my feet were, I realised, so wide that even these wider toe-box shoes weren't enough for me and my little toes didn't feel free. Eventually, I found my way to a pair of Softstar Primal Dash Runamocs, built for extra wide feet. They're expensive, especially bought from the US and shipped to the UK, but they're worth it because they're the only really comfortable shoes I've ever owned.
I don't think the moccasin design in this video's the one for me, but I'm sort of thinking about trying to make my own shoes now. Why isn't there a simple canvas barefoot shoe for summer, like an espadrille but with a really wide toe box and ultra-minimalist sole? It's totally feasible. A lot of so-called minimalist footwear has a kind of high-tech look, lots of moulded rubber and synthetic patterned fabrics, which may be justified for certain uses, but also justifies a high price tag. The irony is, it's not really that minimalist. The kind of thing I'm talking about would really be footwear reduced to the absolute basics and would have to be cheap.
Freet... It sounds so british.. Reminds me of brexit.
Hahaha! Yeah so true!
Bit like wheetabix
@🌟༻🅹🅰🆈🅵🅰༺ ✓ • 5 years ago
Local patreotism is fine but why burn the bridges that could support you if you could decide on all aspects of trade?
a while ago, my dad bought me hiking shoes, cause they were hugely on sale (like 90% off, store was closing). i tried them on in the store, and thought they were just stiff cause i didnt break them in. he told me when i got home that theyll always be someone stiff, to "support" your foot. at the time, i was wearing very broken in leather boots with a very thin sole, so it felt almost as comfortable as being bare foot, and these hiking shoes were so stiff it was like planks of wood were sewn to my foot. sure, it was nice to have shoes that stopped the pain of every little pebble you stepped on, so you didnt need to feel every twig or speck of gravel. but wearing "stiff" boots make me more careless when walking, since i wasnt worried about avoiding twigs that id end up slipping on, or uneven/wet rocks since i relyed on the grip to hold me. my feet would be much more sore after a hike in heavy boots than my thin, slipper like boots. now it makes sense. ive always walked on my toes (thanks autism), so being barefoot was always easier since i had more control with my toe walking, plus i built up my muscles enough to support it
I have wanted to do the Earthing thing for a long time but where I live the ground is littered with pain inducing shrapnel we call stickers. Or grass burrs as some folks call them. It's a shockingly painful experience especially for people that aren't prepared.
We call them goat heads here. They are very painful!
@@j.munday7913 To us goat heads only have 2 thorns. Ours have loads more & it's like walking on shrapnel...
@@tashacano3324 :O owie! I didnt think there was anything worse than a goat head
I wish I would have seen this video a year ago when you uploaded it. I have a distant heritage from the Scots/Irish and love to see the traditional and historical everyday things displayed by someone from the region. I hate wearing shoes and tend to wear sandals or go bare myself while not at work because my feet are so wide around the ball and toes that boots and shoes are too restrictive to be comfortable. I am so happy to see there is a company that makes shoes that don't conform to modern standards and make a more natural shape. I will definitely check them out. This video earned my subscription, keep up the great content!
I usually wear swim shoes, the drug needles in my area has increased however.
I think one of the biggest things I learned as I started running with more minimalist shoes especially on trails is that as terrain gets more rough you have to slow down and make sure your steps are solid since you know there’s no ankle or foot bracing to protect you from a mistake. Modern boots can definitely give a new hiker or trail runner a false sense of confidence to not pre plan their route through a rough section rather than just bash through and hope for the best. Great video.
I love walking barefoot, it feels sooo great.
Especially over gras in the early morning when there is fog.
Awesome video✌🌻
I rarely get the chance to watch your videos atm but they always make me feel better and remind me of something positive instantly.
Thank you a lot!
its all fine and dandy until you step on thorns/glass
Thanks very much! Glad they are bringing some positive vibes to you :)
@@johndowe7003
Yes I live in a city in Germany and tried walking barefoot in summer. It was fun but many people gave me a weird look and on train stations etc I always stepped into something. So yeah, in a city that's not so useful.
But maybe in the mountains or at any place where you can forget that glass and people exist.🌼
@@FandabiDozi
Nah, thank YOU 😊 ✨
@@princesscorvus2636 yeah i live out in the country, feet like leather lol
One thing to consider is that people used to walk on soft ground in the forest and natural enviorenment, whereas we usually walk on hard surfaces like asphalt, cobble an such. Therefore it would be useful to have the soft ground with you, but the raised heel as you say is quite harmful still. I think it is important to keep in mind while walking and running how you are using your feet and legs and adjust your technique if needed.
The forest floor isn't always soft, rocks exist. I can walk barefoot on concrete and asphalt just fine. I can run over gravel barefoot.
Its tough when your heels go on strike but that is when you have to learn to use your fandabi toesies!
Wilding is a brand of minimalist shoes that I can vouch for and recommend. But my favs are always all-natural and grounding leather mocs
This was great. I've been looking for a video I can send to people I know who have waned to know more about the benefits of bear foot running and walking. Or people who disagree with me on why you should run bear foot, and I think this is the best video on the topic so far
Keep up the good work 🤙🤙
Thanks very much! Glad it was useful to you :D
Toe separators are a blessing for pains and foot posture
I seriously need to make some basic leather shoes now. Think I'd have a wool lining though.
Yeah a wool lining and or insole would be a great addition! :D
I’ve got plantar fasciitis (were meant to walk and run NOT to sit and stand) so barefoot and barefoot shoes are so so important. They actually help a lot, since it’s damage to he tendons in the heel and walking barefoot forces you to use the front of your foot more.
This happens to show up in my feed as I'm making my first pair of historical boots, which is driving me up the wall :')
I knew shoes were overrated all along
As someone who has naturally wide feet, finding a good set of shoes was always a pain, and I hated wearing any kind of "womanly" or winter shoes, they just weren't made for me. Right now I wear sneakers with a soft foam inside (never going back to foamless shoes again, they just don't feel as good), and in summer, a good pair of crocs
I'd just like to say - the "powerofpositivity" article seems off. It's using some science as legitimate basis for their claims, but then they sneak in stuff like walking barefoot will help with menstrual cramps? Sorry, but as a woman with endometriosis, ain't nothin but continuous birth control helping that unbearable, stabbing, burning, aching, stinging, basically every kind of pain there is, I get it on my period. That and the part where they said "since earth has negative charge and 'we come into contact with positive charge all day'" so lying on the ground somehow "balances" that energy? Thats just pulling stuff out of their ass tbh. This is a very interesting topic to me, but misinformation should not be spread absolutely no matter what. Please look into your sources a bit better next time. If you're going to claim you can educate you absolutely have a responsibility to *only* provide robust scientific evidence, not some Goop vibration frequency body stickers level crap.
Tbh I particularly dislike these things bc real advice that works CAN be found in these areas. But since you're going off about how the earth is negatively charged and therefore lying on it "balances our charge", no one is going to believs Wim Hoff method really works, which it does. When you group misinformation with real facts, it makes those real facts appear as misinformtion, and then people don't get the help they need. As someone who has struggled with depression, anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD, & severe chronic pain (8/10 or up daily), and I know of so many others searching for info that won't waste their time and little money they have, but sometimes we jusy give up bc it's all mixed up so it's almost impossible to verify everything ourselves.
Now, if you don't care then whatever I guess, can't force people to take us seriously. I'm just asking politely for you to consider what I've said before linking more dubious, Goop-level BS articles.
Edit: sorry if it sounds harsh, was having a bad pain day
Birth control and a bad diet during early teenage years are the cause of your awful menstrual cramps
This reminds me when they sold the stupid copper disced sandals and shoes because people bought into the silly charge baloney. Wooks take something that makes some sense (barefoot on grass IS comfy) and make it nonsensical time and time again.
Hi mate, great video and well explained. The Sami in Norway and Inuits (and possibly others) used seal skin for shoes with the fur on the outside digging into the ice/snow to provide grip. They also did a similar thing on skis, allowing them to move forwards but preventing them moving backwards.
This was a great watch. I can't relate to any of it, having been born and raised in the land of wooden shoes.
I 100% agree with everything you say & I like the look of those Moody(?) boots.
Personally barefoot seems like a 1 stop shop to joint damage, I think the cushioned shoes protect your joints against the hard concrete and linolium that we always are walking on. Especially with running on concrete. No way that can be good for you.
I have flat feet and you do not want the issues it brings up! these people are just fucked in the head.
@@toast1012 generally because flat feet aren't normal and don't reflect how they properly interact with the environment.
I have been going mostly barefoot inside my home for years. Love your subjects and discussions. Thank you.
Ironically, when barefoot enthusiasts break their ankles or get hypothermic in the field, they end up getting rescued by men wearing sturdy leather boots.
Hells yeah, I’ve been wearing minimalist footwear for years too. As a matter of fact certain models of minimal shoes are the only shoes manufactured that actually fit my very wide flat feet, and I’ve not once thrown my back out, that I can recollect, since I started wearing minimal footwear. My favorite model is the the Tactical Research Mini-Mils. Minimal military and police boot. It’s got it’s practical limitations in the winter months, but widely otherwise it’s the perfect boot or shoe whatsoever for me.
Interesting and informative. There is a good book called Rob Roy McGregor by WH Murray that brilliantly portraits everyday life in the Highlands in the early/mid 1600's, clothing, foods, the home, the Clan, an excellent book.
Thanks mate! Will look that up!
@@FandabiDozi You can also buy liquid rubber, for painting soles onto rawhide footwear.
I need yall to know that moccasin means "someone's shoe" in our language, in a lot of the related one's too. Not even shoes, no, someone's 1 shoe.
Beyond that, hell yeah. Started running barefoot years ago when it was super niche and had to get things like mocassins and tabi boots for a thin enough sole, hurt at the start, worth it years after for sure.
This video is wonderful, though I'm commenting on it late, great job!
When i was young I just went barefoot all the time, my feet got tough and amazed my family of tenderfeets :)
For anyone that's interested in the minimalist shoe style without a pronounced heel, try converse chuck taylors. They're pretty thin and flexible. Maybe a good way to taper off from modern shoes!
I'm cursed with flat feet and tendonitis. Maybe these wld help
Its quite possible, i saw an interview with matt graham about minimalist footwear
It's very possible it will, my sister had flat feet her whole life, and she has arches and healthier hips now that she wears barefoot shoes. She like Vivo Barefoot brand, that have nice designs.
@@FreggFaerie thank you, yes I've got a pair in my Amazon cart I will probably buy. I admit I'm not a fan of how they look but hey, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. I also have back problem that effects further down. Probably try them over summer
@@astrazenica7783 take your time breaking them in, my family tends to wear them around the house for a month or so, your feet need to adjust , it might be a little painful at first, but if you're like me, once you adjust, you might forget you're wearing the shoes eventually, it just feels so natural and comfortable.
I did too. The key was getting into minimal shoes slowly. You have to reprogram the way you stand, walk and run. But it’s worth it. I find shaking practice is particularly good for preventing and rehabilitating tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. Plus cutting sugar and simple carbs, the systemic inflammation from sugar is a major driver of tendinitis.
Neat video! I have been going barefoot or minimalist shoes for about 25 years as often as I can. I definitely have a harder time if I try to buy shoes that are normal- my feet and toes are so wide and spread apart. I just do this because it's comfortable for me but I'm glad to know it actually has benefits!!
BTW my feet aren't ugly at all- so don't think it will make your feet disgusting- I honestly have people asking if I am a sandal model and people creep on my feet a lot... 😵
13:20 When my girlfriend's parents come home early
I love walking and hiking barefoot!!
If you want to start, seriously give it time. So many things will adapt, besides the nerves in the feet, the walking technique etc. also your vision will begin to adapt, allowing you to take your direct vision off of the ground in front of you, but still, from peripheral vision spotting pointy things not to step into, for example.
A big benefit besides health is also the comfort of almost never getting cold feet in winter again ; )
"I use this hand everyday."
Same here buddy 😅
now some mocasins are on my crafting list for sure :D i have a bad knee also, and as a woodworker, i'm usually standing on concrete all day long. and that turned my eye to an old NY Times article about how 'we're walking wrong.' as soon as i switched to minimal shoes, my daily lower back pain eventually disappeared, and that set me on the minimal path.
a couple years ago i purchased Xero's Cloud sandals, and i've now put over 500 miles on them. now it's becoming time for full barefoot hiking :D it amazes me how much changes when deciding to go barefoot regularly.
quick summary: there might be a reason behind a foot fetish
In case you were still wondering, moccasin is definitely from Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwe language or a closely related one. One reason is that the related languages cognate words, with the same sound changes as other words, showing that the word was already present in all of those languages a few thousand years ago before the various languages diverged. For example in Cree we say maskisin.
6:33 "Links to all articles in video description" - Those benefits you and articles listed, doesn't contain almost any sources (except one book, or other study with ONLY 12 participants, etc.) to scientific studies. No offense, but l'd like to have more proof, because it is easy to say "this is better than that", and no list for sources. I try to check that earthing book, but it will be hard outside of anglo-american sphere. Even if l know that human race have lived without shoes like almost forever, but claiming this or that requires scientific proof.
Did you also notice the citation to Joseph Mercola? One of the world's biggest source of fake medical claims, who stopped seeing patients amidst charges from the medical board of "“false and potentially harmful medical advice"
The claim that we didn't were any footwear for most of our existence is also unsubstantiated, we have no idea when footwear became a thing. For all we know, as soon as our ancestors left the plains of Africa, they could have wrapped their feet up.
This video seems kindly intentioned, but realistically poorly researched/substantiated.
@@s1lverbullet1234 we have some ideas like fiber sandles being carbon dates and be observations of how primitive or advanced leather footwear is. We also can assume that we were wearing shoes long before that though skeleton evidence. You can see toes get thinner over 30-40k years ago being evidence of have some short of protection like moccasins or foot bags
Yeah, plus there is a limit to how much skin can get "leathery" i suspect that it is less that the skin gets leathery and more that the brain gets used to that level of pain and starts ignoring it, after all the human brain is a lying piece of shit and sensations can't be trusted one bit.
There is a reason why shoes have been indepently invented in practically all civilizations across history in some way shape or form, our feets are probably pretty shit considering they are just reporpoused hands and it hasn't been long enough for evolution to take its time and make them good feet, compare them to the paws of cannines, those are good damn feet,
Enjoy the bunions.
I agree; I go barefoot around the home place here probably 90% of the time, and I only wear shoes when out in public. No more high heels! I no longer need my old orthotic inserts for my shoes and my feet don't hurt at all anymore. The closer we can get back to nature, the better!
Im a forester and gardener... Imagine doing the strimming with your toes out.
No thank you!