If you want to try a similar challenge BUT are new to walking barefoot (shoes or not!)… 1. Set realistic distance expectations (if you are used to walking 10k steps per day, do half that to start) 2. Choose your surfaces WISELY, especially if you’re new to walking barefoot 🦶 3. Take regular breaks and check your feet for any developing issues Or check out my Barefoot Transition Guide here: www.barefootstrengthproject.com/barefoot-transition-guide
I’ve been wanting to walk barefoot more because I love the feeling, now i just need to get a pair of shoes to use outside of work to do this. I have noticed less knee pain when walking barefoot.
If you'd never worn shoes, the soles of your feet would be 4mm thick and puncture resistant - that's essentially what Vivos etc are replacing, a lifetime of callusing
Makes sense! Probably why my feet were mostly okay after the long day (no blisters, skinning etc). I wonder if man-made surfaces would 'trim-down' callouses faster than they could form 🤔
You did well. I was wincing at the footage through traffic in that heat. I go barefoot at home and in my garden. Dog walks wouldn’t be practical for me due to stinging nettles, thistles and ticks! Maybe you could try some Tuf-Foot next time?!
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject an alternative to toughen feet, and a ballet dancer’s tip, is 50% surgical spirit mixed with 50% olive oil in a bottle. Shake to disperse and apply to feet with cotton wool. Save the cotton wool for outdoor firelighting!
I think if you commit to it long enough, your feet will harden enough to the point that they become proper shoe soles. I've heard of Fijian kids sprinting over hot sand and barnacle-covered rocks like it's nothing. Obviously, very few people will have the will to go through the required torture and damage to get to that point haha. Also, congrats to you and Maddy! Would love to shoot your wedding, mate!
I've been walking barefoot for well over a decade and can easily put in multiple miles in urban areas every day. I think your error was pushing yourself too far in too short of a time without training both your mind and your feet properly. You need to develop good calouses and this takes time. It also takes time to learn where you can walk in which weather conditions and which times of the season and times of the day. Direct summer sun on a dark surface will burn your feet no matter how conditioned they are. COld surfaces can make your feet numb and you won't be able to react in time to prevent injuries. Yes you have to look at the ground ahead of you and avoid problem areas but this becomes second nature with practice. Walking barefoot can be a very pleasant experience if you allow your body to adapt. One last thing, if you don't know how far you can go without issues and you go far enough in nne direction and start to feel pain or unjury developing before you've turned around, you've gone way to far.
I've been keen on walking barefoot for a long time, and in the last few years I've read about the health benefits from "earthing"/grounding" where you absorb the earth's energy through the soles of your feet. I know it's better not to wear very cushioned trainers in the gym too, especially if you're squatting or lunging. With those kind of exercises, you work up from the feet! I also have barefoot shoes. Regarding going barefoot, my feet get cold easily, & I imagine there's more energy when the earth's atmosphere has warmed up ie when the ground is warmer. That's why I always associate going barefoot with the summer. Grass is good, as well as smooth paving slabs and warm wood can feel good too. I live in Scotland. It would have been cool to see the soles of your feet when you got home on the 7th day just before you got in your pool!
I hadn't thought of that, if I do a similar challenge in future I'll make sure to add it to the shot list. There's quite a few volcanos in Bali, I'm currently weighing up the idea of hiking up one of those barefoot. TBC if it's a good idea or not 😂
This was a good video man . I was born with very very extremely wide feet 🦶 & i had to grow up wearing flip flops 🩴 or being barefooted 👣 . I played around 95% of the time barefooted 👣 & sometimes worn my flip flops 🩴 yo play in but 95% of the time barefooted 👣 because shoes were very very extremely difficult to find footwear for me that was wide . Wide shoes was very very extremely hard to find back in the early 70/80 . My shoes were crush my toes because my toes are Evenly straight across instead of being at a 45° Degrees angle like your toes are or everyone else toes are . Not mini people have toes like i do . My doctor said that i have what they call square box toes were my toes are Evenly straight across like a box . As i was growing up my feet 🦶 was getting bigger and bigger and wider and wider and chubby and chubbier to the point that now my feet 🦶 are a sz15 6 E wide ( which is very very extremely wide feet 🦶 ) with very very chubby fat wide toes that are Evenly straight across making my foot very very Extremely wide feet 🦶 at 6 1/2 inches wide from my big toe to my lil toe . I had to graduate from school barefooted 👣 because my foot outgrow shoes , socks , & boots . I outgrow socks 1 mouths before school let out for summer & i outgrow shoes 1 week before school let out for summer . I had to live my life barefooted 👣 Style for a whole entire year & 1/2 before I found a pair of flip flops 🩴 again that would fit my wide feet 🦶 because i outgrow my flip flops 🩴 as well & it really really Sucks for me because I was raised up wearing flip flops 🩴& i really really love wearing flip flops 🩴. Today that the only footwear that I have in my house . I don't own a pair of shoes , socks , or boots . I own only flip-flops 🩴& that's it . I have 6 boys & they all have very wide feet 🦶 too & they are going through the same problem that I had too . They hate wearing shoes , socks , & boots because they crush & hurt there feet 🦶 . When I go to drive my car 🚗 if i am wearing my flip flops 🩴 i have to take off my flip flops 🩴 to drive my car 🚗 , pickup 🛻 , or my Truck 🚛 barefooted 👣 because my feet 🦶 touch both gas and brakes pedal at the same time because of how extremely wide my feet 🦶 are . Good video buddy thanks you for sharing this video buddy .
Does it take time to adjust to barefoot shoes? Reason being i’m having acl reconstruction next week and i wanted to get into barefoot shoes for the benefits of foot and leg strengthening, in your opinion would it be too much of a transition to do for my rehab or just go for it?
Great question and honestly, yes it does take time. I have a video coming out this Friday that explains the process in more detail but especially coming off the back of an ACL reconstruction, I'd be cautious and use them on soft surfaces with a low step count (though I'm sure that part will be easy) while you adjust.
Our ancestors invented shoes just to deal with the harsh cold during periods of glaciation, but even after that the thick soled shoes only started to be a thing relatively recently. I would love to be barefoot 24/7 and its not because of anything hippy or health related its because I really cannot stand the feeling of shoes on my feet. I think a good compromise is minimalist shoes for urban environments and then barefoot on trails and grass which is what im transitioning towards. Also you're mad for walking in Bali barefoot xD
Outside western world, a lot of people spend a lot of time barefoot. Monks in Thailand are required to walk barefoot receiving alms everyday, walking for couple of hours daily. Monks in Bangkok have to put up with concrete pavements while those in up country experienced walks on pebbles, mud, grass etc. Some Africans tribes still barefoot 24/7.
Definitely, a lot of the locals here wear sandals and their foot shape is VERY different from the more typical western shape (pinched toes) because of it. Getting the dirt off was probably the hardest bit 😂
It's my glutes over-riding my adductors from weightlifting. It can be fixed but I've always done it and never had any issues. Weirdly doesn't happen when I run 🤷♂️
If you want to try a similar challenge BUT are new to walking barefoot (shoes or not!)…
1. Set realistic distance expectations (if you are used to walking 10k steps per day, do half that to start)
2. Choose your surfaces WISELY, especially if you’re new to walking barefoot 🦶
3. Take regular breaks and check your feet for any developing issues
Or check out my Barefoot Transition Guide here:
www.barefootstrengthproject.com/barefoot-transition-guide
I’ve been wanting to walk barefoot more because I love the feeling, now i just need to get a pair of shoes to use outside of work to do this. I have noticed less knee pain when walking barefoot.
If you'd never worn shoes, the soles of your feet would be 4mm thick and puncture resistant - that's essentially what Vivos etc are replacing, a lifetime of callusing
Makes sense! Probably why my feet were mostly okay after the long day (no blisters, skinning etc). I wonder if man-made surfaces would 'trim-down' callouses faster than they could form 🤔
its not all its made out to be lol. My calluses I have to trim as much as fingernails
You did well. I was wincing at the footage through traffic in that heat. I go barefoot at home and in my garden. Dog walks wouldn’t be practical for me due to stinging nettles, thistles and ticks! Maybe you could try some Tuf-Foot next time?!
Thank you - I was definitely suffering a bit 😂. I'd not heard of Tuf-foot before, I'll check it out!
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject an alternative to toughen feet, and a ballet dancer’s tip, is 50% surgical spirit mixed with 50% olive oil in a bottle. Shake to disperse and apply to feet with cotton wool. Save the cotton wool for outdoor firelighting!
I think if you commit to it long enough, your feet will harden enough to the point that they become proper shoe soles. I've heard of Fijian kids sprinting over hot sand and barnacle-covered rocks like it's nothing. Obviously, very few people will have the will to go through the required torture and damage to get to that point haha. Also, congrats to you and Maddy! Would love to shoot your wedding, mate!
Oh definitely, not sure I have the stomach for that though 😆 and I appreciate it!
Now I've got to try this. Great vid, and a fresh trim too!
Thank you! And you definitely should, the New Forest is prime for it 🌳🦶
I've been walking barefoot for well over a decade and can easily put in multiple miles in urban areas every day. I think your error was pushing yourself too far in too short of a time without training both your mind and your feet properly. You need to develop good calouses and this takes time. It also takes time to learn where you can walk in which weather conditions and which times of the season and times of the day. Direct summer sun on a dark surface will burn your feet no matter how conditioned they are. COld surfaces can make your feet numb and you won't be able to react in time to prevent injuries. Yes you have to look at the ground ahead of you and avoid problem areas but this becomes second nature with practice. Walking barefoot can be a very pleasant experience if you allow your body to adapt. One last thing, if you don't know how far you can go without issues and you go far enough in nne direction and start to feel pain or unjury developing before you've turned around, you've gone way to far.
I've been keen on walking barefoot for a long time, and in the last few years I've read about the health benefits from "earthing"/grounding" where you absorb the earth's energy through the soles of your feet. I know it's better not to wear very cushioned trainers in the gym too, especially if you're squatting or lunging.
With those kind of exercises, you work up from the feet! I also have barefoot shoes.
Regarding going barefoot, my feet get cold easily, & I imagine there's more energy when the earth's atmosphere has warmed up ie when the ground is warmer. That's why I always associate going barefoot with the summer. Grass is good, as well as smooth paving slabs and warm wood can feel good too. I live in Scotland.
It would have been cool to see the soles of your feet when you got home on the 7th day just before you got in your pool!
I hadn't thought of that, if I do a similar challenge in future I'll make sure to add it to the shot list.
There's quite a few volcanos in Bali, I'm currently weighing up the idea of hiking up one of those barefoot. TBC if it's a good idea or not 😂
This was a good video man . I was born with very very extremely wide feet 🦶 & i had to grow up wearing flip flops 🩴 or being barefooted 👣 . I played around 95% of the time barefooted 👣 & sometimes worn my flip flops 🩴 yo play in but 95% of the time barefooted 👣 because shoes were very very extremely difficult to find footwear for me that was wide . Wide shoes was very very extremely hard to find back in the early 70/80 . My shoes were crush my toes because my toes are Evenly straight across instead of being at a 45° Degrees angle like your toes are or everyone else toes are . Not mini people have toes like i do . My doctor said that i have what they call square box toes were my toes are Evenly straight across like a box . As i was growing up my feet 🦶 was getting bigger and bigger and wider and wider and chubby and chubbier to the point that now my feet 🦶 are a sz15 6 E wide ( which is very very extremely wide feet 🦶 ) with very very chubby fat wide toes that are Evenly straight across making my foot very very Extremely wide feet 🦶 at 6 1/2 inches wide from my big toe to my lil toe . I had to graduate from school barefooted 👣 because my foot outgrow shoes , socks , & boots . I outgrow socks 1 mouths before school let out for summer & i outgrow shoes 1 week before school let out for summer . I had to live my life barefooted 👣 Style for a whole entire year & 1/2 before I found a pair of flip flops 🩴 again that would fit my wide feet 🦶 because i outgrow my flip flops 🩴 as well & it really really Sucks for me because I was raised up wearing flip flops 🩴& i really really love wearing flip flops 🩴. Today that the only footwear that I have in my house . I don't own a pair of shoes , socks , or boots . I own only flip-flops 🩴& that's it . I have 6 boys & they all have very wide feet 🦶 too & they are going through the same problem that I had too . They hate wearing shoes , socks , & boots because they crush & hurt there feet 🦶 . When I go to drive my car 🚗 if i am wearing my flip flops 🩴 i have to take off my flip flops 🩴 to drive my car 🚗 , pickup 🛻 , or my Truck 🚛 barefooted 👣 because my feet 🦶 touch both gas and brakes pedal at the same time because of how extremely wide my feet 🦶 are . Good video buddy thanks you for sharing this video buddy .
Concrete gravel is my favorite texture (except grass of course🙄) love walking barefoot🤪
We need to get you checked in for a psych eval 🤣. Grass takes gold for me every time 🦶
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject Cool grass on a hot summer day is absolutely the best feeling
@@mintaka3317 100%!
Does it take time to adjust to barefoot shoes? Reason being i’m having acl reconstruction next week and i wanted to get into barefoot shoes for the benefits of foot and leg strengthening, in your opinion would it be too much of a transition to do for my rehab or just go for it?
Great question and honestly, yes it does take time. I have a video coming out this Friday that explains the process in more detail but especially coming off the back of an ACL reconstruction, I'd be cautious and use them on soft surfaces with a low step count (though I'm sure that part will be easy) while you adjust.
Hi, Im looking into getting my first pair of Vivobarefoot, they will be for training and general use out and about, which ones can you recommend?
Primus Trail knit FG’s are a great shout. Really versatile, very hard wearing and as comfortable in the gym as they are pounding pavement ✌🏽
@@TheBarefootStrengthProject Thanks for your reply! Much appreciated 🤜🏼🤛🏼
Our ancestors invented shoes just to deal with the harsh cold during periods of glaciation, but even after that the thick soled shoes only started to be a thing relatively recently. I would love to be barefoot 24/7 and its not because of anything hippy or health related its because I really cannot stand the feeling of shoes on my feet. I think a good compromise is minimalist shoes for urban environments and then barefoot on trails and grass which is what im transitioning towards. Also you're mad for walking in Bali barefoot xD
I agree! A bit of both is a good way to compromise 🙌🏼. I did get a few weird looks 😂
Outside western world, a lot of people spend a lot of time barefoot. Monks in Thailand are required to walk barefoot receiving alms everyday, walking for couple of hours daily. Monks in Bangkok have to put up with concrete pavements while those in up country experienced walks on pebbles, mud, grass etc. Some Africans tribes still barefoot 24/7.
Definitely, a lot of the locals here wear sandals and their foot shape is VERY different from the more typical western shape (pinched toes) because of it. Getting the dirt off was probably the hardest bit 😂
Cool experiment. Is it ok / is there a reason to point your feet out a bit like you do?
It's my glutes over-riding my adductors from weightlifting. It can be fixed but I've always done it and never had any issues. Weirdly doesn't happen when I run 🤷♂️
Very interesting mate!
Cheers mate, it was fun to shoot!
Man made structures like concrete are horrible.
I agree, I used to live in a city and couldn't stomach it long term. Give me grass anyday 🤝
you get many odd looks over there? id imagen its more accepted than here in the UK
A few, mostly when I was well away from the beach/getting close to midday and all from westerners
eh i walked 30,000 miles barefoot 12 years no shoes ask me anything