Mikey
Well-known member
some could say the same about smoking and your avatar
you choose which threads you enter, at the end of the day
Barefooting
- Thread starter Shelley
- Start date
you choose which threads you enter, at the end of the day
Mikey
Well-known member
I think Kier should use this as his avatar, hehe
Kim
Well-known member
Jethro
Well-known member
No, it's:
Your precious?
Onimua
Well-known member
The bottom of his feet is the end of Kier... so his avatar should be his hair?Well I for one vote NO on that one.. much rather see the other end of Kier
F
Floris
Guest
Cleaning the balcony this morning bare foot. I have to say, too many heavy material to potentially hurt my feet. But risking it.
The weather isn't that cold, so walking on the wood tiles bare foot is comfortable enough
The weather isn't that cold, so walking on the wood tiles bare foot is comfortable enough
Dream
Active member
dirty feet and smoking are different things... hehehesome could say the same about smoking and your avatar
you choose which threads you enter, at the end of the day
anyways, nevermind, was joking
and cheers
Yeah, one's bad for your health and arguably antisocial, and the other is just not wearing shoesdirty feet and smoking are different things... hehehe
anyways, nevermind, was joking
Here's an outline guide to barefooting coming fromn generations doing it in my family and som e exxtra stiuff I got from the Society for Barefoot Living www.barefooters.org/
Evolution designed the foot to walk barefoot, not to be enclosed.
Up to around 75 years ago even the majority of Western people were barefoot except for formal or safety situations.
MUCK & HYGIENE
A barefooter quickly becomes a little more aware of muck and rarely steps in it. It's the shod who tend to step in things because they trust their shoes to protect them.
The bare foot is extremely clean. Sweat evaporates fast so no foot smell (good for young males!). It's by trapping the foot in a pool of bacteria that we get the smell. Also as noted above feet get cleaned a lot more thoroughly and often than shoes which get saturated with stale sweat - when was the last time you washed the inside of your shoes?
A bare foot if it picks up dust or mud will shed it much faster than a shoe due to natural delicate oils in the skin preventing stick factor. Shod people carry a lot more dirt into a building, and carry it deeper into the building as it's slower to shed. This is whgy in many parts of the world it's considered the height of rudeness to walk shod indoors.
TOUGHENING THE OUCH
The "natural shoeleather" on the sole of the foot toughens with usage and softens without it.
A barefooter can typically walk on glass with no problem - though at night this can occasionally cause injury. However my observation is that barefooters have FEWER foot injuries like cuts and bruises. Maybe because the foot toughens, maybe greater instinctive awareness, or both.
With children or new barefooters it's a good idea to have a salt water wash in the evening. This deals with tiny cuts and disinfects, plus it toughens.
Expect around 3 - 6 weeks to become a comfortably tough barefooter. Increase tolerance slowly don't do it all at once.
A certain grade of gravel remains a problem. A lot vof gravel is not if you relax the foot so it spreads over the surface. But freshly laid road gravel is NOT popular with barefooters
DANGERS
There are no dangers in a country like Britain except for specialised situations where workboots or shoe covers are required due to heavy tools, boiling water, or chemicals. A few areas where vipers live are well mapped.
In some countries there may be issues like scorpions, snakes, spiders, and skin parasites. As many have noted most of Australia's flora and fauna is toxic to humanity!
COLD
Like general toughness cold tolerance increases with practice. Some barefooters end up all wrapped up EXCEPT the feet!
Some barefooters practise "Extreme Barefooting" which means snow, ice etc Can get a bit macho. But there are stunning pics of extreme barefooters around. Best for each to find their comfort zone.
My son a lifetime barefooter does find that grip is not so good on a slope where there is ice or frozen snow though soft snow is fine.
HEALTH
There are a lot of barefooters who do it for health reasons not only sensuality. The balance, stance and gait improves enormously so that back or hip problems can be reduced or even removed. Shoes also stop children being safe as they can't use their toes to balance and grip.
The "heel strike" of the shod is unnatural (Ref. spine/ hip problems.) and should start to reduce with barefooting. The foot naturally strikes with the ball and arch, not the heel. This is also better for flat feet which can start to USE muscles to build up the arch.
Some barefooters find they still heel strike and choose to deliberately retrain.
Verruccas/ plantars transmit in watery places like swimming pools where almost everyone goes barefoot. (This has been challenged medically)
An occasional side effect of barefooting is cracks. Barefooters use various pharmacy remedies, or vaseline.
LEGAL
There is no law against barefooting. However businesses have a lot of discretionary power to forbid almost any behaviour they fancy.
Barefooting may not qualify as "formal dress." NSNSNS = No shirt no shoes no service - is a recent development USA. It plugs into the snob prejudice against barefooting which roots back to bare feet being a sign of poverty.
Restaurants MAY refuse to serve you if they wish. In the UK at least a restaurant has special legal status and can refuse without reason. (Offtopic: if they serve poor food you can also refuse to pay as long as when they ask everything OK you don't say yes! This is why they ask. You can pay 'what you consider the food was worth' as long as you didn't eat most of it.)
Some supermarkets MAY also refuse. Tesco has a bad rep in the UK though it depends on the local store.
So over all a pair of flpflops in car or bag is a useful precaution against a spoiled outing.
An institution may try to blather about "Health and Safety."
It can help to carry an insurance waiver document. This is usually the real concern. the issue has been analysed and may throw up a \test case soon. If the public is required to wear shoes the management is implicitly responsible for accidents duie to badly manufactured footwear - which is hugely more common than accidents due to barefooting.
WAIVER TEXT
I the undersigned do hereby waive any public liability by myself against [Name of company] due to my barefooting.
However this waiver applies ONLY to issues relating to -
- the sole of the foot, not the sides or upper parts or the heel, such as would be exposed in a thong sandal.
- those parts of the sole in contact with the floor i.e. the underside of the main arch, and toe arches.
This waiver does not affect statutory rights relating to staff negligence such that a shod person wearing a thong sandal might also sustain distress or injury.
Signed: Dated:
SPORT/ MARATHON
There are different reports. Some barefooters report they run better barefoot. The heel strike in shoes is more exhausting and damaging to the skeleton. However the skin of the foot can become sore from unnaccustomed or extreme lengths of running.
PHYSICAL CHANGES
Tougher skin on the sole.
No foot smell.
Cleaner.
Better posture, positive effects on weak ankles, strained knees, dodgy hips, spinal problems and indirectly, shoulders and neck.
Better safety for children, or frail elders, some disabilities, due to better balance and grip.
Much better grip for climbing.
Better handling of cold but extreme heat is not bearable and ice can be slippery.
The foot enlarges to use the muscles better. So shoes may get too small. This is because the foot should not be tightly trapped.
Some people get cracks which can be treated.
Long runs are healthier and stronger as heel strike diminishes but the sole can get sore on very long runs.
SYMBOLICALLY
Bare feet represent a desire to connect with the world, or the Earth. Love of one's own body.
In particular bare feet represent a non-arrogant attitude, refusing snob, simplicity, nature, flexibility.
Balance, solidity, honesty.
To the suits of the world bare feet represent a worrying individualism, an overly physical state not aiming at improving and winning; this can scare such people.
Evolution designed the foot to walk barefoot, not to be enclosed.
Up to around 75 years ago even the majority of Western people were barefoot except for formal or safety situations.
MUCK & HYGIENE
A barefooter quickly becomes a little more aware of muck and rarely steps in it. It's the shod who tend to step in things because they trust their shoes to protect them.
The bare foot is extremely clean. Sweat evaporates fast so no foot smell (good for young males!). It's by trapping the foot in a pool of bacteria that we get the smell. Also as noted above feet get cleaned a lot more thoroughly and often than shoes which get saturated with stale sweat - when was the last time you washed the inside of your shoes?
A bare foot if it picks up dust or mud will shed it much faster than a shoe due to natural delicate oils in the skin preventing stick factor. Shod people carry a lot more dirt into a building, and carry it deeper into the building as it's slower to shed. This is whgy in many parts of the world it's considered the height of rudeness to walk shod indoors.
TOUGHENING THE OUCH
The "natural shoeleather" on the sole of the foot toughens with usage and softens without it.
A barefooter can typically walk on glass with no problem - though at night this can occasionally cause injury. However my observation is that barefooters have FEWER foot injuries like cuts and bruises. Maybe because the foot toughens, maybe greater instinctive awareness, or both.
With children or new barefooters it's a good idea to have a salt water wash in the evening. This deals with tiny cuts and disinfects, plus it toughens.
Expect around 3 - 6 weeks to become a comfortably tough barefooter. Increase tolerance slowly don't do it all at once.
A certain grade of gravel remains a problem. A lot vof gravel is not if you relax the foot so it spreads over the surface. But freshly laid road gravel is NOT popular with barefooters
DANGERS
There are no dangers in a country like Britain except for specialised situations where workboots or shoe covers are required due to heavy tools, boiling water, or chemicals. A few areas where vipers live are well mapped.
In some countries there may be issues like scorpions, snakes, spiders, and skin parasites. As many have noted most of Australia's flora and fauna is toxic to humanity!
COLD
Like general toughness cold tolerance increases with practice. Some barefooters end up all wrapped up EXCEPT the feet!
Some barefooters practise "Extreme Barefooting" which means snow, ice etc Can get a bit macho. But there are stunning pics of extreme barefooters around. Best for each to find their comfort zone.
My son a lifetime barefooter does find that grip is not so good on a slope where there is ice or frozen snow though soft snow is fine.
HEALTH
There are a lot of barefooters who do it for health reasons not only sensuality. The balance, stance and gait improves enormously so that back or hip problems can be reduced or even removed. Shoes also stop children being safe as they can't use their toes to balance and grip.
The "heel strike" of the shod is unnatural (Ref. spine/ hip problems.) and should start to reduce with barefooting. The foot naturally strikes with the ball and arch, not the heel. This is also better for flat feet which can start to USE muscles to build up the arch.
Some barefooters find they still heel strike and choose to deliberately retrain.
Verruccas/ plantars transmit in watery places like swimming pools where almost everyone goes barefoot. (This has been challenged medically)
An occasional side effect of barefooting is cracks. Barefooters use various pharmacy remedies, or vaseline.
LEGAL
There is no law against barefooting. However businesses have a lot of discretionary power to forbid almost any behaviour they fancy.
Barefooting may not qualify as "formal dress." NSNSNS = No shirt no shoes no service - is a recent development USA. It plugs into the snob prejudice against barefooting which roots back to bare feet being a sign of poverty.
Restaurants MAY refuse to serve you if they wish. In the UK at least a restaurant has special legal status and can refuse without reason. (Offtopic: if they serve poor food you can also refuse to pay as long as when they ask everything OK you don't say yes! This is why they ask. You can pay 'what you consider the food was worth' as long as you didn't eat most of it.)
Some supermarkets MAY also refuse. Tesco has a bad rep in the UK though it depends on the local store.
So over all a pair of flpflops in car or bag is a useful precaution against a spoiled outing.
An institution may try to blather about "Health and Safety."
It can help to carry an insurance waiver document. This is usually the real concern. the issue has been analysed and may throw up a \test case soon. If the public is required to wear shoes the management is implicitly responsible for accidents duie to badly manufactured footwear - which is hugely more common than accidents due to barefooting.
WAIVER TEXT
I the undersigned do hereby waive any public liability by myself against [Name of company] due to my barefooting.
However this waiver applies ONLY to issues relating to -
- the sole of the foot, not the sides or upper parts or the heel, such as would be exposed in a thong sandal.
- those parts of the sole in contact with the floor i.e. the underside of the main arch, and toe arches.
This waiver does not affect statutory rights relating to staff negligence such that a shod person wearing a thong sandal might also sustain distress or injury.
Signed: Dated:
SPORT/ MARATHON
There are different reports. Some barefooters report they run better barefoot. The heel strike in shoes is more exhausting and damaging to the skeleton. However the skin of the foot can become sore from unnaccustomed or extreme lengths of running.
PHYSICAL CHANGES
Tougher skin on the sole.
No foot smell.
Cleaner.
Better posture, positive effects on weak ankles, strained knees, dodgy hips, spinal problems and indirectly, shoulders and neck.
Better safety for children, or frail elders, some disabilities, due to better balance and grip.
Much better grip for climbing.
Better handling of cold but extreme heat is not bearable and ice can be slippery.
The foot enlarges to use the muscles better. So shoes may get too small. This is because the foot should not be tightly trapped.
Some people get cracks which can be treated.
Long runs are healthier and stronger as heel strike diminishes but the sole can get sore on very long runs.
SYMBOLICALLY
Bare feet represent a desire to connect with the world, or the Earth. Love of one's own body.
In particular bare feet represent a non-arrogant attitude, refusing snob, simplicity, nature, flexibility.
Balance, solidity, honesty.
To the suits of the world bare feet represent a worrying individualism, an overly physical state not aiming at improving and winning; this can scare such people.
Mostly valid points there, Shan.
On the other hand, I have no interest in 'extreme barefooting' - if special measures need to be taken to stop your feet freezing or burning, that's a sure sign that the conditions are unsuitable for going without footwear.
Aside: I actually rather dislike the terms 'barefooting' and 'barefooter', I'm not a 'barefooter', I'm a person who chooses not to wear shoes.
On the other hand, I have no interest in 'extreme barefooting' - if special measures need to be taken to stop your feet freezing or burning, that's a sure sign that the conditions are unsuitable for going without footwear.
Aside: I actually rather dislike the terms 'barefooting' and 'barefooter', I'm not a 'barefooter', I'm a person who chooses not to wear shoes.
In this thread, yes. Elsewhere, not so muchI always wear shoes outside. Does that make me a heretic?
Ruven
Well-known member
I wear sandals 98% of the time, in fact i went the past 4 months without putting on shoes for more than an a few minutes or maybe an hour... my feet did not appreciate having to wear a shoe for nearly an entire day.
My point being?
Feet still get fungus even if i dont wear shoes.
I might be picking it up from the ground, i dunno.
My point being?
Feet still get fungus even if i dont wear shoes.
I might be picking it up from the ground, i dunno.
Forsaken
Well-known member
And then you'll have MAN feet!
Broken glass? No problem!
Rusty Nails? Bend upon contact!
Molten Lava? Like a cool breeze on a nice summer day!
Couldn't think of any lame sale pitchy things.