this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
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chapotraphouse
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I was talking to my spouse about how weird it is that we all wear shoes even when the terrain doesn't call for it. If I'm going for a hike then yeah, I'm going to grab some boots. If I'm walking downtown then I'm going to make sure I have something on my feet to protect from broken glass. But like, a stroll around my neighborhood? A day in the park? It seems like it's just something we've become so accustomed to that we never question it.
And I stand by the opinion that my feet have much better grip than any water shoes out there.
Bare feet are a big vector for parasites and disease.
It’s actually more of a health thing.
This is repeated a lot but it’s not really a concern in developed countries.
One time when I was a kid, someone gifted me a pair of "water shoes" that I took to the beach one time and then threw away. Turns out they had slick plastic on the bottom, like literally any dampness on a rock was like stepping on a banana peel, I almost seriously injured myself. ridiculous
Yup this is the way. People who have never tried it don’t realize how resilient your feet and skin become
Completely agreed, shoes off at the park for maximal relaxation. For the water, it depends. I would wear sandals in a river where can be sharp rocks. Depends on the water
I've heard that walking on hard surfaces without support can actually be harmful to your feet/body. Like walking on sidewalk or concrete inside a store all day, for example. Is this incorrect? Because after years of standing and walking on concrete in vans which are low drop shoes has fuuuuuucked my body up.
If your feet are weak from a lifetime of wearing shoes, then they will not be able to support an arch and it could lead to acute injuries like plantar fasciitis. It just means you have to slowly transition and do exercises to build up your foot strength.
Where can I find these....exercises?
I’ve watched and read a lot of content over the years so I don't have one reference in particular for you. In general you would look up “barefoot exercises” or “intrinsic foot exercises” (intrinsic = within the foot) or sometimes “toe yoga”
https://youtu.be/SbQ2RYxbppE https://youtu.be/gkImPA_R7uI https://youtu.be/ygNkXWTV65Q
In general, feet should be able to form an arch, the toes should be able to splay, and the big toe should be able to actively move independently of the other toes, and vice versa. When I started, my toes were almost glued together. It was hard to even move them apart passively.
There are a few small but helpful subreddits like BarefootRunning and BarefootHiking.
are the sidewalks made of grass or something?
Why can’t you walk on the sidewalk?
broken glass, very hot pavement in the warmer months... plus you're gonna stub your toe on the curb or something. lol