barefoot hiking

[openeyes]

I thought I'd share a couple links with people. I've been hiking barefoot for about 8 years now and love it. The body is capable of so much more than people commonly realize.

"The hikers of the barefoot world tramp not only through mud and dust, but also over rocks, tree roots and the frosty ground of autumn (though they usually draw the line at snow). Yet although they may bring to mind tales of fakirs or extreme-sports enthusiasts, barefoot hikers are neither ascetics nor thrill seekers. Almost universally, they say they go shoeless for a sense of communion with the earth and for the sheer pleasure of feeling more of the world with their feet.

[...]

DR. DAVID E. SAMUEL, a podiatric surgeon in Philadelphia, notes that the skin is a very sensitive organ and says that constant barefooting will increase that sensitivity, which seems to explain barefoot hikers’ enjoyment."

Footloose and Boot Free: Barefoot Hiking - New York Times

"Why We Hike Barefoot . . .

* The sensual variety of ground textures and temperatures
* The healthy pleasure of natural foot flexing
* The feeling of freedom
* The safety of being able to take hold of the ground directly
* No blisters or hot, sweaty, cramped feet.
* Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing uniquely inadequate about human feet
* Bare feet are quickly conditioned starting with short walks on soft trails.
* Thickened soles nevertheless retain sensitivity to ground textures
* Healthy bare feet have tough flexible soles and strong nimble toes designed to form themselves to the earth.
* Safety is increased as a result of enhanced awareness of the nature of the ground and the placement of the feet."

Barefoot Hiking

[Nathan]

How long did it take for your feet to adapt after you started, it would of been tough at the start?

This has got me thinking about humans evolving into hairy foot hobbits :P heh

[openeyes]

Come to think of it my feet are hairier than usual But there's no smell, as that requires keeping them shut away in shoes.

It's easiest to adapt to soft grass and dry leaves. It may have taken me at least a couple weeks of regularly going barefoot to feel okay running on gravel and walking on broken glass. A lot of sensations can be interpreted as pain at first, but after a while the body gets used to it, without losing sensitivity to pleasure. A free online book that provides useful info on starting can be found here:

The Barefoot Hiker

[Jenny]

Do you feet look icky? How far do you hike on a typical trip?

[Ree]

Cool. We recently encountered some flip-flop hikers, but this is the first I've heard of barefoot hiking. Rocks and roots are my pet peeves and that must really get to your bare feet. Ouch!

[openeyes]

My feet are actually cleaner and smell better than usual. All that fresh air. Fungus and athlete's foot require a moist environment such as socks and shoes. Without clothing, skin dries quite easily. Likewise when I ride my bike long distances I'm apt to remove my shirt so that by the end of the trip I don't even smell sweaty.

I haven't done as much barefoot hiking recently, but in my most active time an average hike was about a dozen miles, which took 3-4 hours. When barefoot one tends to be more conscious of where one walks, and thus you're less apt to trip over rocks/roots. Of course, for times when you don't want to pay attention, shoes are helpful.

[Ree]

Openeyes, that's the biggest problem I have while hiking. I don't want to pay attention to the trail, because of all there is to see along the way. The vistas, the wildflowers, the trees, the birds, the lizards and snakes, and so on and so on!

However, I have stubbed my toe on enough roots and rocks to know that one has to watch the trail at least part of the time. As a result, I'm a pretty slow hiker. I like to savor the journey

[WanderingOak]

My main problem would be that footwear would provide some protection against snake/scorpion/spider/insect bites, as well as poison ivy/oak/sumac, animal scat containing who knows what pathogens, rusty old bits of barbed wire, or broken glass left by a careless idiot. I would say that is would also be a bit painful to try and stamp out a stray ember from a fire with bare feet.

[Ree]

Excellent point, Wandering. Besides, you would miss that absolutely wonderful feeling you get when you slip your tired feet out of those hiking shoes and give them a quick massage and wiggles your toes all around!!

[Erki]

Forget tree roots, broken glass and barbed wires. Nothing can beat fir and pine cones! If you walk in a conifer(is it the right word?) forest,then those things are absolutely everywhere!!
Sounds like fun though, I should maybe start by just walking on lawn and grass for a start.

[openeyes]

There are some environments, such as when the ground is strewn with sharp pine cones or cement, that wearing shoes may be more pleasurable. Walking barefoot is most rewarding when moving upon dry leaves or soft grass. With sensitive feet it can be an escatic experience sometimes. I'm not concerned with walking barefoot in every case, rather it's a nice highlight in proper situations, as I've gotten more experience I've found I could enjoy in more areas than before.