I'm in Indiana currently in Madison County anyone here want to do a group walk? Thx!

I often go around the office in socks, it’s nice that it’s laid back (tech industry is line that a lot of places). However, I find that I get rather bored (physically) just standing at my desk with hardwood floors all day (yes, I alternate standing and sitting). I love the idea of having some kind of mat that simulates standing in nature, like a moss mat or grass mat. There’s a fair amount of light at my desk, but I’m not sure a plant mat would like being stood on all day every day. Are there any mats that simulate that “nature” feel for a standing desk?

I think spring is finally coming here in the Midwest and I’m getting back out running/barefooting. Just curious,is there anyone else on here who runs barefoot? Just wondering if I’m the only one enjoying soles on pavement

Day 1 and 2 my soles were hurting like a beeatch, walking on my hardwood floor, but today it's quite good so I put on some minimalist shoes for a quick errand. I wasn't walking a ton but I already walk quite a bit at home, and when I'm bored I'll just walk around in order to stress my feet and lower extremities.

Well today, after getting home and walking around a bit more barefoot, my calves and hamstrings I would say are more than tight, they are straight up in pain. I've returned to my normal shoes and I've taken a seat but this is a pretty common experience right?

And before you say anything, I work out my glutes religiously and exercise my whole body consistently, and I'm not sure what else I can do in that arena, but I'm open to suggestions.

I got something stuck in my heel (I think a piece of grass or splinter) while running on the beach a week ago. I tried getting it out at the time but it was deep in there and couldn't seem to find anything. A week later and its slightly swollen and sore to walk on. I'm unsure whether I can leave it and it will disintegrate or work its way out or whether or not to go to a walk in clinic to see if they can remove it. I have a work exhibition next week where I will be on my feet and walking everyday so the timing is annoying to say the least! Any insights would be super helpful. Thanks!

I was asked to leave after checking out. I emailed corporate and this was the response-

"Thanks for reaching out to us. We're so sorry to hear that you were asked to leave the store. We understand this is frustrating.    Unfortunately, shoes are required when shopping in At Home. This is to protect both our customers, and the store from injuries occuring. We're so sorry for this bad news. Shopping online is always available if you're not happy with this in-store policy.    If there's anything else we can do to help, please don't hesitate to let us know.   Best, (Employee name)

At Home Customer Care"

im thinking about going barefoot anyway is that a bad thing

I thought I could share my progress here, as it could encourage others.

My initial progress was slow, due to bad weather, flu, and blisters, lol. If you have blisters, wait for them to be fully healed before you go on. That would be my advice.

I can now walk for 30 minutes, mostly on rough sidewalks, and do it again the next day with no issue. I'm staying a little while on this plateau before moving on to 40 minutes. Then I'll be able to go to work barefoot all the way.

Surfaces that were initially unmanageable are now just challenging. Surfaces that were challenging are now just unpleasant. And surfaces that were unpleasant now go unnoticed. And I now walk at the same speed as before.

With the return of fine weather here I hope I'll be able to enjoy long walks and try some hiking.

I have plantar fasciitis history and flat feet/no arches. Is it a good idea for me to do barefoot?

Went to the beach for the first time in a while forgot how nice the sand and cool water felt on my feet. It was so relaxing that it made me smile a little

I don't go outside barefoot (although I use minimal shoes), but I do walk completely barefoot in my house, but unfortunately I always get dirt on my feet, mainly dust, even after washing the floor. How do you deal with this problem, or do you have at all? For example, I don't want to get into a clean bed like this.

I have always gone barefoot at home, even got a lecture once from a distant relative about how bad it was to go barefoot, but I stood my barefoot ground.

14 months ago I began wearing solely wide toe box/minimalist shoes. And I have found that my foot has lengthened and my size 44 shoes are tight.

It makes sense! Although I always spent a lot of time shoeless, I wore the classic tight toe box on a daily basis, constricting my foot. And now that I wear shoes that allow my toes to splay, my foot is slowly reaching its true length.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I live near Sacramento, in northern California. If anybody is up for barefoot get-togethers, whether that is hiking, walking, or going out shopping and dining, let me know. Life is short, lose the shoes, and take in what the world has to offer with your happy bare feet! 😆👣❤️

Does wearing socks provide the benefits of being barefoot? I wear socks rather than being barefoot on a natural dirt and grass trail because I don’t want to expose my feet to possible parasites or cut them open.

Also, should I do it when I have no arches/flat feet?

I know some of the claimed benefits in this article get some people upset but if it encourages people to do it what's not to like. Personally, I've read the research on grounding and I feel it has a benefit personally but accept it is not proven scientifically. The other benefits listed are though hopefully things most here can agree with. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/national-walking-day-2024-8-major-benefits-of-walking-on-grass-barefoot/amp_etphotostory/109000819.cms

I work outside and I work for myself so I'm able to be barefoot just about all the time, but it seems to me people like to pretend they don't have feet and get uncomfortable when they see the existence of feet outside of footwear, so I generally put on at least flip flops or socks to go into stores and places. Well, I finally yesterday said "f it" and went into my usual hardware store barefoot and just when I was getting comfortable, I heard the shutter of the camera of the guy standing in line behind me 🙄🙄🙄 I told him on my way out that he better turn off the sound on his camera lest the whole world find out he's a creep, but I'm disturbed to say the least. Maybe my problem is more with this idiotic way of life we're living in now where one cannot just exist without someone shoving a camera into one's privacy. Idk. I hate the state we're in and I'm feeling a little violated 😅 How do you handle the creeps?

When I train my soles on concrete walks, I find that most of my feet toughen with callouses, but the edge of the ball of my left foot (below the big toe) has a persistent point that makes contact with the ground and always feels sore after a while. It's a few mm long and hardly visible but it definitely hurts a bit - it doesn't seem to be a blister, it feels more like hardened skin.

So I'm trying to work out - is this cause for concern or is it the development of a callous that I should push through?

Hello! I live in the Sarasota/Bradenton area, looking for local barefooters to have an excursion. I need to walk more on weekends, and I think it'd be great to meet some locals and share tips/recommendations on good places to walk and tolerant businesses!

I love my barefoot lifestyle - the freedom, the textures, the FU to norms. One weird thing is about my weight gain. I've gained about 100lbs fairly quickly recently, and it's nice to feel how plump my feet have got? Love the bit of extra padding on my feet, if that makes sense? Anyone else feel the same way?

I love and live to explore all the wonderful temperatures and textures! I walk barefoot, everywhere, including on concrete, asphalt, dirt, moss, and I love the various sensory experiences and temperatures. I also barefoot in restaurants and shops, and I enjoy experiencing the various floor temperatures and textures there too. Life is short, and I encourage you to experience all that life has to offer. Lose the shoes, and get connected. Bare feet are meant to be used…not kept inside shoes! Wiggle those toes..and experience life, from the feet up! 😊❤️👍👣👣

That is all.

so I took the opportunity to get out and enjoy the weather, started off with a nice dirt patch, then went into the woods and swished around in the leaves, which felt really nice. Found some mossy trees to rub up against, felt like a nice soft carpet. Was a really deep mud patch nearby, so spent a few minutes just pushing the mud up and down with my feet. Then came my favourite bit of any walk, the really muddy bits, each step felt amazing as the mud oozed between my toes. Almost feel bad for anyone who chose to wear shoes along the trail, almost😉 also posted some pics on the barefoot hiking sub if anyone wants to see em, dont think pics are allowed in this sub

It seems this hasn't been posted yet.
Interesting talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj2DuostwG4

Went for two years without barefoot. Today with a little alcohol, I put the ass together to take off my shoes and my socks, and walk all my way back to home. I felt the streets, the rocks, then pavement and the grass. It was lovely.

51 y/o male here I go barefoot just about all year long at home in the yard or my shop but I get nervous if someone sees me. I would like to wear sandals or flip flops to the store but just can't do it. When I'm staying at the beach I do fairly well at it because so many other people are barefoot. Just this past summer my family stayed at a friend's beach bottom floor apt and I was able to go all week barefoot even in front of my friend and her daughter but they were barefoot the entire time also. How can I beat this shyness/anxiety where I live everyone wears flip flops or sandals most all year. .

For me the idea just popped into my head to research the topic & the I found how barefoot it good for strengthening the feet/ flexibility. Stronger feet help with hip & back alignment.

Also my kickboxing instructor is big on toes socks & barefoot shoes that also pushed my interest.

I wanna change my feet before shoes ruin them but by pinky toe is almost sideways and hardened at the bottom to be sideways, is there any way to change it?

https://youtu.be/Rqq0bCVSpEQ?si=NdIvzufNGD8PACnl

What a beautiful day for a sensory buffet!

YouTube has age-restricted the video. 😮 I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. 🙄

Like the title says, I'm planning a trip to Japan and hk in the summer. What's the scene like there regarding barefoot out and about?

With the weather getting warmer, I wanted to ask: I get a fair few friction blisters on the soles of my feet when barefoot. I largely think this is because my feet skin is quite soft, because I live in a cold climate and have to wear socks and shoes in winter, so have just never been able to develop harder skin in spots where I regularly get friction blisters... I often just end up wearing minimalist sandals with wool felt sticky pads to prevent friction, and am also looking into those anti-chafe sticks, etc, but these just don't feel like long-term solutions, so any advice appreciated! TIA