Should We Be Raising Kids Barefoot?

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Жыл бұрын

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While most of us only think about our shoes in terms of how they complete our outfits, there's a lot more impact that your choice of footwear can have on your life. Turns out that shoes can change how your feet grow and develop. So is it better to take up barefoot running? Let's dig into the science to see!
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Пікірлер: 2 200

@SciShow Жыл бұрын

Visit brilliant.org/scishow/ to get started learning STEM for free. The first 200 people will get 20% off their annual premium subscription and a 30-day free trial.

@ahsjhanewatson5866 Жыл бұрын

0:47 years of age has 😅😮

@demonwolf8024 10 ай бұрын

All I know is that stepping on gravel barefoot sucks, walking on hot asphalt or concrete barefoot sucks, walking across grass and stepping on one of those prickle plants barefoot sucks. All of which can be avoided with a simple pair of shoes.

@_S_o_l_o_m_o_n_ 10 ай бұрын

i also will say that for non runners, walking in a manner where you land on the toes of your foot and slowly apply pressure to the rest of your foot is just far more stable than landing on the balls of your feet which means if you have issues balancing, learning to do what many japense swordsman learn as a basic honestly is probably the best call and speaking from my own experience, despite having a weak left ankle from repeated strains, i have only twisted my ankle once even while only wearing sandals whenever i do go outside with its been about 3 years since than.

@Xseleon Жыл бұрын

Surprised you didn't cover the toebox problem most modern day shoes have that end up squeezing the feet (just like ballerina slippers), causing their own sorts of health problems like bunions.

@eggrollsoup Жыл бұрын

same, it definitely causes problems like disfigurement, mortons neuroma, ingrown nails, etc…

@joylox Жыл бұрын

That's why I switched. First of all, I'm weird in that I can't stand my toes touching each other when they get sweaty. So in the mid 2000s when Crocs became popular and I was in elementary school, all I'd wear was Crocs. They had holes so the air would help me be less sweaty, and they were much wider than anything I'd seen. I even had the boots without holes because rubber boots were heavy and squished my toes. Then one day in high school, I came home and found my mom had a surprise for me. Vibram Bikila, the first pair of toe shoes I tried. I had seen them because someone I went to summer camp with had them, but I wasn't expecting to like them so much! I've always loved toe socks and had ones with Disney characters on them as a kid, but having shoes that would fit the extra width without feeling squished was great! I now wear barefoot style shoes as much as possible, the only things I have that aren't wider, are snow boots, and rubber boots, because those are necessities in Canada, and I haven't found a better option.

@eggrollsoup Жыл бұрын

@@joylox It’s not weird to not like that feeling, it can actually lead to infection if there is too much friction between skin in a damp, warm environment. Yes toe socks are a great solution, I like softstar shoes, they have some good minimalistic shoes. The problem with water proof shoes is that it sacrifices on breathability which is more important imo.

@casjean8904 Жыл бұрын

i worked in a nursing home. some of those poor womens feet. toes all squished together. i never wear shoes at home. sandals when i go out. you never know what you'll walk into around here.

@asdic888 Жыл бұрын

I grew up like most modern Americans, feet tightly ensconced in shoes most of the time. Around the age of 30, I bought a pair of trek sandals with a toe loop before spending a year in SE Asia. They hurt like hell at first, but they totally reshaped my feet - big toes straightened, foot widened. Only problem is now searching for EEE shoes to accommodate my reformed feet.

@BorderlandDisorder Жыл бұрын

Grew up on a native reservation, my parents worked their butts off all summer for us to have shoes during school and for boots during winter. Summer time was bare feet and cheap flip flops and we also do not wear shoes in the house (its disrespectful). I was always embarrassed for not wearing closed toe shoes during the summer and finding this out makes me feel better knowing that helped my family have healthier lives. That's awesome to know, thanks for the video!

@AnotherDuck Жыл бұрын

Wearing shoes inside is disrespectful where I live as well (Sweden, but the same holds true for most of the northern world). I don't wear socks at home either since I have no problem with cold floors.

@GlorifiedGremlin Жыл бұрын

Dude what, down south EVERY kid was barefoot, by choice, during the summer lol Its unfortunate you felt embarrassed, cuz when I was a kid we all took our shoes off to run faster and would get screamed at about catching ringworm 😂

@elizabethfedor539 Жыл бұрын

@@GlorifiedGremlin Yeah I'm from the north and flip flops was standard footwear in the 90's early 2000's growing up. Idk anyone who wanted to wear tennis shoes in the heat and humidity!

@anyascelticcreations Жыл бұрын

I purposely avoided wearing shoes as much as I could as a child, too. I didn't like wearing "foot coffins" at all. Credit to Xero Shoes for the term, "foot coffins".

@TaraAndFriends 11 ай бұрын

Eh, it's okay, sandals and flipflops feel very good in summer heat. In fact, at my own house when I go outside, I usually go barefoot. I rarely use shoes in my yard. Maybe on the 4th of July or if we're working. Whenever I leave the house, unless I'm running (in which case I have running shoes) I just have flipflops.

@kartik_adhia Жыл бұрын

You cannot underestimate the protection that shoes offer to our feet. As a child coming from a poorer country, I had worms in my stomach that enter the body from the heels.

@thatLukeKneller Жыл бұрын

really!? damn

@kasadam85 Жыл бұрын

Damn

@NadeemAhmed-nv2br Жыл бұрын

And those worms can be treated and later on your foot hardens to wear that's not a problem

@NadeemAhmed-nv2br Жыл бұрын

Worms are treatable but you know what's not, the protective layering of synovial fluid and other stuff between your joints that wears as you get older and never gets better

@phylippezimmermannpaquin2062 11 ай бұрын

I mostly walked barefoot on gravel so maybe thats why i never had to deal eith unwanted passengers

@GTaichou Жыл бұрын

Concrete also plays a large factor. Pavement is BRUTAL. I grew up rural and ditched my shoes whenever it was safe to do so - including woods hiking and tree climbing - and have only had issues with my feet now in my mid-thirties, citybound, walking and exercising on concrete more often than not.

@jaded9087 Жыл бұрын

Im a rural kid and shoes are only worn when going out some where i have to wear shoes and in winter but i dont even do slippers in the house in winter Silly question, have you gone bare foot in town ? I only ask because when i was a kid staying with family over the hoildays in town , id still go bare foot as much as possible, i hate shoes as a rule because i have little broad feet but still got the arches a bellet dancer would kill for and getting correct fitting shoes is still hard to this day . But no matter if its concrete or a lose stone path that would have most people hopping , i take in my stride as its that ball of your foot and the way you instinctively kind of just relax your feet to spread out the weight is the important part . Im 49 years old now and i can walk bare foot anywhere, even hot roads in summer, you just have to get the first serring of your feet out of the way and your all good ... lol The running joke in my family as im part austrailan aboriginal but im very white passing compared to the rest of my family . Well the joke is , my feet are the most aboriginal feet in the family , all my cousins may be darker than me but you want to see them city slickers sook like white fellas walking across gravel.. lol Kick them shoes off as much as posable, you dont use it , you lose it ... take ut from the barefoot old lady 👍

@GlorifiedGremlin Жыл бұрын

I think most kids remember accidentally dragging their toe along the concrete while running barefoot once or twice lmao That's a lesson you don't soon forget

@JohnMoseley Жыл бұрын

Funny thing is, I found walking in the city painful in 'normal' shoes from brands like Adidas and Puma, but when I switched to barefoot, it was fine. Just before that, I'd had a pair of Campers, which I thought were _nearly_ barefoot, and my feet hurt especially in those after a lot of city walking, so I briefly thought that 'proved' barefoot was no good on concrete. Nope. Those shoes still had heel elevation and a less flexible sole. Barefoot shoes with the insole in, especially, I find way more comfortable than regular sneakers. It's sort of the feeling I was looking for from them all along.

@jackd1582 Жыл бұрын

@@jaded9087 But aboriginal ppl never wore footwear before the the " white fella ' came?

@anyascelticcreations Жыл бұрын

Agreed. Tree climbing simply can't be done well with shoes on. Bare feet can grip and contour to the surface of the branches. Trying to climb trees with shoes on is like trying to type with leather mittens on.

@LizardVideoDude Жыл бұрын

The ground surface also makes a big difference. Running bare foot on dirt or natural turf is much kinder than _running on pavement._ As we acclimated to thickly-cushioned sneakers, we also turned the ground into a harsh master with little tolerance for unprotected feet. Never mind the unnaturally sharp and toxic skin hazards we litter the ground with.

@TruthSerum101 Жыл бұрын

Exactly. I have friend who watched a KZfaq video and started jogging on concrete; resulting in his soon having to have knee surgery.

@derp7738 Жыл бұрын

While dirt and natural turf may be softer on your feet, those surfaces contain parasitic worms in much of the world. Tiny worms can burrow through the soles of feet before moving to the bloodstream and eventually other organs.

@mehere8038 Жыл бұрын

@@derp7738 so take a worm tablet! ffs! Stop the fear mongering! If you lot can manage to medicate yourself with sheep dewormer cause you think it will help with rona, I'm sure you can manage to take if for it's actual purpose! Those worms are in Australia, but we all still go barefoot & they don't present a health hazard to us! It's pure fearmongering! & as for the littering thing, you lot really need to start cleaning up! Not that hard to put rubbish in the bin, so you can have the freedom to safely walk around barefoot!

@mehere8038 Жыл бұрын

@@sleepicat that's disgusting! Why can't you lot clean up after yourselves? We see it as a basic human right & freedom to live in a safe society in Australia. I can't imagine living somewhere where I would need to wear PPE just to go outside my home! & everytime it rains, all those chemicals wash into the oceans & cause red tides & fish deaths & general pollution & destruction to eco-systems. Not that hard to respect your environment & dispose of human waste appropriately is it? Each of our gutter flow in-points here has pretty artwork for the name of the river that it flows into, so that we know exactly what we are polluting if we pour chemicals into them, or use chemicals negligently, so that they can end up there with rainwater runoff & we all report anyone who pollutes our country, cause we have pride in our environment! Why are your people so selfish?

@ivanlagrossemoule Жыл бұрын

Also the temperature of that surface. Concrete and asphalt will heat up more than plants with tree covers. On the flipside, I'm not going out bare feet when it's -15°C.

@PaperScarecrow Жыл бұрын

For those of you who are inspired and are looking at barefoot or minimalist running, please be sure to take it slow in adjusting. A whole lot of people during the barefoot craze injured themselves needlessly by going straight from heel striking in well-padded foam shoes to a shoe with almost no impact dampening. Swapping slowly will let your feet strengthen, your stride change to a more natural gait, and you to mentally adjust to the sensation of less padding. For me personally going to zero drop and/or minimalist/barefoot shoes solved my shin-splints issues and improved my running endurance, but if I had dove straight in I would absolutely have injured myself.

@swiftskilly Жыл бұрын

Walk before you run!

@dane1382 Жыл бұрын

running barefoot without letting my heels touch the ground is actually really comfortable. almost all the impact gets absorbed smoothly.

@joking2052 Жыл бұрын

I made the switch straight away and completely to barefoot shoes but this still doesn't stop me from heel striking 🤷🏼. Even though I was mostly barefoot as a child I simply cannot land on my midfoot, my brain and body just don't compute that as normal.

@PaperScarecrow Жыл бұрын

@@joking2052 Try shortening your stride or running at a faster pace. A lot of guys I knew who heel-struck were taking really long strides while running. If you try to match your pace to where your body is directly above your feet when you land with knees super slightly bent, you'll almost always land flat/forefoot.

@stevenscott2136 Жыл бұрын

It's worth the effort, though. My ankle pain went away the very day I switched to forefoot-strike, and then I could run in work boots on asphalt. (Not advising that, but it was an experiment that worked for me.)

@111jkjk Жыл бұрын

i went to school in New Zealand and half the kids had no shoes and we were allowed to climb trees. I just assumed everyone was broke but I think the teachers were pretty wise

@Edudg Жыл бұрын

As an adult, I started training (weightlifting, running, calisthenics, crossfit, etc) only barefoot, and I can say it was a game changer. It's been one year since my lower back, shin or knee don't complain after training. My foot arch is stronger and my toes spread out to the point where I find uncomfortable to walk with sneakers, there is no going back hahaha 😅

@Hello-gi7fj Жыл бұрын

Gotta look up softstar shoes man, for when you gotta go outside its the best choice in my opinion of the barefoot shoes on the market

@GamingIs4life Жыл бұрын

xero shoes! ive been buying for years, best sneaker type barefoot shoes imo

@DescartesRenegade 11 ай бұрын

You can achieve the same with shoes. Consciously redistribute most of your weight to your forefeet. People just get lazy because their feet are padded in shoes.

@rynplayz Жыл бұрын

As a kid, I always ran around barefoot, despite my parents wanting me to wear shoes. I feel happy to know I helped to develop my feet muscles. Eventually, it even got to the point where I could practically run on rocks with little to no pain at all.

@thefirstsin Жыл бұрын

same but I got unlimited stamina cheat

@St8Genesis Жыл бұрын

@@thefirstsin huge miss ❌

@Angeloflight1415_LastelleCrea Жыл бұрын

I wish I could go out barefoot, but being autistic and some other things I never really did so my feet have it when I try to walk on gravel or even dry grass. Oh well

@eSKAone- Жыл бұрын

Not just the muscles, the whole architecture (bones, tendons, ligaments) 💟

@jodysales2362 Жыл бұрын

Same by the time I got to high school I had one quarter inch calluses lol

@YoManWassup1995 Жыл бұрын

As a Brazilian (that doesn’t live in São Paulo) I can confirm that almost everyone grows up barefoot or in flip flops

@durrwooddude Жыл бұрын

I grew up in the United States and barely wore shoes all summer long!

@AjrAlves Жыл бұрын

Even in São Paulo we largely use flip flops, especially at home, where 99% os us is either on flip flops or barefoot. Heck, I even do groceries with flip flops, after all, weather here is not kind with closed shoes.

@WVgirl1959 Жыл бұрын

@@durrwooddude same. I am 64.

@enkiimuto1041 Жыл бұрын

Same here. Although now i am trying to think of any occasion that I ever wanted to fall on the ball of my foot first unless I wasn't sneaking in or trying to do precise jumps

@chrols Жыл бұрын

Ditto. Grew up in South Africa.

@jorgefigueroa7048 11 ай бұрын

There's a growing amount of companies making minimalist shoes with large toe boxes. These let your feet move quite a bit more like they would if you were barefoot, while still protecting you from all the sharp/harsh/abrasive hazards of being barefoot.

@inukithesavage828 6 ай бұрын

Even so, it's better to spend more time actually barefoot if you can. Your feet do get stronger & adapt to harsh ground so they aren't damaged.

@kittycatcaoimhe Жыл бұрын

This makes a lot of sense to me. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and wearing closed-toed shoes always has made my knees and hips hurt worse, even as a young kid. I would always insist on sandals or bare feet. I never really figured out why. This would explain a lot! The increased impact on my knees and hips from running heel-to-toe (as I was taught to do) would make those joints hurt more as they jostled around more. And when I walk quickly (I can't really run anymore because of hip instability) I always walk on the balls of my feet.

@Kelly_C Жыл бұрын

i have eds too! do you also find walking in heels (not a stiletto, just like a boot with a 1" heel or smth) MUCH more comfortable than flat shoes?

@kittycatcaoimhe Жыл бұрын

@@Kelly_C Yup! But anything with high arches makes me unable to walk at all. I can do heeled boots, but not Nikes

@kisakisakura6663 11 ай бұрын

Hypermobility here, possible EDS. I'm with you on a lot of this. My foot wear was always high brand, because my feet couldn't deal with low quality shoes even as a kid. Pretty early in my teenhood, I started wearing heeled shoes, because those are formed in a way, that shifts weight on the front of the foot. I also usually went from winter shoes with a lot of interior stuffing to sandals. Canvas, sneaker, chucks - they were hell. I have so sensible feet, it''s ridiclious - additional to the sole thing my skin tears into blisters the moment there is a minimal pressure point made. I walked my feet bloody so many a time... I also always have "a spring in my step" because heel-to-toe just feels wrong and beliefe me, when I say my family wanted to change to that healthy habit. Now-a-days I do wear primarly one brand of sneakers, as they have arch-support and memory foam soles in combination to some flexible outerior material. Sadly my knees took a real hit during my compensating with "high"-heels phase in my teens. Still prefer heeled (2 to 4 cm) over a flat sole.

@echognomecal6742 9 ай бұрын

Always nice when a childhood thing finally makes sense! I'm so sorry that you all have to deal with this. Mayo Clinic says it's rare... *reading Wow, it Sucks :(

@rage8010 9 ай бұрын

I have EDS too and always tend to walk on the balls of my feet for that exact reason! I hated Nike and preferred skate shoes as a kid and teen. I mainly wear converse when wearing a sneaker but I don't love them either because if I run my hips start to hurt. Maybe I should give those barefoot shoes a try? Have you ever tried those?

@BeachcomberNZ Жыл бұрын

In New Zealand, being barefoot most of the time is the norm, especially when it comes to children, and especially in summer, when many people even go shopping, etc, in barefeet. Wearing shoes most of the time, especially when in your own home, is somewhat strange to us.

@PhantomQueenOne Жыл бұрын

It's illegal in most places in the US to enter a store barefoot. They don't want to to step on broken glass or something and get hurt. You can't walk into a place shirtless either. "No shirt, no shoes, no service".

@hughcaldwell1034 Жыл бұрын

@@PhantomQueenOne I guess that's what comes of corporate accountability being litigation-based. I go barefoot around the house and yard, but am definitely worried about picking up infected cuts from broken god-knows-what on the streets.

@BeachcomberNZ Жыл бұрын

@@PhantomQueenOne That's the problem with having to be on alert for any situation that might involve someone getting sued. We have a no-fault, government-funded, compensation scheme that covers all kinds of situations involving injury, which negates the need to sue for compensation.

@jonahsong7434 Жыл бұрын

Bro. I literally only put on shoes when I wanna get into a bar or club

@danthephamily Жыл бұрын

So basically Hobbits 😂

@kajerlou Жыл бұрын

I used to be one of those kids who ran in rural fields all barefoot, I did get lots of little cuts and such here and there. Then, I eventually got a huge shard of a beer bottle stuck straight through my foot, tall grass, I never saw it coming. At least in Alabama, you can't trust folks to not break glass anywhere, the forest (in former jobs, I have seen quite a bit of these alongside remarkable amounts of illegal dumping), grass fields, crops, their own back yard, the sidewalk. nothing. Been wearing thick soled shoes ever since that big piece went through my foot.

@scottguffie7759 Жыл бұрын

That is literally the single biggest risk of going barefoot and why, although it might be good for your feet, it might not be the best idea for your overall health, especially in cities. In the wilderness about the worst thing you might encounter is a sharp rock, in a more urban (or close to urban) environment who the heck knows what you might step on unless you're EXTREMELY cautious such as broken glass or worse, discarded needles. Even the barefoot shoes might not have thick enough soles to stop such things and who knows what diseases you might get from getting cut by some of this crap. Tetanus might end up being the least of your worries. A good compromise is hiking shoes and boots which are designed to be rugged yet comfortable for wearing for long periods of time.

@jalennelson6008 Жыл бұрын

Similar to your experience, I was running around outside with my friends and I cut my foot running barefoot. Even though it wasn't severe, I never did that again. I was 12ish at the time. I've always liked socks so the transition wasn't hard. I'm just not a feet person. Team socks! Team shoes!

@lh3540 Жыл бұрын

I was running around the Nevada desert as a kid and cut my toe on a rusty saw blade.

@blue_is_burning Жыл бұрын

ik its not the same but i stepped on a wasp. twice. i love going barefoot but not more than i love not getting wasp stings on the soles of my feet

@thomiatyww Жыл бұрын

This. this is why barefoot is never okay. you are so lucky you didnt lose your foot or your life doing that!!!

@awoogagoogaloo2889 9 ай бұрын

I am 14 and I switched to barefoot about 4 months ago, though it feels like a year. I used to have flat feet and very very outward facing feet as a result. Now when I walk I I have a proper gait and arches as well as a good spring in my ankle. My ankle problems have gone away, and I feel like it may have been better than physical therapy for me because it was so easy to work on compared to a routine to do everyday. I must say though, don't switch to barefoot abruptly because your feet will be very sore. Also don't go barefoot in bathrooms, buildings, or really any place where you might think that there could be disease on the floor. I also rinse/wash my feet several times a day after I go outside.

@MacroAggressor Жыл бұрын

I'd be interested in a video about the concerns around flatworms and other parasites for kids running around barefoot (ie. are they overblown or reasonable)... especially for those of us who raise chickens or other animals in our backyards.

@megmcguireme Жыл бұрын

I got ringworm on my feet because I went into the coop barefoot.

@MacroAggressor Жыл бұрын

@@megmcguireme Thanks for pointing that out. Luckily ringworm is relatively easy to identify and treat.

@skyisreallyhigh3333 Жыл бұрын

Its overblown for most people but it a real concern on farms. Thankgod barefoot shoes exist and give most benefits of being barefoot while also protecting your feet.

@danieljensen2626 11 ай бұрын

Highly dependent on what part of the country/world you're in as well. But yeah, anywhere around livestock is going to have a lot more parasites.

@littlemisshivemind9721 9 ай бұрын

Not saying this as an "uhm akshully", and I recognize this is entirely anecdotal, but I grew up without wearing shoes on our chicken farm. I went inside the coop all the time, I got a lot of splinters but not really any parasites. Was I just... really lucky?

@Great_Olaf5 Жыл бұрын

I think moccasins are a happy medium here. In urban areas it can be genuinely dangerous to walk around completely barefoot, cracked and broken concrete and the occasional broken glass. You want something sturdy between your feet and the ground, but moccasins don't have much cushioning, so they probably won't impair arch formation. We actually used to do that with kids in the US back in the 1800s, since they were cheaper than proper boots, and kids grow so quickly that getting them moccasins that could accommodate some amount of growth was just the most efficient choice.

@kimarna Жыл бұрын

For nhe longest time all shoes were like moccasins, basically leather socks with no sole. You can see them in medieval tapestries too, along with toe walking

@kenbrown2808 Жыл бұрын

and when I was a kid, it was the infant combat boots that were just going back out of fashion. sometimes I wonder if part of the reason they became fashionable is because it was easier to manufacture them with the manufacturing technology of the time.

@mehere8038 Жыл бұрын

I don't understand how broken concrete is a problem. Glass can be yes, so clean it up! I don't get the concrete as an issue though, it's just good foot toughening material

@Redhornsandeyes Жыл бұрын

@@mehere8038just dont kick the broken concrete. I broke my toe that way.

@hamtier Жыл бұрын

and I've been reprimanded for not landing on my heels when running or walking, turns out that's what supposed to naturally happen if it weren't for shoes anyway.

@unknownhours Жыл бұрын

Walking heel first is a very natural thing to do. It's really running or jogging where it's an issue.

@AimlessSavant Жыл бұрын

Heelstriking is faster, but palm striking is more efficient, and safe.

@nathanielraefraughton5218 Жыл бұрын

@@CoryPchajek I had an injury that required me to relearn to walk when I was a teenager. I was trained to walk heel first by the doctors and yes my friends tell me they always know when I'm coming because they can hear the thump. I also have foot issues that require orthotics now, unsure if those things are related.

@nycbearff Жыл бұрын

@@unknownhours It's normal for your heel to touch down about the same time as the side of your foot, but punching the ground with your heel with every step is not normal. Look at a regular shoe - the heel is raised, so when you put your foot down your foot's natural position is going to push that raised heel into the ground first. Without the raised heel, your foot's actual position wouldn't change much, but your step would be different, and more of your foot would hit the ground at the same time. It's all classic physics.

@adriannavanoyen Жыл бұрын

I've been told my whole life that I walk weirdly (on my toes) so it makes so much more sense now knowing that it could be related to how I spend most of the day, every day barefoot.

@Pancakeslugs Жыл бұрын

If you're just starting to walk barefoot, a sandy beach is a nice place to go! You have the cushion of sand and can move from the tideline (Densely packed sand by the water) up to the shoreline (Sand that is looser) It is also easier to see hazards to your feet (Generally) You'll still need to build ankle strength, that said. Be gentle and patient with yourself!

@FutureChaosTV Жыл бұрын

Have you ever gone to a beach in a southern nation in summer? The sole of your feet will burn off trying to get around.

@Pancakeslugs Жыл бұрын

@@FutureChaosTV That's why you go at dawn or dusk, or when it's lightly raining! It also means you get the whole beach to yourself, muhuahhaha

@jacobopstad5483 Жыл бұрын

Let's not forget about the danger of stepping on sharp objects or getting fungal infections when running or walking barefoot. That being said, after moving to Brazil in my late twenties, I started wearing flip-flops constantly (as is the custom here) and it's made a significant change (mostly positive) in my walking and running. Honestly, I don't really like wearing soft shoes anymore.

@ducklingscap897 11 ай бұрын

Yep that’s why barefoot shoes are great. They offer protection and warmth (in winter) while also making you feel like you are walking barefoot.

@Katvanished 9 ай бұрын

I started wearing birkenstocks for orthopedic reasons and I've never gone back. I despise closed toe shoes

@kroneexe 8 ай бұрын

Thicker soles stop you from getting injured so easily. Gungal infections come as a result of sweaty, warm, and close up shoes.

@Katvanished 8 ай бұрын

I definitely argree, the soles on birkenstocks and most sandals I prefer are around 1/2 inch ish (probably a little more) and that's saved my feet more than once, glass, nails, anything sharp, and you'll thank the thick soles @@kroneexe

@inukithesavage828 6 ай бұрын

Habitually barefoot people can walk over broken glass and sharp rocks without harm. Fungal infections are caused by shoes. You simply don't get them in habitually barefoot cultures. It's the sweat soup of bacteria in your shoe that does it. It's an ideal breeding ground.

@Exquailibur Жыл бұрын

I walked barefoot as a child and I tend to walk on my toes and much more deliberately than most because of it. I have noticed I tend to walk quieter and get hurt less often then most, that combined with the fact I spent most my free time in the woods and swamps near my home as a kid probably is part of why I walk a little funny and I have a habit of staring at the ground where I walk since that's important when running barefoot through the woods and across rocky terrain. I think its important for everyone to get some time to embrace their inner stone age person at least sometimes, we arent that different from cave people after all we just think we are all civilized or whatever.

@amonraphoenix Жыл бұрын

I was raised the same way. An because I am so quiet on my feet I have been gifted many bells A’s joke gifts; best was a cow bell from my parents.

@Sauvenil Жыл бұрын

Great to know I'm not the only weirdo, lol.

@TiagoH1710 Жыл бұрын

We only wear non-sandal shoes because of Northern Europeans, whose feet would freeze barefoot. Pretty much every ancient civilisation wore sandals and “uncivilised” people went barefooted

@ImFreeNowWhatMichelleFortier Жыл бұрын

I didn’t have shoes in the summer when I was a kid. I find I walk on my toes too.

@Oakpaw Жыл бұрын

I tend to walk pretty quietly around the house as well because of that, too, so my fiancé nicknamed me "the cat", lol Being able to not walking heel first to the ground all the time has also proven to be a lot better when jumping or landing after a jump. (I found it quite impressive as I used to weigh a lot more and you could barely hear me land back on the ground. Having a good muscle tone in your legs and feet really helps - also it minimizes the risk of injuries.)

@asherarya9643 Жыл бұрын

Get well soon Hank ❤️

@squanchmastersquanch4376 Жыл бұрын

Ya man. U know too? Poor guy got cancer. Was devastated when I saw his vlog channel.

@MiguelMorales85 Жыл бұрын

Cancer. So sad

@byronlatham3093 Жыл бұрын

I came from a rural area in South Africa and never wore shoes except for school until I started working. After teaching in Korea for 6 months I went barefoot when Spring came around. It was an amazing feeling. I hadn't realised how much I missed it

@derp7738 Жыл бұрын

Both of those countries have parasitic worms in the soil that can burrow into your bloodstream through bare feet.

@MR-intel Жыл бұрын

Many people live in areas where broken glass and other sharp objects make going barefoot risky. There are also parasites, mostly in the tropics, which can drill through the skin of feet. Barefoot walking and running is obviously good in many ways, but it also has its risks.

@ghost2coast296 Жыл бұрын

Feeling the ground barefoot is like a whole extra sense that so many people give up. I go barefoot whenever I can

@eliannevdlinden6047 Жыл бұрын

I agree with that, perhaps the feeling in feet has become strange for people too. I like the feeling of grass between my toes and running in soft earth, but a lot of people don’t

@mariateresamondragon5850 Жыл бұрын

When I was in college, one of the buildings had a portion built over a driveway. When walking along the hallway above that, I really enjoyed the difference in sensation (basically temperature) as my path transitioned from walking over offices to walking over the driveway portion. Yes, I generally went to class barefoot.

@oConshien 11 ай бұрын

Found Toph

@ianfjones4207 11 ай бұрын

I’d rather be barefoot too

@Tribuneoftheplebs 11 ай бұрын

Minimalist sandals are the best of both worlds. I can't wear anything else now!

@thefipster Жыл бұрын

If someone should decide to start barefoot running, start very very easy on very short distances and increase slowly as if you start running for the first time... even if you already are running marathons or more. Your tendons and muscles are not used to the new landing style. I tried that already for you and it ended in a 6 weeks injury ;). Listen to your body, if it hurts you are probably landing the wrong way. Try to change something and don't think it is because you don't have build up enough cornea or something. Sure in the beginning it will feel weird and some surfaces do hurt like very large grained pavement with sharp edges. Try a smooth concrete sidewalk, it shouldnt hurt at all.

@GhostOnTheHalfShell Жыл бұрын

my recommendation is to stroll and walk. you can choose this over running. your freer will become strong from walking too

@gigabyte2248 Жыл бұрын

I've been trying to learn the difference between bad pain and good pain. Sometimes the body is trying to tell you something, sometimes it's just having a gripe about having to do some work. Good pain is usually dull and diffuse. Bad pain is usually sharp and intense. In my experience, at least.

@SirLightfire Жыл бұрын

Even as someone who has walked around barefoot as much as socially acceptable, the first couple of times I ran with zero drop shoes, my ankles were notably sore for a few weeks

@Alex-bl6oi Жыл бұрын

Ditto. I bruised the entire back of my calves after switching to running on my toes. Slow and short distances are a must if switching foot landing zones.

@sirsquid577 Жыл бұрын

@@Alex-bl6oi well i wouldn't recommend running really far towards your toes lol, I had that issue and it wasn't great(was pointed out by my running groups), it should be the whole ball of the foot, rather than 'on your toes' if you will.

@mehere8038 Жыл бұрын

I've got fallen arches/flat feet, despite being Australian, which means I was bare foot until starting school & from then on, only in shoes while at school & barefoot the rest of the time, so it's not foolproof. Quite normal in much of Australia for people to be barefoot while not at work/school, whether it's supermarket shopping or hanging out at home or whatever - exception being in the heat of summer, when the ground is so hot that roads literally melt. In those situations we tend to wear thongs (unless there's a garden hose handy that we can use to spray cool each spot in the concrete before stepping onto it). A girl at my school btw, who was competing internationally in athletics, was forced to wear shoes to run in a school sports carnival & suffered stress fractures from doing so. School got a pretty severe mauling from the press over that, who pointed out that even the Olympics didn't require the wearing of shoes, so it wasn't appropriate they did

@Incandescentiron Жыл бұрын

After I started running barefoot, the pain in my hips and knees disappeared. Barefoot running requires a shorter stride and this modification forced me into a healthier running style. With Five Finger shoes for trail running, I also saw surprising benefits. It also reduces my T2 transition time for triathlons as I skip putting on shoes and socks.

@liamcullen3035 Жыл бұрын

I think it's worth noting that shoes are also protection for your feet against puncture wounds and such from rough terrain. Wearing shoes less often may be beneficial, but there is still a place for shoes as foot armour against random debris on the ground.

@austinhernandez2716 Жыл бұрын

But your feet get tougher over time, so too much protection makes your feet weaker.

@liamcullen3035 Жыл бұрын

@@austinhernandez2716 Surely, what you say is true! However, I think no amount of skin toughness is going to protect you from standing on an upright nail or broken glass, snake fangs or other puncture hazards. Which is why shoes are important, at least in certain contexts. Using shoes less to make our feet tougher is good, as long as we're doing it in the right circumstances.

@cloudytea3121 Жыл бұрын

Use your eyes to not walk on glass, nails, dog poop...

@liamcullen3035 Жыл бұрын

@@cloudytea3121 Sorry, this is a dumb response. Saying "use your eyes" is not a real way to manage the risk of foot injury. People make mistakes, they will still accidentally step on harmful things even if they are generally careful and observant. That's why we have crumple zones in cars, seat belts, bike helmets, Personal Protective Equipment, etc. When hazards are present, mistakes will happen. Plus, foot hazards are often hidden under grass or other ground cover, such as the infamous snek.

@cloudytea3121 Жыл бұрын

@@liamcullen3035 minimalist foot wear. Aka flipflops, sandals, and many more

@JavierFernandez01 Жыл бұрын

if you’re raising them above your head just make sure they don’t squirm around or you’ll drop them.

@retronuggets4315 Жыл бұрын

@@UndulatingOlive it’s a pun. Raising kids … raising

@michaelcastro1944 Жыл бұрын

You win the dad joke for today

@mooshlovely639 Жыл бұрын

@@J.T...It's a pun. Raising kids... raising

@FastSickle Жыл бұрын

@@J.T...why do u care if someone explains jokes? Sounds gatekeep-ey and toxic

@kel5944 Жыл бұрын

@@FastSickle explaining the joke just ruins the joke.

@isabellegoegebuer2777 11 ай бұрын

As someone with calluses on her feet from being used to walking around barefoot, I would like to point out that also in this case, you should look for a healthy middle ground. Not too little and not too much. Calluses can develop such sharp edges that you may end up hurting yourself or others or you may even cause tears in fabric touching your feet 'cus they grow so rough. Take care of yourself, y'all. :)

@eliannevdlinden6047 Жыл бұрын

My older brother had very flat feet, he found some sort of shoe that makes it feel like barefoot, it only protects your foot from stepping in glass etc when you walk. His foot arch is much better now. I don’t have a flat foot but I might look into those kinda shoes anyway if it’s better for your feet!

@brandondavidson4085 Жыл бұрын

My dad forced me to wear "wide" sized shoes growing up, and really they just gave me plenty of room to grow and my bones and muscles didn't get squished by shoes that were always too tight as my feet grew.

@s.colins2050 11 ай бұрын

Yeah, I actively despised wearing the shoe sizes i was "supposed" to wear. It always felt like whatever i was measured at was compressing my feet and toes, and it was really overstimulating and uncomfortable for me. I can wear flip flops in what's supposed to be my size, but to this day, my everyday shoes i refuse to even purchase it's not at *least* a half size up and wide, or a full size up if I can't find a wide. I also learned how to run and walk in shoe sizes I was honestly swimming in, because i would steal my brother's never used ones just cause i liked boy's styles more, and honestly, i would still choose to continue doing that over snug shoes if I had to pick.

@Citystyler0 Жыл бұрын

Barefoot or minimalist shoes have damn near changed my life. It's unfortunate that it wasn't mentioned in the video but, this type of foot wear can be more comfortable than a standard shoe. I noticed an immediate difference after the first day of wearing them. I can't understate how awesome barefoot shoes feel. Literally try it for the meme of it and you won't regret it.

@atata9 Жыл бұрын

They are the most comfortable shoe because it feels like you have no shoes on. The feel of needing to take your shoes off when arriving home doesn't exist here because they are not constraining your feet. The problem is that it is like doing exercise, you know that you are going to feel better if you do it, but it takes effort and knowledge on how to correctly transition.

@JohnMoseley Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I got into them because I was developing foot pain and realised my toes were constricted. After one day in them I tried putting on an old pair of traditional sneakers. I realised right away I never wanted to wear such things again. And after about two weeks in my barefoot shoes, all my foot pain went away.

@jasonarthurs3885 Жыл бұрын

Agreed. I've been wearing minimalist "toe shoes" for over a decade. I live in Canada, so climate dictates the need to don proper winter boots every now and then (I'm on Vancouver Island, on the west coast with the mildest winters in Canada). Anytime I need to wear conventional footwear, I cringe. Barefoot shoes are so liberating; and the groundfeel is unparalleled. Added bonus - barefoot shoes can be laundered.

@JohnMoseley Жыл бұрын

@@jasonarthurs3885 Do none of the many barefoot boots work for you? Some of them are very sturdy,, warm, water-proof or water-resistant, and have good treads.

@phylippezimmermannpaquin2062 11 ай бұрын

Theyre the perfect solution Theyre great for your feet because of how little invasive they are but you still get the protection of shoes

@daisukideshou 9 ай бұрын

not wearing shoes is so nice, it pisses me off so much when people see me with no shoes and act like it's gross, like oh no my feet have dirt on them, meanwhile your feet are covered and marinated in more and more sweat and bacteria every step you take in socks and shoes

@nedludd7622 Жыл бұрын

Growing up in the Upper-Midwest in the 50,s, I often went barefoot in the summer. Then we moved to Southern California where I could do it out of school. Even now in a center, I go without shoes when the weather permits, I carry a pair of sandals in case I want to go into a store. People in the neighborhood think I am odd about that.

@obviousness8113 Жыл бұрын

I enjoy taking walks around my large apartment complex barefoot. The connection between feet and earth is so refreshing. I walk on concrete, dirt, gravel, even mud sometimes. It just feels GOOD. People look at me weird sometimes but I don't care. I have hurt my feet before walking in sharp stones or whatnot, but mostly it works out ok.

@amberbydreamsart5467 Жыл бұрын

I will caution; I switched to zero drop shoes, and within 6 months got achilles tendinitis. If you want to adjust to bare feet, go slow and be very careful about how you're working your muscles and tendons

@CL-go2ji Жыл бұрын

Seriously. This is a big change, take it slowly!

@littlelilac2805 Жыл бұрын

Ironically I used to have plantar fasciitis after I started my internship as a doctor Turns out as someone raised in Asia (Arabian, not Asian) I am not used to my foot squished in a shoe all day Because from age 0 to 25 my shoes are limited to school and college, where I am mostly sitting “ and of course occasions like visiting someone, holidays or weddings” While in the hospital I need to walk and walk and walk in those shoes so as someone who been barefooted my entire life I found myself squishing and crushing my foot inside those shoes so that give me a PF that didn’t heal until I switch to barefoot shoes. Since the first day I put them in they felt so right. Didn’t have feet pain ever since

@TheTonyMcD Жыл бұрын

Vibram's Five Fingers FTW! I only wish that somebody could make a similar style shoe but higher quality, more durable, and waterproof. Vibram's essentially has a monopoly in this specific category of shoes. Without competition there is less incentive to improve. Having some with differently size toe pockets would be nice too. The four lesser toes are made longer for people with gross feet. I have short stubby toes that don't fit too will in their pockets. But I still love them. I've had them since the end of high school, or for 14 years. Before that I largely walked barefoot whenever I could. I hated regular shoes that would cram in all the toes and restrict their movement. When I found Vibrams it was like a dream come true. They were everything I wanted in a shoe.

@MyNameThe1st Жыл бұрын

I fixed my hip en knee issues with barefoot shoes. It re-taught me to walk properly, it turned me into a middel/fore-foot walker. (Instead of heel). My joint pain hurt so bad I had to pull myself up on something if I had to squat or pick something off te floor. Today I have no issues at all even its been a couple of years since I wore my barefoot shoes. I just got around to buying a new pair. It take a while to get used to the sensitivity as I can feel everything under the soles, but I feel more connected with nature, and it makes traversing mountain paths easier. I have more grip and can better feel the stability of the surface. I have rekindled my love for barefoot shoes!❤

@Ripplenator Жыл бұрын

When I was a kid, most of us went barefoot the entire summer. Even some stores didn't care if you went barefoot inside. Always hated when school started and I had to scrunch my feet into shoes again.

@derp7738 Жыл бұрын

Did you or your friends get worms because of this?

@Ripplenator Жыл бұрын

@@derp7738 HaHa! Nope! I think that is more common when around farm animals.

@jackd1582 Жыл бұрын

@@derp7738 hygiene and using a toilet .. not going under a bush 💀

@velasco2015 Жыл бұрын

Babysitting young ones and seeing them refuse to wear shoes always made me curious about this! Even as an adult I feel more confortable without shoes most days 😌

@echognomecal6742 9 ай бұрын

Clothes are a concept & social structure. It's learned...like many had to do when seatbelts became required. You get used to it. Lots of little ones LOVE to run around without a stitch on lol

@jusatesst 9 ай бұрын

@echognomecal6742 you get used to the tight fit and sometimes pain yea but it's still there (shoes specifically), in the shoe industry they've prioritised looks over shaping them like our feet, trainers like nike are an obvious example and so on. Haven't found any barefoot or wide toebox shoes for children unfortunately but I probably haven't searched enough

@houndgirl7365 9 ай бұрын

@echognomecal6742 actually there are groups of people that learn to tolerate said shoes, but some people just never really like/love them. Year round unless it's raining or freezing outside I'd rather wear flip-flops than shoes. As a kid I would sneak outside and run around in the streets barefooted with my sister. Overall other people as well as myself don't like it and yes I hate social structures/concepts. As a kid I was upset when I had to wear a shirt because I was maturing yet my brother's could continue to be shirtless (yes I still think this social concept is stupid).

@velasco2015 9 ай бұрын

Yees this all makes sense! Walking barefoot or just something like sandals feels more natural 👌🏽

@echognomecal6742 9 ай бұрын

@@houndgirl7365 Yup. LOTS of social structures & such are nonsense, absolutely! :) Diversity is a good thing...& happily, it looks like we're going in the right direction with that.

@saltblood Жыл бұрын

What was not mentioned was the terrain, it is pretty clear from other sources that running on grassy / off trail surfaces favors a lack of shoes or shoes that are lighter / sandal like, whereas running on concrete, asphalt, or other paved and generally flat surfaces is better done with tennis shoes or other heavier footwear

@starrywizdom Жыл бұрын

All my life (including before I was 6) I've taken off my shoes any time I can, because my feet are happier bare. Due to this, I tend to walk/run in digitigrade fashion rather than plantigrade. My heels get really sore if I have to wear shoes for more than 5-6 hours at a time. Also, my feet are REALLY wide just before the toes separate, & REALLY narrow at the heel -- they're almost like triangles with toes. Thank you, Rose Bear Don't Walk!

@Eban11235 Жыл бұрын

As someone who can grab things with their toes wearing shoes always felt like wearing mittens. You can't grab anything! It's frustrating. Having to bend over to pick things up yikes. So needless to say I was barefoot frequently as a child and I only wear shoes as an adult when I have to.

@timothygreer188 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, Yeah, it's great having monkey feet when you have butter fingers

@JackrabbitCrafts Жыл бұрын

Joining in on team prehensile foot... I regularly open the fridge that way because the handle runs all the way down the length of the door. Sometimes even if I technically don't need to cause my hands aren't full.

@carterhicks7441 Жыл бұрын

Grabbing things with your feet is cool and all, but really really unsanitary.

@LauPaSat-pl Жыл бұрын

@@carterhicks7441 Remember that the thing you pick up was laying on the floor. So it most likely wasn't all that clean in the first place

@Nirrrina Жыл бұрын

I've had back pain from a young age. So I've often picked stuff up with my feet instead of bending over.

@_andrewvia Жыл бұрын

It's great to see Rose again! She's got a busy life, involved in many projects, but she takes time to do Sci Show videos. Yay Rose!

@victoriagrayson5082 10 ай бұрын

This was very interesting, thank you!

@zacharysheetz3701 11 ай бұрын

wear nonslip socks In nursing we are taught foot edema is best fixed with two methods, socks and walking. Socks squeeze your foot, thus helping push the blood back into the vascular system it was pushed from due to issues pumping the blood. Walking helps the veins in your legs and feet pump blood back into your torso and to your heart, thus preventing the pooling that causes most edema. You also can get that same edema due to simply not walking enough in a day. This happened to me in Nursing school because I spent most of my days sitting in the classroom or at home studying. I fixed it in mere days by wearing extra socks and going for walks around the school on our breaks.

@thzzzt Жыл бұрын

I've often wondered how they came up with the idea to put arches in shoes. Here we've evolved for millions of years, and all of a sudden we need arch supports. It's a little like putting your arm in a cast BEFORE it gets broken. If you prop up something weak, it only gets weaker.

@DavidCaveperson Жыл бұрын

I've been bothered by this too, but decided we have to adapt to our technology and that going full Unabomber "Back to Monke" about it simply isn't feasible. The damage is done, it's too late to reverse it, the best we can do is find the happy mediums between extremes

@nycbearff Жыл бұрын

@@DavidCaveperson I'm old , and I thought like that too. Then I developed serious circulation problems in one foot, largely due to pressure on a blood vessel by the large bunion that had formed because of a lifetime of wearing narrow toebox shoes. I didn't have much choice - I switched to wide toebox, zero drop heel (flat soled) shoes, to give my toes room to spread and improve the circulation at that spot,, and have done exercises to help strengthen my feet and ankles. It is working - I can walk again (the pain the bad circulation caused made that very difficult), and my feet have strengthened enough to be comfortable wearing minimalist shoes, finally. It has taken nearly 6 months, but now I'm through it, I'm glad I did. I didn't think my feet could change as much as they have - I even have some arches in my feet now.

@yeetghostrat Жыл бұрын

I have naturally extremely high arches. Also flat feet is not natural and causes health problems. As they detail in this video. I can't walk long times without arch support, never have. not every foot is the same.

@devdecker7812 Жыл бұрын

Yeah shoes were great and make sense but why the arches ? I get shoes but arch support I don't

@sepg5084 Жыл бұрын

@@yeetghostrat i bet your ancestors even a few hundred years ago were able to. Unless you are 50+ years of age, it is not too late to develop your body.

@tonyr0928 Жыл бұрын

I used to have problems rolling my ankles in heeled shoes, zero drops are the way to go, takes some getting used to, but well worth it.

@crimsonraen Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video!

@jer103 Жыл бұрын

I highly recommend the book on "bad running shoes" topic: *Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen* In this book, it goes into how arch support, and memory foam, hurt your feet. People that run really long distances either run barefoot, or with very minimal footwear.

@LexJMorgan Жыл бұрын

Yes! This is an amazingly written book.

@JocelynCampbell Жыл бұрын

If I wear any height heel at all, my knees get very sad. And if my knees get sad, it's not long after that my hips get sad. To the point of debilitating pain. So I wear zero-drop or barefoot style shoes everywhere and for everything now. Going barefoot at home or wearing barefoot style shoes has not restored the arches in my feet - they are still VERY flat - but I feel so much better. In fact, I've avoided plantar fasciitis returning, and all my joints love it! I'm in my 50's and barefoot / zero drop shoes are a key part of my strategies to avoid the knee replacement surgeries that my mom had in her 60's.

@adambier2415 Жыл бұрын

I love my skinners. Basically socks with rubber coating similar to gloves. My feet, legs and back are healthier for it. They are even my first choice in winter if I’m not going to be outside long.

@user-ve6dx3wk2r Жыл бұрын

Growing up in Australia I only wore shoes to school and then later to work when I got a job. Perfectly socially acceptable to run errands go shopping etc. In bare feet.

@merlapittman5034 Жыл бұрын

I've been a fan of going barefoot forever! When I was a kid, I went barefoot as much as my mom would let me, and as an adult I NEVER wear shoes at home and sometimes outside. After watching this video, I think I may understand why I tend to land on the ball of my foot when I'm walking. And I prefer shoes with as thin a sole as possible and no heel. Thanks for explaining the benefits of barefooting!

@littlelilac2805 Жыл бұрын

Try barefoot shoes for outside the house activities, you will thank me

@Reepecheep Жыл бұрын

@@ArawnOfAnnwn Also nothing separating your feet from glass, needles, or other nasties you'll find randomly in city fields or streets.

@Reepecheep Жыл бұрын

@@ArawnOfAnnwn The barefoot shoes I've seen don't seem to be too much like socks. Do you have particular socks in mind that someone could consider that would perform similarly?

@merlapittman5034 Жыл бұрын

I wear swim shoes a lot because they have very thin soles with absolutely no heel. They aren't very expensive, so they fit my budget. If my feet are cold indoors, I wear slippers that I've crocheted

@AnotherDuck Жыл бұрын

@@Reepecheep If you're used to walking barefoot outside on hard ground, glass shards and stuff isn't as dangerous as it seems if. You'll develop a thick sole to the point that if there's something that's actually dangerous it's going to hurt you even if you wear thin shoes. Though I still wouldn't recommend it, since the risk is still higher than using hard-soled shoes.

@jonfalcon3591 Жыл бұрын

I am a tip toe walker, always have been, my calves are huge due to it and a lot of biking. My toes are more spread out than others. My only warning is that stretching the calf is important, I haven't and am paying for it as of now, and currently working on more flexibility in the opposite direction

@kimarna Жыл бұрын

The big toe, ball of foot, and heel are meant to form a straight line naturally. Good on you for keeping that alignment

@Seagull_House 9 ай бұрын

ive personally given up on shoes in all but the most formal situations, or when weather would otherwise cause more harm than the shoe. it gives me a better feel of my surroundings, as it opens up a whole avenue of touch we're sobbed of in our day to day: the main hangup is the sensitivity of the skin when you're not used to barefootedness

@einname9986 Жыл бұрын

There exist really comfy barefoot shoes (Brands like Saguaro, Merrell, ...) (plus some brands where the toes are separated) which give your foot some protection against sharp objects like glass, rocks, insects ,... but still provide many of the advantages barefoot walking is supposed to have. Plus they usually are very wide in the area where the toes are.

@qloshae Жыл бұрын

Being out at sea a lot as a kid, it wasn't practical to always have shoes, in fact, most of the time it was more of a burden as you had to worry about getting the shoes wet. Walking, running and especially jumping barefoot is also just so much more precise because you have that tactile aspect. I have a well defined arch, thought it felt weird, good to know it's a positive sign. My mother always used to say that it is healthy to at least spend some of the time during summer barefoot, seems like she'll love this video.

@kittimcconnell2633 Жыл бұрын

In high school I had a friend who had foot issues, even tho she only weighed about 95 pounds. She wore shoes ALL THE TIME she was awake; sneakers laced all the way up. I went barefoot or sockfoot any chance I got and at 54 still don't have much foot trouble.

@ecospider5 Жыл бұрын

My mom would yell at us if we went out without shoes if we had socks still on. “ if you’re going outside either put shoes on or take your socks off” she didn’t want to have to by new socks all the time.

@eSKAone- Жыл бұрын

Even socks are bad, if you have a slippery floor you will use your foot muscles and placement totally different 💟

@IloveHildasfeet Жыл бұрын

I wear my shoes to sleep so… yikes

@justinweatherford8129 Жыл бұрын

@@eSKAone- but then how would you slide across the hardwood floors?

@JackrabbitCrafts Жыл бұрын

@@ecospider5valid reasoning. I ruined a nice pair of socks this past winter thanks to not bothering with shoes on my concrete basement floor. Fixed the issue by tiling said floor.

@Eshelion 9 ай бұрын

Shoes were invented as protection from injuries and excess dirt or to help keep warm in body, if they weren't needed, they weren't used, now they are also a fashion item, and became social standard in most developed countries (also as mentioned, most people feet are too soft and sensitive now to straight jump into boing bare).

@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq Жыл бұрын

I mix up my trail runs with Vibram Five Fingers, which is close to running barefoot. It’s a whole lot more fun. I get fewer chronic injuries, but more acute injuries from sharp rocks, roots, etc.

@songbirdrosa Жыл бұрын

I loved being barefoot as a kid (and still do), but it does still come with perils. My list of foot injuries include slicing a gash so big my pinky toe needed to be stitched back in place, treading on nails, and getting a toothpick embedded under my big toe. So go barefoot, but also watch where you step

@horse14t Жыл бұрын

I remember the first time I decided to go barefoot outside as a kid (apart from beaches) was when my daycare was visiting a field and kids were taking their shoes and socks off and rolling down the hill.. I did the same and low and behold I was the one that got a bee sting on the bottom of my foot just minutes after I joined in!... Wasn't fun XD After that the daycare employees made everyone put their shoes back on so no one else got stung.

@jenn011754 Жыл бұрын

Surprized that you never mentioned the high heels that we wear!

@jliller Жыл бұрын

Anyone who wears high heels values fashion over their health.

@tjet34 10 ай бұрын

I wear Archie's sandals 24/7. They've got arch support for my flat feet, but are open and let me still feel the ground and such fairly well. My toddler doesn't wear anything but cloth or leather shoes, though, and won't be except in snow.

@laurachristianson1688 10 ай бұрын

Can totally agree with this from time immemorial from a small child til now (65 +) have had few foot, knee problems because I always hated shoes, never wore them unless I had to.

@KathySierraVideo Жыл бұрын

Been wearing barefoot shoes for ten years - after seeing some proprioception research - and I’ll never go back. My oldest daughter has always hated shoes and can walk on *anything*, but I’m personally still not going barefoot over sharp rocks. Barefoot / minimalist shoes are a great compromise. I also have six horses that I slowly transitioned away from steel shoes. (Some were fine, some needed temporary “barefoot shoes” on certain surfaces, as years of steel shoes had greatly reduced the natural capacities of their hoof). There are many compelling reasons to spend more time barefoot - or barefoot shoes - and for both myself and my horses, it was studying mechanoreceptors that actually pushed me over the edge to get rid of “normal” shoes here. My husband needed more convincing, but then some famous golfer commented that he wore only barefoot style shoes, and that was that 💁‍♀️. No normal shoes in our home, and our living room includes trays of river rocks to stand on.

@AimlessSavant Жыл бұрын

Steel hooves are really only necessary if you intend to take those horses on rocks, hard gravel, or above all else paved roads. The natural wear of hooves on dirt, assuming they have a wide pasture to run in, is more than healthy. It's how they evolved to function. Just got to keep an eye on them. :v

@joylox Жыл бұрын

That's interesting because the only time I don't wear barefoot shoes is when I'm around horses so I get that extra protection, and it's a lot harder to ride a horse without a heel (unless you're riding bareback, but most horses I know aren't used to that and would struggle). I do remember a relative of mine getting in trouble for not wearing shoes, even as an adult, but he was so tough, and could climb any tree. I like my Vibram Spyridon MR (now discontinued) for anything that's more rough, like hiking in areas with lots of rocks, gravel, or even if I'm in the city where there's frequently broken glass. I don't know what I'll do when they wear out, because I like the sole, and I don't think they make that specific type anymore. It's a chunky grip rather than the more minimal type. I find they're a good middle ground between the extremely minimal 2-3mm thick soles, and a more conventional shoe. I also find Xero shoes to be a good middle ground because they look like regular shoes so I don't get the weird comments, and they're a bit more protective, while still allowing you to feel the ground and have that extra width that helps a lot.

@joylox Жыл бұрын

@@AimlessSavant I know in my area, the police horses obviously need metal, but I've seen some different options when in rural areas. Unfortunately I didn't really keep up with horses because a disability I'm still waiting for testing on made it too hard to care for them, or even have proper posture. I'm hoping to ride again this year after I've done lots of physio.

@KathySierraVideo Жыл бұрын

@@joylox tbh I do think sometimes about whether I should still *ride* in boots-with-heel…it’s been so drilled into me from childhood. And sometimes if I remember, I’ll put them on to ride. But I don’t worry about working on the ground and being stepped on (which ofc happens and OUCH 😣), because unless I’m in steel-toed boots- which I never was - my heavy-duty Vivo insulated trail runners offer just as much protection on top of my foot as my Ariat paddock boots. I do know a lot of riders today who are also riding in Vivo/Xero, but some do use front cages on their stirrups. I’m quite safety-conscious (helmet 100%), but I’m still making a calculation that for the riding I do, it’s extremely unlikely that I’ll be in a situation for which a heel would be the thing that saved me.

@KathySierraVideo Жыл бұрын

@@AimlessSavantThere are certainly reasons a horse might need shoes, I agree, but nothing that justifies *steel*; thankfully composite nail-on (or glue-on) shoes are now becoming more widely available and more farriers are trained/willing to use them. I still have *boots* for one of mine for gravel, but he was in composite shoes for a couple years. Just like the human barefoot shoe market is growing and we will all have more options (and not have to spend a fortune), the non-steel horseshoe market is growing, albeit way too slowly. The only friends of mine with horses still in steel shoes simply cannot find a farrier willing to use even the nail-on composites. But that’s slowly changing…

@superslammer Жыл бұрын

As a person with hemophilia, I doubt I'll be ditching my shoes anytime soon. :) Wearing shoes literally keeps me from getting random injuries,

@PaperScarecrow Жыл бұрын

could always look into "barefoot" or minimalist shoes like merrell vapor gloves. Still have protection from the ground, but it's basically a durable sock with a rubber sole and wide toebox.

@emilymarriott5927 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I'd second looking into barfoot shoes. They're the next best thing to being barefoot. The big brands are Xero, Vivobarefoot, Wildling, and Feelgrounds. Lems kinda sorta as some of their shoes fall into the category of barefoot shoes, and others don't. They give your feet all the protection they need, but still give you most of the benefits of walking barefoot.

@nycbearff Жыл бұрын

For getting used to minimalist shoes with a wide toebox and a flat sole (zero drop heel), I found a Whitin running shoe that has those characteristics but a somewhat more cushioned sole. And they're inexpensive. It helped me transition to "barefoot" shoes by giving me extra cushioning while my feet were building the extra strength barefoot walking requires.

@Zappygunshot Жыл бұрын

One part I love so much about summer, is that I can finally take off my stuffy uncomfortable sweaty shoes. It doesn't matter what type I'm wearing, they always feel restrictive and walking around barefoot makes me much more conscious about where I step, the changes in texture of where I'm walking, etc etc. It's like trying to live life with mittens on, it's useful in some circumstances but every chance I get they're coming off. I'd prefer not losing my toes or getting a nasty gash stepping glass, so I'll generally still wear flip flops in summer if I'm walking longer distances in urban areas, but honestly just walking around barefoot, indoors or out, feels so nice.

@y_fam_goeglyd Жыл бұрын

Much to my mother's annoyance, I grew up barefoot. I had shoes, I just hated them. I'm 57 now and still spend all indoor time barefoot (except in other people's houses. Though my kids don't mind. I let them choose what they wanted when they were growing up). As a kid, during the warmer and dryer weather, I'd try to escape the house without shoes (in the UK - it was on typically paved paths; hardly soft, warm ground!) My third child (adult...) is as bad as me for hating shoes!

@KayclauShipper Жыл бұрын

When I was a kid, I hated to wear shoes (I still do, but I tolerate it more) and in gym class I always complained about my feet hurting rather quickly, something that didn't happen when doing activities barefoot at home. I kept being told that it was safer for me, that the heat of the pavement and the random pieces of broken glass and tin shards could cut me open and it would be really bad. With that level of fear mongering I reluctantly agreed to wear shoes outside. I wish I hadn't.

@ruolbu Жыл бұрын

Did you develop foot or leg problems?

@comfyspy2123 Жыл бұрын

It's not fear mongering, its common sense

@wren_. Жыл бұрын

@@CoryPchajekshoes indoors are disgusting, who would purposely choose that?

@thefirstsin Жыл бұрын

When at home not outside wtf, I always lift my feet up in a heel like fashion and walked, ran with it too and I grew up to have large penguin feet which is pretty good at running -40% decreased stamina consumption🏃‍♂🏃‍♂

@eggrollsoup Жыл бұрын

@@thefirstsin how tf do you do those emojis

@vashsunglasses Жыл бұрын

I walk around barefoot at home and wear thin-soled minimalist shoes outside the home. I'm a walking paraplegic and it's just easier for me to walk with bare feet or minimal footwear because I can better feel the ground and it let's me feel "rooted". Regular shoe soles feel like balancing on wobbly pillows to me and I hate them.

@karlrovey Жыл бұрын

As a kid, I went barefoot pretty often. I also lifeguarded in HS and College, and usually went barefoot at the pools when I did that (and yes, when we practiced emergencies, running was involved, you had to get a good feel for the surface). That said, I occasionally have issues with the big toe on my right foot, which at times forces me to shorten my stride and not push off with my toes.

@maxdon2001 11 ай бұрын

Great video!

@allaeor Жыл бұрын

I've been wearing barefoot style shoes for years. Ultimately it's more comfortable, but I can understand if making the switch could be hard if you've been wearing beefy shoes for a while, or if you are flat footed.

@joylox Жыл бұрын

I was told I had flat feet back in high school, was given special insoles to use in my flat shoes, but eventually I stopped wearing them, and switched to flat shoes all the time and once I got used to it, felt much better. Now I mostly wear Xero Shoes or Vibram Fivefingers depending on the weather, and I feel so much better. I noticed when I wore rain boots for a couple days last summer, my feet hurt a lot more, but unfortunately when you need waterproof boots with heels (for being around horses and walking through puddles to get there), I suppose there's no better option. But that makes sense because raised heels on shoes were designed for riding horses so the rider's feet stay in the stirrup.

@horse14t Жыл бұрын

Where do you get barefoot shoes? I would like to try some just for casual use but they are super expensive from what I can find. I would especially like ones that look similar to normal shoes from the outside.. mostly because of social anxiety :P Edit: Something like Lems would be something I would like.

@ugthump2753 Жыл бұрын

@@ArawnOfAnnwn "Foot-shaped shoes" might be a better search term for people who want a toebox that has the same shape as their forefoot, not separate toes.

@historicalaccuracy15 Жыл бұрын

I'm more or less flat-footed myself (sometimes my feet land in an arch, sometimes they don't) and my vibram kso toe shoes are the most comfortable shoes I own, second only to my xero shoes sandals diy kit, or, if the terrain is right for it, really barefoot. In fact ever since I started wearing those toe shoes I could swear my feet have started landing in an arch more often and I seem to have more balance in my gait, idk if there's anything to that or coincidence but it sure seems to help

@profoundish314 Жыл бұрын

I walk around barefoot in my neighborhood a lot. I feel a little bad 'cause I know some people get really uncomfortable, but I remind myself that it's physical therapy! And it definitely helps! I'm 30 years old, been going on these barefoot walks maybe 1-3 times a week (during the warm months) for the last two years, and it's not dramatic or anything but it is noticeable, the extra arch in my arch and the extra strength in my ankles and the small muscles between the tarsals.

@JalnorTheGreat Жыл бұрын

Good for you! Maybe I should arrange an experiment with some friends on barefoot walking... for science :-)

@onemoreweirdo207 Жыл бұрын

I don't think you should feel bad for that, these people can mind their business

@mehere8038 Жыл бұрын

If they get uncomfortable walking barefoot, that's on them, they can choose to either gradually strengthen their feet, like you are doing, or wear shoes, but that's their choice, it's not on you, you do what's right for you!

@HydrogenTwoO 11 ай бұрын

I do this too, and always am nervous about others, so thank you for reminding me that it's P.T. I think more will understand as time goes on!

@douglaslawlor622 11 ай бұрын

I used to feel this way when I first started barefooting full time. It does take a while to get over.

@maitlember1942 Жыл бұрын

I gave up flipflops and bought sandals, best buy ever, my physical therapist recommended me that advice because of medial arch injury

@two_toned_rooster 9 ай бұрын

When I was young my mom always made sure I had a bunch of arch support in anything I wore. I would demand room for all 5 of my toes from as far back as I can remember but I always had excruciating pain in my arches until I was about 8-11. That’s when I started walking around the golf course in bare feet. Usually I did it after I couldn’t stand my arch supporting shoes after the first couple holes. I also rebelled and would only wear vans as a teenager, which are flat, and would still demand width for toes even if it meant going 1.5 sizes up. Now that I’m an adult I can spend 8-10 hours walking around at work or golfing and have zero foot pain ever unless I get a blister. And as long as my little toe has room I’m not picky about shoes, from Dunlop work boots to Jordan’s.

@danaseifert7205 Жыл бұрын

Board certified pediatric physical therapist checking in here. I'm a little surprised to not see clarification that this advice applies only to people with Normal range tone and joint mobility. Anyone with too little or too much who follows the advice is at increased risk of foot and leg injuries.

@telegramsam Жыл бұрын

i hated shoes & socks as a kid and would take them off as soon as I was allowed. guess that was a good thing, even if I did get bullied for it!

@samsungemployee5243 5 ай бұрын

Well, my grandfather did enforce his children to walk barefoot for at least 2 hours per day. When they started having jobs, it was reduced to only 1 day a week. The result was that all of his grandchildren born in Surinam could exert grip with their feet while climbing trees.

@JackClayton123 Жыл бұрын

Canadian male (63). I didn’t wear shoes much until about 20 years old. Never had problem with my feet until older (even with flat feet). Even now, I wear sandals year round (until the snow passes my knees). Due to arthritis (osteoarthritis- heritary), I’m only now thinking about boots. I’m reticent, as my feet problems only started when I began to wear shoes.

@nowster Жыл бұрын

I've been wearing Vibram FiveFingers for over ten years now. I'm in my mid fifties. I have hypermobility and used to wear orthotics to correct my fallen arches. Never again! I have arches now and can't bear to wear constricting "conventional" shoes with stiff soles and raised heels. Three years ago I took up running. I regularly run half marathons. I have run shorter distances barefoot. It's actually liberating. I prefer to run barefoot on harder surfaces like cement, concrete and tarmac, but you do have to be vigilant for sharp stones. But for anyone thinking of switching, do it very gradually over many weeks.

@joylox Жыл бұрын

I'm also hypermobile, waiting to get tested for EDS. I think it's been slightly less than 10 years since I got my first VIbram Fivefingers, but I'm glad I started wearing them in my last few years of high school. I've never been good at running, but for grade 11-12 gym class, the teacher made us run about 1k a day across the field and through the woods down to a specific tree, and then back. I found the difference to be amazing! I could feel the angle of the rocks and roots along the way, and use those to push myself forward, I could run longer because of the light weight, and it really helped my feet act as a spring taking the strain off my knees which are hypermobile and caused some hip pain. A lot of articles I read say that the more cushion the better for hypermobility, but the people I've talked to all said otherwise, so I'm glad I'm not alone. I'm also glad I found ToeSox compression socks because I often need the extra ankle support, but don't want to wear boots or normal shoes with stockings. Plus, they're great at keeping my feet less stinky, and avoiding blisters.

@realplastbox Жыл бұрын

A missed opportunity here, not mentioning how wearing shoes has reshaped near enough everyone's feet for the worse. Your big toe? Its supposed to point straight, an extension of the bone inside the foot to which it is attached capable of footing some serious force. Your Achilles tendons? Should look straight and vertical from behind, not bowed inwards. Shoes make feet weak, prompting specialist recommendations for even more expensive shoes meant to provide the support shoes robbed the feet of in the first place.

@kittimcconnell2633 Жыл бұрын

My big toes do point straight, but my achilles tendon does bow in a little. I went barefoot as often as allowed as a child...and still do as a 50+ year old

@jimysk8er Жыл бұрын

when they start talking about gate and they show the beach runner around 3:30 or so you can see that the beach runner lands on their forefoot only twice and only on their right foot while every other step is on their heel or slightly in front of their hips. I know they're on the beach and it doesn't matter a whole lot but its a weird example to use.

@johnmarks227 Жыл бұрын

I went barefoot as a kid. I stepped on the bottom of a broken bottle while wading in a pond. I nearly bled to death running home with a 4-inch slice through my arch and haven't walked right since. Just a reminder of why we wear shoes.

@IMAVG Жыл бұрын

As someone who just felt this primal, natural feeling of running barefoot and would do it all the time and it helps because it greatly improves my ankles which I need for ice hockey. Also, it helps widen the foot which gives a deeper arch, hence more support in skates

@spencermarkowitz1749 Жыл бұрын

Fascinating! But you need to consider a part 2. As a doctor dealing mostly with geriatrics, the good health recommendations get flipped as you get older (at least in the US and/ or developed world). At least one study demonstrates that the elderly who walk barefoot are 17 times more likely to fall than those who wear shoes. And don't get me started on diabetic feet! I don't know for sure, but I suspect it is because of the accumulated injuries, arthritis, neuropathy, and whatnot that comes with age which means your feet need a little more assistance as they get older - but you are the researchers! I'd be excited to see what you come up with! There is definitely still more to the story of bare feet.

@WhatWouldVillainsDo 9 ай бұрын

I can remember being 6-9 and able.to.walk on the blacktop parking lots of se Florida beaches barefoot, were talking 140f+ went around mostly barefoot and hardly ever got sick and my toes were more like fingers. I later went to go work in almost cryogenic enviroments -32f 64 below freezing and it dropped my immune response by 75% and left my feet with a very large amount micro fractures. My body forgot how to handle bacteria and fungal infections and my feet almost rotted off, I was left with a few options take a medication that would damage my liver but save my feet or risk losing my feet and let nature do what it was gonna do, took almost 3 years but saved my feet and liver.

@coleengoodell7523 Жыл бұрын

For parents who want to protect their toddlers or young children's feet, but also want the benefits from going barefooted, a pair of real moccasins are the go to. They are a bit difficult to find, but will hopefully find mainstream markets once again.

@Araanor Жыл бұрын

And if they’re hard do find, they’re extremely easy to make.

@JackrabbitCrafts Жыл бұрын

Yes!! Real leather moccasins are the best thing ever for being barefoot comfy and still have shoes.

@Vicieron Жыл бұрын

.............or Converse All-Stars. Those are notorious for not having arches.

@kimarna Жыл бұрын

For the longest time all shoes were like moccasins, basically leather socks.

@caitlinw8351 Жыл бұрын

@@Vicieron the toes are too tight for full benefits 😢

@phorrestnightshade4397 Жыл бұрын

Well I guess I hit the bad luck lotto then, I have flat feet AND I grew up barefoot and in a rural area lol.

@m00kism Жыл бұрын

I forgot my trainers for sports one time in primary school and running on grass felt amazing - so light footed and near zero impact. I was still not very fast but twice as quick as usual.

@ag135i Жыл бұрын

Footballers and cricketers use shoes and that to with spikes when they can play barefoot, barefoot is fine if it's soft grass or beach/river sand not hard or jagged surface.

@ZedaZ80 Жыл бұрын

Anecdote: I grew up rural and poor and without shoes for most of my childhood (except when going into "public.") I was also very active. When I started going to college, I also started wearing shoes regularly, and that is hell on my feet. I get bad shin splints when wearing shoes and running, but not when I'm bare foot. Now I've been wearing shoes almost daily for 12 years and it has been pretty rough for my ankles and knees and because shoes didn't exist for my foot shape (they were much wider than average), my feet have been squeezed into a thinner form making it more difficult to walk barefoot on hard surfaces (less surface area to distribute my weight over stabby rocks). I wish I was able to be barefoot more, it's one reason why I'm grateful for outdoor farmer's markets. I don't have to go into a store, so I can be barefoot and get my groceries for the week. I'm looking forward to moving back out to the boonies now that I have full remote work.

@HeyThereErica Жыл бұрын

I would definitely recommend "barefoot"/minimalist shoes like Xero. They are a game changer!

@ShadoFoxx Жыл бұрын

I've had a preference for being barefoot all my life, even into adulthood. If I'm not wearing flipflops, I'm barefoot (unless the weather is really bad) I've also hated socks ever since I was born! My mom would put a pair of socks on me and I'd immediately kick them off. The only type of socks that I can tolerate (and even say that I like) are yoga socks, which are open at the top and have the toes exposed. My feet have also never smelled bad unless I was forced to wear sneakers or any other type of close-toed shoes. It also helps that I'm VERY meticulous about my footcare 😂 I'm turning 30 next year and the only issue I've had that was somewhat foot-related was a twisted ankle, which healed pretty quickly!

@eggrollsoup Жыл бұрын

things like athletes foot are caused due to foot wear especially if they have no airflow. Closed damp warm spaces are great for fungal growth.

@joylox Жыл бұрын

I had athletes foot once as a kid because I was wearing rubber boots all the time. It might have actually been my Crocs boots, because they had the wider toe box I loved, but no airflow. It's so hard to find waterproof barefoot shoes, but so far a pair of Xero Shoes boots I washed in waterproof treatment is doing the job okay. In summer I'm fine, but rain and snow are not ideal for wearing minimal or separate toe shoes.

@eggrollsoup Жыл бұрын

@@joylox water proof treating and rubber is bad for airflow which can lead to problems like that. also not everywhere gets cold winters so I don’t ever have a need for insulation.

@chrisseger2346 Жыл бұрын

Played ultimate frisbee barefoot for a couple of summers. I can confirm, at least anecdotally, that my foot and leg strength both greatly improved during that time. Not only could I run faster, but I also became more agile, and my jump height increased. Having flat feet, it was strange not wearing shoes since I'm used to the support that they provide. But after some acclimation, I found it was much better on my ankles.

@littlemissmel88 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting. My family always made sure I had very supportive shoes growing up, only for me to wear nothing but flip flops and I was sure this was what messed my feet up. I have one flat foot and deal with some plantar fasciitis. We don't wear shoes in the house, so when pandemic hit and I became a stay at home mom for 2 years I barely wore shoes. Then when I went back to work and wore my really supportive shoes again my feet were killing me! Took a couple of weeks to return to "normal". Even now my feet and in extension the rest of my body feels better when I am wearing shoes/slippers with arch support.

@melodyszadkowski5256 Жыл бұрын

When I grew up my mom was adament that I was not going to wear shoes until I could walk on my own. I credit my barefoot childhood for giving me strong feet and legs.

@mehere8038 Жыл бұрын

really? That's not normal there? I'm in Australia, used to work in childcare, we were trained & passed on to parents that no baby should be put into shoes until after they were fully walking. In winter, sure, buy them the little sock/shoe hybrid things with grippy bottoms but sock like on the rest, but nothing hard on their feet until after their gait is fully developed & then, only for special occasions

@erinaa9486 Жыл бұрын

@@mehere8038 Australia is clearly awesome in this way--my son (he's 4 now) runs around barefoot in the US, ppl always ask him where his shoes are. In trader Joe's, an employee told me he has to put on shoes or ride in the cart, and while I was putting him into the cart, a sweet woman said, "I think it's wonderful that he is barefoot, just like we do in Australia."

@mehere8038 Жыл бұрын

@@erinaa9486 that's weird & would be SO annoying to have that pretend "concerned community parenting" telling your child to put shoes on! Love that the Aussie spoke out to support you! Wish you had more doing that there! It's just so much better for their feet, like this video explains, sad you're being discouraged from doing it :( What happens if you tell them it's about "freedom"? I don't know, but I'm wondering if that is a line that would cut through & make people accept your choice there? & if so, you could maybe even get a t-shirt printed that said something like "my feet live in a free country" to "say" that to them without needing to say it/endure their comments before "saying it". I think this is why we like barefoot in Australia, cause we rebel against authority, so if authority want us to wear shoes, we want to make a point about refusing - and we are forced to wear them to school & mostly to work, so it is an authority thing, so our society sees it as our mission to resist :). I feel like there should be a way you can rebel against it by using your society's claimed "freedom" stance & have people support you, rather than attack you for it. Sadly though, I guess with what you're describing there, your son's going to feel the pressure to conform & eventually will want to wear shoes when going out, but that's really sad :( & good on you for being a great Mum & actually looking after his feet & body development! He'll thank you for it when he's older :)

@mehere8038 Жыл бұрын

@@erinaa9486 Another idea I just thought of, in Australia, as part of wearing no shoes, we're also strict on littering & we have a "clean up Australia Day" once a year (first Sunday in March) when everyone gets out there & cleans up rubbish, so as to make our country more beautiful & safer for bare feet. It wouldn't be uncommon here for Mums to go around a local park with a garbage bag & pick up the litter if needed. Not really needed here, but there's the occasional spot where it still happens & it used to be a thing when we were switching to a no litter society back in the 1970's. I wonder what would happen if that was your routine each time you went to your local park with your barefoot son, if you took him to the equipment to play, along with your little litter bag & you removed any litter from it & then expanded to clean the whole park, while he was playing & when other parents commented on it, if you said "I'm not going to let inconsiderate people take away my son's freedom to go barefoot. I'd rather change society than force my son to comply with a lack of freedom". I wonder if you would actually start a movement, if other parents would actually start doing the same as you, both in picking up the litter & also then trusting it was safe for their children to play barefoot inside that park. Might be worth a shot if it's not too inconvenient for you to try. Just sad imo that that freedom to be barefoot is being taken away from him & your right to choose his footwear, as his Mum, is being taken from you too! Not right imo