How would you describe a barefooter?
An individual who chooses to forego wearing any footwear (to go barefoot) for everyday regular activities. This individual would likely be barefoot by choice, and not by necessity or convenience (for example, a barefooter would not be carrying sandals walking down a street from a beach or pool)
How long have you been barefoot?
Aside from work, as much as I can, 11 or so years.
Why did you decide to be barefoot?
It feels amazing and freeing! The sensation of the world around us is so unique under bare soles, and the flexibility and strength of our feet to adapt to unfamiliar terrain with some training is simply amazing! I just prefer not wearing shoes!
On a scale of 1 to 10, how “extreme” are you?
7
What is your opinion on shoes and socks?
I wear them when I must. My career is as a nurse administrator in a hospital system, so being on site in a hospital, I would not choose to be barefoot myself (nor does my dress code allow it.) around patient care areas, there are simply too many multi-drug-resistant organisms that, while unlikely to cause an infection to -me-, bare feet would carry around and potentially cause an infection to others who are immunocompromised. This is even why a majority of nurses come into work with one pair of shoes or sandals, and switch into “work shoes” that stay at work forever, then switch back when the shift is over.
Do you think being barefoot is socially acceptable? Why or why not?
Unfortunately, no, due to the societal expectations that all common citizens must wear some type of footwear. There are also historical implications of someone being barefoot, linking it to living in poverty or of a lower socioeconomic class. These biases are subconscious in most people, and it’s not a common thought for people whenever they see someone walking barefoot that “they are choosing to be barefoot”, rather people’s first reactions are typically either that this person may need help, or at the very least curious or questioning why. There are some outlier situations where strangers in public will react with ill intent, but those are few and far between.
Have you ever not been able to go in somewhere/refused service because you didn’t have shoes on?
Yes. Some massive chain grocery stores or restaurants, but it depends on who is working and if management or the employees themselves decide to make it a big deal. Rather than making a scene about it, I take my business elsewhere, or put on some light slippers if it’s somewhere I absolutely wanted to purchase something from, or need a service from.
What are the best and worst reactions you have gotten? How do you deal with bad reactions and unsolicited opinions?
Best: during a hike in a populated trail, a middle aged man that was walking the opposite direction of me looked down and noticed my feet bare. All he did was a simple smile, nod, and said “good for you!”
Worst: walking down the street just walking around the neighborhood, a group of four younger guys sped down the street, slowed down by me, rolled down the windows and yelled “HOBO” and drove away. I figured I would never see them again so I didn’t mind too much.
How do you go about feet care?
I make sure that my toenails are trimmed and taken care of, and moisturize my soles to keep them flexible and healthy while still becoming stronger and adaptable to being barefoot.
Visible dirt is less of an issue as it comes naturally with being a barefooter (and seeing blacker soles from being barefoot in an urban environment gets to be kind of fun!). I’m pretty particular about my house though so I try to rinse off excess dirt with a hose and wiping on the mat outside before going in.
Have you dealt with fetishers?
I have not had many interactions with any. Being a guy, it’s not very common to find girls with this fetish, although, being bi, I have had one male partner with it. Because we were in a monogamous relationship, I was comfortable and open to letting him explore this, even though it wasn’t exactly “my thing.” I try to separate me being barefoot and other people’s physical attraction to feet.
Do you walk on everything or are there surfaces you don’t walk on?
Really hot asphalt when it gets to 100 or 110+ degrees, or multiple inches of snow and ice when it gets down to below freezing here in Minnesota.
What is your favorite surface to walk barefoot on and why?
Cement sidewalks that are for the most part flat, but still have a bit of a rougher texture, otherwise having grown up on an island, there’s just the sentimental feeling of walking around a sandy beach barefoot.
What are the worst things you’ve stepped on?
years ago, during university, a few friends and I drove out to the countryside to watch a meteor shower once. I didn’t bring any shoes with me whatsoever, but we wanted to stop by a late night place to grab pizza. On the way back to the car, though, while it was dark, I didn’t see a decent sized shard of glass on the sidewalk. This area was known for being the block of street downtown with all the bars college kids go to and party. It was lodged in well that I couldn’t pull it out with my bare hand, but pulled it out with a tweezer at home and it didn’t even bleed, so it must’ve been pretty superficial. Still painful though.
Have you had any mishaps?
Not yet!
How do you handle cold temperatures?
Layer up elsewhere, to regulate overall body temperature, and don’t push it if it hurts or you lose sensation.
In your experience, what season is best to be barefoot?
Late spring or early autumn.
How does being barefoot affect aspects of your life (love, career e.t.c)?
Career- I don’t go barefoot at work, even if I were allowed to, just knowing the basic principles of drug resistance in microbiology, as well as the presence and inevitability of human secretions and body fluids in the hospital setting.
I will say, though, that after a 12-hour shift in the hospital, being able to take off my shoes and socks at my car is one of the best sensations that I look forward to.
Love-I have not met anyone potentially romantically interested that had an issue with me preferring to be barefoot yet. I would be willing to communicate the differences and see if there can be some understanding of perspectives.
What challenges do you run into (physically, socially e.t.c)?
Logistically, if I frequent a certain store or service, I will just choose to slip on a pair of sandals for that short period of time, as I can’t be bothered to waste my time arguing with an employee about my bare feet, when I could just be in and out of the premises.
What are misconceptions about being barefoot?
Barefoot = in poverty/lower social class/lack of hygiene
What are your fears that stem from being barefoot?
Losing sensation/neuropathy as being barefoot would no longer be safe.
Serious injuries or accidents that permanently change my legs/feet. I already, from a vehicle accident at 9 years old, almost lost my right foot. The surgeon did everything he could but was unable to save my smallest two toes.
What advantages of being barefoot have you experienced?
Just being able to enjoy being barefoot, and feeling the different sensations around me. It also has helped with confidence, and made me overcompensate that I dress well and my hygiene is great while being barefoot.
What disadvantages of being barefoot have you experienced?
Minor inconveniences, passing comments or refusals of service.
What are things to NOT say or do to barefoot people?
“Eww gross”
“Aren’t you going to catch something”
How do you feel about how barefoot is portrayed in media? What are some of your favorite pieces of media with authentic representation?
Either two things are most common.
1: being fetishized
2: a character trait to depict the character as being carefree and wild.
What’s missing is a portrayal of a character that simply just likes to be barefoot. This is at least somewhat represented in other forms of media, such as video games or anime, and while they’re a noticeable trait of the character, they don’t define the whole character.
What would you like to say to barefooters?
Keep at it and live your true self!
Give tips to new barefooters and people looking to go barefoot.
Start slow and take it easy, build up strength and flexibility to adapt to different terrainz
How do you wish our society would perceive and treat barefoot people?
I wish it was at least way more common (even if it wasn’t the majority) where people would pay less mind about someone walking around barefoot.
What would you like people to know about being barefoot?
It feels great!
Tell your story, opinions, experiences.
Grew up spending my first 12 years of life on an island in the Philippines, basically a barefoot island boy and would run down the street through town a few blocks barefoot to get to the beach and explore the reefs/scuba diving. Eventually my parents found a career that required immigration to the USA, my mother was recruited as a nurse in Minnesota. From then until about 16/17 years old, I hardly was barefoot outside of home, until I found some likeminded individuals on the internet and learned that this was something people did even in urban/non-tropical/non-beach settings and realized since I enjoyed the feeling growing up, I can keep enjoying it now.