How would you describe a barefooter?
People who don’t like conventional shoes or any shoes at all
How long have you been barefoot?
4 years
Why did you decide to be barefoot?
I had absolutely debilitating ankle pain. I couldn’t sleep on my side, sit in a chair, shower standing up, or do much of anything. A chiropractor handed me “Born to Run” and I figured “hey- I’ve done it the doctors’ way for years and it’s led nowhere. I’ve got nothing to lose.” Within a couple days I could shower standing up and thoroughly wash my hair for the first time in years. The fire in my knees subsided. My hip pain went away. It was like magic. Never ever ever going back.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how “extreme” are you?
5
What is your opinion on shoes and socks?
Skip ‘em if you don’t like them. Wear them if they’re truly adding value to your life not because someone told you it’s unnatural not to.
Why do you think being barefoot is deemed as socially unacceptable?
They’ve been tricked.
Have you ever not been able to go in somewhere/refused service because you didn’t have shoes on?
Only from Linda the tyrant of our neighborhood clubhouse (we don’t like Linda).
What are the best and worst reactions you have gotten? How do you deal with bad reactions and unsolicited opinions?
Linda lol and when I was still going to PT she blamed EVERYTHING on me being barefoot. No my problems were because I had Ehlers Danlos Syndrome not from the only treatment that gave me my life back. My elbow could sublux and she’d be like “it’s because you need orthotics”. Ummm no. But it drove her crazy. I just shrug them off.
How do you go about feet care?
When I got inside I rinse them in the shower. Sometimes if I have a cut I’ll put some tallow on it. Feet take care of themselves.
Have you dealt with fetishers?
Ew no. Maybe they’re too subtle to notice.
Do you walk on everything or are there surfaces you don’t walk on?
I don’t walk barefoot in public restrooms.
What is your favorite surface to walk barefoot on and why?
Mud and moss. Squishy and pleasant. They just make me and my feet happy.
What are the worst things you’ve stepped on?
Poop. Definitely poop.
Have you had any mishaps?
I got bit by something and my foot swelled up for a couple days. That’s pretty much it.
How do you handle cold temperatures?
You build tolerance up every winter. Last year the coldest I walked (on sunny pavement) is 28°F. If I’ll be out for a while sometimes I wear sandals and I do own a single pair of barefoot boots I wear sometimes. Mostly for a fashion choice tho. It doesn’t get too cold most of the time here.
In your experience, what season is best to be barefoot?
Spring and fall. Not too hot or cold. Spring rain makes for pleasant walks and puddles clean your feet as you go.
How does being barefoot affect aspects of your life (love, career e.t.c)?
I’ve gotten my husband into it! My clients find it cheeky- I usually work in barefoot shoes and sometimes they’ll offer to let me work barefoot.
What challenges do you run into (physically, socially e.t.c)?
NONE. It’s improved my life x1000
What are misconceptions about being barefoot?
It’s dangerous and unnatural.
What are your fears that stem from being barefoot?
Hot summer pavement and public restrooms.
What advantages of being barefoot have you experienced?
I can walk. I can grocery shop and cook and clean and shower and sit in chairs. I have my mental space back. My thoughts used to be *constantly* interrupted to think about my ankle, what to sacrifice that day to minimize steps, etc. now I can just have long trains of thought.
What disadvantages of being barefoot have you experienced?
Really just summer pavement.
What are things to NOT say or do to barefoot people?
Don’t treat us like we’re stupid.
How do you feel about how barefoot is portrayed in media? What are some of your favorite pieces of media with authentic representation?
They’re usually pothead hippies. I can’t think of any portrayal that resonates with me honestly. If “Born to Run” counts it’s an incredible book and I would deem it authentic.
What would you like to say to barefooters?
Keep it up.
Give tips to new barefooters and people looking to go barefoot.
Just do it. The first time is the scariest and it just gets easier every time after that.
How do you wish our society would perceive and treat barefoot people?
Stop treating us like we’re freaks, unhygienic, or idiots. I quite literally just want to be able to walk. Stop assuming we’re a danger to ourselves and a lawsuit waiting to happen.
What would you like people to know about being barefoot?
It’s really not dangerous. It’s just walking how you were built to walk. I’ve never cut the bottom of my foot on anything.
Tell your story, opinions, experiences.
I’ve been slowly trying to begin running and the uptick in exercise gave me a bout of plantar fasciitis for the first time- I really swear walking barefoot in the woods reset and fixed it basically overnight.
I was crippled for 4 years. I did 10+ rounds of PT. I got surgery, custom orthotics, I wore a compression sleeve and two ankle braces every day. While I do think I needed the surgery and don’t regret it, my life would be ruined without barefoot. My body is still too fragile to handle any change to my gait. It just hurts #ehlersdanlosawareness
My doctors still try to fight me on it. I went back to my surgeon to get advice on running with a hindfoot valgus deformity and when I tried to refuse orthotics because they destroyed my life he told me “you can bring a horse to water but you can’t make it drink”. I left crying in frustration and I’ll never go back. Next time he sees me it’s because I’ll be in the news for running a marathon with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Sometimes you gotta go with basic logic over your doctors who want you to drink toxic sludge that they pretend is water.