Comments on: Why Barefoot?

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Mon, 03 May 2010 11:22:30 +0000

Hi Claude,

Thank you for the honest feedback. We will work on being more interactive. I think that is an area we can improve on. Is there an episode in particular that made you think of this comment?

Also, we always post information about who we are going to be interviewing and often even the date, so don’t be shy and send in your own questions. You can do that through the site or better yet, call our feedback line

Thanks

By: Claude

Claude — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:19:23 +0000

Thank you for the web page and the great information on the podcast;really appreciated.

Suggestion for future shows: Please become more interactive with your interview/guests. Responses like “Great” and “Super” rather than follow up questions leave us (the listeners) wondering “why didn’t he/she ask more in depth questions.

As we say in NYC ; Youse guys are great but don’t be scared to ask and be more interactive/entertaining.

Be Well and stay barefoot-Claude

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:03:02 +0000

I wear Feelmax Niesa for the ultimate barefooting experience. I have mine in Black which are pretty much suitable for most work environments if wearing under trousers. I have tried Fivefingers but found Feelmax looks more appropriate in certain situations/environments where you dont want them sticking out like a sore thumb. Feelmax gives you one of the best (im my opinion) barefoot experiences!

By: rebecca

rebecca — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:24:22 +0000

Barefooting is great because it allows your feet to feel free – but alot of people live in unforgiving environments so barefoot shoes are an amazing invention!

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:26:22 +0000

It is great to be barefoot. I have a hard time wearing shoes. Some find it difficult to give up their running shoes. We have written about this on our blog and how to get into it. http://barefoot-running.com/blog/?p=29

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:43:01 +0000

I started going barefoot last year most of the time. I cant at work, but pretty much everywhere else with the exception of restraunts. I love the feeling of my barefeet touching the ground beneath my bare skin. It’s a feeling that can’t be described. I love it. Even be stings feel good, just to be able to feel it is fun. My feet are sensitive so it feel like a boost of energy for the body and soul or sole lol.

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:30:13 +0000

That sounds extreme. What are the regulations for you in the UK? Kids round around barefoot all the time. Why have they singled you out? Please join our forums and perhaps our members can help you through this. Al

By: sarah

sarah — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:09:19 +0000

I have just been reported to social workers for allowing my 3 and half yr old to walk bare footed along the pavements, I always had her shoes with us so this has been completely her choice,
now having to defend myself against the wheels of regulation for one of the most natural activities we can do…..please any comments? sarah…uk..

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:43:35 +0000

Hi Craig, There are three common types: the New world hookworm and American murderer and the Old world hookworm. The first two enter through the skin, while the last enters through the mouth. The most infected individuals are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia/the Pacific Islands. The worm thrives in warm earth where temperatures are over 18°C. They exist primarily in sandy or loamy soil and cannot live in clay or muck. Rainfall averages must be more than 1000 mm (40 inches) a year. Only if these conditions exist can the eggs hatch. The usual method of infection is through the skin; this is commonly caused by walking barefoot through areas contaminated with fecal matter. Treatments are easily available in developed countries. So to answer your question one would have to know where you live. In order to even be at risk for infection, however, you would need to live in a relatively wet and hot climate and then walk through an area contaminated with human fecal matter. Those are not conditions that most of us would easily find and thus hookworm infection (though common in third world countries) of the average barefooter is very unlikely. I hope that helps to answer your question. Welcome to our site.

By: Dave Johns

Dave Johns — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:36:24 +0000

Really nice site Al. I’ve been going barefoot a number of years. I really started to help strengthen my feet as a partake in the martial arts. But I found that it just felt good and somehow made me more much more concious of my surroundings. I find as I get older and despite of an unrelated leg injury my feet are in superb condition. I do wear ‘barefoot shoes’ regualr too. I find the Vivo’s superb.

By: Al Gauthier

Al Gauthier — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:42:56 +0000

We are in the process of testing the Soft Star Mocassins ourselves and look forward to being able to post a full review.

By: Willvis

Willvis — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:04:54 +0000

Try Soft Star Mocassins:

http://www.softstarshoes.com/

Great, if you must be shod.

Also, cheap water shoes with a decent insole. Recently hiked in the Rockies with these and they were just fine—not that I had broken these in and already gone through a couple of small blisters on my heel. Now they are fine.

But barefoot is my favorite.

By: Willvis

Willvis — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:02:58 +0000

I have been running, walking, hiking and mostly living barefoot all summer 2009. I am hooked, sold and totally happy with it. My achilles tendonitis is healing, after 15 years of wasting money on expensive shoes and insoles. My knees, hips and back feel better than ever.

I have walked all over London, UK, recently, and contracted nothing more serious than a severe case of dirty feet—which was remedied each day, after walking from the hotel to work by washing my feet in the bathroom sink.

The best thing is the rediscovery of feet as a living, flexing, feeling part of my body. My soles on the ground or pavement feel right. My posture is better, I feel better all over. Enough said.

By: craig adamski

craig adamski — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:04:50 +0000

Can you speak about parasites? I’ve read conflicting arguments. Of course, the medical industry, which always seems intent on scaring the #%^@! out of society, paints a very negative picture. As I understand it, human-borne hookworms are rare in our society. And that hookworms from dogs/cats etc. don’t have the necessary biology to enter our digestive system. I have a new pair of FiveFingers but go barefoot in my yard.