Barefoot Survival Techniques

Take it easy at first, taking many short walks until your soles toughen up.

Hot water, a stiff bristle brush, good liquid soap and 4 minutes and they'll be good as new. For more information on this topic, please see this thread.

 

Sorry I didn't read through each reply yet, but in the original post you mentioned carrying flip-flops with you. I know I may get some flack for saying this, but to me that's not "going barefoot". That's just taking your shoes off. Going barefoot is knowing that your shoes are miles away, at home, where they belong. I don't even own as much as flip-flops. My last pair broke 2 years ago and I made the decision to just not buy any replacements and to see how long I could get away with living like a barefoot hippie.

 

When society demands you wear shoes for certain activities, like bording a plane, work etc, then sometimes you have to give in to that. Yes you have argue and fight for your right, but it won't always work. You could always avois the activites, but then that's not living.

 

But what if society demands that you wear shoes for *all* activities? Where I live, even homeless people and street bums will laugh at you for not wearing shoes. They will call out to you from across the street, drawing negative attention to you. The only technique I know for fighting that is to move somewhere else.

 

i was thinking, since Uncle Sam insists on fending off all menaces by the sword instead of, say, spending a bit of the mountain of money squandered over weaponry and GI paraphernalia to finance a giant food plan to eradicate hunger, that would greatly enhance his popularity (but isn't even remotely as profitable as selling rockets), surely more than bombs dropped over children, and now he's so desperate about suicidal bombers to prescribe x rays for all passengers boarding on each fucking plane, why not taking the opportunity to promote bare feet and more than this nudism ? a crew of hippie passengers going naked and barefoot for check in would really be news. I'd really like to take part in a thing like this, but unfortunately I'm alone and one naked customer at the gate is just a nut-case, ten or twenty of them make a -case.

that would be like saying, have my cock scanned, you stupid morons. if one security guard can see me naked then everyone can. where is the point ? people is so eager to gulp with no second thought each crock of shit offered by their masters, they make me sick.

I'm concerned about future scenarios too. what if the «bad guys» (largely an opinion based on which one killed your loved ones) start shoveling fuzed mortar grenades up their asses/cunts ? you never know how high stakes will grow...

 

But isn't moving away, the same same as giving in and wearing shoes?

 

Just as bad - maybe worse. I'm not packing yet.

 

If you've read most of my posts, I agree with you 100%. In my mind, just taking your shoes off to perform an activity doesn't qualify as barefoot living. An exception to this practice is when I go through an airport. Despite having my flip-flops with me, I wake-up barefoot, drive to the airport barefoot, go through security barefoot, board the plane barefoot, rent a car barefoot, and check into my hotel barefoot. That's a lot of barefoot! When flying, I do carry flip-flops with me and make them evident. The reasons are as follows. First, I'm usually flying for work. I can't afford to miss a flight, miss an appointment, and fail to perform my job (okay, just having a job is sorta inconsistent with living as a "barefoot hippie," but I've gotta pay the bills ). My boss wouldn't be very understanding if I told him I didn't make my flight because I refused to wear shoes. Second, plane tickets are pricey. Even if I'm traveling on my own, I'm not willing to forego several hundred dollars in airfare so I can boldly say I stuck to my barefoot choices. Finally, my reason for my making the flip-flops evident is just to minimize the likelihood of being hassled. Around town, etc., I never have any kind of footwear with me and don't mind the occasional (but very rare) negative comment. At an airport, I want to minimize the excuses the TSA agents have to pull me aside for additional screening. If it appears I've just slipped off my flip-flops because they were supposedly rubbing or to speed my way through Security, I'm probably not as conspicuous.

 

Other animals and plants are more "natural" than humans? :smilielol5: This is all in your head.

Our ancient ancestors got along without shoes of any kind, and there is no evidence to suggest that they walked around with infections all the time. You can get used to almost anything, if you make up your mind that you're going to do it. Take your cue from children. They don't worry about what they are stepping on (unless it's painful) until adults teach them to worry.

 

Like the rest of my post said; if I had gone up rolling around in human urine - then yes, i'd probably be desensitized to it.

If you are happy to walk in urine, then good on you. Not all people are.

 

I fly all over the world, including the US, and I think that out of the literally hundreds of flights I've made, shoes were only demanded once.

Likewise, if you work for fascists, you have to dress for them. Find someone to work for who's not a fascist, or better yet, start your own company, like mine, where shoes are strictly forbidden on the premises.

Think outside of the box, or live in one.

 

OMG, this is sad news because I often contemplated moving to NC. What part of NC do you live in? I know around Asheville, is supposed to be a hippie haven, so I would think bare feet were common place.

I am from NE Penna. It is not that bad here. Most places I go (grocery stores, malls, school, even govt. bldgs) nobody notices or cares if you don't have shoes. Don't get me wrong, there are people that have a problem with it, but the good def. outweighs the negative. I get more compliments for walking barefoot than I do negative reactions.

 

Did you ever consider "barefoot sandals" when flying? I have come across girls wearing these twice and both times they even fooled me. It wasn't until I looked more closely at their feet that I noticed the "shoes" were fake and had no bottoms.

 

Winston-Salem. I have never seen another barefoot person in this city, not even a child in a public park. I have been here three years.

I have seen a few barefoot hippies in Asheville, but not many. I'm not sure why. I don't think the downtown business owners care. There are no signs posted.

Once at the North Carolina coast, I had a stranger come up and tell me I should be wearing sandals on the beach!

 

Very sad. I thought the more south you go = more laid back = more tolerant of bare feet. I guess I should be thankful that this area is barefoot tolerant. Even as a young kid I remember seeing lots of people in their 20s and 30s at festivals and fairs, even in stores barefoot. More than you could count. Not so much lately.

 

Then you are very lucky, some people are refused to board, some people continuously received comments etc. Clearly, you have it easier than some.

well if you want to live by being barefooted 24/7 and never wear shoes for any reason, then yes is would make sense. But, if you like being barefooted, or even prefer it, but want to combine this with living and working as before - then so be it.

Wering shoes to work, or for various activities is not a suggestion that employers are facists. If you are happy your way, good for you. I am also happy my way.

I think it is more of a question of finding a box that fits you.

 

I can't take credit for this idea, but I was reminded recently that using a treadmill barefoot in winter is a good way to avoid having to start over as a tenderfoot in the spring.

 

I've got some. In fact I started a thread showing how to make them (http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=366130&f=403). See second page for instructions. I even put them through several tests to evaluate their effectiveness - no problems. For airports, I'd prefer to go barefoot and have something as a back-up I know I can rely on (i.e., flip-flops). I don't see the point in risking being denied boarding.

 

I have an even better solution. Why start off as a tenderfoot in the Spring, why not be a toughfoot all winter? I never thought it was even possible to go barefoot all winter until my hippie friend Maureen coaxed me into trying it with her. Not only did I survive last winter barefoot, I still have no shoes this winter. If your feet are tough enough it's actually quite comfortable to be barefoot in the winter. I think temps in the teens are my limit though. It rarely gets any colder than the 20s around here anyway.

 

That's a great idea!! We've got a treadmill. I tried using it barefoot a couple of years ago. The moving rubber mat was too much for an extended workout and I got blisters. Doing something less intense, it might be just the thing to build up my soles! For a routine cardio-vascular workout, I've got an exercise bike I ride. Most people buy exercise bikes, use them a couple of times, and let them rust until the next garage sale. I'm proud to say I've beaten two exercise bikes to death and I'm working on my third. This one has "barefoot-friendly" pedals making it more comfortable to pedal when I'm sweating like a pig!