Have this checked out if You please, a document from the Department of conservation - New Zealand Government where they explicitly advise about going barefoot in nature (among other 50 things). So there going barefoot is officially recommended, it seems! I find this... uplifting Go barefoot
The more I read about New Zealand, the more I think it's the closest thing to heaven on Earth. Being a barefoot friendly country with a moderate climate and a beautiful wilderness makes New Zealand absolutely awesome!
I still think the best way to promote bare-footing in the rest of the west is as a sport. Like adding 50lbs to your bench press its an athletic sport building up your ability to go barefoot unlike the tourists at the beach that cant even make it across parking lot without walking funny.
As a New Zealander i can confirm bare feet are not an issue here. As an example, two days ago at the supermarket on a cold, wet autumn evening there were three others in there barefoot as well as me. All with dirty feet!
So normal for us that I still find it really weird seeing barefoot and naturist in the same subforum on this site. They're so totally different and in no way linked in my mind. Most of us go barefoot without thinking about it while nudism is a very rare and luxurious pursuit.
