Hello! I have a question for you guys. I like walking barefoot (I'm starting to detest my shoes because they are hurting my feet after five minutes), but the street I live on and the street that takes me to university are sharp asphalt. I'd like to do something to strengthen my soles so I don't have to walk the puzzle (grass, do I have to cross here, pavement, back to grass) every day. Do you have any tips, or any ideas on how long it will take for my feet to grow stronger? Thanks! Lian
Take It One Step At A Time *pun intended* Just Stick A Pair Of Flip-Flops In Your Back Pack And When The Feet Tell You They Have Had Enough, Slip Them On For The Rest Of The Walk. Take It Slowly And When You Finally Become Fulltime I Can Assure You, You Will Love It.... Been Fulltime Here For Just On 7 1/2 Years And Still Loving It Today As Much As I Did Back Then.... Cheers Glen.
Thanks for the ideas! I think I'll go with the flipflops, because shoes really hurt (the joint of my big toe gets upset)
no less than 9 months / one year before one starts getting properly conditioned is a safe minimum guess, i believe. there are connective tissues and muscles down there in the sole and they must become tonic to cushion bones in your feet. as glen says safety flops are very recommended for the beginner. unless one wants to end up with swollen feet or worse.
Every person is different. Some adapt sooner than others. One mistake people new to barefooting make is going too long, getting blistered or sore feet and swear never to go barefoot again. I've had girlfriends with very calloused soles, uniformly leather-like tough soles and even soft soles and none had any discomfort whatsoever on hot pavement, gravel, rocks, etc. Everyone's skin adapts differently. Take it slow and let nature take its course. This is especially true for those who spent the winter shod.
I can't add much more to the sensible comments above. Expect I suppose it depends on the type of shoes your feet are used to. If you've been in minimal shoes for a long time your feet will already be quite resistant to impacts and fairly strong. Just give it a go, as long as your comfortable keep walking Shayla x
Just always do a little bit more than you did the day before and you'll soon find yourself lasting all day long. As well as thickening your skin you'll be gradually adjusting the way you walk to suit bare feet rather than shoes, which will make everything easier for you too.
Again, there's not a lot more that I can add to the advice that has already been given, other than to say that as your feet grow more accustomed to bare-footing, you may find that your walking gait changes. Having turned to bare foot running, approximately three years ago, I've observed the following: My running gait has changed, to the point where my running stride isn't as wide as it once was; My foot-fall appears far lighter than it did when running in trainers; My leg turn-over has also increased, as a result of running with a smaller gait cycle; The fatty padding upon the balls of my feet has also increased; and The shape of my feet has changed, as they've grown stronger. Hope this helps
