A flop in general (sales numbers) because of the need for a very specialized fit. They are way cool. I use them when I can't go barefoot - mounds of sea shells, coral, lava rock - by the ocean. My feet are so tough and I can go days barefoot anywhere - except for the above where I can get cut up somewhat.
Here's an old Yahoo!Answers post I made about staying barefoot in winter: First is, keep the rest of your body warm. When you go out in the cold, your body's priority is keeping the temperature in your vital organs at normal level, that means your torso & head. When you start to get cold, circulation withdraws from your extremities into those areas to limit heat loss, and the first things that will *feel* cold are your feet & hands. That's why people often think that if you put shoes on you'll remain warm and if you go barefoot you must be getting terribly cold! But if your upper body & head are very warm, if you wear a wool hat, a thick sweater, a thick coat, and even cover most of your legs in nice warm leggings to limit heat loss underway to your feet, then your circulatory system can -with a bit of practice/training- keep your feet warm even in freezing temperatures & snow! Second: training. Like any system in our bodies, this does take a bit of getting used to; many people who have airco in summer & heating in winter and don't do much outdoor activities in extreme weather have forgotten how to keep their own body at a comfortable temperature... not just in a rational way, as most answers here show: 'put shoes on' or 'stay indoors' but also your body won't be able to adjust as quickly if you've never gone barefoot outside and suddenly do so on a day when it's 10F and windy. But if you go barefoot year round, you may just be amazed at how long you can keep barefooting in fall/winter. Third: keep moving! When you start barefooting, go for a pretty brisk walk. You can even clench your toes at every step for extra warmth; muscles create warmth when you use them & motion also stimulates circulation. Wiggle your toes when you have to stand still. If you get used to this you may actually find you'll get less cold toes than you did wearing shoes; in shoes, your foot can't move that well, circulation is often restricted, and if you stand around long enough in shoes, you'll probably get cold feet. I had numb toes that hurt when warming up *very* often when I still wore boots & rode my bicycle a lot; while I moved my legs, my feet were way too confined in there. Since I've gone barefoot, I've pushed my limits a few times & was just _starting_ to get a bit numb when I got home, but my feet haven't ever hurt warming up like I remember from my shod days, not once!!! Fourth: food. Unless you're really watching your weight, you may want to eat a little more fat than you would during summer or when staying indoors. Don't gobble up three plates of bacon rinds & a jar of mayonaise but a bit more fat will help keep you warm. The Inuit eat loads of fat in winter, unless you want to live in an iglo I wouldn't eat quite as much as them but still you're gonna need a bit of a heat source. Don't forget to lay off when it's warmer, too. Fifth: sole-less footwear. I like to keep my entire foot bare if at all possible, but a good alternative is a 'barefoot gaiter'. This is a cover for the top of the foot, attached around the ankle, the big or second toe (own preference) and only a strap underneath the sole to help keep it in place. This is especially helpful in deeper snow to keep the snow from hitting the thin skin on top of the foot. IMPORTANT! If you do go outside in freezing weather, watch your feet for signs of numbness, for you do not want to get frostbite. When I step outside, right away my feet will feel a bit cold, but they will warm up within 5-10 minutes at most. If they're red, that's okay; it means there's lots of blood flowing and blood/circulation is what transports the heat from the rest of your body (which, remember, is warmly dressed). If they turn pale and/or go numb, that is not good! Be prepared to go inside and warm up, or put footwear on after all if you see any sign of this at all. I haven't needed my footwear for five or six winters, even though I've been working for hours in the snow at temps well below freezing sometimes, but I still don't leave the house without footwear in my bag when it's really cold. Pushing your limits is fun; getting careless/cocky & getting frostbite because you had no way to get warm is not.
Thanks for all of the advice. In addition to all of the other problems we have (over here) it can get really cold - (-40F = -40C) so there are times barefoot is not an option.
These work for me in the winter. Soft soled mocs - no padding. They provide some warmth and feel very close to barefoot.
I've gotten a lot of positive comments about my Vibrams. Okay, I'm not a secret Vibram salesperson on the side. It's the comments that are interesting. Once someone breaks the ice and starts talking to me about the Vibrams, the comment inevitably comes up from them, "I just love going barefoot and those look so comfortable." I always think, "Well why don't you go barefoot then?" I usually make a comment about how I hate shoes and go barefoot everywhere when it's warm. People usually don't comment on my shoeless practice. I've said it before, most people love to be barefoot, but society's norms keep them from going barefoot in public. People will approach me about my Vibrams, but tend to avoid me when I'm barefoot. If they do talk to me when I'm barefoot, they seem surprised that I don't speak like an escapee from a looney bin! On the one hand, I'm frustrated that so many people love to be barefoot but won't do it in public. Look at all the skimpy sandals during the summer. People hate shoes! On the other hand, the fact so many people appreciate barefoot comfort probably explains why I rarely get any flack when I go places in my bare feet. Others may not do it themselves, but understand the comfort of someone else doing it. Perhaps they wish they had they nerve to go barefoot in public as well!
I think you are right. I am surprised at the "thumbs up" sometimes and realize they are a kindred sole who just hasn't gotten their courage up - hopefully, yet!
I totally agree here. The need to conform to society's standards completly overrides the opportunity to connect their feet to mother earth. Only until later in life when they are on their deathbed do they regret forfeiting that pleasureable experience. Sad insn't it?
Hello Fellow Barefooters, For me, barerfoot in winter has always been mind over matter...like walking on coals. It can be done and safely. Listen to your body, dress warm and believe or not a HAT works, even a baseball cap. You lose a lot of body heat from your head. Choosing to be barefoot in winter is no different in my mind then chossing to not wear gloves or a hat. YES, people do look or even walk away thinking you are completely nuts...but if you want to be barefoot, do it. Have fun. It is different and should be experienced once in your life. Think of it as white sand. In this pic, I have a shirt and heavy sweater with my leather jacket, ball cap, jeans and long johns. No problems walking throught the park. It was fun. If I can remember, it was -6 celcius that day.
You have my respect. You've got to be tough for that - must explain the "hockey" in your screen name! I'm not going to go barefoot in the snow, but if you enjoy it, go for it! I think the coldest it's been when I've gone barefoot to run errands is around 40 deg F (~4 deg C). I've run out the check the mail or grab the newspaper without shoes around freezing. In general, I prefer it to be at least 50 deg F (~10 deg C) to go out barefoot, and prefer it warmer than 60 deg F (~16 deg C). That's just me though.
Very nice! I wish I were tough enough to take the cold like that. I have tried it before out of curiosity for just a minute or two when there was snow and ice. I suppose I'll get another chance at it this winter.
Wow, my hat's off to you! :cheers2: You're definitely more of a man than I am. Where I live (suburban area of Los Angeles), it doesn't get that cold compared to where you are (I'm guessing Canada, since Hockey is in your user handle?).
I love going barefoot but living up in northern canada it is impossible to do. What I would suggest to you in moccosins or mukluks, it feeels like you're wearing socks they are great. I get them from local aboriginals who sell and make them with the left over hide that they have. The only thing is you have to watch for inbetween weather. They arae great for when it is really cold, but not wet. They are leather so they do get wet. I find then fanstatic and I can feel everything just like when i am barefoot. they were inexpensive and some of the woman who make them put beautiful art beading on them.
I hear you. I'm not sure those in the warmer climates appreciate how dangerously cold it can get in the winter. I'm sure where you're at in Northern Canada is much worse than what we experience in Colorado. Nonetheless, this morning it was 16 deg F (-9 deg C) and winter hasn't even hit yet! I kicked off my leather moccasins to walk three steps in my bare feet through light snow to grab the newspaper. I didn't want to mess up the leather on my moccasins. It was pretty cold! I certainly wouldn't want to go for a brisk walk around the block at that temperature. It won't be too long till we get some sub-zero (< -18 deg C) days. Ugghhh! I need at least one barefoot outing this month to have gone barefoot every month in 2009. I'm hoping for either a heat wave locally or a warm-weather business trip. Monday (which was actually November), the forecast was for 60 deg F (~16 deg C). I thought I'd have the opportunity to shed the shoes for a bit. Unfortunately, it never got close to that temperature. The local weather forecast is based on Denver International Airport (DIA) which is far from the populated metro area. Supposedly the temperature hit 62 (~17 deg C) at DIA on Monday. It didn't get anywhere close to that where I live - it barely hit 50. That combined with a nastly cold I've got kept the shoes on my feet.
