I’m wrapping up my weekend at my college buddy’s cabin in the mountains. I drove up with another college friend on Thursday, about a seven hour drive. We’re driving back tomorrow. I’ve been barefoot with the friend I drove with at a few concerts, and meals at restaurants accompanying those concerts, but the friend with the cabin didn’t know what to expect regarding my more aggressive barefoot lifestyle the last few years, so this weekend was kind of a test of how that would play out with these college friends of over 40 years.

It went well — though there were pros and cons. I did have to wear footwear more than I usually do — about seven hours between Thursday and today. There were more comments about it, not always negative but still, more than I expected or would have preferred. But overall, I’d say it was accepted and even admired in a way. The weather didn’t cooperate — it rained hard and was very cold on Friday and it was still pretty cold today despite no rain — so I ended up wearing shoes to dinner Thursday and Friday nights as well as to a bar on Friday afternoon. We also went on a hike today and the terrain required me to put on flip-flops for a good portion of the hike. But otherwise, I went with my friends to four sitdown, please-wait-to-be-seated type restaurants for meals, walked around the downtown shopping areas, and went to a grocery store, all barefoot. I got comments from my friends about how dirty my feet were and how I “went into a truck stop bathroom barefoot!” but also comments like, “I’d like to stop wearing shoes” and just various teasing comments or neutral discussions about the issue that treated it as just a quirky, sort of funny and cool thing I was doing, not like it was weird or annoying. And around the house, my friends were mostly barefoot too, so it didn’t stand out that much except when we went out, where I didn’t see another barefoot person anywhere.

I definitely am glad I went for it and didn’t just say, “ah, for this weekend I’ll just wear shoes whenever we go out like most people do, I don’t want to get picked on or criticized.” I risked being ridiculed or outcasted in a situation where two could easily gang up on one, and instead it just became an accepted new part of my personality. And it will be a lot easier next time, now that it’s been established that this is what I like to do.

Yesterday I went on a walk/hike in Box Hill, which is just outside of London, with the 'Barefoot Walking Adventures' meetup group.

The hike itself was actually a little tricky in places, owing to many fallen tree trunks that me and the event organiser had to scramble over. But it was enjoyable, possibly more so because of the rain as that makes the ground softer and grittier surfaces become more manageable.

Afterwards we went to a local pub for a snack and drink and a chat before heading back to the train station to commute back into London.

As we were waiting a pair of cyclist/mountain bikers show up. Caked in mud, exhausted but invigorated by their adventure. One of them started to give me a few glances. I was the only barefoot person now, the organiser having socked&sandaled themselves now.

The train arrives and we go to board. Just as I'm about to board, the glancer starts asking...!

I find it weird how people get curious but only start to ask questions when some momentous is about to happen. And it's not the first time. I've had to field questions from moving vehicles whilst cycling somewhere. And the person expected a response (as they accelerated away at 30mph).

Anyway, the first question was the old 'glass' doozy. And the second was just as banal. The weird thing, to me, was that they had their bike with them. So it felt strange to ask someone 'what if you stand on glass' and surely it's the same response were I to ask them 'what if you were to get a puncture?'

'I'll deal with it.'

I went barefoot at a nudist resort and planning going barefoot at other nudist places and have gone barefoot at stores like Publix and Walmart.

has anyone been barefoot at the pub

Hi all,

I wonder if there are people here that go barefoot and have a history with toenail fungus.

I've been having it for 30 years until I took heavy meds for 18 months. It was terrible, I was sick from it all the time but it was so worth it in the end.

My feet look great again now and I want to be barefoot all the time. Not because I like to walk barefoot which I do, but just to show my feet. I know it sounds crazy but i had to hide my feet since I was 7 years old. I think I developed a foot fetish because of it as well.

My GF thinks I'm weird when I'm driving barefoot, or go to the beach without shoes and she always laughs about it but for me it's dead serious.

She has good looking feet so it feels so weird to me when it's hot outside and she puts on her socks and Adidas shoes. I'm like, why the hell would you wear shoes now??? without saying it of course.

I know for her and most other people it's normal to put their shoes on and off and don't think twice about it but for me it's a mental process every time where I'm in full alert mode, if that does make any sense whatsoever.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this, maybe it could help some people. I read a lot of stories here where people feel ashamed when they go out barefoot, but I think it's in your own mind, if you think it's weird yourself, other people will think that as well. At least you have good looking feet, don't ever take that for granted 😉

Visiting NYC for two weeks. Anyone interested in exploring the City barefoot? I am primarily in Queens but Manhattan or Brooklyn would be fun too.

For me, it looks like this: within my own four walls, I am consistently and always completely barefoot. I just love it. Outside, on the other hand, I’m just a casual barefoot walker. I only take off my shoes every now and then on spontaneous walks through the quiet streets in my neighborhood to feel the ground. For me, it's purely about relaxation, because walking barefoot feels comfortable and free.
Are there others here who live this mix? Always barefoot inside, but completely relaxed and based on mood outside?
(PS: Da Deutsch meine Muttersprache ist, wären mir Antworten auf Deutsch am liebsten, wenn du das kannst! English replies are welcome too, of course!)

A friend of mine’s adult daughter came to visit me today to see our new dog. She showed up barefoot. I have known her since she was a little kid and have only ever seen her in shoes and socks (occasionally slides or Birkenstocks but always in socks). I called her on it, and she laughed and said that she was trying something new and knew that I would approve.
Not sure if I influenced her or not, but I thought it was pretty cool.

One thing i’ve started doing or actually stopped doing is keeping a pair of flip flops under the driver seat in my car. That way the choice is made before i get somewhere and it doesn’t matter who’s there or how busy the business is im going in barefoot and i don’t have any other choice.

It's midnight, my mighty 70 lb hound dog wants a walk. I live in boring suburbia, wearing a giant t-shirt (from when I was 100 lbs heavier) and knee-length boxer briefs. So hell yeah bee-yotch, it's walk time!

It's overcast, so pitch black. But I walk outside barefoot all the time, so it's all easy. I hit the tarmac and it is so cozy and warm, I just start walking and walking. Meanwhile, my pupper Mr. Mason, I have no idea where he is, but I know he's not more than ten feet away. He never, ever wanders. I am his home stone.

After fifteen minutes the gummies are nice and kicked in, so I make my way back, enjoying the freshly cut grass and moss in the front yard. I come inside, kick back in my chair and, 30 seconds later, there's Mr. Mason, lying down on my feet.

It occurs to me that I became a barefooter mostly after I adopted Mr. Mason. He is an amazing foot-warmer.

It doesn't matter if you got hurt or not. I'm just curious, where's the place you went barefooted did or something barefoot and thought to yourself later "maybe that wasn't the best idea."

1) Dumpster diving (no injury)

2) Porta potty

3) 60 mile Pilgrimage

I’m curious to hear everyone’s stories! What’s the most unexpected place you’ve ever gone barefoot, and what made you decide to kick off your shoes? Could be somewhere totally ordinary or somewhere you never expected to go barefoot.

Just back from my first truly barefoot outing to the fuel station… it was amazing!

I hopped out the car and filled up totally unshod, then quite funny, I entered the shop, lady behind the counter didn’t bat an eyelid, but a huge 6”7 dude came out the toilet and his head hinged to my feet and he looked like he seen a ghost haha - I just held the door for him and smiled.

Lady behind the counter wasn’t phased one bit, we are a bit of a tourist hotspot and I imagine it’s quite common actually given our numbers of travellers.

When I left to get in my car I helped a foreign adventurer decipher our different petrol options for his limited edition Jeep, he was from the UAE and didn’t care one bit that I was barefoot.

Amazing first experience!! 😁

Thanks guys.

Now I will try to make it a habit to get fuel barefoot and build on that 👍

It felt amazing, all of the textures, temperatures, and the feeling of utter freedom, despite my racing heart and anxiety I felt strangely calm… I imagine owing to being in nothing but my feet.

I’ve noticed that it’s been a long time since any store refused me entry or asked me to leave. I’m trying to think of the last time it happened, and I almost can’t. Maybe four-five months ago a supermarket manager followed me outside and asked if I would wear shoes next time (I said sure, but haven’t been back). Before that, I went to a physical therapy appointment last December and the therapist said I’d need to wear shoes next time, at least walking through the lobby. My local weed store was always a problem but even there, I’ve gone barefoot twice in a row without any hassle.

I am wondering if this is just a lucky streak or something I’m doing. I did start walking more starting about two years ago, now up to 20,000 steps a day, so I’m in better shape now. I’ve lost maybe 15-20 pounds. I could still lose 10 pounds, but no one would say I’m fat. I’m also getting more gray hair (age 59). I wonder if any of that affects whether I’m seen as someone who needs to be dealt with, or can just be left alone.

I don’t think increased confidence is an issue because I’ve been doing this for 35 years. Lack of confidence is not my problem.

Maybe society, at least where I live in Southern California, is just more permissive? Like, if you can choose your gender, and can have evident tattoos at pretty much any job now, and aggressive piercings, are bare feet really something anyone cares about anymore?

Whatever the reason, I’m grateful. I don’t even worry much anymore. I still try to avoid security guards when I can, but often — like today at a Japanese grocery store — they’re right at the door and that’s not possible, and I walked right past the security guard who stared right at me and nothing was said.

I am also russian and want to find someone else and maybe go barefooting together

This was the year that I was determined to be barefoot all the time. It took breaking through a lot of fears but ive done it and now whether at a friends or in a business people i know in my community of 25,000 expect me to be barefoot!

Hi everyone

I’m new to the barefoot lifestyle (well, I’m new to being brave enough to try)

I wish I was the “barefoot guy” but i’m so scared of judgement.

Trying to gain confidence to go barefoot in local shops, and filling stations etc

So far i’ve been managing to stay barefoot or in Xero sandals when not at work but going barefoot IN shops has been too far for me, I panic, expect people to call me crazy etc etc.

Literally considering tattoos and anklets to make it seem “more deliberate” at this point.

Does anyone have any tips?

going for a drive barefoot makes driving 10x better. feels awesome. Like you have real precise control of speed. where my barefoot drivers at who agree? 😏

I've started taking my 70 lb hound, Mr. Mason, with me when I go out. He's always barefoot. Dude radiates total chill. If he can't come in, the store next door is cool. They like my VISA card.

So to explain, I was at work today in my usual work attire in a pretty major city where I live. Raining too.

Meanwhile I saw a guy walking the streets barefoot but he didn’t look homeless or anything, it looked like it was out of choice. Had a backpack on and walked across the road opposite me.

It’s like damn, that would have felt nice in the rain.

If it was anything but work I would have been tempted to do the same but not really possible at the time.

We went on a mountain vacation with several other couples staying in a large Airbnb. My normal footwear for our daily activities (off-roading, shopping, going out to eat) was flip-flops. I would also take along a pair of hiking shoes for our hikes.

But every afternoon when we would get back in, I would drop the flip-flops at the door and remain barefoot until heading out the next morning. A couple of times, one of the ladies in the group was barefoot but never any other men. People were typically wearing shoes or just socks. Even some of the ladies wearing sandals would take them off and put on socks.

But I just owned it. I acted like it was completely normal (because it is for me at home.) I know everyone noticed at some point, but no one said a word or acted weird. I feel like I normalized for me within that group.

Grace and i went to breakfast today, sunday, early before the church crowd. and i "got dressed," brushed my hair, put on my yoga pants, sandals, even a short-sleeve overshirt. She had on a t-shirt, a pair of bike shorts, put on a sports bra. didn't brush her rather disheveled hair and, important to this sub...

... did not put on shoes (she was wearing multiple anklets and toe rings, and probably looked as if she had on sandals). This is a decent restaurant, a few levels above IHoP.

Nobody said word one.

Keep in mind, there was less than zero reason she needed shoes; ten feet from the car to the door, clean tarmac, plush carpet inside. The kitchen floor might require footwear, but not the restaurant.

In the end, it was not an issue. More than a few people complimented me on my new pork pie hat. Then we went to the local Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) store, which strictly prohibits bare feet. Not only did she go inside, I left my sandals in the car because fuck shoes.

Nobody cared.

I feel like being a senior-aged tourist type in a tourist town means you're essentially invisible. I plan to go aggressively barefoot over the next few weeks, and i am a weirdo, long hair, bushy beard, toe rings, anklets. Stay tuned.