The Facepunch Bare-Foot Challenge - Because we didn't evolve with shoes on our feet - General

[QUOTE=slinkman;23844297]Anyone with knowledge/experience with the Vibram shoes have a suggestion of which ones to get for the winter months? (average high: 0c) (average low:-11c)[/QUOTE] I remember reading a blog a guy wrote, and he wore the KSO's out into the snow. However, he also wore some pretty heavy duty toe-socks underneath then.

[QUOTE=MaverickIB;23846337]I remember reading a blog a guy wrote, and he wore the KSO's out into the snow. However, he also wore some pretty heavy duty toe-socks underneath then.[/QUOTE] I was looking at the flow's and they look like they could handle it pretty solid, but where my concern comes in is the summer months, (average high: 30c - with humidity 40c) God damned Iowa weather.

[QUOTE=slinkman;23846547]I was looking at the flow's and they look like they could handle it pretty solid, but where my concern comes in is the summer months, (average high: 30c - with humidity 40c) God damned Iowa weather.[/QUOTE] Your feet won't burn up or anything while wearing them, not in moderate heat like that.

I stepped on a needle and got AIDS. What now?

Those 5 finger shoe things look excellent, but, they're not cheap. I'd get some if I could get 'em cheaper.

Got mine for 55$ with a 25$ off coupon.

[QUOTE=ZekeTwo;23841997]Woah everyone back off we got an :siren: internet tough guy alert :siren:[/QUOTE] It's the truth man, if you can't stand on broken glass without getting cut I don't know what's wrong with you.

[QUOTE=Jallen;23804246]England :smugdog:[/QUOTE] I can't walk barefoot here in Blackpool. Anywhere I go has potential shit that will hurt my feet when walking/running. Little stones (shush, they DO hurt), glass, etc

You know those new shape-ups by sketchers? I tried then out and they were pretty comturable, maybe they are the future for shoes.

[QUOTE=BmB;23847051]It's the truth man, if you can't stand on broken glass without getting cut I don't know what's wrong with you.[/QUOTE] okay so I tested this, I went outside and walked down my street, there was a telephone box that has had the windows smashed in. I walked over the shards trying to be as bro as you are, I now have blood on the bottom of my foot, and theres a small chance I have aids as the windows were smashed in by some doped up heroin addicts trying to get the change box.

[QUOTE=Wombo194;23847491]You know those new shape-ups by sketchers? I tried then out and they were pretty comturable, maybe they are the future for shoes.[/QUOTE] Those actually fuck your posture to hell and back. Wearing those for a long time would definitely bring you some knee and back problems when you're older. [quote] MBTs have gained a cult following because wearing the shoes forces you to work—and presumably tone—your leg muscles. I can attest that this part is true. After wearing MBTs for a short walk, you feel it in the backs of your legs. What you can’t feel—at all—is the ground. In an obvious irony, these “barefoot” shoes look like orthopedic shoes for Frankenstein. You stand on a rocker-shaped sole that’s designed to be soft and unstable. This improves your forward step but makes it nearly impossible to move laterally, i.e., slalom through slow-moving tourists in Soho. And a ride in MBTs on the herky-jerky D train feels like someone’s throwing an ankle-spraining party and you’re the guest of honor.[/quote]The MBT shoes the guy is talking about are pretty much the same exact thing as shape-ups. [IMG]http://barefootrunningshoes.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MBT-shoes-like-rocking-chair.jpg[/IMG] Source: [URL]http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/index4.html[/URL] It's actually a really good article, talks about all of the benefits of walking barefoot and gives a few shoe solutions that simulate being barefoot without endangering the bottoms of your feet.

[QUOTE=MaverickIB;23849845]Those actually fuck your posture to hell and back. Wearing those for a long time would definitely bring you some knee and back problems when you're older.[/QUOTE] Agreed. I think in general you would have to be an idiot to wear those shoes. [editline]06:26PM[/editline] [QUOTE=strayebyrd;23849460]okay so I tested this, I went outside and walked down my street, there was a telephone box that has had the windows smashed in. I walked over the shards trying to be as bro as you are, I now have blood on the bottom of my foot, and theres a small chance I have aids as the windows were smashed in by some doped up heroin addicts trying to get the change box.[/QUOTE] I don't believe you at all.

[quote]We didn't evolve with shoes on our feet, and because of how evolution works, our feet cannot be inadequate...[/quote] You're right, and I think this thread is an interesting idea, but I'm going to have to be a wet blanket. Bottom-up evolutionary design creates parts that are adequate, not perfect. In the case of running, you probably have valid point - Many of the world's best runners are barefoot, and it's a perfectly functional way of getting around. However, the case isn't as clear when it comes to walking. There are certain practical benefits to shoes, and it all comes down to personal preference in the end. Barefoot and shod running both come with certain advantage and disadvantages, and suggesting that one is inherently better is a short-sighted and simplistic viewpoint. EDIT: [url=http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4185]Skeptoid[/url] has an episode on this. The author's overall position is that it's a wash.

The only benefits shoes have are protection and style. The way shoes force you to walk, each impact of your foot is being transferred through your bones and joints. Shoes are the reason why knee and back injuries are so common amongst older people. A lifetime of direct impacts eventually takes its toll. Going barefoot transfers the force of impact through your muscles, which means your ankles, knees, hips, and back will be in much better condition when you get older. From a health standpoint, barefoot will always be the better option. I suppose if you're an idiot and would like to sacrifice your ability to be mobile later on in life just so you can fit in with everyone else now, shoes would be the better option.

[QUOTE=Jallen;23849920]I don't believe you at all.[/QUOTE] You're entitled to your opinion. [editline]06:45PM[/editline] [QUOTE=MaverickIB;23850152]The only benefits shoes have are protection and style. The way shoes force you to walk, each impact of your foot is being transferred through your bones and joints. Shoes are the reason why knee and back injuries are so common amongst older people. A lifetime of direct impacts eventually takes its toll. Going barefoot transfers the force of impact through your muscles, which means your ankles, knees, hips, and back will be in much better condition when you get older. From a health standpoint, barefoot will always be the better option. I suppose if you're an idiot and would like to sacrifice your ability to be mobile later on in life just so you can fit in with everyone else now, shoes would be the better option.[/QUOTE] or you know, you want to protect your feet from external threats and weather, and you figure "hey, it's probably a smart idea to cover them up". I mean, that's why people started wearing shoes in the first place. And you're hardly an idiot if you don't want to look wierd for not wearing shoes. Most careers in life will require you to wear shoes, most people wear shoes. It's fine to say "I want to be different" or something when it's what music you listen to or that you read rather than watching television, but shoes are generally a necessity in most urban living environments. So don't call me an [I]idiot[/I] because I decide "hey, I'm probably going to wear shoes because I want to protect my feet, and it's generally a social norm to wear them"

I'd consider this, if I hadn't walked in sick twice in the last two days.

[QUOTE=MaverickIB;23850152]The only benefits shoes have are protection and style. The way shoes force you to walk, each impact of your foot is being transferred through your bones and joints. Shoes are the reason why knee and back injuries are so common amongst older people. A lifetime of direct impacts eventually takes its toll. Going barefoot transfers the force of impact through your muscles, which means your ankles, knees, hips, and back will be in much better condition when you get older. From a health standpoint, barefoot will always be the better option. I suppose if you're an idiot and would like to sacrifice your ability to be mobile later on in life just so you can fit in with everyone else now, shoes would be the better option.[/QUOTE] While I agree with all of your points in theory, I'm unsure what to do really since there is a strangely small amount of real research into the subject. It's really annoying me that both health and performance differences in wearing and not wearing shoes have not been significantly documented. I mean, just how detrimental is the heel strike? There seems to be no way of telling for sure :/

I don't think my manager would enjoy me bagging groceries without shoes on.

my cousin got me doing this a while back and said he wanted to be one of those tribal guys walking through rain forests in his bare feet