Strengthening the feet by walking barefoot in nature

Great article on the biomechanics of barefooting, why walking barefoot in nature strengthens the feet, etc.

http://bit.ly/9N8x1M

 

While I routinely go barefoot around town running errands, etc., I don't know that I've ever done a barefoot hike. That's something I plan to try this year. I've found a few unpaved walking paths close to my home and plan to go there once the weather warms a bit more.

 

I like to walk everywheres barefoot.
Like the other weekend i walked five miles with my friends to the store barefoot.

My feet used to always be soft but the more ive walked barefoot the stronger the bottom of my feet have became.
I have always wanted to go hiking barefoot but theres no wheres to go hiking here..

 

Be very careful if they are close to a source of water. A few minutes after this picture was taken, I stepped on a small snake.

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No shit, LOL!! There are a lot of great trails in the foothills west of Hwy 93 between Lyons and Golden, CO. The trouble is that some of those go through dry, rocky terrain and hide rattlesnakes. I want my trek to be enjoyable, not a statistic.

The trails I'm considering are in the more residential areas. Not too many snakes here in the "flatlands." I appreciate your concern nonetheless.

 

If your rattlesnakes prefer a dry area, then you have the opposite problem from those of us in the east. Around here, dry = no snakes.

 

They like to hide in dry, sunny rocks. Every year there are a handful of reports of unsuspecting hikers and mountain bikers having a bit of a run-in with a nice rattler. I don't think they get nearly as big out here as in the east though.

 

We're very fortunate not to have snakes here.

I do hikes quite often and the benefits go beyond the bottom of your feet. A correct gait over long periods of time and varied terrain has positive effects for the entire musculoskeletal system, as it changes your entire posture.

After your first long barefoot hike, you'll find that the muscles, joints and tendons from your feet all of the way up your back will have been worked differently. Areas other than your feet most affected include the gastrocnemius muscle and plantaris tendon . These areas will get very strong after time.

 

We've got everthing out here, rattlesnakes, bark scorpions, black widow spiders, killer bees, mountain lions, bobcats, the list goes on. Pretty much everthing here except aligators. The price you pay for living in a warm and sunny desert environment. On the other hand, you can still suffer a potentially fatal bite from a rattlesnake on unprotected ankles even while wearing shoes.

There are advantages living up in the cold north.

 

i had several hikes lately with shod friends, which i outrunned easily, particularly in fords or muddy slopes. i can testify for the great effectiveness of this approach in the regards of building foot and calf muscles. they told me at the gym that calves are hard to build and it's definitely true. there is no gym machine better than the free function of the foot.

one good thing of winter hiking is this: no snakes creeping around in frozen grass. also you get weird sensations from it.

 

I do a barefoot hike once a month, usually 8 to 10 miles.