Best products from r/barefoot

If you don't run barefoot, but think you could be interested, I suggest that, as it will strengthen your feet like mad...but take it easy and pay attention to what your feet are telling you. No pain, no gain, won't pay off here, just make you miserable. Before beginning a running routine, I'd suggest reading Born to Run for a fun, interesting, and enlightening true story read...it is very motivating, and will lead you to the rabbit hole. To go down the rabbit hole, I highly recommend reading Barefoot Running: Step by Step...do this before starting any barefoot running. This book the real deal, with very helpful and accurate information, with references to literature and research for you to follow deeper. The explanations of what to do, how to do it right and wrong, and why, but in very easy to understand language. IMHO and professional opinion. The only drawback is you have to wade through his personal story, but's still worth it.

For the issue of some or a lot of people having problems with what you do with your feet. Educate them, if that is a possibility...win them over with a dose of red pill. If not, and for other reasons, such as misguided store owners, restaurants, etc...I recommend Xero huarachas. The Ventures are the next best thing to barefoot me. They are inexpensive, and you can buy kits for DIY. I started with Ventures, then a kit. Nowadays, I make my own from scratch with my design improvements. Any of these suffice for shoewear where it is required. I've never had someone snicker at my sandals, rather I get positive comments, and "where can I get a pair".

If education doesn't do it, and your tribe/village are too intolerant, find new ones. I know, it's easy for me to say this...I live in an incredibly tolerant city (Asheville NC) where it is almost impossible to stick out like some weirdo. I was initially concerned about what people thought of what I have going on below my ankles, but with experience and time, I grown in confidence, and my care for what others think has unraveled to nothing...if they don't like it...pffft! It's their problem. I'll still be running when they are likely hobbled by knee replacements, thousands spent on crippling shoes and foot orthotics, and otherwise buckets of pain. I'm 51, and do about 20 miles a week, and only saw the light 3 or 4 years ago, thanks to the books mentioned above. I now hike barefooted, even a late summer trip up to a glacier field in Alaska last year.

For the big toe, this picture may show the 2 kind of styles I was talking about:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ttf-qO4Az-o/U4tnss4wSCI/AAAAAAAACmA/EG-qRWRTTy0/s1600/IMG_20140601_123327.jpg

If your big toe splays enough, it doesn't seem to move that much once planted - instead its the arch coming up and down the makes the movement in the foot. Some side to side but thats just the bottom of the foot flattening out.

For the ankle, this shows what I mean by zig zagging:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Ankle_Pronation_Position.png

As I understand it, pronation isn't bad, neither is supination, high arch, flat foot, whatever. All those movements in the foot and ankle are fine when required. Hiking, stepping off a curb, athletics, etc you want to have comfort and some control when conditions demand it so your foot can go there. But I see a lot people walking around, and one foot is like that on a smooth sidewalk, or they are doing squats on a smooth surface, and their foot/ankle area is like that just in some neutral position, naturally.

That's why I'm trying to do some moves with short foot, maxing out that arch. And some moves full flat foot, getting full range of arch top to bottom. I wouldn't call it a cheat to flat foot while in ankle dosiflexion, its just a variation of the same thing. Do them both, and get as mobile and flexible as you can in both positions, right?

I suggested banded squats because I thought I'd read that you can squat ok when your legs are really far apart, so putting your legs slightly closer, and forcing your knees to track out may encourage less tibia rotation internally, which may help prevent that arch collapse you mentioned. What do you mean by "knee preferably tracking to the inside" - ? I've always had luck with knee tracking directly over the middle of the foot in squat style moves.

My whole ankle/foot had been locked up for 2 years when I finally started working it, it took a few months to really feel it clicking, and thats working on it 6 days a week. On top of some long holds, I also did basic non weight bearing range of motion moves on the ankle too. Gentle style.

As far as rolling the feet, that helped me a lot too, but you can go overboard at first so watch out. Best ones I found:
https://www.amazon.com/Gaiam-Restore-Ultimate-Massage-Roller/dp/B00LY9P67S
https://www.amazon.com/TriggerPoint-Roller-Massager-Extra-Density/dp/B00NJZD9XS
(they have a firmer version too once feet get more supple)

Long hold stretches, foot/calf rolling, hot foot soaks, and some time.

Could be a bit of everything. You should really not peel off your shoes and start running, especially into a run already where your muscle memory has been triggering a different pattern for 6K already.
I REALLY suggest this book. There's a lot of good information in there but the MOST helpful part are the "exercises" including a lot of funny walking in funny positions. You go to a big field and spend a few hours a week doing that and youll be right as rain.
What the funny walks do is teach your body the new muscle memory you need for a different kind of running. I am sure there are other good books/websites/etc with adaptation lessons - the point is take it slow, and learn to run again!

This may be "too much" shoe for you, but I love these:

Trail Glove 4

I've had all the versions, and v4 is definitely better (to me) than v3. I think v1 was the best though.

Not sure what you're doing specifically at the golf course but if you are working with mowers, weed wackers, etc. (i.e. anything mechanical) you should not be wearing something with exposed toes, that is just a recipe for disaster.

What you need for the first couple hours is a pair of rubber galoshes, or overshoes. I wore these Tingley Men's High Top Work Rubber Stretch Overshoes when I used to work at a golf course. Notice they have tread on the bottom so they don't slip and they go up high enough to prevent water getting in your shoe. Once the sun is up and the grass has dried you can easily take them off and then you just have your normal work boots or whatever underneath (I wore mid-height hiking boots that had Gore-tex on them because they are much lighter and more comfortable than leather work boots and most of the other guys wore something similar as well).

The galoshes feel a bit weird at first, kinda like you have floppy Ronald McDonald feet, but you get used to it. Plus they are totally worth it, guaranteed waterproof and easy to take off and leave in the cart once you don't need them anymore. Best purchase I made for that type of work.

Edit: I bought them at a local outdoor/footwear store. It was helpful to try them on because the sizing is a bit of a crapshoot and depends on how bulky your boots are.

I got diagnosed by an ortho when I tried to start a running program and couldn't even do 5 minutes on a treadmill without getting a month of hip pain after. So.. yeah. Wearing a lift actually allows me to run.

I love being barefoot, but c'est la vie, if I want to run, or really do anything on my feet without pain, some form of shoe is a necessity.

For running I wear minimalist shoes. In the summer it's vibram women's 5 finger shoes that look like flats and are super-lightweight. When it's colder I wear Merrell Vapor Gloves, and when it's really cold and snowy I wear Merrell trail gloves. My toes go numb easily in cold weather, but I wear the most lightweight shoes I can get away with. I have a pair of Xero Prios on the way to try. I wear the 5 fingers to the gym as well. I go to a crossfit gym where I've seen people lift barefoot, so they're cool with it and that's nice.

For yoga and tumbling classes I wear a Nike studio wrap on my short leg with the lift in that. (I use this sort of lift, it fits great in the studio wrap and doesn't compromise foot movement.) So, one foot is barefoot, and the other has a very lightweight low-coverage thing.

I ran for years with regular shoes before going minimalist. I used to get hip and knee pain flare-ups on the regular, but they've completely stopped now that I've switched to minimalist shoes (years ago) so, yep, making my feet learn to land more softly and absorb the impacts in a functional way has definitely been helpful for me.

It could take a few weeks to build up tough skin, but it's well worth it! Part of it could be mental too. Sometimes surfaces might be tough but you just don't let it bother you.

You actually get less athlete's foot by going barefoot because your feet aren't sweating inside dark, moist shoes and socks all day. Normally if you have a cut on your foot, it might be a good idea to tape it up.

A good book is 'The barefoot book': http://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Book-Great-Reasons-Shoes/dp/0897935543. The book mainly talks about the health benefits of going barefoot rather and some discussion on living barefoot.

I like to carry around flipflops or leave them in my car when I'm going places where barefeet may not be acceptable. I also try not to be a dick when places try to kick me out of not wearing shoes. I think being polite and educational is better than arguing.

I do not know any recipes, but for those reading this and thinking "should I do that?": I have never done anything other then smoothing the surface with a foot file like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C3Q83NQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_b1u8CbKWG5HAX

I'm barefoot most of the time (except when I'm at the office where I use my Vivo's) and I hike a few times a week. Feet strengthen when they are used. Walking on branches or even small stones do not hurt anymore. My feet are nice and soft and there is very little callus.

Just my two cents. 😉

I wear these when bare feet are not an option. They're no good when it's wet out tho.

https://www.amazon.com/Minnetonka-Classic-Fringe-Moccasin-Boot/dp/B00BXM00FE

I also have the knee length boots...they're comfortable once they're on and warm but are a hassle to get on and off!

Also....

https://www.itascamoccasin.com/

Custom made to order if you want...but $$$!

Vibrams do look odd...they look like your feet would sweat in them too!

Honestly, I hate "minimalist shoes". They're always overpriced and usually hideously ugly too. You might as well just get aqua socks (like these, which feel pretty similar to being barefoot and cost less than $15). Add a thick pair of socks and they'll probably keep you warm enough through most of PA's winter weather, plus they have super grippy soles made for wet rocks, so great traction.

I just wear my Ryka hiking sandals when it's super cold because they have thick, cushy soles which totally block the cold radiating up from the pavement and that's enough for me. You just kind of have to experiment to find what works for you.

Ha funny I have/had a thick spot there, too. There is some Urea cream that makes hard skin soft but it was a prescription for me. You put the cream on it and it softens the skin. Then you get the skin off with one of those rocks or files or whatever. And if you do it for a while it seems to help permanently. Perhaps your doc can get you some.

Edit

Found some on Amazon. I will have to compare the percent-urea to the one I got from the pharmacy.

http://www.amazon.com/Topix-Urix-Urea-Cream-8oz/dp/B0045A2DPG

The one I have at home is also 40%, so I'm not sure why it had to be a prescription.

I've been using these for two years. They're quite comfortable while barefoot and decent enough quality:

Diamondback 9/16-Inch Spindle Bicycle Comfort Pedal, Black/Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJYQ3WY

These are my work shoes. There is nothing "barefoot" about them, but I find them very comfortable and sometimes even catch myself still wearing them when I don't need to be.

Check this out:

Barefoot Running Step by Step: Barefoot Ken Bob, the Guru of Shoeless Running, Shares His Personal Technique for Running with More Speed, Less Impact, Fewer Injuries and More Fun https://www.amazon.com/dp/1592334652/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0sEmzb5CY811V

Or save yourself ~ $63 by buying something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Toe-Separator-Pedicure-Pack-Salon/dp/B003AXZ0S6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370028009&sr=8-2&keywords=pedicure+toe+separators

I think he meant Daniel Howell.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Barefoot-Book-Great-Reasons/dp/0897935543

Also... ran across this article recently:

http://blogs.sjsu.edu/kinesiology/2012/10/15/the-benefits-of-forefoot-walking-a-rethink-of-biomechanics/

And his blog entries on the subject are interesting as well:

http://realworldbiomechanics.blogspot.com/search/label/Forefoot%20Walking

The Xero Prio is a pretty normal looking sneaker.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NZZKZTP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xSV7CbPPS0F91

Nikell Professional Nickel Callus Remover Foot File Rasp (NK204) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EWTN1EC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eex6Bb543AANR

Injinji socks are the only ones I'll run more than a mile in. Don't get the thinnest liner ones, they will wear out. Get these