They Removed the Rough Gravel . . . Maybe?

Lately I’ve been doing a fair bit of walking (I really can’t call it “hiking” in good conscience) at another local Metro Park, Blacklick Woods. It’s not particularly challenging in the usual sense: it’s quite flat, unlike the trails about an hour away in southeastern Ohio.

But it is challenging in a different way.

Read Full Post »

Restaurant Tips

Yesterday my wife and I had lunch at a restaurant. The waiter did look at me kind of funny for a moment, but didn’t say anything. It probably helped that he looked fairly young and hip. It probably helped even more that we were at an outdoor cafe.

But I thought I’d give a few tips for eating barefoot at a restaurant.

Read Full Post »

Shoddie versus Shoddy

I think that, within the barefooting community, we are all aware of the term “shoddie”. There are some who don’t like it, saying that it can be insulting to habitual shoe-wearers, but I do use it, and I think it aptly describes what’s going on.

I thought I’d start by tossing out a few definitions.

Read Full Post »

Saving Soles

When I wrote about Dirty Feet, it generated a comment (a question really) asking what I did to maintain them.

Here’s the answer.

Read Full Post »

What’s Glove Got to Do With It?

This is the time of year when many people are beginning to wonder what they will do as winter approaches. Some of these are folks who have recently come to barefoot running, and that has led to their going barefoot much more in their lives, not just in running. Many are asking, what should I wear now?

I don’t want to address barefoot running in cooler temperatures, just what to do if you want to go barefoot while out and about.

My words of advice are . . .

Read Full Post »

Barefoot Fire Bow

Survivorman’s Les Stroud has a new series of shows on right now (in the U.S.) where they re-edit the old stuff and put a new commentary on it. The series is Survivorman’s Survival Secrets.

One of the shows was on making fire, and one of the secrets for making fire with a fire bow is to do it barefoot.

Read Full Post »

Barefoot to Costa Rica

I spent the last week in Costa Rica for my niece’s wedding. I guess destination weddings are getting pretty popular. With everybody living so far apart, you still need airfare and a hotel, so why not go to a resort somewhere?

And a beach wedding sure does encourage bare feet, doesn’t it?

Read Full Post »

Barefoot Tennis vs. Barefoot Hiking

When I went Out West last year, I had some troubles with getting overly footsore. This time it went much better.

So, what was the difference?

Read Full Post »

Moccasins

When it gets too cold out for hiking barefoot, I usually go with a pair of moccasins. But store-bought ones require a bit of modification.

Read Full Post »

The Toe Clench

It’s been about 3 weeks since I last went hiking—lots of snow on the ground. Unlike some other barefooters, I’m not superman in the snow. I need a decent air temperature, and tamped-down snow so it doesn’t get on top of my toes (which seems to be what really cools them off for me).

Anyways, yesterday hit 50°. The snow had been melting for a few days before that, so off I went to do a short 5-miler at Clear Creek.

Read Full Post »

Trenchfoot (No, It’s Not What You’re Thinking)

Here’s a cute little article called 14 Reasons I Don’t Wear Shoes.

I think I can help her out in one area.

Read Full Post »

Following the Dark Path

When people I meet when I am hiking ask me why I do so barefoot, one of my pat answers (I’ve mentioned this before) is

We go into the woods to see the sights, smell the smells, and hear the sounds, and then we turn off our sense of touch. Well, I don’t turn off my sense of touch.

And they all pretty much get it.

But there is something more.

Read Full Post »

Found

I wrote last week about getting Lost at Zaleski State Forest. Today I thought I would write about what I later went back and found there.

I decided I’d see how easy it would be to circumnavigate Lake Hope.

Read Full Post »

Костюм Противоэнцефалитный

When I wrote about getting Lost, Victor wanted to know more about my bushwhacking.

Just how safe is it, particularly barefooted?

Read Full Post »

Staying In Circulation

Over the past couple of days I’ve managed to drive for about 12 hours. And as anybody over the age of 40 knows, just sitting there not moving really allows the blood to pool in your legs and feet.

Various articles, such as this one from eHow suggest “wearing shoes which slip on and off and are easy to remove if you notice swelling.”

Of course, if you drive barefoot, you’re one step ahead of the game.

Read Full Post »