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I got a shoe brush mat and put it by the hose nearest my back door. Squirt and rub and my feet are quite clean.
Here’s the mat I chose. I tried done others that had sharp wires that might be great for boots but were not great for bare feet. This one is a bit bristly sharp, but not skin cutting wire sharp.
I got an outdoor "scraper mat", like this, and put it by a hose near my back door. It doesn't make my feet perfectly clean, but it gets the chunky stuff off.
I wore black Vibram FiveFinger KSOs to work for a long time until upper management caught wind and promptly banned separated toe footwear, deeming it unprofessional attire. I did some research and I found a decent shoe that works well for the business environment. They are the VivoBarefoot Dharma model. The model looks just like a dress shoe but lacks any cushioning, has no heel lift, and sports a wide toe box for our barefoot toe spread. These things feel like barefoot slippers and are a fantastic substitute for all you barefooters who have been barred from wearing barefoot attire in the workplace.
There is an eBay seller who lists them wholesale for $60 a pair: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mens-VIVOBAREFOOT-Dharma-Black-Leather-NIB-/320677615863?var=#vi-content
Make sure you go up at least one size over your normal shoe size as the Dharmas are know to be on the small end of the scale. I went up a full size over my normal shoe size and they are a perfect fit, so the scale isn't exactly accurate.
Hope that helps some people.
I actually don't have any calluses, and I am a full time barefooter.
I also am a biomedical engineer specializing in biomechanics, so I pulled out some of my textbooks. Calluses are extra thickened and keratinized stratum corneum, whereas the soles of the feet and palms of the hand are made thicker by a different layer called the stratum lucidum.
Furthermore this paper seems to use the same nomenclature by not calling the thicker skin on a habitually unshod person a callus.
>The relatively thick and keratinized skin on the whole plantar foot area in native barefoot walkers (pers. obs.), in itself formed as a response to loading, may also passively distribute pressures (unlike small callused regions, which show higher pressures; Menz et al. 2007).
There are plenty of studies comparing the bone and muscle anatomy/physiology of habitually barefoot peoples feet to habitually shod, but there doesn't seem to be much comparing the skin itself which is something I know we would all be interested in seeing.
I’ve got secret that I’ve been keeping to myself for years that have helped develop some nice thick and smooth calluses. I’m a barefoot marathon runner that can keep a 10min mile average, so no it’s not super fast, but not too shabby considering you have to be more cognizant when you run. I frequently take Epsom salt foot baths, especially after long runs. I stepped up my game with the footbath below. For starters, walking around outside the house barefoot is ideal. Concrete/asphalt IMO is the best place to start considering it’s the most uncomfortable surface to walk/run on (outside of crushed rock). So if you can comfortably walk on asphalt without the heat bothering you, then I would say you are in a optimal calluse mode. I hope this helps.
I bought this Foot Spa Bath Massager with Heat,16 Pedicure Spa Motorized Shiatsu Rol... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079HTHF3V/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_fabc_1776ZTY84KNPYERSCK3A recently and it does wonders.
Try amazon smile to donate to a charity of your choice automatically at no cost to you!
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I wear VivoBarefoot Dharmas to work and business casual dress. They look just like dress shoes but have no cushioning, no heel lift, and fell great. Might be a solution for you. There's an eBay seller that sells wholesale pairs for $60: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mens-VIVOBAREFOOT-Dharma-Black-Leather-NIB-/320677615863?var=#vi-content
get a pair of cheap water shoes at walmart, there are some that look like a sneaker (or something like this off amazon https://www.amazon.com.mx/Body-Glove-Sidewinder-Trail-Zapatillas/dp/B017VY67Y0/ref=sr\_1\_36?\_\_mk\_es\_MX=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=33O94CPNUGXX4&keywords=water+shoes&qid=1667719866&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI2LjUyIiwicXNhIjoiNS44M...)
The sole usually comes off with hot hot water, and you are left with a cloth bottom. now, you can either walk the cloth off, or cut part of the bottom, either way the shoe will mostly move naturally
This is my most recent set.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09XPGRLTP/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I bought these, hoping to wear them in my shoes, but they didn't work good while in the shoe. Just wearing at home or in slides, works though.
You can also find shoes on Vibram’s Website in a 14 (I think it’s a 47 or 48, so check the sizing), and Ik Freets and Xero Shoes have at least a 15 (size 49EU in Freets & I checked the chart).
Also, post things about shoes on r/barefootrunning, and you should get the shoes but only wear them when you’re forced to. Otherwise, just don’t wear shoes and ofc look to see and avoid sharp objects and bring the shoes as backup when you’re starting.
how do you walk barefoot? you thouch down with the toes or the heel?
Read this book https://smile.amazon.de/gp/product/3517089869/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's a bit pseudosiency, but also afaik barefoot walking is not something that is researched a lot.
also watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyXh-UPu6JI
I've been using the "advanced care" style bandages for blisters lately and they do a good job. They're waterproof once you've had them on an hour or so, and they stick really well.
Make sure the area is clean and dry before applying one. Hold it down with your hand for the first minute so that it can warm and stick. After that you are golden.
Seems to heal about 25% faster than regular bandages and twice as fast as no bandage.
Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/All-Health-Advanced-Healing-Regular/dp/B07D1CT9DX
I've used other brands and they work similarly.
I wore Vibrams for 4 years before I started full-time barefooting. They're wonderful! It was a tough transition from regular shoes, but now that I am unshod I realize Vibrams are very close to barefooting, so if you can walk barefoot, you should be OK in Vibrams. The only thing is that they are common-foot-shaped, so if your feet are irregularly shaped they may not fit/feel comfortably. I also recently discovered sock shoes and I love them to bits; you're practically barefoot but have a lining of protection:
Other than that, barefoot shoes in general can be helpful to you while you transition. I like the brand WITHIN which is on the less expensive side, and Vivo Barefoot and Xero if you want to go "brand name" expense.
To address your unstable ankles, I'd recommend looking at your gait overall and figuring out how your body should be working vs. how it is currently doing things. This channel on YouTube has been a huge help to me in learning how to walk naturally. This particular video is specifically on "ankle stacking" but the whole channel has very informative videos on getting your body right:
I just bought a $40 pair on Amazon that’s pretty comfy and breathable. It’s by the brand WHITIN. They have pretty good reviews. Maybe try them out?
WHITIN Women's Barefoot & Minimalist Shoe | Zero Drop Sole | Trail Runner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KXW3MGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QGANTP7H4KD1HAHZPFJA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
How about a polite sign.
Report in spanish , sorry the report is in Spanish, but basically it says that I have a minor deviation of my spine in the lateral right part of it. I don't think I have a lateral picture but will check later, and will love to do physiotherapy but don't know where to start don't wanna spend more money because as I said the one physiotherapist thatch saw just told me that there nothing I can do and if i see another one and he charges me money and says the same thibg, also please explain me better what is listhesis and and well all your post it has some medical terms thatch don't understand
thanks I will look at your channel, but in my case is not because of my wallet, this is a constant issue that I have been having for year, this is one of the many tests that I have (rx of my spine ) as you can see my spine is not perfect.
This is an old rx but the doctor said something about the L1 vertebra and prescribed me some pain relief pills.
and you also said that is never to late to fix my feet, but how? I am open to anything I wanna fix my flat feet, I think that my spine also contributes to my pain problems (maybe I do have sciatica)but my flat foot makes the pain problems worse
That's on the Sunset Strip, which was a youth hangout and a center for the counterculture (music clubs, cruising, youth fashion shops, demonstrations) in the mid-60s. The "hippie look" as we think of it now hadn't quite arrived yet, but much of the culture, attitude and causes we associate with it were already well underway. The young people in the photo look kinda Beat, kinda surfer, kinda hippie--it was a transitional time, and in any case the lines between those categories were never as clear-cut as superficial histories of the period often make it sound. So yes, barefooting was definitely more common then than it is now, but still it was strongly linked with the counterculture, as captured by this photo (which is from this book).
I agree nothing better than going barefoot. It's a whole body high for me lol
You can use neoprene shoes/shoes they have cushion that feels like a marshmallow. I normally wear them until they fall apart. For me flat surfaces like sidewalks are always easier at first. As your feet gain gwt stronger you can move to more rougher surfaces
ive been wearing these at work (handyman / remodeling) and they hold up pretty well, they are also cheap so when they wear out i just buy more.
>I’ve heard to rub my soles with alcohol to make them dry and leathery.
You gotta take care of your skin still. The soles of your feet will get thicker, but moisturizing is still important. I'm not into barefoot running anymore, but using some O'Keefe's foot balm every night made a huge difference for me.
Sodium chloride (they make the salt/tea tree oil combo but it’s cheaper to get a big bag of Epson and your own tea tree oil concentrate) and one of these (see below). You can go for a cheaper footbath, but I like this one with the automatic rollers.
Foot Spa Bath Massager with Heat,16 Pedicure Spa Motorized Shiatsu Rol... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079HTHF3V/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_fabc_HK5TCY30WNW9JF2XKTEN
Thanks for the kudos. I developed some hard (but smooth) calluses over the years . The water just wrinkled my feet up like being in the swimming pool too long and it was bad news after that. Someone earlier made a recommendation to try out some skinners. I looked them up on Amazon however the only pair I thought looked normal (the black on black) was sold out in my size. I went for a cheaper (but similar) pair that seemed comparable to skinners with 1/3 the price point. Ill let you know how they feel. I’ll be keeping those in my camelbak for situations like i experienced. You can take a look Lxso Mens Non-Slip Barefoot Socks Shoes Indoor Ou... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094GWMBS2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_glt_fabc_J2X72CDHCGHTAM520T89?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Have you considered neoprene waterproof socks with lugs on the bottom of them?
I'm referring to something like this. You probably will need a regular waterproof sock underneath (which will also help collect the sweat), but they should work. The lugs on the bottom should provide grip, and at around twenty bucks, if you need a pair or two each season, I don't think it's unreasonable.
Check out these shoes, they are very cheap, look normal, but have all the barefoot requirements if you take out the removeable insole:
https://www.amazon.com/WHITIN-Womens-Minimalist-Barefoot-Shoes/dp/B08LN7VY88?th=1
(they say women's in the url, but they are really unisex, even says "mens" on the page itself)
I love these. 5 Pair Toe Separators for Overlapping Toes and Restore Crooked Toes to Their Original Shape, Correct Bunions, Toe Spacers Toe Straightener Toe Stretcher Hammer Toes Big Toe Corrector - Universal Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CHNNMNH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_j0n7FbEJWDTXP
Cheap and comfy.
I don't know the best Amazon domain for your locale. I purchased these in the US and use them with my Vibrams during colder weather:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078GRWK3B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CJMLFYQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That's a negative ghost rider. If boss man wont let me wear Jean shorts... it's a big no on sandals. Was looking at this though... https://www.amazon.com/SKINNERS-Minimalist-Barefoot-Lightweight-Breathable/dp/B076HPYS2F/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528075395&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=skinners&dpPl=1&dpID=41lCeQH3k0L&ref=plSrch
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.
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
I'm pretty sure it was Born to Run.
I also read this: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Kenyans-Discovering-Secrets-Fastest/dp/0345528808
Not sure about how useful it would be from a podiatry standpoint. Was interesting, though. I will keep looking.
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.
Interesting, given your height and weight maybe those forces are just natural for your gait. If this is the case I would recommend shoe goo.
Smear some of this stuff on the spots that you know where wear away, or already has, not sure how good the traction will be but the stuff is damn near indestructible. It will for sure increase the life of your shoes.
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.
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!