Barefoot FAQs

Please note that the information here applies only to the U.S. and is general advice that may not be applicable to your personal situation. If you think you may have medical or legal issues that could be affected by going barefoot, please consult a doctor or lawyer before doing so.

Why do people choose to go barefoot?

People choose to go barefoot for a variety of reasons. Some do it for comfort, some do it to get closer to nature, some do it for health reasons. The common thread is that they find going without shoes more appealing than wearing shoes, at least part of the time.

Isn’t wearing shoes better for you than going barefoot?

Most people are taught from a young age that shoes are safe and going barefoot is unsafe, but that isn’t really true. There are certainly times when it is advisable to wear shoes, such as in extreme hot or cold weather conditions or in dangerous or unsanitary conditions. But, just because there are times when you should wear shoes, that doesn’t mean you always need to wear shoes. Shoes are like gloves. Sometimes you need them, most of the time you don’t.

Neither bare feet nor shoes are 100 percent healthy. Going barefoot, especially if you’re not used to doing so, can result in stubbed toes, blisters, cuts and overuse injuries, such as stress fractures. Wearing shoes can result in hammer toes, plantar faciitis, fallen arches, corns, bunions and athlete’s foot. Wearing shoes can also lead to long-term health issues in the ankles, knees, hips and back because the “support” shoes provide can alter the way you walk and disrupt the natural motion of your entire lower body.

There is one clear difference between injuries suffered while barefoot and those suffered while wearing shoes: the more you go barefoot, the less likely you are to suffer an injury, whereas the more you wear shoes, the greater the damage you are doing to your feet.

Most barefooting injuries are suffered by people who aren’t used to going barefoot. Wearing shoes all the time causes the soles of your feet to become soft and tender, making them susceptible to cuts and blisters. The human foot has more bones than any other part of the body, but shoes restrict the movement of many of these bones, causing atrophy. Thus, it takes awhile to re-strengthen the muscles and other tissues in your feet when you start going barefoot. Once you become used to going barefoot, injury risks become very low. Spend an entire summer barefoot, and you may find that you can walk on broken glass without a problem.

What about germs?

It is possible to get bacteria and other germs on the bottom of your feet, but these germs need an opening in the skin to enter the body. Thus, you are much more likely to get sick from germs on your hands than your feet because your hands frequently come into contact with your mouth and nose.

Therefore, if you wash your feet regularly and keep any open wounds properly bandaged, you should minimize the likelihood of encountering problems. Keeping your tetanus vaccination up-to-date should minimize any problems associated with cutting your foot.

Additionally, wearing shoes may be less healthy than going barefoot because the warm and moist environment inside a shoe is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

I’ve tried going barefoot, but it hurts my feet!

This is because you’re used to wearing shoes. You need to make a careful transition from being a habitual shoe-wearer, to being a habitual barefooter.

When making the switch to going barefoot, start out slow. Keep a pair of shoes with you and walk barefoot as long as you can stand to. Then, put the shoes on for the rest of the day. Each day it will get easier until you won’t need shoes at all.

My doctor told me I should wear shoes. Do you want me to ignore his/her advice?

Medicine is an inexact science, and there are many possible reasons for most ailments. There are several things you should keep in mind when you’re considering your doctor’s advice:

1. Your doctor’s advice is skewed by his/her experience. Except for regular physicals, people go to the doctor when they’re sick or injured. So, your doctor is only seeing patients who went barefoot and were injured, and not those who go barefoot without an issue. This can him lead him or her to erroneously conclude that “barefoot = bad.”

2. Because wearing shoes all the time has become so normalized, most doctors don’t see going barefoot as a realistic option. So, if a patient is having a problem with shoes, doctors often recommend orthotics or some other device that provides additional support, which often just makes the problem worse.

3. Feet are the only part of the body that some believe need “help.” Humans have existed for more than one million years. Most of that time, we were barefoot. Shoes are just a blip on the timeline of human history. Our bodies evolved to function best barefoot.

Some doctors even argue that, even though shoes aren’t superior to bare feet, we should wear them until it’s proven that bare feet are superior. Doctors agree that every other part of our body doesn’t need help to function properly. Why are feet the exception? I bet your doctor doesn’t have a scientific explanation.

The last time I went to my doctor, she commented about how healthy my feet are. I never heard that when I was a habitual shoe-wearer.

Isn’t going barefoot in public illegal?

No. This is a common misconception that’s based purely on ignorance. There are no federal or state laws or “health codes” banning bare feet. There are a few towns and municipalities that regulate bare feet, such as beach towns that ban bare feet on boardwalks, but, in 99.9 percent of the U.S., you can legally go barefoot virtually anywhere.

Driving barefoot is also legal, although some states recommend wearing shoes. The only exception is Alabama, which requires shoes for motorcyclists.

What about OSHA requirements?

Federal OSHA requirements are for employees, not customers (the “O” in “OSHA” stands for “Occupational”). There are certain jobs for which workers are required to wear specific OSHA-approved footwear (these are typically construction jobs and other jobs with significant safety risks). If you are allowed to wear dress shoes, high heels, sneakers or flip-flops at work, then bare feet are fine as far as OSHA is concerned.

What about signs requiring shoes?

These are store policies, not legal requirements. Anti-discrimination laws don’t cover discrimination based on choice of dress. Thus, you can be refused service for being barefoot, wearing a hat or for having tattoos.

These signs and policies are purely based on prejudice; there is no legitimate business reason to ban bare feet. These signs originally came about in the 1960s when business owners wanted a way to keep hippies and anti-Vietnam War protesters out of their stores. Because members of these groups often went barefoot (and shirtless), the stores put up signs that read “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service,” and this clever, alliterative slogan soon became ubiquitous.

Smart businesspeople want their customers to have a pleasant experience and aim to treat you with respect no matter how you’re dressed. Thus, most businesses no longer have these signs. When I encounter one that does, I happily take my business to one of its competitors.

What about liability concerns for businesses?

Any business that claims it bans bare feet because of liability concerns is cowardly trying to hide its prejudice against bare feet. Lawsuits related to injuries suffered while barefoot are virtually nonexistent in U.S. history. Insurance companies do not lower their rates if businesses ban bare feet.

However, there have been many lawsuits filed for injuries suffered while wearing shoes, especially high heels and flip flops. Yet, I have never heard of a business who banned these types of shoes due to “liability concerns.” Likewise, the most common customer injuries are back injuries resulting from lifting something heavy, yet businesses do not require customers to wear back braces.

What about the social pressure to wear shoes?

It’s not as bad as you fear. Try going on Twitter and searching for “barefoot everywhere.” You’ll find that there are many people like you expressing their desire to permanently kick off their shoes.

There are few things you need to remember:

1. Many people are too caught up in their own worlds to notice that you’re not wearing shoes.

2. Of those who do notice, most are unlikely to say anything.

3. Most who do say something will respond positively (“Your barefoot? That’s cool.”) or inquisitively (“Do you always go barefoot?”).

Most of the social pressures about being barefoot are rooted in negative stereotypes that barefoot people are “homeless” or “dirty hippies” or “troublemakers.” Therefore, if you make the effort to be groomed and well-dressed, and carry yourself with a pleasant and confident attitude, you’ll minimize negative interactions.

What should I do if I go shopping barefoot and an employee confronts me?

First, as stated above, this will happen rarely, and, when it does, it’s usually the result of an employee’s ignorance. Second, it’s important to remain calm and polite. No matter the outcome of the situation, you don’t want to project a negative image.

Calmly and confidently tell the employee that you go barefoot by choice and are willing to accept the risks. Often this will assuage the employee’s concerns. If they claim you are violating health codes, politely, but firmly, correct them.

It’s important to remember that you’re not doing anything wrong by going barefoot. It’s generally considered impolite for an employee to make comments about a customer’s appearance, and bare feet shouldn’t be an exception. Thus, if the employee is rude or belligerent, you should contact the owner/manager and complain. Make sure you focus your complaint on how rude the employee was. Don’t even mention the fact that you were barefoot if you don’t have to. If the employee is reprimanded for poor customer service, s/he is very unlikely to bother you again about your bare feet.