I am full-on barefoot most of the time. At home, at work, around town. If I go into a restaurant with my wife or kids, I'll put on a pair of slippers or something rather than take a chance that they get caught in the middle of a "Shoe-Down" with the management.
So my feet are perfectly used to the easy stuff. And my body can easily compensate for the terrain of urban life. When you start to step on something uncomfortable, your foot lets you know so you don't put your weight down, and you shift. But I found last year when I tried to hike totally barefoot in Yosemite, my body was doing that kind of accommodation with every other step. So the amount of extra work I did with my back and legs, to minimize the pricks and pokes of the trail was stunning. After 2 miles barefoot (downhill) my entire body was exhausted. Yet the next day, I hiked 14 miles with my boots and did great.
So it sounds like my feet were ready, but my body wasn't in good enough shape! This summer, I'm planning on trips to both Yosemite and Yellowstone, and am going to do a bunch of hiking with my family. I'm hoping to go mostly barefoot, but carry my Merril TrailGloves just in case.
Anybody have advice for the barefoot hiker?
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