Summary: Show Notes: Episode 144 Backpacking Barefoot<br> Today on the First 40 Miles, one of the best feelings after a long day of hiking is that moment when you unlace your boots and toss them next to your pack. But have you ever thought about ditching your boots altogether? We’ll share some benefits of lightening up and going more minimalist with your footwear—maybe even barefoot. Then we’ll review a pair of shoes from Vibram that will practically gift wrap your feet in Japanese wrapping cloth. Next, we’ll help you crack the code on how to find long, winding trails.<br> Opening<br> <br> * What is barefoot hiking? What’s the appeal?? Why even? Who does this?? How does one prepare for hiking without shoes–or with minimal shoes?<br> * Barefoot can mean no shoes or minimal shoes<br> * Concerned about injury, disease, modern uncalloused feet, cold<br> * LNT benefits—from barefoot.org “Hiking barefoot causes virtually no trail erosion as a bare foot makes much less of an imprint than a booted foot–offering an environmentally sound choice for hiking.” from barefoot.org<br> * <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Body-Barefoot-Transitioning-Footwear/dp/0989653986">Wholebody Barefoot </a>by Katy Bowman<br> * Shoes for barefoot hiking or running: Merrell Vapor 2, Xero Shoes, Vibram Five Fingers or the Furoshikis, Vivobarefoot, Aquasox<br> * <a href="http://www.barefooters.org/barefoot-hiking-2/">http://www.barefooters.org/barefoot-hiking-2/</a><br> * “Feet were made for walking…That’s what they do. If they’re not used to walking on certain surfaces, they will soon adapt with practice.”<br> * Tips for those interested in doing some barefoot hiking: <a href="http://www.unshod.org/ebbfhike/bfhik101.htm">http://www.unshod.org/ebbfhike/bfhik101.htm</a><br> <br> Top 5 Benefits of Going Barefoot or Wearing Barefoot Shoes<br> It’s a full earth experience<br> <br> * If dirty doesn’t matter, then it’s fun to feel earth beneath your feet, even if just for part of the trail…<br> * How many textures are on the trail?? Moss, dirt, mud, grass, sand, streams, even gravel or snow patches<br> * It’s a luxury we rarely afford ourselves—however it’s a luxury that we have to earn.<br> * Some prep is required if you want to walk barefoot: spend time outside of shoes, spend time on rough, uneven surfaces, toughen up your feet a little each day or even for short stretches on the trail.<br> <br> Barefoot hiking is a full-body experience<br> <br> * From the top of your head to the tips of your toes–every muscle and joint in between will be responding to information received from the feet.<br> * Your eyes will be watching to good places to step, your brain will be processing information from the feet, and the rest of your body will be rolling, pitching and yawing to ensure that you stay upright and balanced.<br> * Because you’re getting more information from the ground, your balance, stability and posture should improve<br> <br> Less weight<br> <br> * Every pound on your feet is like five pound on your back—that’s science!<br> * Going barefoot or wearing barefoot shoes have features that allow your feet to move<br> * When your feet move, you get loads of information from them<br> * Shoes should be flexible, thin, and fully attached to your foot<br> * A hard stand on flip flops<br> <br> Rejuvinating <br> <br> * There’s something magical that happens when we connect more directly with nature—and it’s rejuvenating and exhilarating<br> * There are even studies that claim that walking directly on the earth’s surface does something electrical to us…They call it “earthing” or “grounding”<br> * <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22291721">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22291721</a><br> * Doesn’t really matter what it’s called—there are some sensations that are just made for the feet to experience. Warm sand, squishy mud, the feel of moss under your feet,
