Barefoot Hiking

Wild Rose · 10-04-2011, 12:13 PM

I wish I could brave the wilderness with bare feet, like Cody Lundin from Dual Survival. I love having no shoes on, but sadly my feet are not as tough as his are. What shoes can give you a bare footed feel? Are the Five Fingers shoes good to hike in?

IndianaHiker · 10-04-2011, 12:30 PM

Have many friends that love the five fingers. I myself am thinking about ditching my boots and going with them or trail runners.

Newanderthal · 10-04-2011, 05:35 PM

do NOT get the ones by FILA. They're like cheap knock-offs.

jason · 10-04-2011, 06:24 PM

I use five fingers when I go kayaking. I love them, the only problem is the ones I had were slightly on the small size. Just very slightly. And I got a rip in one of the toes. I have not hiked in them though, but have worn them in the water and loading/unloading the kayak. Never had a problem other then the small rip.

Grandpa · 10-04-2011, 06:34 PM

Never been around the five toes. I gave up the boots years ago for a good fitting trail shoe. As close as my tender feet have come to barefoot hiking is with crocs. The croc knockoffs however do not work well for that.

oldsarge · 10-04-2011, 07:01 PM

As much as I like Cody Ludin's teachings, I think that going barefoot would take me way too long to get in condition. It might work for him in the desert, but have you seen him twinkle toeing on some of the Dual Survival shows. It may work for him due to most of his life he's been that way. I would never attempt that now. I've seen indigenous people of other counties who were barefoot, but it's their way of life from day one. Their feet are like leather on the bottoms, mostly flat footed too. They live in tropical environments and are mostly naked. I don't see how these folks can run around like that (barefooted). I've had thorns poke through boots and stop me dead in my tracks. Hell, I took the trash out one night in my slippers, stepped on a small stone and that had me high stepping across the driveway like I was doing an Irish jig!

IndianaHiker · 10-04-2011, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newanderthal

do NOT get the ones by FILA. They're like cheap knock-offs.

Those might not be around much longer. They are being sued by Vibram for patent issues. No big surprise as they do seem to be a blatant rip off of the Vibram 5 fingers.

bikerjoe · 10-04-2011, 11:51 PM

I mean no disrespect but why would anyone want to go hiking in bare feet? Do 5 fingers protect your feet from rocks and bug bites?

campershell · 10-05-2011, 06:37 AM

I have the same question in mind, bikerjoe! Going almost barefoot in a trail may be okay because the trail is almost flattened by other hikers. But when there is no trail, there will be sharp stones and twigs that could hurt.

ejdixon · 10-05-2011, 10:43 AM

I agree, campershell. Not to mention leeches if you try hiking through forests.