The Feet of My Feet

Shoes are by far one of the most important tools a traveler has at her disposal. The wrong shoe can mean a disaster of an experience: blisters, remorse, and overall uncomfortability are the last things you'd want while trying to focus on the enormous sight you're about to come upon - the one you've just been dying to see!

A good shoe, on the other foot, would mean, in comparison, pure bliss. Feet in general are over-looked by most, not taking the time to consider the importance and unique structure of the foot. Proper walking form increases muscle strength, versatility in movement, and even posture! Trust me, I speak from experience.

How does one go about improving their walking form (actually, it's more like learning how to walk again, from scratch)? Go barefoot. As much as possible. Everywhere and always. Don't worry about the weird looks - you're going to get more weird looks when you discover how amazing barefoot walking actually is, and then decide to buy a pair of outrageously awesome and weird barefoot-specific shoes.

The first thing is you will immediately notice is that you are much more aware of your environment. Do you really want to go barefoot at a gas station? How about a public restroom!? You'll consciously decide to step here instead of there when you realize that makes the difference between gum on your foot and no gum on your foot.

Of course, I don't mean to convince you to drive barefoot (besides, that's illegal). The places I spoke about above are from my own experience after I already purchased and was wearing my personal favorite barefoot-specific shoes: Vibram FiveFingers. Though not 100% barefoot, they feel like it, so walking into a public restroom with Five Fingers on makes you think and feel you're in their with just your feet to the floor - it's quite an experience that makes you realize janitors should be getting paid more.

The first time I tried on my FiveFinger Sprints back in 2010 I was laughing with joy and giddy with excitement over this weird, new feeling. These shoes were one of the strangest feelings I've had - I was barefoot, but not barefoot! It was really cool.

I love these shoes: fastening system is amazing; non-marking rubber; good grip for a variety of activities (I train parkour so I'm always running, jumping, climbing, and doing all kinds of random movements in diverse places!); cool color and big attention grabber. Yes, I love these shoes.

Not bad for the price, either. These have lasted me for 4 years until I just recently started noticing the rubber was losing it's life force. I won't be actively training in them, but I still wear them all the time and I'll definitely be taking them with me wherever I go. Of course, I want to make sure that my feet are treated properly, and that I don't leave anything up to chance while I'm travelling...




So, I just purchased (May, 2013) a new pair of FiveFingers (from REI, of course). The KSO.

I decided to get this pair because of the mesh covering on top. I'm going to be doing a lot of unplanned travelling to exotic places so I think having more protection is a good idea. Sand, water, twigs and grass - all of those things which I found in my Sprints shouldn't be creeping up into the KSO's.

I went with black because I don't want the same attention (though of course the looks will keep coming) as I did with the red Sprints. I don't want to stick out any more than I have to.

Finally, I cannot emphasize enough the beautiful advantage of travelling with barefoot-specific shoes: their incredibly lightweight! And they can bend and be stuffed to whatever position you need. I can't wait to hit the  road with my new FiveFingers...or the rocks, the walls, the trails, the forest - whatever comes my way!