Increasing my overall barefoot time

Hi friends. Haven't been on in a while. Hope everyone is doing well.

This has been my first winter as a barefoot runner. I didn't think the cold weather would have such a negative impact on my running time, but it has. I have a pair of VFF's and Xero's, and had planned on using them to run regardless of the weather, but it didn't happen as consistently as I had hoped. Monday was the first time in almost a month that I got a good run in.

Thankfully Spring-like weather has returned to the Tennessee Valley, and with it my desire to kick the shoes off and get out under my own power. The running is great, but recently I have started driving without shoes. I got a stern warning from my wife about the potential illegality of this, of which I am still unsure, but have continued the practice anyway. It was a little awkward at first, but I'm getting used to it. I always take my VFF's with me in case I need them.

I'm basically trying to do as much as I can without shoes, short of getting thrown out of a store or something. I was just curious if there are others on here who expand their barefoot time beyond running?
 
Hi friends. Haven't been on in a while. Hope everyone is doing well.

This has been my first winter as a barefoot runner. I didn't think the cold weather would have such a negative impact on my running time, but it has. I have a pair of VFF's and Xero's, and had planned on using them to run regardless of the weather, but it didn't happen as consistently as I had hoped. Monday was the first time in almost a month that I got a good run in.

Thankfully Spring-like weather has returned to the Tennessee Valley, and with it my desire to kick the shoes off and get out under my own power. The running is great, but recently I have started driving without shoes. I got a stern warning from my wife about the potential illegality of this, of which I am still unsure, but have continued the practice anyway. It was a little awkward at first, but I'm getting used to it. I always take my VFF's with me in case I need them.

I'm basically trying to do as much as I can without shoes, short of getting thrown out of a store or something. I was just curious if there are others on here who expand their barefoot time beyond running?

I definitely drive without shoes! It's so much safer. Bare feet helps to keep you awake and you know exactly where the pedals are and how much pressure to apply. Proprioception is the key. Long distance drivers often take their shoes off to help stay alert.
 
Since I started barefoot running, I try to walk around in barefoot as musch as possible.
That is: within the bounderies of what I think is socially accptable. My girlfriend hates it.

In practice this means walk barefoot at home, drive my car barefooted, I'm occasionally walking barefoot at work, but I feel that would not be appreciated when customers would see me like that.
And only very occasionally I do a walk outside with barefoot. Would like to do more of that, sometimes I do that with my Skinners on.
 
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It's perfectly legal to drive barefoot but your insurance company might have an issue with it if you're barefoot in an accident:

https://www.nasdaq.com/article/is-barefoot-driving-legal-cm246451

I've also started driving barefoot whenever the weather allows. As it's currently 20F here in MN, though, it's been a few months since I did that. I really enjoy going barefoot as much as possible and there are many benefits to it but I really think the key for me is to make sure I'm always at least wearing minimalist footwear full-time.

I find the benefits of unshod are a lot more dramatic for running specifically just because it does involve more impact than walking although I no longer believe it's "high-impact" like I used to when I was stomping along in cushioned Asics. So, I don't sweat it too much those places and times when I can't be barefoot, especially as I can just wear minimalist footwear. It's really only for running that I'm extra dilligent about going barefoot as much as possible because I'm 45 and my old, over-striding, stomping habits always threaten to come back (or, at least I fear they do!) and unshod keeps me honest.
 
I definitely drive without shoes! It's so much safer. Bare feet helps to keep you awake and you know exactly where the pedals are and how much pressure to apply. Proprioception is the key. Long distance drivers often take their shoes off to help stay alert.

I never thought about taking off the shoes to keep alert on a long trip, but it makes sense. The extra stimuli on the foot nerve ending probably would help to keep you awake.
 
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Since I started barefoot running, I try to walk around in barefoot as musch as possible.
That is: within the bounderies of what I think is socially accptable. My girlfriend hates it.

In practice this means walk barefoot at home, drive my car barefooted, I'm occasionally walking barefoot at work, but I feel that would not be appreciated when customers would see me like that.
And only very occasionally I do a walk outside with barefoot. Would like to do more of that, sometimes I do that with my Skinners on.

I think that's my biggest hang-up, what is "socially acceptable." I walk around my neighborhood barefoot all the time, but it's different going to a more public place. Most businesses here outright ban being barefoot in their shops.

I've been meaning to get a pair of Skinners to keep with me when I'm out and about. Are they a pretty good buy? I have the Vibrams, but they are difficult to get on on the fly.
 
I find the benefits of unshod are a lot more dramatic for running specifically just because it does involve more impact than walking although I no longer believe it's "high-impact" like I used to when I was stomping along in cushioned Asics. So, I don't sweat it too much those places and times when I can't be barefoot, especially as I can just wear minimalist footwear. It's really only for running that I'm extra dilligent about going barefoot as much as possible because I'm 45 and my old, over-striding, stomping habits always threaten to come back (or, at least I fear they do!) and unshod keeps me honest.

I have also gone completely minimalist when I can't be barefoot. I use the Xero hikers for work, and no one has even noticed that they are not conventional work boots. As far as running goes, I strongly prefer to be barefoot now. Even with VFF's, it's just not the same. It's like trying to type with gloves on.
 

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