Once upon a time I was a barefoot hippie. If you extrapolate flip-flops down to their Platonic ideal, you can arrive at something you can fold up into your back pocket.

[–] Godric@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I'm reminded of this one barefoot hippie who would do nature survival shows without shoes. I understand how it worked for him in the forest or desert with brambles and whatnot, but how does that work in an urban area?

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 15 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Asphalt is hot but as long as you keep moving, and you've built up some callouses, it's not that bad. I always kept to the grass on the side when I could.

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

Painted lines are always cooler too.

[–] beastlykings@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Oh man, I don't know how this could be true. I work manual labor, in sneakers. I spend all summer recreational time in either flip flops or barefoot. So while I don't have huge callouses on my feet, I've got some. Not tender baby feet.

But still, one day it was like 70 or 80 out, I changed out fancy clothes into shorts, but forgot to pack my flip flops. I really wanted to walk down to an event that was going on, but I didn't want to wear black fancy shoes with my shorts. So I went barefoot on the sidewalk, about 3/4 of a mile.

I did like you said and walked in the grass a lot, but man the concrete was hotter than I expected. It didn't hurt at first, but each new step I took found freshly warmed concrete that just heated my foot more. Keeping moving definitely wasn't helping. Eventually it started to hurt, even with walking in as much grass as I could.

I got to where I was going, grass covered area, and didn't think too much of it.

When I went to leave? Oh man. My feet hurt. Looking at them closely, I had several blisters on both feet. I cooked em. I couldn't walk back, I had to call my friend to pick me up.

That was on regular concrete. I cannot imagine doing that on asphalt, I wouldn't make it a hundred feet.

Maybe I really do have tender baby feet 🤔

[–] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 1 points 23 hours ago

Depends on where you live. In my city, sometimes shoes aren't even enough.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 days ago

all i can say is that i've been barefoot for a couple years now and.. it's fine? never really had an issue beyond cold and sharp gravel (especially when it's on a hard surface)

[–] POTOOOOOOOO@reddthat.com 4 points 2 days ago

I'm looking for flip flops that roll up small to take hiking as camp shoes. Do you have a recommendation on where to look?

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I just don't give a fuck. Adidas slides are basically my only good weather shoe. And most of the time I slide them into each other and stick them into my cargo short pocket. I have been doing this for like over 30 years and I hope to keep living life like this for the next 30 years.

[–] MutilationWave@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I wanna live somewhere with weather that nice and clean infrastructure.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

These feets are made for walking.

You built up a healthy layer of thick skin after a while.

[–] MutilationWave@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah I do and lose a bit in the winter. Gotta start walking on gravel when the weather gets warm.