I bought a pair of “barefoot” shoes before the summer, and now they are my favourites.
A few months ago a colleague, who was curious about barefoot shoes, asked me if I had noticed any downsides to them at all. The only thing I could think of was the looks. Nobody would describe these as stylish. They’re not exactly ugly, and in comparison to some current shoe fashion, they’re pretty OK. At least they don’t look like a lumpy, swollen blob of rubber and plastic like too many sneakers do these days.
Otherwise they are perfect. Insanely comfortable – lightweight, flexible, soft. It’s like I’m wearing socks, but with some protection for the sole. I can walk in them all day and by the end of the day still not wish that I could just take my shoes off. I forget about them; they don’t even register.
Now that winter is coming, I’ve found their only downside: they’ve spoiled me for standard-shaped shoes. Since May I have barely worn any other footwear other than these or my sandals. Hiking boots, when needed, and rubber boots, but no other shoes. And now there will be snow and ice, which these shoes are not made for, so I need to start putting on winter boots, but I DON’T WANT TO.
Do I squeeze my feet into narrow boots for the hour or so that my commute takes, every day? Do I throw out my still-perfectly-good sheepskin-lined winter boots (that took me ages to find) and invest time in hunting for new ones?