Barefoot even in winter? No problem, you just need to bring your legs to life

^{photo: with the permission of naboso.cz}

Of course, it only has to be a short walk or you’ll catch a cold. On the other hand, you can easily walk in bare shoes all winter long. They can handle snow and frost. You just need to train your legs a little.

Barefoot shoes are characterized by a sole that is around five millimeters thin. Therefore, even among fans of barefoot shoes, there is often concern that their feet will be cold in the winter months, and they prefer classic shoes with thicker soles for this period. And this despite the fact that they usually prefer shoes that are light, flexible, with enough space for the toes and zero drop, i.e. with typical barefoot characteristics.

However, ordinary shoes are narrower, they lack an anatomically shaped toe, the sole is usually hard and inflexible, so the foot cannot move properly and the circulation is poor. Paradoxically, the feet can feel more cold in classic footwear, even if the sole is two to three times thicker and perhaps even insulated. Barefoot shoes have the advantage that if you want, you can warm up by moving in them.

^{Angles Nyx Winter with fur coat / available at naboso.cz}

Adults’ feet are spoiled

Have you noticed that children often take off their shoes and like to run in bare feet, even in weather when adults are already cold? And their cold-blooded parents force them to quickly put on their shoes. However, children’s feet still function well in their natural thermoregulation and are not as delicate as adult feet. We adults usually feel that in winter we cannot do without thick socks and boots with fur, mainly to keep our feet warm, as probably every grandmother used to say. But it is beautiful to see in children that they need to be constantly in motion in order to keep their legs warm.

In barefoot shoes, the feet have enough space for active walking, for full blood circulation, and thus even adult feet slowly restore their thermoregulatory abilities when wearing appropriate footwear. Another benefit of barefoot shoes is according to healthy exercise lecturer Vladana Botlíková even safer movement: “Ankles in pliable and soft shoes can tilt when walking on an inclined and sloping surface. This way, they react much better to, for example, frost, which they recognize faster by touch and can also react faster so that they don’t fall.”

^{AFFENZAHN COMFY WALK WOOL MIDBOOT BEAR Blue / available at naboso.cz}

Prepare your feet for winter

The key is to harden your feet a little before the winter. It is pleasantly refreshing to walk in wet grass and maybe even in snow. It is important to dry your feet properly and put them in warm socks and shoes. Try your options, but only as long as it feels good. Once the legs turn pale and stiff, it’s time to go warm. For proper blood circulation, there are also exercises that strengthen the feet at the same time. For example, transferring your weight from your toes to your heels, circling your feet at the ankle, or gradually lifting and spreading your toes works well.

What winter boots to buy

The next step in winter preparations is to buy the right shoes. The ones that don’t press anywhere are wide enough so that nothing pinches the leg. It’s important to choose the right size too, in case you need a thicker sock after all. Even barefoot shoes are sold insulated, either with fur or lining. You can also buy special thermal pads with aluminum tape. And to keep your feet really warm, it’s important to get winter boots above the ankles, because it’s around the ankles that most heat escapes. Experts in naBOSo stores can advise you on which barefoot shoes are right for you in the winter. A popular model is, for example, ANGLES NYX WINTER Black.

^{LEGUANO HUSKY Black / available at naboso.cz}