Are your “comfortable” shoes causing you problems?

I wouldn’t say I like walking around barefoot outside. I’m sure I did it all the time as a kid, but I can’t imagine doing that now. I know that’s how our ancestors did it, and our feet evolved accordingly. I’ve even written about the benefits of grounding and direct contact with the earth. It’s one thing to take your shoes off, walk in the grass at the park, and hopefully avoid dog poop left behind by an irresponsible dog owner. It’s another thing to walk barefoot on the sidewalk or gravel or in the street. I’m not a fan.

I’ve worn many types of shoes over the years. I even succumbed to the trends back in the day. Remember the Reebok Pumps? Yep, I had a pair. These were incredibly overpriced shoes with the gimmick of pumping up the tongue with air, ostensibly to give you the perfect fit.

Pump it up!

I used to have problems with my feet. Long walks would cause pain in my arches, and I had to use pads on my heels to avoid blisters. My issues were magnified when I would alternate between dress shoes for work and sneakers/sandals at home.

More recently, I’ve been wearing shoes from The Walking Company. At the Biohacking Conference last year in Orlando, I…