Why do Australians love to go barefoot? - BBC REEL

If people were asked to typify aspects of Australian culture, barefoot would be in there.

It's been called one of the 'weirdest', 'perplexing', 'odd', 'unexplainable' Australian cultural habits. There isn't a shoe shortage in Australia, and it doesn't take much effort to put on a pair of shoes. So do Australians really love their land so much they don't need any layers between it and their feet? And could there actually be some unexpected health benefits to freeing ourselves of the tyranny of our shoes?

Video by Kirsty B Carter

#bbcreel #bbc #bbcnews

[kasondaleigh]

I saw children in New Zealand going to school barefoot and I couldn’t believe it. Then I took my shoes off too! Feels great!

[juliaconnell]

As a New Zealander, I'm barefoot the vast majority of the time - like 99% of the time - don't even think about - the 1% I do wear shoes they slip on shoes, and they often come off when I'm out

Edit - wait, what?! that woman wears shoes inside her HOME - now *that* is strange

[toocutepuppies]

My mom grew up barefoot, I grew up barefoot and my kids were raised barefoot. Shoes make my feet hurt and cramped - yes, they're the correct size. Our family just hates shoes. We're Americans though, so everybody tells us to put on shoes.🤨 Maybe we should move to Australia?

[samarakrieger]

As someone who's attended school both in Australia and New Zealand, I must say that Kiwi kids are barefoot 99.9% of the year. Even in the dead of winter. Shorts, T-shirt, no shoes. In Australia, because of WHS (Work Health and Safety), it isn't as common to see kids barefoot at school or in public. Maybe the video should be about Kiwis going barefoot instead of Australians 😂

[sanjuansteve]

I was born with bilateral severely clubbed feet and had a corrective operation at 4 yrs old. I go barefoot everywhere (and usually in nothing but swim shorts) I can too and it's only partly because my ankles hurt less when barefoot than wearing shoes.

[loxodoncyclotis]

That grossed out lady is so hilarious 😂

[AlexXDiety]

This, I love. I've been called all kinds of names for being barefoot all of the time, lol. I love it, especially in the woods.

[TheRealJavahead]

I’m an Aussie and regularly barefooted. Those who look down upon it as if it is unclean are illogical. I wash my feet at least twice a day, how often do they wash the soles of there shoes. Additionally, I am more careful where I step so the soles of my feet are always cleaner than the soles of most shoes and my feet much healthier than those who don’t go barefoot.

[mariaelmahdy]

I'm Australian and barefoot is owesome !

[chamini]

Others may wonder why they walk barefoot? I wonder why people don't walk barefoot? I would love to see that kind of culture in my country...

[CARambolagen]

I lived in Australia for 14 years altogether. I didn't notice an exaggeratd barefoot culture except for the obvious reasons of really hot weather. Most people will wear at least thongs for foot protection, which you will even need in very hot weather because the ground can get unbearably hot.

[tbc]

My wife and I have a friend who is a New Zealand native who brought her love of being barefoot to the States. Generally when we are in her presence, we both take our shoes and socks off so she feels more comfortable.

[aliendroid]

"most people don't like feet and I don't think that it's something that we shouldn't be promoting" daheck I can't believe that she went for reinforcing the silly stigma rather than pointing out that the feet are beautiful body parts like the rest and are perceptive to so much sensory stimulation through which we can experience the world more intimately

[ronzac]

i am Indonesian and i love going barefoot in nature mostly at the park or beach. feels so good when i step on the grass and just feel the ground. every step counts and it's like a walking meditation. Many villagers also left off their shoes in front of my shop and went barefoot inside, i never mind it. Many times i go barefoot in my own shop as well. My town is very chill, but still we wear sandals when we are out. Because going barefoot all the time could expose our feet to parasites that can enter our skin.

[beachbum]

People need to get over their hang-ups about going barefoot. Going barefoot here in the U.S. was quite common until the 1980's. Children going to school barefoot was actually quite common until the end of WWII, because here in the U.S., shoes were rationed due to the war effort. Being barefoot is healthy.

[verdecillo]

Personally I dislike wearing shoes. I am barefoot as often as possible- so basically I only have shoes on when at the hospital (where I work). I even walk barefoot almost everywhere outdoors- when I take my dogs for walks with my family for example. Here in the United States this is not very common, so I sometimes get some strange looks from others, but I don't care, and people who know me just accept that it's who I am. Even when I must wear shoes (for example when shopping or eating out- since most stores and restaurants here require shoes), I wear sandals/minimalist shoes as long as it's not too cold (i.e. 50°F/10°C or above). I have been doing this for a few years and now I very rarely have achy knees or leg cramps (I had these often before). For the majority of people, walking and exercising without shoes and being barefoot prevents and alleviates musculoskeletal problems and is good for one's physiology in general. I really don't understand why it's still considered weird- something so obvious should become common knowledge and accepted. For anyone considering adopting a more barefoot lifestyle, definitely just try it. If you're concerned that you can hurt yourself- don't worry- it's just unfounded fear. When barefoot, you become more aware of your surroundings and your feet give your body constant feedback, so these things help you avoid injuries. Feet are also naturally quite resilient and adapt quickly. Your soles, arches and ankles might be a bit sore at first simply because those muscles and joints have become accustomed to shoes (and consequently have atrophied), but it quickly gets easy and becomes second nature after your feet return to doing what they are designed for. I know that for me, at this point, I have no problems- the soles of my feet are like leather (and by that I mean a nice supple leather- soft but strong). Even though I mostly avoid such things, I can step on twigs, pebbles, acorns, etc. and they don't bother me (I feel them of course, but they don't hurt me).

[Saucyakld]

My dutch relatives think we are poor as in Auckland we go barefooted in summer hahaha!

[danelbrun]

I live in (Northern) France and almost always go barefoot : very few people do like me, but it is well accepted.At least some find that funny or even courageous in winter. As it has been said, living nearby the see is also an powerful incentive to go barefoot. And that's true for most people in NZ and Australia. Another reason, which makes New Zeeland even more barefoot-friendly than Australia is that there were no harmfull plants growing ton its two islands and few aggressive animals, quite the opposite of what happens on that continent.

[fariesz]

walking barefoot is fairly common here in southern germany as well, and it's mostly a leisure thing. kids walk barefoot a lot, otherwise it's typically people who are part of barefoot movement i suppose, that or they are of the overly relaxed kind.
which makes it even funnier when you dress up nicely but then walk around barefoot bc it breaks people's conceptions.. and brain.
walking barefoot in winter is only for the highly determined though. i've had my occasional run in the snow, but that's more of an exercise module.
and i do wear shoes at home. it's a thing here.

[MagnusVonBenz]

Going barefoot is so infinitely liberating.