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I couldn’t believe it. All the way to Utah to hike the national parks and I forgot to pack my hiking boots. A pair of moccasin-style Sperry “comfort shoes” on my feet and a pair of Chaco sandals in my bag were the only foot coverings I brought. I was about to drop a significant amount of change for a new pair of hiking boots, when I reconsidered.

In researching "Wear & Tear" on my list of the Seven Causes of Disease, I have come upon several convincing sources suggesting that expensive recreational footwear can actually do more harm than good. Rigid support, common to running shoes and hiking footwear, neutralizes the natural shock-absorption offered by the muscles of the feet. Arch support makes the muscles of the foot lazy.

Heels tilt the body forward in an unnatural way. Most footwear restricts the toes, which should be allowed to spread out for balance and support. Heels are essential for standing upright, but actually have very little to do with running and walking. Consider the back leg of an animal that runs, such as a dog. The heel is actually one-third of the way up the leg and never touches the ground. A dog runs on the ball of the foot and toes. The knee and heel allow the leg to function as a Z-shaped spring, optimizing shock absorption and initiating a powerful push forward. In running, shoes with a padded heel encourage you to land on your heel (more shock) instead of landing on the middle or ball of the foot to take advantage of the Z spring.

Many researchers are now suggesting that the best footwear consists of a simple breathable leather covering with no heel and a flexible sole, just enough to protect the feet from sharp objects. Depending on where you live and the style of your workout, you may consider trying out the following options: snug sandals, water shoes, Vibram 5-fingers, flat sole sneakers, or even barefoot! If you are lucky enough to live on the coast, sand is optimal for strengthening feet. Or if you are brave, as my daughter Braden and friend Geoff are so kindly illustrating in these pictures, you can brave the mountains in sandals or bare feet!

After a minute of contemplation in the Utah hiking boot store, I put my money back in my pocket, thanked the clerk for her time, and decided to give it a go with my sandals and comfort shoes. Over many miles of varied terrain, up and down, flat to steep, sandy to rocky, I alternated between the shoes and the sandals. The shoes had the advantage of keeping out more pebbles, but the sandals cleared more easily. At the end of it all I could honestly say that the only part of my body that wasn’t sore was my feet. No blisters. No calluses…just dirty feet!

For more information on low impact running, check out Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. This easy summer read will surely keep you on your toes (no pun intended)!

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Previous Comments

Katherine Smith- Jun 21, 2010

Cute pictures! Glad to see that you all had a fun trip. Thanks for the great information on shoes, please keep the articles coming!