Mowing My Lawn Barefoot

Hear ye! Hear ye! From wenceforth forward and hereafter (and here to for), I will mow my lawn barefoot. Well, not barefoot, but in a minimalist shoe.

Hear me out. For years, I’ve kinda bought into the barefoot movement. In theory, our feet evolved to walk without shoes in a natural way and feet have muscles and arches and everything in our feet work the way the parts should when we walk without shoes. Shoes were a great invention, don’t get me wrong. They protect our feet … from sticks and sharp objects and from stubbing our toes. And from stepping on scorpions.

I wear shoes. Every day, in fact. And corporate America frowns on being barefoot at the office … or at the grocery story … or the library …or Church. Where was I? Oh yes … barefootin’.

As it relates to lawn care, I have a good pair of work boots. With steel toes. Why? For protection. There’s a story from my youth. It might’ve been my Uncle. It might’ve been an old wives’ tale. But my Dad said someone’s lawnmower rolled over his own foot and cut up the guy’s foot really bad and, so, my Dad said, “wear work boots … just in case.”

And I do. Because my Dad told me to.

And he thinks I never listened.

Or, when working outside, I wear my BOGS because they’re waterproof and called “Urban Walkers” and seem pretty comfortable, even though if I’m being honest …over many hours? The BOGS Urban Walkers are not comfortable, either.

That was the mounting problem. After a long day in the yard, working outside, my feet are always killing me. My feet hurt. My knees hurt. I’ve noticed my back has been hurting more. But I just figured it’s me getting old and that’s how it feels to be in my mid-50s (actually still early-50s for at least another year).

Then, last week, while mowing the lawn, I was listening to Max Lugavere‘s Podcast, The Genius Life, and the Episode 573: How to Enhance Foot Health and Reduce Foot Pain ). Max’s guest was Dr. Courtney Conley—founder of Gait Happens and author of the new book, Walk.

Dr. Courtney Conley—founder of Gait Happens and author of the new book Walk—joins Max to unpack how foot health, walking, and modern footwear impact everything from pain and balance to metabolic health, brain function, and longevity.

It reminded me that “barefoot running” and choosing shoes that support my foot’s natural movement used to be my thing.

It’s silly to mow the lawn barefoot because there’s rocks and pine cones and sharp stuff … but I still have my 10+ year-old Merrell Vibrams which I’d kinda forgotten about and I said, “hey, I’m going to give those a try.” I can’t even begin to tell you how many miles my Merrell Vibrams have on them, but if we’re talking “minimalist shoes”, until a minimalist shoe falls apart or there’s a hole in the sole, they’re good enough. I would argue, in fact, that a minimalist shoe gets better with age.

Weekend-1: I spent 5 hours on my feet mowing, edging, and trimming branches.

Weekend-2: I spent 4 hours Saturday and 3 hours Sunday mowing, cleaning, and carrying things and I’m here to report . . .

Zero soreness in my feet. Zero knee pain.

So, I’m recommending, if you’re “dogs are barking” and your feet hurt … skip the Hokas and new cushioned work boots … try minimalist shoes.

Merrell has an entire “minimalist” line of shoes, in fact, and to my mind, Merrell has cornered the market on true, outdoorsy, hiking shoes.

Like I always say, you re-learn something every day.