When to Ditch Your Shoes

If you want strong and resilient feet, the best way to strengthen them is to spend time barefoot.

Without shoes your balance will be different. You’ll be more connected to the ground. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your feet will work a little harder and, therefore, get stronger.

When should you ditch the shoes? Whenever you can. Warm-ups are a good place to start. Basically any exercise where your feet are planted on the floor is fair game.

Barefoot jump rope — bad idea.
Barefoot deadlifts — good idea.
Barefoot goblet squats — good idea.
Barefoot split squats — could go either way.
Single-leg hinges — definitely barefoot.

If you want strong and healthy feet this summer, get to work now!

—Justin Miner