7 Activities to do Barefoot This Summer
Young girl runs through sprinklers barefoot in the grass
After months of winter, you can almost feel the sun on your face and the grass under your feet! If you’re starting to dream up all the things you’re going to do outdoors in the warmer weather, try adding activities that let you go barefoot.
Here’s why:
Feeling the ground through your feet lets you experience different textures like grass, dirt, sand, and terrain.
Grounding helps regulate your nervous system and reduce stress.
Going barefoot strengthens the muscles in your feet, leading to better balance and stability.
The surface area of the skin on your feet helps absorb more Vitamin D than when shod, which helps boost energy and your immune system.
This summer, we want to share some of our favorite activities to do barefoot. Some of these can be done wearing no shoes at all and some are best with natural footwear to protect your feet from things like rocks and sharp objects. Scan your environment to see what’s around before taking off your shoes.
Quick note: some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links, meaning we may make a small commission from your purchase. We only recommend products and services that align with our mission and add value to your life.
Picnics in the Park
Intensity level: low to moderate
Footwear: barefoot or natural footwear
A group of people seated on a blanket in a grassy park
Humans are meant to connect with nature and be in community. Inviting your friends and family to an outing at the park is a great way to spend time with loved ones and feel your feet in the grass. It’s also an opportunity for lots of other outdoor barefoot activities like frisbee, soccer, or casual strolls.
2. Outdoor Yoga or Tai Chi
Intensity level: low
Footwear: barefoot or natural footwear
Woman practicing Tai Chi on one leg in a park setting
Tai Chi is a martial art practice based on slow, deliberate weight shifts and fluid, dance-like movement. You can do it alone or with a group and it’s known for improving balance, coordination, and mindfulness. Going barefoot helps boost these effects and increases proprioception, or the body’s awareness of space, by letting you feel the nuance of each slow weight shift.
Both yoga and Tai Chi incorporate breathing and attention to the body, reducing stress and anxiety. They are low-impact and gentle activities, making them a perfect practice for people with limited mobility.
3. Gardening
Intensity level: low to moderate
Footwear: barefoot or natural footwear
Water showering down onto a row of garden plants
Starting a garden is one of the best ways to move your body outdoors. It involves a wide range of movement, so you won’t get stuck doing one thing repeatedly. Digging, squatting, and lifting are all used in gardening and great for your joints. Going barefoot or wearing natural footwear while gardening helps with balance, coordination, and connection with the outdoors. As a bonus, it encourages healthy eating if you’re growing your own fruits and vegetables.
Even if you don’t have a backyard (or a green thumb!), many neighborhoods have a community garden you can join. Check out local groups to find a community garden in your area and make some new friends this summer! Besides, you’ll need someone to give all that zucchini to.
4. Head to the Playground
Intensity level: moderate
Footwear barefoot or natural footwear
A group of barefoot children lined up at the top of a play structure
Jungle gyms aren’t just for kids! Swinging, balancing, jumping, and hanging are good for adults, too. Rediscover natural movement patterns, bring down your stress, and enhance creativity by heading to the playground. Unleash your inner child, challenging your balance and coordination at the same time. You’ll get all the physical and emotional benefits- and have lots of fun!
It’s also a great way to spend time with your kids while they experience the benefits of being barefoot. Letting your kids’ feet move freely from a young age helps them build the foundation for healthy movement patterns.
5. Swimrunning
Intensity level: high
Footwear: water shoes
Swimrunning is a team activity that started in Sweden in the early 2000s and became one of the fastest-growing adventuresports in the world! As you can probably guess, it offers all the benefits of connecting with nature through trail running and swimming, all wrapped up into one experience.
Because you’ll be running and swimming in the same footwear, you’ll need water shoes that are suitable for both. We recommend Vivobarefoot’s Hydra Esc series.
6. Hiking
Intensity level: moderate to high
Footwear: minimal hiking boots
A woman hiking barefoot along a rugged waterline
A classic summer activity, we can’t think of a better way to get outdoors! Conventional hiking boots are crammed full of arch support and padding, preventing movement and slowing you down. Switching out your clunky hiking boots for something like Lem’s Boulder Boot or Xero’s Mesa Trail will lighten your load and let your feet feel the ground more easily. Because it weighs less than most hiking boots, you won’t get tired as quickly and you can enjoy longer hikes.
7. Trail Running
Intensity level: high
Footwear: trail runners
A group of runners run along a trail in the wilderness
Trail running is a great way to get outside, feel the ground, and get some cardio at the same time. If you haven’t worn natural footwear before, be sure to safely transition first. If you’re already running in natural footwear, try switching it up and heading to the hills. You’ll get a lot more variety of movement and practice navigating uneven ground, which will help strengthen your feet. (Just be sure to keep up with your foot strengthening routine!)
If trail running sounds intimidating, try running with a friend or finding a local Facebook group of runners in your area. To help get your feet ready for the best trailing running experience, check out this Trail Running Fundamentals Course by Vivohealth.
Our favorite natural footwear for trail running is the Vivobarefoot Primus Series or Altra trail runners.
Two people walk along the shore with bare feet
Whether you’re a seasoned barefoot pro or just getting started, there are countless activities you can do this summer. These are just a few that we enjoy, but you can get creative and find new ways to benefit from foot freedom.
Looking for the right shoe? Head to our full list of HFA-recommended brands.
What are some of your favorite barefoot summer activities? Drop a comment and share!
