Blog - Barefoot is Legal

2024 I Did it Barefoot Challenge

Barefoot is Legal’s annual barefoot challenge is here! On April 5-7, 2024, take the opportunity to do everything barefoot. Whether you’re an experienced barefooter or it’s your first time barefoot in public, let us know! Take a short video or selfie and post it with the hashtag #IDidItBarefoot. Help support foot health and raise awareness […]

Barefoot Times Newsletter

Summer is a great time for going barefoot. Families can explore vacation sites, playgrounds, and other locations free of footwear. Read the first publication of the Barefoot Times for tips and tricks for summer barefooting.

Take Off Your Shoes to Feel

When walking barefoot, you get to experience the world in its entirety. Whether you’re walking on grass, carpet, cement, or other surfaces, you can feel what the shoe wearer does not. Planning architecture with this in mind helps to encourage visitors to lose footwear while making for beautiful design. Check out this article from Arch […]

Seventh Annual Barefoot Challenge

The seventh annual “I did it barefoot” challenge will be March 31-April 2, 2023. Mission: go barefoot to at least one business, take a selfie or video, and post with #IDiditBarefootChallenge. See the information on the left for full details.

Barefoot is Legal Stands Up Against China Labor Camps

During the weekend of April 29-May 1, 2022, Barefoot is Legal raised awareness of labor camps in China by encouraging everyone to boycott shoes for the three days and go barefoot. This is in response to the worldwide outrage and protests regarding the human rights issues. A hashtag was created, #NoFootPrisons, for concerned citizens to […]

Barefoot is Legal Kicks Up the 6th Annual Barefoot Challenge

The 6th annual barefoot challenge from Barefoot is Legal will be held April 2-3, 2022. Help us end the social stigma of going barefoot by going to ANY business barefoot (no socks, tights, or flip flops). Take a selfie from head to bare foot and use hashtag #IDiditBarefootChallenge. See the full press release from founder Dave Kelman […]

How to Transition Your Kids to a Barefoot Lifestyle

Barefooting has health benefits for every stage of life, but especially for children as their feet grow and develop. Children tend to naturally want to go barefoot, but shoe companies include footwear with blinking lights, bright colors, and work to indoctrinate kids into not having free feet. Therefore, parents and guardians need to work purposefully […]

2021 Tik Tok Video Contest

Barefoot is Legal is now on TikTok! To celebrate, we are running a new video contest. The winner will receive a one-year VIB package with all the benefits. Send your submissions to videos@barefootislegal.org and join our new channel!

Why you should ditch your shoes and go barefoot

This article from The Daily Clog gives several reasons why you should go barefoot. It’s cozier indoors -Personally, it just doesn’t feel as if I’m really home until I’m barefoot. It’s a freeing feeling -Whether it’s been a long day of class or walking from place to place, taking my shoes off is a vital […]

Why walking barefoot might actually be good for you

If your mom ever scolded you about walking around barefoot, it appears she was wrong. Researchers say walking without shoes is actually good for your feet. The experts say walking barefoot actually strengthens the feet, while cushioned shoes weaken them, and hurt your stability and balance. Of course, you should still be careful about stepping […]

Barefoot is Legal Kicks Off its 5th Annual Barefoot Challenge

For the fifth year in a row, Barefoot is Legal is having its barefoot challenge. The challenge is to go barefoot into a business barefoot March 26-28, 2021. Read the entire press release here.

Could a no-shoe policy help learning in the classroom?

For the past nine months, the message of hygiene and cleanliness has dominated schools, and yet not once has anyone looked down and thought about their feet. While we’ve scrubbed our hands and the surfaces they come into contact with relentlessly, our shoes – and the colony of germs locked into the soles – have […]

How & When Did Bare Feet Become Taboo?

David Kelman September 14, 2020 Thanks to the mask mandates of 2020, the “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service” signs received an update. Signs have changed. Now, many are saying “No Shoes, No Mask, No Service.” People are quoting that going barefoot is a LAW – just like not wearing a fabric over your face. […]

The World After – Bare Feet

Global Cosmetic News wrote an article, “The World After – Bare Feet” looking at life after the pandemic. The Lockdown and a renewed interest in nature and more open air socialising, has resulted in a trend towards bare feet. Although bare feet seems like a ‘simple’ trend, or nothing new, it is quite a statement […]

Bare Feet 7 Reasons to Let Your Children Have Them

From the Momma’s School, a blog gave 7 reasons children should be barefoot. Our feet used to be just fine walking bare. It’s a sensory experience and makes children happy to experience all the pleasure from that. Going with bare feet increases the body’s and foot’s strength. Going with bare feet helps proprioception (spacial orientation […]

Driving Footwear Confusion in Australia

Australians were recently asked if they thought it was illegal to drive barefoot. A Victoria Police poll posted on Facebook has sparked debate over the correct footwear for driving. The poll asking members to vote on whether they thought driving while barefoot, wearing high heels or thongs was illegal. At the time of publishing almost […]

Silicon Valley’s Shoeless Trend

New startups in Silicon Valley allow no-shoe office policies. Read more in this article by Business Insider. The tech world has become inextricably linked to a very specific work uniform: hoodie, t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. That informality has permeated the office environment as well, with startups in Silicon Valley garnering a reputation for embracing out-of-the-norm […]

IGNORANT DEPUTY LEARNED ABOUT GOING BAREFOOT

Houston, 2005 – I went into a local Best Buy store to purchase the newest version of some accounting software and was barefoot. As I came through the front door, the manager smiled and greeted me and we exchanged pleasantries. I proceeded to the software aisle, knelt down where I begin reading various versions of […]

Second Annual Hot Dog Challenge

Garage Article About BIL

Apple Paltrow-Martin, Kacey Musgraves and the members of the ‘Barefoot is Legal’ organization say yes.

On a sunny spring morning a week or so ago, I was waiting for the B69 bus in Prospect Heights—a neighborhood where…

Michigan 25 News Article About BIL

Trooper Alyson Burch with the Michigan State Police, Iron Mountain Post says that it’s completely legal!

Trooper Burch says that there is nothing in the Michigan Vehicle Code that requires shoes.

Mel Magazine Article about BIL

The Facebook group that’s dedicated to spreading the gospel that no shoes is no crime

In 1992, Dave Kelman was 20 years old and working a food service job at a hotel in Las Vegas. He wore Doc Martens boots, then a slip-resistant staple among people working in kitchens. Wrapping up a shift one day, he spilled boiling water on his feet, and the scalding liquid got trapped in his shoes. The burns were bad enough to hospitalize him for 13 days.

Philly Voice Article on BIL

The non-profit group Barefoot Is Legal is encouraging Americans to go out in public barefoot this weekend and take a photo for its ‘I Did It Barefoot’ challenge.

It all comes down to standing up for their freedom.

The protagonists in this tale are tens of thousands of people who’d like to go anywhere

BuzzFeed Article About BIL

A Growing Facebook Group Advocates For People Being Barefoot In Public. Here’s All You Need To Know About Them. “Barefoot Is Legal” is a growing community on social media hoping to destigmatize being barefoot everywhere. Its members have their facts and memes. And they’re ready to recruit.

Job Posting: Instagram Manager

Job Posting – 11/06/2018 Instagram Manager Requirements: Have an excellent understanding of how Instagram works, and how to make it work for our organization. Able to commit to regular posts on Instagram to help us grow. Trustworthy with data & personal information. Have regular access to a cell phone or something that is Instagram compliant […]

No Shoe More Service

Article submitted by Nexia Monae. “Put your shoes on before you go outside.” “Where are your shoes?” “Going outside without shoes is disgusting!” These phrases are just the base of commentary I’ve heard since I was just a child. You can use your imagination on the things I hear now [insert awkward wink]. So why don’t […]

Barefoot Is Legal is featured on the Front Page of San Diego Coast News!

Barefoot Is Legal is Featured on the Front Page of The Coast News ENCINITAS — Jackie Bruner slides off her flip flops behind the counter at Encinitas Boxing and Fitness. Being barefoot, she said, is her preferred mode of existence. Bruner said she prefers being without shoes when she takes strolls with her boyfriend, works […]

Online health guru Dr. Axe gives more good advice on Plantar Fasciitis

Re: 5 Plantar Fasciitis Natural Remedies + 5 Key Stretches “Roughly 10 percent of the adult population suffers from the type of heel pain known as plantar fasciitis. (1) Plantar fasciitis is caused by inflammation of the thick fascia tissues of the heels. It’s a common running injury and usually triggered due to overuse of […]

Treating Plantar Fasciitis With Essential Oils

Plantar Fasciitis is a serious foot pain condition that afflicts some people, barefoot or not. We’ve found some good advice: Re: Treating Plantar Fasciitis With Essential Oils “Dealing with chronic heel pain from Plantar Fasciitis isn’t easy. And some of the treatments Google may have offered you don’t look like a walk in the park […]

Tips for Effective Social Media Marketing

While spending time online, I see many glaring mistakes many people make when trying to peddle their products over the Internet. Most people are untested in the sales field, and have not learned the fine art of making a sale. In turn, their potential customer base will unsubscribe and unfriend over improperly trying to “make […]

2017 BIL Goals

For this coming year, Barefoot is Legal has the following goals. We would love to have you come aboard and make them happen. 25,000 members on Facebook by Dec 31 2017 500 people donating in the year to causes At least 10 Outings where members do outreach (flea markets, farmers markets, festivals, etc) 500 active […]

How to Live with Silly Shoe Dress Codes

Work Dress Codes: What We Want as Adults

Tips for First Time Barefooting

The Office where Shoes are Banned

‘It is what makes me happy’: Lethbridge pair lives the barefoot life

Why You Should let your Kids go Barefoot Outside

There’s a kid running around the playground, laughing like the other kids, but the only difference is that he’s barefoot. Are you this child’s parent, beaming at him as he enjoys his day, or are you the parent of another child, with shoes securely tied? Regardless of where you stand, there are a great number […]

Cold Footing

Winter is not a great time for going barefoot. Cold temps make going outside unpleasant and without footwear could even be dangerous. However, it doesn’t mean we have to go completely shod until warmer days return. During the colder months, we use tools to keep warm when outside. Coats, hats, gloves and more are common […]

Goals of Barefoot is Legal

Our 2016 Mission should first and foremost be about awareness. Most people have no clue there are ZERO laws about our lifestyle choice. Plus, it is very healthy to be barefoot in most common settings. With that said, our goals here should be as follows: 2500 members by end of 2016 Having at LEAST 500 […]

Barefoot Halloween

With the arrival of October, stores are full of Halloween candy, and costumes. Parents are looking fir kid’s costumes and possibly even their own. With all the dressing up to grab candy, make bare feet part of the outfit. Halloween is an occasion where you expect different attire of all sorts. Even if you’re uneasy […]

Barefoot for All

A quick search on the internet will find several health benefits for going barefoot. Being able to walk correctly and proper foot development are just a few of the benefits of shedding shoes. However, what about people that are unable to walk and use a wheelchair to get around? Going sans footwear can be helpful […]

Checkout Barefoot Vegan Magazine

Be sure to bookmark Barefoot Vegan Magazine! And see the article on pages 42-46 about Barefoot Running.

Barefoot to School

At the end of August, most schools in the United States go back in session. For many students, this means the days of barefoot summer are over and footwear is being forced upon them. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Most US schools require footwear for pupils, even very strict closed toe requirements […]

Late Summer

With August now upon us, it often means the end of summer is near and for many kids, back to school. However, that doesn’t mean barefoot summer days must also end. State and county fairs are often still going on in late summer and these are great times to extend barefoot trails. While walking around […]

Memories of Barefoot Summers are Inspiring Me to go Shoeless once more

When I was a kid, the long months of summer stretched by without the need for shoes. We would peel them off on the last day of school and cast them into the closet. All summer long, we would run around in bare feet on springy grass, through pillows of garden dirt, over sharp sticks […]

Free Summer Feet

It is mid June and summer is in full swing in the US. Kids are off from school, families are taking vacations, and spending time outdoors. With the warm weather, sandals and flip-flops are seen everywhere, but it’s a great time to go barefoot. With families spending time at home and visiting friends, make a […]

Active Feet

With outdoor activities in full swing in the US, this is a great opportunity to be barefoot outdoors and spread barefoot awareness. Sports Activities such as karate and swimming are normally done barefoot, but those aren’t the only ones. Other sports like baseball, soccer, track, rugby, and more can all be done without footwear. In […]

What is Grounding, or Earthing?

A recent health trend shows that connecting bare feet with the ground helps improve health and have several benefits. Taking a barefoot walk in nature not only increases sensory perception, but helps the entire body. Read more about this emerging study at What is “Grounding” or “Earthing”?

Successful Letter Writing Tips

For various reasons, businesses look at those who shop without shoes on as doing something wrong. Whether it is personal preference, “health codes” (which do not exist), “insurance reasons” (once again, insurance is not raised or lowered based on shoes). Usually, the case is that people are evicted from storefronts due to a lack of […]

Season Change

Wherever you live, the seasonal change is beginning to occur. In the northern hemisphere, winter is coming to an end with spring just around the corner. For barefooters, that can mean a long winter of wearing footwear is coming to an end. In several parts of the world, you can go barefoot all year. It […]