Many can't imagine hiking barefooted. Why? Possibly because of the many misconceptions people think are real. And perhaps people are not used to the idea of leaving comforts in their home.

For one, many people think that the feet of the hiker must be conditioned for several months before it could be properly put to use for bare foot hiking. Well, experts on this type of hiking practically do not agree. In fact, they suggest that three weeks of constant practice with three times a week preparation would do. After which, the feet of the hiker will be fit for hiking given that the weather is relatively mild.

The conditioning process is needed to strengthen the ligaments of the feet while strengthening the soles should be the least of your problem. In fact, the latter could be done only when the soles are actually put to use. After which, the soles can be expected to thicken quickly enough, only within a few days of bare foot hiking would do, when walked on textured surfaces.

There are various ways to thicken your soles and many prove effective enough as to last for long term use. However there are certain practices a beginner could use which would quickly ensure the strengthening of the sole while guaranteeing that the thickness would be put back to normal once the exercises are stopped. The most recommendable practice though is a continuous conditioning on forest floors. This is not only helpful but also equally pleasurable.

Further, people often think that when you hike barefoot, your feet will be spoiled through bruises, stains and wounds. This of course could be proven when you try to hike barefoot yourself. You will experience that the hike would not stain or soil your feet. Instead, you will have quite pleasant experiences when you touch and examine your bare feet. This, by the way, should be an ordinary practice for bare foot hikers since they will have to track the changes in their own feet.

Calloused feet are also some of the main concerns of conventional hikers which are not exactly a problem for those who practice this type of hiking. Actually, callousness on the feet are products of poorly fitted hiking boots and shoes and the wearing of the feet themselves but not by being bare footed.

Cracks on the feet should be the least of your problem. It is not the result of tension on the soles, rather a result of carelessness. To prevent cracks from occurring, the hiker must always keep the feet moist with lotion and moisturizers.

Another misconception is that bare foot hiking will make the feet fairly insensitive to sensations. This is perhaps due to the assumption that the feet will develop thicker soles and those prevent them from feeling external stimulation. The soles of the feet like that of the palm have touch receptors. Even if the outer skin is thicker than usual, this has not as much effect as antagonists put on thickened soles of the feet. In fact, bare foot hikers admit that while their feet are thickened, they tend to have more sensitivity towards the surfaces they tread.

Another misconception on bare foot hiking is that one needs to continuously do it for the sake of keeping it conditioned. The truth is the thickness of the soles may almost instantly fade but prior to that, the feet were already accustomed to sensing highly textured surfaces. This of course is the ultimate goal. Once this develops, the thickening of the soles will only be secondary. After all, the thickness could always go back to its original form once the conditioning begins.

So you see, even some of the supposedly logical ideas on bare foot hiking could also lead to misconceptions that have no shade of truth at all. The next time you hike, why not try barefoot hiking and see if this form of hiking will suit you better.