those shoes are really odd, but you can pick up all sorts of nasty stuff by going barefoot.

None of the above. Next question.

I find worrying about social acceptability to be socially unacceptable.

I prefer barefoot, but when you have diabetes going barefoot is frowned upon. I don't think I'd like those shoes though, the separate toe sections would probably be uncomfortable.

Yeah, it's not safe to go barefoot anywhere but around home.

What kind of arch support do those things have? That would be my concern.

Those look like sporty yuppie gear.

Those things just look so uncomfortable. I've tried little individual toe socks and they drove me batty.

Then again, I spend most of my time barefoot. I wore flipflops for most of my time in school. Even in the winter. (I wish I could find a picture of me out in Wyoming in late fall in flip-flops, shorts, and a t-shirt. With snow on the ground, heh.)

I'm so hanging out for a pair of these - they look awesome. My concern though is having a super mutant second toe - they say they are stretchy but I wonder how much stress they'd put on it.

Barefoot I do all the time inside - but outside yuck no thanks.

These look pretty goofy, but I've seen a man wearing them hiking up a local mountain. He claims they're very comfortable. If you get them, be prepared to chat about them to lots of random strangers because they are quite noticeable and draw attention to the wearer.

A friend of mine has a pair of these (I'll ask him about the arch support, Orange Swan but based on what I've seen, my guess is "none") and they sorta gross me out because the color pattern makes it look like his feet are growing fungus from the soles up. I'm just astounded that he found something that makes Crocs look good by comparison.

funny looking things.
fo sho.
I loves my vibrams.

I'm barefoot as often as possible. The bottom of my feet are like shoe leather.

There's nothing wrong with barefoot. But it's not like these things are some sort of reasonable alternative to barefoot. After seeing the post title I was ready to comment 'anything but Crocs,' but these are much worse than Crocs.

These are silly and goofball. I can't imagine many situations in which you might want to wear these in which you wouldn't be much better off either going barefoot, or wearing actual shoes.

For instance: dance class? Barefoot, or dance shoes.

Yoga? Barefoot.

Housecleaning/hanging out on Sunday? House shoes/slippers, unless your house is warm and splinter free, in which case, barefoot.

Walking around outdoors in summer? Barefoot or flip-flops.

Working out? Sneakers.

Canoeing/kayaing? barefoot or water shoes.

There is no reason for these shoes to exist. they're not adaptive.

I go barefoot quite a lot. Like, more than is reasonable or socially acceptable, probably. I don't wear socks very often, either. I don't necessarily think those shoes are very attractive, but then, people don't usually ask me what I think of their shoes (and, probably to the good, they don't often tell me what they think of mine).

If memory serves, middleclasstool has a pair of those Fivefingers, and really likes 'em.

I'd love a pair of those but the chances of my being able to get a pair to fit me in the UK (where you can't even buy half-sizes in normal shoes) are pretty slim.

I'd wear 'em. I like the idea of going around barefoot in public without getting your feet dirty, and if that's what they really feel like, then I'd like some.

I doubt my boss or the rest of the office staff would approve, though.

We're not allowed to be barefoot in yoga or danceclasses here (fungus fear, they're very busy rooms), it's all dance shoes. I'd give these a go if I could find them here specifically for classes like that, but other gym work = running shoes/trainers because honestly it's only when doing dance and yoga you need almost bare feet.

At home I tip-toe around in toe-socks alot, so I'm weird. I don't like being barefoot because I have cold feet.

We're not allowed to be barefoot in yoga or danceclasses here

Wow! I thought America was the most germophobic. That's amazing.

barefeet are for houses and beaches and maybe grass-bassed frolicking.

these things were/are designed to promote running with a correct stride. somehow they've been co-opted by the granola set :/

they're the first "shoes" i've been able to wear to correct my gait and run pain-free since high school.

ymmv.

Neither would be appropriate for the Queen (unless eating asparagus).