Savannah wrote:It sounds freaky & wrong, so you need to do it.
I have two pairs, one red, one green, that I bought at the thrift store already broken in - put new gel insoles in them and they are comfy for miles every day. Easy to toss on. I also swear by smartwool socks (or REI version) - they breathe well and don't chafe.Waxpraxis, I recommend your wife also bring a pair of closed shoes or boots, since she doesn't know how her skin will react with the dust. 'Cause the dust will get inside those Tevas immediately, then be trapped against her toes, because it can't flow back out as easily as they would even in open sandals. Then again . . . she might have tough feet like me and be fine with a lemon juice or vinegar sponging nightly followed by some thick lotion. But to be on the safe side, she should bring options.waxpraxis wrote:My wife is all about comfortable, but nice shoes all the time (I think she wore heels at our wedding, but really, that's about it) She is currently in love with the Teva Westwater IIs and will probably be picking up a second pair for the playa so she doesn't trash her current pair.
FWIW, my take on "playa foot" is that most people that don't usually wear open toe/flip flops have much more sensitive feet than those of us that do. I have seriously zero issues with the dust.. it feels just like talcum powder. No worse, no less. I also live in flip flops 24/7 - 365 days a year in FL and Hawaii so my feet are used to the elements.waxpraxis wrote:Thanks for the heads up Savannah! The folks we're going with warned us about the nature of the dust and I've managed to convince my wife to get her first real set of boots in addition to those sandals.
She generally prefers open shoes in some form or another but enough talk about "playa foot" finally got her to hit Zappos and start looking around.
My buddy was just teasing me that I'm the only guy that has to convince his wife to go buy more shoes!
Savannah wrote:It sounds freaky & wrong, so you need to do it.
Mojojita wrote:I have had to glue people's heels back together time and again on the playa for those who go barefoot or in flips constantly. It seems to be about how dessicating the playa is. I think it is hardest for people with big build-ups of callouses because they dry out and crack open. Those that go barefoot in Hawaii or Florida don't have the drying effect so there is really no comparison. Here is what I tell newbs about why they need to protect themselves from the extreme dryness: Go make yourself a sandwich - when you first take the bread out of the bag, feel the bread. When you are finished making the sandwich, feel the bread. The second time, the bread will feel more like toast. That is what the playa atmosphere does to your skin as well.
Savannah wrote:It sounds freaky & wrong, so you need to do it.
of course I live in N. Nevada (in the desert) and go barefoot as often as I can and the fact that I have some tough-ass feet probably has a lot to do with it too.I'm here to tell you that I personally could walk barefoot in playa dust 24/7 for a week straight and be fine
They can be a pain to take on and off so I switch them up with my good ole theraputic Ecco Yucatan sandals WITH Krazy sox. I know that is unorthodox everywhere but the west coast (dorks but if you see the socks at Sock Dreams and wear fun socks they wont look so silly with sandals. This year Im going to rotate a pair of sneakers in with that and see how they faire. Anything comfortable that covers up my feet. If I do the sandal sock thing, I just spray vinegar water on my feet afterwards to keep playa foot at bay (and lotion) IF you do go for sandals, just clean your feet before bed with vinegar water or lemon juice water and wrap them up in lotion/herbal salve with some cotton socks when you sleep and your feet will be fine the next day. This is just how it works for me! Enjoy your Burn 
