Hey There
Hello and welcome to Free Range Feet. My name is Will, and I'm a dad to three adventurous, energetic, and almost constantly muddy boys.
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Like many parents, I’d never given a huge amount of thought to my kids' shoes beyond the usual questions: "Do they fit?" and "Will they last the term?". That all changed thanks to an unexpected global event.
Our Story
The Accidental Barefooter
My own journey into the world of natural footwear began, like it did for so many people, during the first COVID lockdown. Suddenly, the daily routine of putting on work shoes vanished. For the best part of two years, I lived almost exclusively in bare feet or a pair of simple running trainers.
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The change was a revelation.
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For the first time, I felt properly connected to the ground. I noticed the muscles in my feet and lower legs working in a way they never had before. Over time, I realised my feet were becoming stronger, my balance felt more stable, and some of the minor aches I’d always put down to "getting older" started to fade. It made me question everything I thought I knew about footwear.
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From My Feet to Theirs
This personal discovery led to a simple, powerful question: if this felt so right for my adult feet, why was I putting my own children's feet – which are still growing and developing – into chunky, rigid, and restrictive shoes?
Their feet were perfect from birth, designed by nature to be wide, flexible, and incredibly sensitive. It suddenly seemed obvious that the best thing I could do was get out of the way and let their feet develop as naturally as possible.
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That was the moment I decided to invest in the barefoot lifestyle for my whole family. We’ve never looked back.
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Why Free Range Feet Exists
I started Free Range Feet to share our family's journey and to be the resource I wish I'd had when I was starting out. The world of barefoot shoes can seem confusing, and my mission is to cut through the noise with honest, practical, and parent-tested advice.
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This isn't about rigid rules; it's about giving our kids the freedom to move confidently and build a strong foundation for a lifetime of activity. It's about helping them find their own 'free range feet'.
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When I’m not writing about shoes or chasing my boys around, I’m usually trying to escape my desk for a run or a hike. You’ll most likely find our family exploring the wild tors of Dartmoor or the rugged coastlines of Donegal in Ireland – putting our favourite barefoot shoes to the ultimate test!
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Thanks for stopping by. The best place to start your own journey is with our Beginner's Guide to Kids' Barefoot Shoes.
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Welcome to the community!
– Will
