Barefooting Bulletin Board

This morning I walked around barefoot a little bit, but when I went out for lunch this afternoon I didn’t even consider walking not wearing my flipflops. The reason? I live in Phoenix AZ, and afternoon temps are already over 100º, and have been for most of a month now.

I find walking over black assfault under direct sunlight in 100º weather to be un-bareable (pun intended). Now while my feet are fairly tough I’m sure they aren’t as tough as a hardcore barefooter, so my question is, what is the maximum temperature a well-conditioned human foot can take without severe discomfort or damage?

I can comfortably walk on black assfault under direct sunlight with air temperatures up to about 85-90º; and I can on the same surface walking quickly probably up to about 95º . If my soles were tough enough could I take 100º? 105º? 110º? I know that people have actually had up to 3rd degree burns walking barefoot in Arizona, but perhaps if they had had thicker soles they could have taken it? I mean I have seen a video of a guy putting out a cigarette on his sole, which had to have been pretty hot.

Note: I have expressed all temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit. If you prefer Centigrade or use Centigrade where you live here is a conversion website: http://tinyurl.com/dpc24

I recently burned the soles of my feet this way. I don't know what the temperature was, but by the time I crossed the parking lot my feet were toast. There is definitely a limit to the temperature feet can tolerate. I would have been fine if it had been a shorter distance. Interestingly, I only burned the ball area, the heels were fine.