What is the deal with forcing people to wear shoes in the gym?

[swettbaby6]

I have been working out at cult.fit for more than a year now and have been doing so barefoot. I like it, it gives me proper balance and most importantly it doesn’t make my feet sweat as much during exercise.

One fine day, I arrive at the gym and I was told I can’t workout barefoot there. I was taken aback and explained the situation. They didn’t understand and I had to leave because I did not have any spare shoes at the moment.

Later I reached out to their customer support and they cited bullshit reasons like cleanliness and hygiene. In what world are SHOES cleaner than the human foot? Does that mean their yoga classes are unclean and unhygienic because no one wears shoes there? Do people wear shoes to bed because it’s cleaner, apparently?

Just wanted to understand from this community whether it’s an actual thing that you all have faced and can they even enforce this without prior notice BEFORE I got the membership?

P.S. the reason I even signed up for cult membership was because of their flexibility and non interference in how people choose to be comfortable in the gym.

 

[newchristianwoman11]

@swettbaby6 I'm surprised it's happening only now for you. I was told this at Cult 5 years ago The only reason that sounds sensible to me is smelly feet. They have back to back group sessions and can imagine the place will start to stink at some point.

 

[swettbaby6]

@newchristianwoman11 But the gym arena is totally different from group session arenas!

 

[newchristianwoman11]

@swettbaby6 Oh. So they just allow us to go there and do what we want ? I haven't been to Cult in years. I remember there S&C being a group session back then.

I would assume it is still sweaty+stinky feet. Feet get progressively sweaty in a workout. Unless the outsoles are incredibly wet and dirty, shoes generally make less of a mess in the gym.

 

[seeker112]

@swettbaby6 cuz some of you stink like crazy

 

[logicalpaladin]

@swettbaby6 Hygiene is not a bullshit reason, my guy. You want to risk getting athlete's foot? I hope you're at least wearing socks

 

[cruwbewq]

@swettbaby6 I like wearing just compression boxers when working out , I just wear only this when exercising at home.
That doesn’t mean I can do that in a gym, it’s a shared space.

suggest to follow the rules of the land/building/shop etc. Besides it’s just footwear. I can agree they could have given some advance notice if it’s a new rule. But they are free to change rules. Unless it’s some crazy rules.

I too prefer gyms that have some dress code, not wear what ever you want.

 

[swettbaby6]

@cruwbewq There's a big difference between indecent clothing and prioritizing comfort/convenience. I get your general point but I refuse to agree with the claim that exercising barefoot in a public gym is somehow equivalent to wearing compression boxers.

 

[houstoncharity]

@swettbaby6 Wear shoes is better imo in case something heavy falls on your feet.

 

[swettbaby6]

@houstoncharity I believe a normal gym shoe wouldn't provide any protection if something heavy falls on it.

 

[newchristianwoman11]

@houstoncharity Shoes will only protect from small bumps. No shoe is protecting our feet from a falling dumbbell.

 

[houstoncharity]

@newchristianwoman11 Yes but barefoot won’t even prevent that.

 

[tylerngo]

@swettbaby6 I used to work out barefoot and used to get injuries hitting things inside the gym. I am clumsy. I don't think you are, as per what you said.

 

[baylorgang1337]

@swettbaby6 Imagine going to a pee pot barefoot at gym and stepping into people’s piss, we know how well guys aim! Thats the only concern I have when I see guys working out barefoot.

 

[meadows]

@baylorgang1337 What If someone steps on piss with a shoe on and roams the gym with same shoe on

 

[craftsforkids]

@swettbaby6 I like barefoot too but my gym also didn't allowed me back then

 

[johnyork]

@swettbaby6 no outside shoes are allowed in my gym.I have to put on another pair of shoes for that gym. There are two options either get another pair of shoes specially for the gym or go barefoot. I like to be barefoot on leg days.

 

[swettbaby6]

@johnyork EXACTLY. I prefer barefoot over carrying another pair. I don't want to workout in outside shoes anyway.

 

[davidlionheart]

@swettbaby6 Normal gym have been doing this for years and for the right reasons. Look up the term Athlete foot. Gym is a nasty place, don't walk barefoot there, at least wear socks.