I would really like to try these. My concern though is if I am barefoot I have to be on soft ground. Walking on cement and hard dirt kills my feet so I really wonder if these would actually work for me.
I'm a tenderfoot myself and I haven't had much of a problem at all, you just have to ease into wearing them. Once you start adjusting your walk from the heel-to-toe style you developed from wearing shoes to the way you're feet were designed to walk, hard surfaces and even gravel doesn't feel that bad.
I'm going to have to try that lavender oil trick, that should come in handy. I know my usual DG shoes are pretty rank.