A man is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the longest barefoot journey by walking thousands of miles across Europe. His trek has led fitness experts to caution against such extreme walking without shoes.
Eamon Keaveney, 33, began his shoeless journey from Istanbul in March 2025, aiming to cover 3,400 miles and finish in Ireland, according to reports. His path has taken him through various regions, including the Balkan Mountains, Hungary’s Blue Trail, and the Danube bike path in Austria.
Keaveney has been traveling for over 300 days, recently arriving in his home county of County Wexford. His trip hasn’t been without its difficulties; he’s faced a leg injury, harsh weather conditions, and an encounter with an aggressive dog that required him to get a rabies shot.
“Foot pain has been a significant challenge,” he shared, mentioning issues from rough terrain and thorns.
Brian Crews, a personal trainer in New York City, points out that long periods of barefoot walking lead to physical adaptations, including thicker skin on the soles that forms protective calluses. However, Crews also noted that this isn’t suitable for everyone. “Only a small number of highly conditioned individuals can undertake such an extreme journey safely,” he emphasized.
Experts generally recommend limited barefoot exposure as a training tool rather than as an endurance goal. They advise individuals with prior health issues—like neurological disorders or cardiovascular conditions—to steer clear of barefoot training entirely.
Reflecting on his past, Keaveney set a Guinness Record in 2016 for walking over 1,200 miles barefoot around Ireland, and two years later, he climbed ten mountains in ten days without shoes. The idea for this latest adventure sparked a few years back after he stumbled upon a Guinness World Records book while waiting out the rain in a bookstore. Inspired, he thought, “Maybe I can beat the record for the longest barefoot trip.” Walking across a continent seemed like the next logical step.
Throughout his journey, Keaveney is raising funds for Jigsaw, which offers mental health support to young people, as well as for environmental advocacy group Friends of the Earth. He’s had plenty of moments of kindness from strangers along the way, stating, “In every country, I’ve been offered food, water, and even shoes.”
While the current Guinness record stands at approximately 2,118 miles set by Paweł Drakiewicz, it’s been reported that Keaveney may have now surpassed this distance. There are also unverified claims that Dutch veteran Anton Nootenboom crossed the U.S. barefoot, covering around 3,169 miles.
In the U.S., others have completed notable long-distance walks, including Walter O. McGill III and musician Mike Posner, who walked thousands of miles for awareness and personal journeys. Long-distance walking has a rich history and continues to inspire many seeking both personal and charitable goals.
