I personally find it much easier barefoot (I also despise shoes), although on a hard mat it kinda hurts to stomp barefooted. XDD; Anyway, the game is really best suited for short bursts, not real steady exercise (15 songs, take a break, 15 songs, take a break), so I wouldn't really imagine that your feet would have much continual strain... although I admit I've never played it to exercise (just because it is crack).