Do you walk with a noisy, clunky gait? Do your shoes click on the floor or drag behind you? If so, you might be making more noise than necessary while walking.
I’ve read that the average person makes about 1 footstep per second when they are walking at an even pace of 2 miles per hour. The total distance travelled by one foot in one second is 6 inches (that’s 18 inches every minute).
That means that for every 3 steps taken, there is one step where someone can potentially make noise.
Walking quietly is not difficult and is a skill that everyone should be able to develop. There are various times when you might need to be quiet and, with the right footwear, correct technique and an awareness of your surroundings you should be able to walk as quietly as a church mouse.
The right footwear is important
Having the right things on your feet makes a big difference. If you’ve ever worked somewhere with women who trot around in high heels then you’ll know just how rubbish these shoes are for being silent.
Soft soled, flexible shoes are the best for sneaking around ( which is why sneakers are called sneakers ), but, take care as often the soles can make squeaking noises on tiled and other smooth surfaces.
Barefoot is also a good option although unless you are a bushman I wouldn’t recommend this as an outdoor choice.
These best selling quiet boots are ideal choices
Learn the right techniques for walking quietly
Many people are noisy walkers because of the way they move, not just the things they have on their feet.
There is a skill to picking up your feet so that you can step without causing any noise.
If you take a look at someone who has mastered this technique it makes them seem almost gliding along as if floating.
Place your foot down carefully on the outside edge ( be careful not to trip or stumble) then roll the rest of your foot slowly down until your weight is supported before taking the next step.
Some people advocate walking on tip toes but the big problem with this is that you are placing all of your weight down straightaway and running the risk of losing balance.
Walking on tip toe is not as easy nor as quiet as it first appears.
Walk heel down first, then roll your foot forwards, this can be surprisingly stealthy.
Try to tread lightly
There is a difference between walking and stomping. Heavy footfall can often be heard much more than light footfall.
Place your feet down carefully and slowly. There is a reason why predators in the wild creep carefully towards prey – so that they don’t make any noise.
If you rush or stomp then you will be more easily heard that if you take a considered approach.
#Be aware of your surroundings and the ground beneath your feet
Whenever you walk through a new environment stop and listen carefully.
Where are the potential hazards that might make noise? Gravel, creaking floor boards, sticks on the ground – what hazards are there?
If possible try to minimise your contact with anything which could cause some kind of noise distraction.
Look ahead so that you can assess the ground in front of you and decide whether it might be appropriate to take a different route if it could be noisy.
Train yourself to be stealthy
How you place your feet on the ground and the types of footwear that you use are only part of the answer.
Consider this – you are walking through the woods, carefully avoiding standing on sticks that can crack but your jacket is rubbing against trees and plants making noise.
Always listen to the surrounding sounds and to the impact that your movements are having.
If you are a hunter then moving quietly will be a major factor in the levels of your success – remember that wild animals have outstanding senses of hearing and smell and will detect the slightest of disturbances.
Use the environment to help you to be stealthy – stay near to trees rather than standing out in the open.
In the city use doorways, building lines, vehicles and other obstacles to mask your presence – handy of you are following someone or just want to be as quiet as possible and stay out of sight.
Learn to be quiet when moving
There are certain situations in which you just have to move and there may not be any time or opportunity to do so in absolute silence.
When this occurs then still avoid making noise, keep your movements small, smooth and slow. This can take some practice but is well worth the effort as it is a very valuable skill to have in your repertoire.
The more you practice staying silent then the better it will become and before long you will be able to move as silently as a cat with prey nearby.
Final Words
Being silent is very important, not only will using these techniques improve your stealth levels but they should also help you to avoid leaving a trail of evidence behind.
As well as becoming stealthier and more able to keep out of sight it will have the added benefit that if for some reason you are being followed then their tracking ability is going to be severely disrupted.
Of course being stealthy will also provide you with the edge in any type of predator/prey situation or combat engagement, although how often that occurs we are unable to say.
Read Next
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- Why we should all take a break from our phones and laptops
- Why silence is the best revenge
