[LT] Interesting study on the effects of wearing heavy armor

[trans]

In general I agree with Ze that humans can run just fine without shoes, at least once their feet get toughened up.

But for what it's worth, a footballer originally from somewhere in West Africa and now playing in the top German league said in an interview a couple of days ago that of course no-one had shoes when he was playing as a boy or teenager on dirt or gravel "pitches". He didn't get his first pair of football (soccer) shoes until someone gave them to him while he was on a high-level amateur team (probably semipro, actually) in the Netherlands. Maybe he was already playing in cheap sneakers or some such at the time.

In any case, the guy says that he really really appreciates having his choice of brand-name football shoes now.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

People evolved to need clothes. Our species didn't just pop out of the primate family naked with a rock.

I don't know what Biology books you've been reading, but that sounds like something out of a creationist textbook pushing modesty, that's not evolutionary biology.

The reason we're furless is to aid in the evaporation of perspiration, which allows us to continue running long distances without overheating better than any other pack animal.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

...
The reason we're furless is to aid in the evaporation of perspiration, which allows us to continue running long distances without overheating better than any other pack animal.

That's simply one hypothesis. There are competing ones out there. And since hair doesn't fossilize so well, we may never have actual proof of why we are hairless compared to other primates.
For example, horses sweat just as much as people, but they still have hair.

[trans]

Originally Posted by Ze'Manel Cunha

which allows us to continue running long distances without overheating better than any other pack animal.

Just out of interest, is there any non-pack animal that can match us that way? I guess the ostrich might be a candidate, but they still aren't as specialized as us on the overheating issue.

[trans]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

For example, horses sweat just as much as people, but they still have hair.

And at long distances (marathon or more) horses are generally slower than humans, unless you are willing to kill the horse. In hot weather I suspect the human would get ahead of the horse even faster.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

That's simply one hypothesis. There are competing ones out there. And since hair doesn't fossilize so well, we may never have actual proof of why we are hairless compared to other primates.
For example, horses sweat just as much as people, but they still have hair.

Yeah, no, again not sure what you've been reading, but it's clearly not evolutionary biology if they're postulating that clothing has anything to do with it.

It sounds like maybe you're talking about fictional hypothesis made up by SF authors in make believe stories. Keep in mind that SF authors just make up stuff which sounds like fun for their stories, don't confuse fictional hypotheticals with actual theories.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by trans

And at long distances (marathon or more) horses are generally slower than humans, unless you are willing to kill the horse. In hot weather I suspect the human would get ahead of the horse even faster.

Nope, marathons for horse cover 100 miles per day for multiple days. Humans are good as distance runners but we arn't uniquely good and we aren't the best either.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by trans

And at long distances (marathon or more) horses are generally slower than humans, unless you are willing to kill the horse. In hot weather I suspect the human would get ahead of the horse even faster.

Average horses may be slightly slower than human athletes in very very long distances when carrying people, but I bet they would do a bit better without a primate on their back.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by trans

Just out of interest, is there any non-pack animal that can match us that way?

For terrestrial creatures I don't know of any (all the migratory land animals are herd animals), but migratory birds and sea creatures can manage more miles per day than humans over an extended period..

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Average horses may be slightly slower than human athletes in very very long distances when carrying people, but I bet they would do a bit better without a primate on their back.

Nope, natural horses were prey for human packs which can run them into the ground.

Modern riding horses were bred by humans and are not the result of natural evolutionay factors, as such different breed lines have different levels of endurance, in general though, a human pack can still run them into the ground.