I squat bare footed. ....always. I've got to feel the bare floor under my feet. It's just a mental thing. Especially during the first half of this year when I got my squat up over 300lbs. I absolutely wouldnt even consider it with shoes on. Since I stopped squatting for a while to allow my butt to delate (and my poundages dropped like 90lbs) I still squat that way out of habit.