How to Walk Without Making a Sound

Observe where you are going. Moving quietly when you walk on gravel and dry leaves is more difficult than walking on soft grass and soil. To ride quietly, check the terrain and decide which path is quietest. Whether indoors or outdoors, you can deliberately go for materials that help you move smoothly instead of making additional noise.

• If you’re going through woods or an outdoor area, try to walk on grass or soft ground. Walk on wet leaves instead of dry, brittle leaves.
• When going outdoors, you should look for rocks or roots because they are not as brittle as leaves or branches. Slowly place your body weight on the rock or root, making sure not to slide or make any noise. Once you’re sure, put your full body weight down.
• In the city, you need to avoid paved paths, gravel areas, cobblestones, or materials that tend to make noise.
• Stay indoors, walk on the carpet whenever possible.

Notice everything around you. The space you move through can make a sound like the passage under your feet. When you want to go silent, it’s important to pay close attention to your surroundings to avoid touching things that could expose you.

• Avoid branches that can catch on your clothes and crack.
• Avoid gates and fences, which can squeak or creak.
• Avoid touching materials to mess and rustle.

Move close to the ground. Walk in a slightly stooped position, focusing your muscles as you move. This will reduce the force exerted on the ground each time you touch, helping you to go faster and smoother. Keep your body in a block, distribute your weight evenly so that you don’t hit your feet on the ground causing noise.

Go in a heel-to-toe fashion. With your heels down first, roll your feet slowly and gently place your toes on the ground. When walking, rotate your hips slightly for better foot control. Walk with the outside edge of the shoe if possible.

• If you need to move quickly, keep your body close to the ground and run, using the same heel-to-toe landing.
• When walking backwards, put the ball of your foot down first, then put your heel down.
• Bracing can increase speed and limit noise, but be careful as this requires stronger feet and lower legs, as well as greater flexibility in the ankles and foot joints. It also requires better balance than normal movement, and puts more pressure on softer surfaces (since the body’s weight is spread over the soft surface area).
• Land gently. Running or jumping without a sound is difficult, but it can be done if you cultivate the art of gentle landing. Landing in a stooped and balanced position won’t hit the ground too hard.

Close your hands to the body. Try not to use your hands and hands to touch walls or similar places for balance because you could drop something and be detected. Instead, keep your hands in a position that makes you comfortable and balanced.

Shift most of your weight and body pressure away from your feet. Of course, you can’t completely transfer your body weight and pressure. Although this is not possible in theory, it can be described as a feeling of emptiness in the feet (not paralysis) and pressure in the head. Transferring weight and pressure to your head can help you become aware of your surroundings, increasing agility. This is useful for many activities, but mainly for jumping. If there is a thick pile of dry leaves, you have to jump over. When jumping, look for an empty spot that’s free of water (like a puddle) and isn’t covered by dry vegetation (like leaves or hay). Land with your toes and the front part of your foot. It is best to wear soft-soled shoes because the rubber will help reduce noise.