i just had the stupidest idea for impractical footwear, and i'm wondering if anything like that already exists:

the floatshoe

basically, a ring for your calf to sit in, possibly with a sort of funnel or straps to more evenly spread the weight, mounted on struts that connect to a "sole", so that your feet hang in the air freely as you walk

ALT a very rough sketch of a person walking in these contraptions, and more detailed front and side views. none of the drawings make it look any more comfortable or practical than the description in the post, i'm afraid.