barefoot boots/shoes

[Chiseller]

I made my crude ones following a pdf and a you tube video. took 20mins roughly.
Alas I should have taken more time and done a proper template /trial first. I thought I was following the instructions to the letter....but my ankle hole placings ended up wrong. I could see they were wrong , I just thought it was my ankles that were different.

As you can see in the pics....
My ankle holes are no where 'near' parallel. I dont think they are supposed to be parallel....but definitely not off set like mine were ! as I was to find out on my trek .

Lesson 1
When I was walking , I found the ankle string would slip down quite often , due to the outside holes being postioned too far back from my actual ankle bone.

Lesson 2
In the guide it explained about having the toe hole nearer to the second toe as opposed to the big toe.....

what I found was this was right.....but........
it didn't warn of having the hole too close to your toe web. I found that again when walking , you can feel the knot under the web as opposed to in the 'dead space ' between the toes. This bit can be crucial imo to comfort. Too far back and pain can occur , too far forward and you won't have enough 'pick up' at the front , which will mean a gap occurring on foot lift. Then you dont have proper support and contact , so you could end up with debris , toe stub or string rub.
Lesson 3
It recommended binding the knot underneath your toes with a lighter and flattening the knot. I did one and not the other.
I found the unflammed knot more comfortable and that it flattened better during walking. This maybe down to me using paracord....

Lesson 4
I did use a proper hole punch....but again made a mistake having the holes too near the edge on one shoe. This resulted in splitting the rubber and having to gaffa and re do the hole. I reckon this was as much to do with my incorrect hole placement and having to pull the ankle strap up too often. This is the distance of the sole that survived....about 8mm

Lesson 5
material...I used what was available for nowt at the time....this is svig rubber used by cobblers . It's 2mm thick, supple yet dense and quite firm.

I didn't want to go thicker for fear of losing that 'barefoot' experience . Now I've tried it....I would go for 3mm if I can get some....or a couple of layers of gaffa .....but this would lose off road traction that is created by friction.

And that's about it .....my next pair will be more thoughtfully done using the same material. I WILL be making some from leather and another pair from both leather and rubber.
Hope this helps folks. I will make another brew and tell you how my walk went .....


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[Stew]

Very useful. Thanks!

I am anticipating that the first pair will need tweaking so it's handy that theres a second tyre.

 

[Man of Tanith]

Looks good t me chiseller.
Be interesting t see how long they last

 

[Chiseller]

Barefoot trek....

So I've made my hurarches .....lets go.....first across the garden. The feeling was unique.....like I was barefooted.....but not.

I cant really explain it. It's good....real good. Like your 'there' . I had that 'contact' but with the security of not being spiked by the likes of my garden inhabitants....

So confidently....I set off on a walk dahn woods....first was a mildly stoney and uneven path down the field.....my toes look unsoled....but they're not....this was confidence building.....watch for dog deposits though lol....

then the wood entrance.....
Testy.....

I didn't pick up a single pine needle or stub toe on a cone. I experienced no foot roll or slip as you soon find the best way to rest your foot as you walk.....
Now the next bit was more testy and pace slowed quite a bit as the terrain was multi pitched. Again here I was learning the error of my lacing holes..

Again , confidence building even at a much reduced pace.....but theres no rush in the woods....
Bit of wondering what a thicker sole would be like though....
then a spot of fungi spotting on a soft woodland meadow was good and provided a bit of a rest from the stoney path . the footing was quite impressive on longer grass on the sloped meadow . iirc I only slipped once.

then into the main wood......up and across the steep sides and I was really impressed by the feeling.....

Then descended to the valley bottom for some beck walking.....again a great feeling of connection....

Bit of climbing a fallen birch....

Across the beck again and up the valley .....swmbo an the kids leading the way while I mess with the dog and my ankle straps lol

An that's abaht it. .......apart from a WARNING........
when the barefoot sites recommend easing into the experience......they mean it.

I was out for 3+hrs up hill and down dale as you can see.
For 3days after.....my calves were aching fiercely.....and I do mean aching. It was like I was still barefoot walking with my speed and how I put my feet down. After a bike ride on the fourth day , my calves stared to settle. As I write this 6 days later....I can still feel the tautness .
Enjoy


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[treadlightly]

Great stuff, thanks Chis, you have inspired me to have a go. The calf stiffness will ease as you get used to barefoot walking. Take it gradually....

 

[dave89]

 

[Lou]

That is fantastic chiseller, feels great doesn't it? Next 'step' will be to go barefoot. You can do it bet you are lovin' those huaraches at the moment though.

Barefoot trek....

So I've made my hurarches .....lets go.....first across the garden. The feeling was unique.....like I was barefooted.....but not.

I cant really explain it. It's good....real good. Like your 'there' . I had that 'contact' but with the security of not being spiked by the likes of my garden inhabitants....

So confidently....I set off on a walk dahn woods....first was a mildly stoney and uneven path down the field.....my toes look unsoled....but they're not....this was confidence building.....watch for dog deposits though lol....

then the wood entrance.....
Testy.....

I didn't pick up a single pine needle or stub toe on a cone. I experienced no foot roll or slip as you soon find the best way to rest your foot as you walk.....
Now the next bit was more testy and pace slowed quite a bit as the terrain was multi pitched. Again here I was learning the error of my lacing holes..

Again , confidence building even at a much reduced pace.....but theres no rush in the woods....
Bit of wondering what a thicker sole would be like though....
then a spot of fungi spotting on a soft woodland meadow was good and provided a bit of a rest from the stoney path . the footing was quite impressive on longer grass on the sloped meadow . iirc I only slipped once.

then into the main wood......up and across the steep sides and I was really impressed by the feeling.....

Then descended to the valley bottom for some beck walking.....again a great feeling of connection....

Bit of climbing a fallen birch....

Across the beck again and up the valley .....swmbo an the kids leading the way while I mess with the dog and my ankle straps lol

An that's abaht it. .......apart from a WARNING........
when the barefoot sites recommend easing into the experience......they mean it.

I was out for 3+hrs up hill and down dale as you can see.
For 3days after.....my calves were aching fiercely.....and I do mean aching. It was like I was still barefoot walking with my speed and how I put my feet down. After a bike ride on the fourth day , my calves stared to settle. As I write this 6 days later....I can still feel the tautness .
Enjoy


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[Chiseller]

That is fantastic chiseller, feels great doesn't it? Next 'step' will be to go barefoot. You can do it bet you are lovin' those huaraches at the moment though.

Ive purposely killed those ones , but will be making some more next week to put me on until I make the rubber / leather ones. Once my ankles / calves become tolerent.....I will work on the true barefoot. I reckon it's my calling . Cheers

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[Man of Tanith]

i may have to give those a go.....

 

[woodstock]

Has anyone seen the five finger vibram shoes, Shelly was wearing at the moot and also a guy called David they look the dogs

 

[swright81076]

Has anyone seen the five finger vibram shoes, Shelly was wearing at the moot and also a guy called David they look the dogs

Aye, but I imagine with wearing them without socks, trying a pair on might be an issue.
I've heard mixed reviews though, from blisters between toes to being the best thing since sliced bread.

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[Lou]

I've been wearing 5fingers for the past four years and depending on the shape of your feet, they can fit like a dream from the word go or rub like hell for a couple of weeks until they stretch to your foot shape, I was somewhere in between. The first time you put them on can take twenty minutes just to get your toes separated out so that each one can fit in its little pocket if you have stiff toes. Don't order from the Internet unless you have tried them first, but they are now available in loads of places like the Cotswold outdoor shop and larger shoe shops. As a rule you need to order one size up. if you think your feet need arch support then you should try these shoes, after a few weeks the muscles in your arches will be strong enough for you to never need support again. When you first start wearing them try them inside on the carpet for an hour at a time, no more, and then gradually work up to running with them on stony ground

 

[leedsbrew]

I had a pair of 5 fingers but as I have the beginnings of hallux Valgus (bunions ;-) ) I found that they just weren't for me! I tried a couple of different types but no good for me! My brother has a few different Vivobarefoot shoes! Including these that he got for our trip to Galloway forest next week

I like the look of the huaraches! Might have to have a go as the bunions are no probs with those bad boys!

 

[Cade]

Trying to find somewhere local to bristol that sales the viobrarefoot trail shoes....... if i can't what are the sizes like? i hear some people on certain makes hve to order the size above? just want to check how everyone else has found them.

 

[Lou]

If you look at the Vibram five finger site, there is a guide on how to measure your feet and then compare your measurement to their size chart. Generally it is one size up, but be careful, this doesn't apply to every style. Good luck on your search

 

[Stew]

Chatting to a friend who is a big barefoot enthusiast, I said that my big concern with going to barefoot shoes is smart work shoes.

He has loaned me his Vivo shoes to try for the week so I am currently wearing a pair of these:
http://www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/mens/casual/ra-leather-mens-2013.html

Lovely - it's like I'm not wearing anything in comparison to the lumps I usually wear!!

 

[MrHare]

Trying to find somewhere local to bristol that sales the viobrarefoot trail shoes....... if i can't what are the sizes like? i hear some people on certain makes hve to order the size above? just want to check how everyone else has found them.

I take a EU47/12 in most things (DMs, work shoes, walking boots) and an EU48/13 in running shoes (Inov8 295, waveharrier). My EU size 46 Vivobarefoots are a good fit - maybe just a gnats whisker small on one of my feet. That's with Vivobarefoot Neo Trail, and Wallabees. The recommendation I saw on the Amazon review was to buy a size down.

 

[Jim_aramis]

I like the look of the huaraches. It's good to see them in use on the trail.

I wear Merrell Trail Gloves for running with the odd short stretch barefoot at the end of my runs. I've been thinking of making/getting a pair of huaraches to go minimal. you can get kits from Xero Shoes and they have a 5,000 mile guarantee.

 

[Buckshot]

I wear the Ra's for work
Great shoes and look fairly smart

 

[superc0ntra]

I usually go barefoot in the woods between April and September but I recently got a pair of Zemgear Terratech ninja-toe shoes.
I like them as far as shoes go. They move naturally and the sole is soft enough to feel the ground. Also they are wide enough at the front not to squish my toes. I'll be using them until the snow becomes too deep.