moccasins

[Swampy Matt]

Okay - I have and do make moccasins and i'm looking into the possibility of making them commercially, but that is away in the future. If i do start making them commercially, i'll only make them if a can make them MUCH cheaper than places like catskill.

HOWEVER - i can give you all the info on what I call my Quickie Mocs. These are not made from scratch, but are a modified pair slippers.

First, with fairly thin socks on, go to your local Brantano/United Footwear/Bacons/etc and head over to their slippers. Find their 'Moccasin' slippers - the ones with the puckered seam around the toes, the fleece lining and the plastic sole. try a few pairs on and buy the ones that are a tight (not climbing shoe style tight, just tighter than normal footwear - they WILL stretch!). They should set you back aroung £10-£15.

Now go to your local outdoor shop and buy 1 large tube of McNett Seamseal and 2 large tubes of McNett Freesole. And a tube of Zamberlan Hydrobloc or Nikwax tinned wax.

When you get all of this home, carefully unpick the soles from the moccasins and discard - they will only really grip on carpet anyway. Next, using a small brush, spread an even coat Of Seamseal across all of the external seams. let this set. This has made all of the seams waterproof and stronger.

Once this has set, turn the Moccasins sole-up and start with the Freesole. Spread this evenly, in thin coats, allowing each coat to semi-set in between over the whole of the sole area. this will build up a soft sole that will grip on most things (except mud unfortunately!). The sole can also be repaired with more freesole.

Once all of this has set, work several coats of Nikwax or hydrobloc into the moccasins.

Final result - Highly water-resistant, breathable, lightweight and extremely comfortable footwear

I've made a couple of pairs like this and used them in several UK environments (they get a scotland testing in a weeks time ): ) and they've not let me down.

 

[Gary]

here tomtom!! :wave:

 

[Buckshot]

Pearce Tandy sell soft soled moccs in kit form.
The normal slipper stlye is about £10 and the ankle high stlye with tassles around the top is about £20.
That sounds like it might be a good starting place for these moccs Swampy Mat

Cheers :super:

Mark

 

[clcuckow]

Stu I made my own Apache high leg Moc's ages ago - have the pattern some where. They are easy to make. When I get home I'll dig it out for you.

From memory (its out on loan, must get back just seen the thread about one going for £46.50 in ebay :yikes I think there is a design in 'Raymond' Mears The Survival Handbook and maybe Rays outdoor survival (will check this one when I get home.

 

[Tvividr]

I know that I have some links to several moc makers in the states, but just can't find them at the moment, but you can try to look here
http://www.nativetech.org/clothing/moccasin/moctext.html
http://www.nativetech.org/clothing/moccasin/mocinstr.html

 

[tomtom]

Thanks Gerd

(by the way when you going to get your site translated )

 

[Tvividr]

well, .... :embarasse .... I have kind of started.... :roll:

 

[tomtom]

 

[Tvividr]

): All right then, I'll try to get me ar** into gear :roll:

 

[tomtom]

excelent :wave:

 

[dtalbot]

I should have mentioned that Gary lent me a plan and i finnished a very nice pair of high leg moccocins a few mounths ago.

they make stalking a whole new experiance

many thanks for the offer though

Any chance of a piccie, somthing similar is heading quickley for the top of my winter project list once I find a pattern.
Cheers
David

 

[Buckshot]

An old thread I know, but I didn't see the point of opening another on the same subject.

As some of you may know I've just made myself a pair of high leg moccs.
Thought I'd post a couple of pictures here.

The material is about 5oz cow hide from Pearce Tandy (£2 per square foot) and worked really well. The pattern is really easy to follow and make. Stitching is using 1/8th inch latigo lace and 1/4 inch latigo lace for the boot laces up the front.

I'm waiting for my birthday in Feb for some waterproof socks to wear inside so I don't need to worry about that. I deliberately made them tight so as the leather stretches it will conform to my feet.
The soles are covered with Freesole to protect the leather and there's a gel filled insole to coushion my feet.
I need some longer laces so if anyone knows where I can get 1/4 inch latigo lace on a roll or in 7-8 feet lengths (these are 6 foot and just too small) let me know.

Cheers

Mark

 

[tomtom]

Mark.. They look really great mate! good job! :biggthump

is it a difficult thing to do...? what tools did you need?

 

[Gary]

Buckshot great boots mate.

Couple of points I found from wearing them, waterproof socks are a bad thing as you will be tempted to wear them when wet and this will damage the leather very quickly - far better to have two pairs of Moc's.

Also innersoles, other than a second layer of leather, are also not to clever as you will lose the feel of the ground through your boots and as such be less in tune with where you place your feet which will likely result in damage and with gel insoles you'll likely be tempted to walk on man made surfaces which will definately shorten the life of your mocs.

 

[ESpy]

They look great!

I don't *think* I've got any latigo around at the moment, but I'll have a look & see what I can do. I've got roo, but that may be overkill...

 

[Ranger Bob]

They look great!!!! :biggthump
Where did you get the pattern from?

 

[Buckshot]

Couple of points I found from wearing them, waterproof socks are a bad thing as you will be tempted to wear them when wet and this will damage the leather very quickly - far better to have two pairs of Moc's.

When I intend to wear these will be mainly early morning, there will be a lot of dew around even in high summer at 5am. I'll keep feeding them leather conditioner and watch out for the warning signs but I don't think I'm going to be able to not wear them in the wet.

Also innersoles, other than a second layer of leather, are also not to clever as you will lose the feel of the ground through your boots and as such be less in tune with where you place your feet which will likely result in damage and with gel insoles you'll likely be tempted to walk on man made surfaces which will definately shorten the life of your mocs.

Agreed, but I've not worn anything lighter than walking boots out before so I think I need to have a little breaking in of my feet before I can take the insoles out. I'll have to walk on man made surfaces anyway which is why I coated the bottom with Freesole. Again I'll watch and repair as often as needed.
Thanks for the advice though - good points. :biggthump

Where did you get the pattern from?

Pearce Tandy sell them for about £8.50 I think. I got mine from a forum member in the classifieds, sorry can't remember who. I'm sure they'll shout if they want.

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. :You_Rock_

Cheers

Mark

 

[jakunen]

Very nice mate! Very nice!

 

[Snufkin]

If you have to walk on pavement/road take a tip from Tom Elpel's book "Participating in nature" and wear a pair of sandles over your mocs until you get to natural ground then slip them off and away you go.

 

[RovingArcher]

:super: Very nice job on your new mocs. They look great!

I agree with Gary that the insoles need to go. Not only will they stop you from feeling the Earth beneath your feet, but could cause excess moisture to be trapped in the leather under your feet, causing them to wear much faster. Also, your feet may be tender for a short time, but you will be amazed at how quickly they toughen up to the task at hand.

I was taught that the traditional method of getting proper fit and feel to your foot means soaking the mocs in water and then wearing them until they dry. It will soften up the leather some and help mold it to your feet, making your new mocs feel like a second skin, instead of a piece of clothing.

Editied: I meant to add that wearing the mocs on asphalt or concrete while wet is the quickest way I know to wear them out.

I think you will find that wearing the mocs will slow your citified step to one that more fits in with the rhythm of Nature and before you know it, you'll be moving like an ancestor, aware of everything happening around you and you'll even sway with a gentle breeze and become Nature, instead of a visitor.