Winter huaraches

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Barefooters
May 13, 2010
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Has anyone tried making a huarache that could work with a normal wool sock? I have an idea that would eliminate the need for a toe strap. I'll post up a pick when I can make one.
 
That is what I was thinking

That is what I was thinking but using a strap with a tensioner so you wouldn't even have to tie it. Just slip in tighten and go. If you had a sock on the blister potential would be eliminated too.
 
I made some sandals using the

I made some sandals using the alternate tying method illustrated in that video. I tied them once and then just slipped in and out. You may need to adjust the tension if the thickness of your sock varies. I basically had them just thight enough so the sole would land under my foot.

Mine were made with a piece of leather salvaged from an old purse. Because the leather was soft, the toe area was a little floppy at first but it didn't bother me. It never folded under my foot. After one or 2 runs it became a little stiffer. I usually had a red spot on the side of my big toe from the friction of the strap but it never bothered me, and socks would eliminate the problem. Finding the perfect placement for the straps seems key to confort, don't mark one foot and assume the second would be the same.

In the rain the leather softened too much and one of my sandal developped a large hole in a weird spot. I made another pair with leather but I coated the bottom with PlastiDip to increase the water resistance. I didn't realized that Plastidip shrinks and my huaraches are now a little smaller than planned. I made that 2nd pair with the regular knot between the toes. I want to see if I like that before I invest in a pair of Lunas.

Edit: I found pictures of the old sandals:





sandals2.JPG
 
I think it would be a great

I think it would be a great idea if the upstarts of the huarache shoes could make multiple holes for multiple configurations. (It kinda looks like what Soultre has going on there.) More people would be able to wear the same footwear, since it would appeal to a much larger need/audience. Just an idea. Luna? Invisable Shoes? Anyone?
 
TJ, I agree. I was thinking

TJ, I agree. I was thinking about that over the summer while playing around with mine. I'll give Niki a heads up to maybe consider that ;)
 
I made a pair of homemade

I made a pair of homemade huarches earlier this year that I first tried with the between the toe style lacing. I didn't care for it all that much, so I try the method shown in the video. That was better, but then I got some ideas on modifying that tying method. Its difficult to describe, but I'll try to get a picture up of it. I have worn them with my regular old running socks, so it would definitely work with some wool socks and I might be trying that this winter.

My method is similar to the alternative shown in the video, but my changes include:

1) at the front of sandal, instead of running the rope lenghwise under to the other hole, I loop my around the outside and along the top then back around the outside and though the second hole. This greatly reduced the wear I was getting on the rope and I haven't had any discomfort issues.

2) Instead of the simple cross over and tie off on the top of the foot, I cross over and twist the rope 180 degrees twice and wrap it back around to the heel section. It almost looks like a fishing net. This secures it to the foot very well and still allows easy on and off without tying.

Pictures to come...
 
I made the soles from some

I made the soles from some hay baler belting I found at my Dad's farm. Its has like a "W" like pattern on the bottom for some good traction. It's fairly flexible, but fairly thick for road running (~5mm) and I glued some leather on top for a more comfortable footbed. I've mostly used them for rough trail running. I actually do think for winter running the soles will work quite well.
 
Thanks for pointing me here,

Thanks for pointing me here, Duke. They look pretty intricate. I hope I can do this. What do I have to lose, right?
 
TJ, I'd do a video of my

TJ, I'd do a video of my method if I could, but I don't think any of my video equipment would work to do it. Start out by doing just like in the video link in this thread. Thread the heels, but when you X the laces over to go to the front holes, twist them together 180 degrees, then through the holes, around the outside and then around the inside of the lace you just ran through the hole. If you've followed that right so far, then the laces should be pointing towards the second set of front holes on top of the huaraches.

Then you run the lace to the second sets of front holes, but loop the lace around the outside and through the hole from the bottom, but make sure the lacing that ran from the front hole to the second hole loops around the outside of the lace where is comes through the hole (clear as mud right?! LOL!)

At this point you put you foot in and adjust the lacing at the heel and front X to your desired tightness. Then you take you loose ends of the laces up and I looped them once around the lace running from the heel to the X then up over the top of your foot do a 180 degree twist and run them back to the heel holes and ty them off! Easy right?
 
Ah, no that doesn't sound

Ah, no that doesn't sound easy, but I already created a Word doc with all your posts about this and copied the links and will add this final description to it...then hand it over to hubby to let him play around with it. Hee! Thanks again, Duke!