Huaraches and Flip Flop Soles- the epic quest for cheapness

Barefoot DJ

Barefooters
Oct 7, 2011
22
0
0
#1
Ok, so I've checked out the Invisible Shoes site, not really knowing what it was at first. I thought this pretty cool ayy. And I sort of wanted to make my own huaraches, and i saw that there was a kit. I saw the price: 24.95. I do have the money for that, but I can't convince my parents to let me buy something off the internet that is less than 15 bucks (I'm only 13). I figured though, that the only thing that would be hard to find is the sole. I could pick up rope from my dad or something. So I started looking around for rubber and things like that, and I thought, why not just get a sole off a shoe? hmmm. I had this old pair of flip-flops (really not that old, like a year), and i saw that about half of its side was rubber and half was the clothish material used in the flip flop. So i decided, i could probably cut this off. It was a long process, it literally took about 2 hours total in 3 days, and i used my pocket knife. It was totally unsafe and so forth, but it took a lot of sweat and patience. Finally I came up with my sole. Yeah, so this was only on the left flop. I tried it on my foot though, and it feels amazing, like i imagine the VibramCherry would feel. It's very flexible, and its 5 mm as I measured it. I think these could make really good soles for huaraches, so I will get my rope, leather puncher and pocket knife and cut out the next sole, and thereby make my huaraches.



So, anyone else have thoughts/stories on flip flops soles for huaraches?
 
#2
DJ, my first pair of

DJ, my first pair of huaraches I made from an existing pair of flip flops. They were more of a proof of concept for me and more of a learning experiance. They work really well for trails as they are thicker and I used them off and on for probably a couple months. Still have them. My current huaraches I made from a doormat that I bought at Home Depot for 5 dollars. The rubber is 4mm thick and very flexible and soft. I added a sheet of suede leather for the footbed that I got from Michaels for $5. The glue I got from Home Depot as well which was about $5 as well I think. I have been able to get 4 pair of huaraches out of this mat. These are the best huaraches that I have ever wore. I bought a pair of the Invisible Shoes as well at one point, which I myself was not happy with, although a lot of people are very happy with them. Good luck and please don't cut yourself while cutting off the rubber sole from your other flip flop.
 
#3
you can buy leather pieces. i

you can buy leather pieces. i don't know how much they are and don't believe they last as long. i also know one guy buys baler belt for cheap. you can buy a big sheet of that for cheap. enough so that you'll be able to make some sandals for your grandkids! you can try other things just depends on how creative you are.



Mike
 
#4
I tried the flip flop route

I tried the flip flop route as my first pair of huaraches. I found some 99 cent flip flops and cut them in half and tied them up for an 8 mile road race. At first they were great. Then after about 4 miles the cheap material became so thin I might as well had been running barefoot, not what I needed for that race. I now have the 4mm and 6mm from Invisible Shoes and love them both for different uses.

I have also heard of people using car mats as said above but the only mats I could find had dimples all over them.
 
#5
I'm in the process of putting

I'm in the process of putting together a new blog post with pics of the process and materials I used for mine. I'll put up a link when I get finished.
 
#6
@NickW, it's all good, i

@NickW, it's all good, i mainly used my hands to rip sole off once i cut around it with the knife. It's not safe, but it's not that dangerous either. And I'm glad someone else got the idea. I was going to do the car mat thing, but i didn't know if my parents would love me taking their car mat (I'm not sure I had permission to cut up my old flip flops either..).

@migangelo, Leather punches or pieces? and where does he get them?



@Freeyourtoes, It's probably because they were such cheap flip flops. Mine were probably around 20 bucks. Was the sole like actually rubber or was it some other material?



Also, anyone know where you can get a cheap leather punch or if there are other ways to do the holes? Same with the string, please.
 
#7
Barefoot DJ wrote:Also,

Barefoot DJ said:
Also, anyone know where you can get a cheap leather punch or if there are other ways to do the holes? Same with the string, please.
Click to expand...



Don't know about the string (for laces, you mean?), but punches are pretty easy to find. You can go to a craft-type store (eg, Michael's), or online you can look at Amazon or eBay. (Just search for leather punch, you'll get hits.) There's a popular online leatherworking store, tandyleatherfactory.com, I'm sure they'll have punches, too. You can find them for $5-$10 without much difficulty. I've heard some people say that drills work well, too.
 
#9
Using a nail I would say no

Using a nail I would say no and I would probably not use a 3 hole punch. The problem with the nail is it is not actually punching a nice clean hole, it's tearing the material so the material will actually tear easier down the road. The 3 hole punch is probably going to punch too big of a hole and so you will have to have a huge not underneath your foot which is uncomfortable and could possibly hurt you in order to keep the lace from pulling out. Michaels has a leather punch, I think around $10-$15 I think, although you may be able to find it at a craft store or maybe even a fabric store.

I didn't use a vehicle floor mat but a doormat like you would find at the entrance to your house. As far as laces I really prefer round shoe laces because they are softer on my skin, you can use laces from your current shoes (free) or buy them from Payless or Target or some other place like that typically for close to a couple bucks. I try to use laces that are 50 some odd inchess in length as well. It gives me plenty of extra in case of breakage, which I have yet to experience. Hope this helps.
 
#10
Oh Duh! shoe laces... Should

Oh Duh! shoe laces... Should have thought of that. And I might sneak my soles into Michaels and just punch the holes and put it back... haha. Thanks, will upload pics of huaraches when I'm done with them
 
#11
Agree with what Nick said --

Agree with what Nick said -- I've read that nail holes tend to rip later on, and a 3-hole punch will be too large.



It's helpful to have different punch sizes, but as Nick said, it's essential that you have a punch that is fairly small -- small enough that the knot on the bottom won't pull through the hole. Leather punches usually come in a set (or with multiple heads on a single tool), so you don't have to spend any more, just make sure at least one of them is small enough for the lace you're using.
 
#12
If you have a broken

If you have a broken telescoping antenna, the segments make decent punches if the ends are filed straight and the burr reamed out. Hammer through the material on a wooden block.
 
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