Huaraches - are they comfortable?

PatrickGSR94

Barefooters
Dec 9, 2011
627
179
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I've been looking at various huarache sandal styles such as Invisible Shoes, and it seems to me like the strings or cords most people use would rub on the skin and be painful after awhile. Are they? Or are they pretty comfortable?

I was thinking of making some with a sole thin enough to roll or fold up and keep in my back pocket or something, in case I went somewhere BF and was told I needed shoes. Then I could just put those on and not have to run out to the car or anything. But I don't want them to be uncomfortable.
 
Patrick, check out Unshoes.

Patrick, check out Unshoes. There are several reviews here or go to their website. I have the Wokova feather and I am very happy with them. Because the straps have an elastic cord, they go on and off very fast and are easy to adjust. I use them for running, hiking, and for casual wear all summer. I am going to try the Unshoes Wokova next.

The straps will cause some chaffing at first, but if you stop before you get blisters your skin will toughen up in those areas.
 
Its just a matter of figuring

Its just a matter of figuring out the way you want them tied. It took me a while to really get it right. I tied it about three different ways I found on the internet and eventually combined them to make my own. There are so many ways to tie them that eventually you'll find the way that works out well for you. The hole placement is really important too. I had to pop a few extras in them since I didn't get it quite perfect the first times. Just play around with them and you'll find a way to make it work. They are infinitely customizable. I actually prefer my zems360 since I can slip them on and off faster and there is less messing with them, but they have some durability issues and suck in wetness so the huaraches certainly have that over them. The huraches were my only minimal shoes for a long time though and I really liked them.
 
Also check out Luna's from

Also check out Luna's from Barefoot Ted. I have the originals with the elastisized laces. It takes a while to get the lace tightness exactly right but once done they are beeew-ti-ful. I can run pretty much as far as physically possible with no discomfort. They are also light enough to just tuck into my running belt. They seem virtually indestructable and should last about 1 000 kays or more before the soles wear through. All in all I am very happy with them and am unlikley to ever go the VFF or some other minimal route.
 
I have a homemade pair of

I have a homemade pair of huaraches that I absolutely love. I tried the Invisible Shoes Connect but was extremely unsatisfied with the laces they use and the annoying flapping that they did on the bottom of my feet. I found the laces to be extremely abrasive to my sensitive skin. I've tried numerous types of laces and strapping in them and eventually ruined the Invisible shoe to where it's not usable for me.

My homemade pair of huaraches I use a rounded shoe lace that is 50+ inches long which gives me plenty of extra and they are super comfy, even when brand new. I have yet to have a blowout with this lace so I'm not to worried about the durability of this lace. My homemade huaraches I was able to makefor about $12, including rubber sole, glue, leather upper, and laces.

I also will not support Invisible Shoe anymore due to some unsavory advertising tactics that I do not agree with, but I've heard lots of good about Barefoot Ted's Lunas. I would order his DIY Kit though as the premade huaraches are really expensive and if you don't like the lace options in the Lunas you could always use the rounded shoelace like I do. The laces are only $2 at Payless so it's not like they break the bank or anything. Anyhow, goodluck!

P.S. Huaraches are the only shoe that seem to fit my feet perfectly right, which is a huge deal for me.
 
I have some homemade

I have some homemade Huaraches, never could find a cord material I was happy with. I have two pair of Invisible shoes Huaraches that I absolutely love. the cord material they have is pretty good and once I got used to it between my toes it is fine. Getting used to the material between the toes is the biggest challenge I had. Anyone who wears flip flops should have no issue but it does take some acclimation of the skin to toughen up a bit. Sometimes if the knots are in a funky place or my feet get wet and dirty I might get a slight abration at the top of the foot someplace. Rare but it happens.

I have heard that if you get Barefoot Teds Huaraches, you will never go back to shoes again. I haven't gotten myself to a place where I can fork out that much cash for Huaraches but someday I'd like to try a pair with the elastic leather cord. They look pretty damn comforatble.

Personal opinion, get the Invisible Shoes 4mm thick pair, they are light and easy to pack away. Don't waste your time making your own. By the time you fritter away your time, pay for shipment of sole material, Trace, cut and possibly waste a practice pair you can be wearing your Invisible Shoes. If you don't like their cord material you can start experimenting with various materials like leather, Hemp, Scarfs, Sisel Rope, Jute, Wool or whatever tickels your fancy,
 
Man, I just looked at thiose

Man, I just looked at thiose Unshoes. They look pretty cool!

Barefoot people sure are creative in creating shoes. Isn't that an oxymoron?
 
I agree on just buying the

I agree on just buying the kit. I tried making my own a couple of times and just couldn't get the material right and wasted a bunch of money. The 4mm kit works great.

Also if you don't like the stuff between your toes there are methods that don't have that. I never tied it with it between my toes beecause I originally bought them for winter running and wanted to be able to wear socks with it and I hate injinijis.

I did have problems with the "flapping" that nick is talking about but It was because I didn't have them tied tight enough, I realized this when I got some rubbing from the cord and tightened it to stop that and the flapping stopped too.

As far as cord material goes, I was fine with the invisible shoes laces, but the way I originally had them tied caused a lot of wear on them. It had laces running across the bottom and I could only get about 50 miles on them. I didn't want to keep buying and shipping their cord so I just went to REI and bought some polypropylene cord and keep it stocked. Now I get more mileage on them since I have it tied different but its good to keep it around anyway. Also once I get them tied properly (a few runs go great without having to readjust them) I cut the cord really short above the knot. That way they aren't flapping around all over the place annoying me when I run.
 
they are all that i wear. the

they are all that i wear. the string between the toes will take a little to get used to and it does depend on where you place the hole. i prefer my lunas over my IS. maybe i need to trim them down cuz they flop once in a while where the lunas don't.



the hardest part is learning to tie them. it's an art form.
 
My first pair were from

My first pair were from Invisible shoes, great concept, but they just didn't work out for me. No matter how much I tweaked and adjusted they just weren't a good fit.



Then I bought a pair of "Original Lunas" with the elastic laces, which are amazing. I also the a pair of the Equus luna's which are a bit stiffer, but I wear them more as a casual shoe. I would use the "original luna's" to run in, they have more flex to them, and after awhile your foot makes a nice mold into the leather, extremely comfy
 
Alright thanks for the

Alright thanks for the suggestions. I read about someone who made some on the cheap using a thin rubber door mat and cheap shoelaces, said he got either 2 or 4 pair for only $12 or so in materials. I may try that first just to see if I can do it and how I like it.

I likely won't be running in these. I usually just go BF or in VFF's if it's too cold for my taste. These would really just be for stuffing in a pocket in case I go somewhere BF and someone makes a stink about it.
 
That may have been mine.  I

That may have been mine. I have a blog that I haven't updated in a while that has a bunch of pics and tells you what I did to make mine. I got 4 pair out of the one door mat. Here's a link: http://thebarefootweave.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/homemade-huaraches/
 
NickW wrote:That may have

NickW said:
That may have been mine. I have a blog that I haven't updated in a while that has a bunch of pics and tells you what I did to make mine. I got 4 pair out of the one door mat. Here's a link: http://thebarefootweave.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/homemade-huaraches/

Sounds similar, but no I don't rememeber seeing that page before now. However that page has pics, so thanks for posting it.
 
If it helps then that is

If it helps then that is great. I am a cheap college student so I have to save a buck wherever I can, and besides, there is a bit of pride that comes with making your own footwear. I actually seem to be pretty good at it (surprisingly) and it makes me happy to see a quality finished product that came from my own two hands.
 
I went through 5 years of

I went through 5 years of architecture school, so I'm pretty versed in cutting thin, flat stock of various materials with various types of blades (Xacto and others). I'm sure it would be pretty easy for me to throw something together.
 
I have 4...jeez...4 different

I have 4...jeez...4 different sets of huaraches. I've got the Equus from Luna. The Connects from IS, the feathers from Unshoes, and my own special pair that I reserve for hiking really GNARLY stuff. Or anything where underlying cacti might be found.



Anywho, Huaraches are comfortable. Once you get the fit right they are quite possibly the last shoe you'll ever WANT to own. Can't say need, because I can't wear my huaraches at work. Sigh. I'd rank them in comfort in this order: Unshoes, Invisible Shoes, Luna Equus. The luna gets the raw deal because when I ordered mine they didn't do half sizes, and they are VERY stiff. That stops being such a problem after breaking them in, but I'm very much on the line of, it better be comfortable immediately philosophy. Unshoes are user friendly and super comfortable. In fact, their footbed is the most comfortable footbed in the industry. Including naked footbeds and leather covered footbeds.



I'd go with unshoes.



Sorry for the long winded answer. I'm kind of preachy that way.



Hope it helps,

Aaron