Shoes

those are pretty cool… other than the color=)
I was trying this a while back, you can buy sheets of vibrim rubber for pretty cheap on the web…. then I was thinking using a pair of flip flops as the pattern to cut out sole shaped peices… then use discarded leather for the tops and use them to hike in=)

If you do try it, here's a tip. Don't buy flip-flops that fit. Buy flip-flops that are the same length as your foot from your heel to your longest toe. Err on the short side. For example, if I bought flip-flops to wear, I'd probably get a size 8. But for the soles I used a size 6.

The reason, as I found out in my previous attempt to make sandals, is that your heel will nestle into a 'pocket' in back and actually hang over the edge of the sole. You don't want to be left with 2 inches extra above your toe.

I'm curious as to your motivation. Cost, performance, personal challenge?

Shoes are way beyond my skill set, but I am currently experimenting with reinforcing the toes of running shoes with flexible plastic to make an ultralight hiking shoe.

Anyway, they look good, I look forward to seeing what you work up to.

My motivation is:
Fit (no compromise, no buying huge shoes just so I can get them wide where I need them)
Personal challenge
Minimalism (no heel rise, no arch support, no toe-spring, no motion control, no gels)
Fun

It turns out that making these was easier than sewing a mosquito net tent. I made them in about 6 hours. It took me weeks to make the tent.

I went for a walk in them and I was absolutely stunned. They fit perfectly on the first try. They worked: no chafing, no slipping off, no discomfort, didn't fall apart. They felt like normal shoes and very comfortable.

Not sure how they'd do on a trail.

I'm almost done with my second pair. This one I plan to put a real vibram boot sole on them. I can get a Vibram lug sole with no heel for under $10. They'll be a beige color with some fabric that looks sort of like suede. I'll try those on a trail.

Nice work! I like where you're going with this. Would enjoy seeing pics of your 2nd pair when you're done.

I had one success and so far every effort to reproduce it has failed! 5 tries! I've ordered some patterns. It might be easier to work with patterns. Been testing fabrics. I think that swim trunks from the thrift store might actually work. I have no idea where to get suitable fabric for shoes. Leather is just too hot. My requirements: less hot than leather or wool, easy to sew, somewhat durable, somewhat resistant to foxtails and burs. Good luck with that.

One of the rugged soft shells, perhaps?

e.g. Schoeller Keprotec?

Finding some might be tricky…

I've been reading about making a pack, so this comes to mind=)
my day pack says "100% nylon and I can breathe through the unlined parts. It's pretty durable and as long as you wear socks shcould be comfy….? You can obviously sew it and it should be readily available. Whatdaya think?
oh, also, do you need the lugged sole? I was thinkin 5mm vibram would be thick enough to protect from rocks, but still flex enough to give you great traction on rocks.

Yes, I need the lugged sole. The sole that comes on a pair of Chacos has me slipping and falling down all the time. Only really grippy soles keep me upright. At least in my neck of the woods where the dry soil is like walking on ball bearings.

I may add mousepads to the green shoes I made for soling material. I actually got a lot of questions and compliments when I wore them one day.

I'm really close to having a second pair ready. They look a tiny bit less goofy than the first.

Here's the second pair. I think they turned out pretty much like the first pair. For some reason I always make the right shoe too small. I didn't make the tongues long enough. There's a wrinkle in the left shoe. Otherwise, they're pretty comfy.

They're made of a pair of mens swim trunks. Grossgrain for the shoelace eyelets and table pads for stiffening on the inside. Flipflops with the straps cut off for soles. Uppers glued on with hot glue. I tested the hot glue and it holds really well. No chance it'll come loose at the wrong time.

They don't look like hiking shoes, but I bet they'd work for day hiking. I may give them a try.

those do look pretty nice!

Piper,
I like 'em! Very nice work. Did you weigh them?

Piper, those look fabulous!
So… what are hiking shoes supposed to look like? I've been trying different brands for years and still haven't found both comfort and utility in the same shoebox.
Please keep us updated!

I still don't have a scale, but they weigh slightly less (by feel) than my New Balance MT 100s. But they don't yet have a real sole. My plan was to glue a lug sole on if I made a good pair.

I bought some shoe patterns so I might try making some of my patterns before I commit to gluing a sole on anything.

I'm going to have a closet full of shoes like Imelda Marcos with this crazy hobby. But I'm determined to be free of that idiocy whereby someone decides to make a great shoe and then discontinue it, or someone decides to make a great shoe and then make no wide widths so I try them and end up with blisters so bad I have to wait a week before I can hike again.

That is really great!

I have tried making shoes without much success.

I'll have to revisit this now.

You're too kind.

I wore them on a long hike on a rocky trail. They held up well, but flip-flop soles are a little too lightweight. Perhaps if they had a real sole glued to the bottom. Otherwise, they were comfortable.

I will keep working on this and hopefully make shoes that look something more like real shoes.

I like your creations! I've been thinking about this myself for a while. What I would like to do is create a leather/synthetic "upper" thats sort of like a moccison. Than I'd glue a rubber sole onto the bottom of that. That way I could rip the sole off and replace it from time to time. I'm thinking about using a climbing shoe as a rough pattern.

Hey Piper -searching through BPL led me to this thread. Just curious if you(or anyone else) has come up with anything recently.

I'm intrigued by the idea of myog shoes as I think they are the piece of gear I burn through the most. Trying to cut down on the waste and such is one thing, but I always fall in love with a piece of gear that has been with me for a while and am sad to see it go.

I'm thinking light-ish, but not too concerned with weight at this point. This is something that I'd probably experiment with around town before taking to the trail, but I'm hoping to move in that direction.