fake down booties?

[Rebecca Ribbing]

I've got a ton of apex left over from making the quilts, and I was going to make some down bootie knockoffs with some of the excess. Are there any patterns out there? What would you use as the sole?

[Bob Gross]

I did a Polarguard bootie kit once many years ago. The inner sole was closed cell foam covered by nylon. The outer sole was a tough Cordura nylon with some texture.

–B.G.–

[Jerry Adams]

I made some synthetic "booties" just for sleeping.

Just a tube with the end sewn off at an angle:

On my foot:

To sew it, do a French seam – do a loop of fabric, loop of insulation, loop of fabric – fold over and sew through them, cut off all but about 1/4 inch, turn inside out and sew through it hiding the raw edges, turn it right side out – do the same thing to close off the foot

[Rebecca Ribbing]

Thanks Bob and Jerry!

I couldn't figure out what to do inside the sole, but closed cell foam makes perfect sense. Now I suppose I need to decide if they will just be worn in the tent or not because Jerry's idea sounds really good as well. At the very least, I think I will make a pair of Jerry's design for my son to keep his feet warm at night.

[BlackHatGuy]

I've got a pair of Feathered Friends down booties that I'd be happy to 'loan' you so you can get ideas on how to make your own since you're in the area. I wouldn't need them back for a couple of weeks. PM me if you're interested.

[Bob Gross]

Booties are made to different degrees of seriousness. Down socks would be worn only inside a tent. Down booties could be worn inside, or maybe outside. Some have seriously textured soles so that you can go outside into the snow on a midnight visit.

My Polarguard booties are OK, but they are a little heavy. That was my first kit to assemble.

–B.G.–

[Paul McLaughlin]

I made mine with Polarguard 3D, used two layers of 3oz if I recall correctly. Differentially cut. 1.1 oz ripstop outer, lining was pieces of a really light blanket I got on an airline – basically a brushed fabric that is really light, like maybe 2 oz/yd. I did the brushed lining so I could put them on with no socks and be comfortable, which I sometimes do. I like the lining. Soles are 160d cordura with 1/4" closed cell foam. For outdoors I have overbooties, knee-high single layer fabric (1.1 rip top again) with 3/8" foam in the soles. So when I go out I have a total of 5/8" foam underfoot.
I also tried Toughtek (a kind of grippy rubberish frabic that I have used for mitten shell palms) for the soles, but it was slippery on ice – not good.
I had made pile booties before, and had a pattern that I developed for those. I modified that pattern and made two versions of it, one larger for the outer layer, one smaller for the inner. Making a pattern for booties is pretty easy by trial and error if you have some scrap fabric to play with.

[Roger Caffin]

Jerry's design is straight. Looks funny, but check how you sleep. Most people sleep with their toes pointed out straight. So the design works better than expected.

cheers

[Andrew Schriner]

why fake?

anyways, here's a pair I made using synthetic insulation, CCF "midsole" and a "slip-not" (i think from quest outfitters, or maybe rockywoods) outsole:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=41045&skip_to_post=349763#349763

[Franco Darioli]

Rebecca
if you make your own they will be 100% genuine originals…
(booties is not a brand name or a specific product)
Franco

[scavo ralary]

not too good,and I think it is fake booties

[Rebecca Ribbing]

By fake, I meant not actually down, since I'm going to use Apex.

I think I'm going to start with the tube sock design. I love the idea of having an over-sock so that way I won't get the quilt dirty.

Thanks for everyone's ideas!

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