Flip Flop Modification

abo4ster

abo4ster

Joined
Aug 24, 2003
Messages
1,461
Brief discussion on footwear followed by instruction on how to make your flip flops more versatile for outdoor use...


[youtube]sqtzdOZvWpw[/youtube]​
 
Interesting topic/video. Thanks for sharing, especially the website info at the end. I probably won't be changing my daily footwear anytime soon but this is good info to have and food for thought.

I have noticed when I'm barefoot around the house I always put my toes/ball of foot down first.
 
I like you sandals but your natural walking gait theory is not correct.

Heel to toe is the norm for homo sapiens.

[youtube]5j4YRHf6Iyo&feature[/youtube]
 
DM Mills said:
I like you sandals but your natural walking gait theory is not correct.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback, nonetheless, I can't deny my observations.

Those who walk in shoes everyday versus those who go barefoot put thier foot down differently.

Based on the video you posted, I would say he wears shoes normally. A barefooter would not normally put thier heel down first or as pronounced; again this is my observation.
 
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abo4ster said:
Thanks for the feedback, nonetheless, I can't deny my observations.

Those who walk in shoes everyday versus those who go barefoot put thier foot down differently.

Based on the video you posted, I would say he wears shoes normally. A barefooter would not normally put thier heel down first or as pronounced; again this is my observation.
Click to expand...

You are correct Abo... although many people walk like the person in the video DM posted, that is not how we are meant to walk. Land on the ball and place the heel down. This thread comes at a good time. I just watched the making of "A New World" and the actors who played the Native Americans had to go through a lot of training and conditioning to move and walk in a natural way. The first explorers documented the manner in which the natives moved... very fluid, intentional and sure footed. Most of the weight was carried in the thighs. Cool stuff.

I have made a few pairs of those sandals.... my favorites are made with coveyor belt soles and 3/8" wide leather thong.

Rick
 
Perhaps to sense what is under their foot with the ball before placing thier heel? I know that injuries to my heel seem to be far worse than to the ball. I spend all of my non-working time barefoot, and I place my heel first. If I am stalk hunting, i am on the balls. Oh-oh, starting to sound wrong. To the fridge for a beer.
 
I am not a big fan of Jerusalem cruisers (sandals) but I have been wanting a pair of Vibram 5 fingers
 
crakerjax, buy them. I hate shoes, and the 5 fingers make it feel like you're walking around barefoot. I forget i'm wearing them.
 
If you're interested in making sandles like the guy in the video, you can buy a kit from Invisible shoes for $20 and make your own. see here: http://www.invisibleshoe.com/ (a nice, honest guy.) Or you can google Vibram Cherry Sole to find how to get the sole and build your own (what I did). Just know that Paracord stretches a lot if/when it gets wet.
 
I wish I could just wear those all day. Looks like I'll have to replace the soles of my steel toed work boots (required) with that thin vibram sole material.
 
im stuck in a pair of matterhorn 12900's all day long walking 15 miles a shift at work ...
 
stieg said:
If you're interested in making sandles like the guy in the video, you can buy a kit from Invisible shoes for $20 and make your own. see here: http://www.invisibleshoe.com/ (a nice, honest guy.) Or you can google Vibram Cherry Sole to find how to get the sole and build your own (what I did). Just know that Paracord stretches a lot if/when it gets wet.
Click to expand...

Good post. I did use the instructions off of invisible shoe. Big difference for me was setting the holes on either side of the ankle in closer than they recommend. Seems more stable and I believe more durable as your weight protects the cord stessing the hole laterally.

You can get a sheet of the sole for around $40. Figure you will get at least three pairs from the sheet. Felt bad not giving the guy my business, but rather do it myself and in the long run more cost effective. Leather punch is around $12.

From what I read, hemp or leather will give you a more secure fit, but I like the 550 for the versatility and that is what I would be carrying anyway. I believe you can get several hundred miles before wearing out the cord and it is easier to change than a shoelace in a sneaker. Read someone thru-hiked the AT changing the 550 four times being proactive, but believed they could have made it changing it out twice.
 
jw2n said:
Perhaps to sense what is under their foot with the ball before placing thier heel? I know that injuries to my heel seem to be far worse than to the ball. I spend all of my non-working time barefoot, and I place my heel first. If I am stalk hunting, i am on the balls. Oh-oh, starting to sound wrong. To the fridge for a beer.
Click to expand...

The forward strike is the natural means of shock absorption for the foot. The issue with the modern shoe is that it weakens the foot because it acts AS the shock absorber, thus allowing one to use a heel strike movement. So when you take away that cushion, it allows your foot to act like its supposed to. The real issue is modern humans (westerners) have weak feet because the shoe industry has decided that it "knows" better than the natural evolutionary/divinely inspired structure of your foot.

Here's a decent bit of Harvard research on the matter in regards to running.

http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/

Respectfully,
H
 
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