Moccasins for the trail?

Ankar Sheng said:
hadn't really considered making my own, but thats an idea. There is a Tandy's in town... What do you suppose I'd need in terms of tools? Besides scissors, sewing needle and a fabric pencil?
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You need sinew to sew it, and a square cross-sectioned needle

Regular thread will rip through the hide, in time

There is commercially made artificial sinew available, it is like a flat twine coated with wax. It is thicker, and won't cause your leather to tear

Here, caribou sinew, from the legs, is best. Lots of work but good results as it hardens and shrinks when it dries.
 
BarberFobic1992 said:
i havent yet, but i have been thinking about it. the only thing keeping me away is the lack of arch support, and i have rather pronounced arches, so the lack of support might be a problem for me. But, they are pretty inexpensive so i may try a pair anyway.
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I heard a Doctor on a radio show once explain that we dont need arch support unless we have some specific condition. He explained that our body was meant for walking bearfooted, thats how nature or god made us.

I know this goes against whats commonly said but I dont think he is a crackpot so I am wondering maybe he is onto something?

That being said I was just thinking about a pair of mockasins the other day. I didnt want to buy a pair of dress shoes that I wear once every 2 months.
I thought maybe I could even get a kit one.

And also if I can get peoples opinions, i live in hawaii and it can rain often. How will the leather hold up to leather and or humidity?
 
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Re the whole arch support thing, my understanding is that improper arch support can lead to problems over a period of time. Sure, people have arches and are naturally meant to walk barefoot, but how many people hike with no pack like our ancestors were? And were skinny like they were? Much of foot care is preventative. Personally I can't see why you would want to HIKE without decent footwear, but I completely understand why you would like to make/wear moccasins. Lets not forget that hiking 10-20 miles in a day with a full pack is something far more strenuous than we're naturally designed for, we need shoes for the same reasons horses do, we wear out. I've heard that the Apaches valued their moccasins above all and I can see why. Maybe compromise and make moccasins that you can put a decent insole for heel and arch support in?
 
Ditto on the arch support advice. :thumbup:

Plus good soles are a must for rough/rocky terrian.

I understand the appeal of mocs for around camp or for short jaunts on soft terrain, but I need real boots for any kind of serious hiking.




"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

Forest & Stream
 
I have practically no arches to support, so that isn't really an issue for me. :thumbup:

When I go hiking I'm not trying to cover ground fast, at most I'll go 10-15km in a day, but typically much less, I just want to enjoy the journey and stop wherever the fishing is good.
 
Ankar Sheng said:
I have practically no arches to support, so that isn't really an issue for me. :thumbup:

When I go hiking I'm not trying to cover ground fast, at most I'll go 10-15km in a day, but typically much less, I just want to enjoy the journey and stop wherever the fishing is good.
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:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
22-rimfire said:
I can't think of a much poorer choice for hiking than moccasins. They offer almost no protection or support for the foot. You might as well go bare foot as you hike across those jagged rocks. I tried boat shoes. Feel the same way about them.
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I don't know dude - millions of Natives could not have been that dumb. I think the way modern people move and what they and how they carry it is BECAUSE of our shoes - not the other way around. If we adapt how we walk and how and what we carry in the bush - we would find that we would not need any more support than what the natives used.

My feet need NO support - There is very little data for 'ankle support' with even high topped shoes.

TF
 
Talfuchre said:
I don't know dude - millions of Natives could not have been that dumb. I think the way modern people move and what they and how they carry it is BECAUSE of our shoes - not the other way around. If we adapt how we walk and how and what we carry in the bush - we would find that we would not need any more support than what the natives used.

My feet need NO support - There is very little data for 'ankle support' with even high topped shoes.

TF
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Here's an interesting article on the subject. They reference Tom Brown, who's fairly well known and respected around here I believe.
http://www.bushwhacker.ca/noboots.html

I agree with the sentiments that lots of support will actually weaken your ankles. One of the guys I've done prospecting for told me the indians he hires to cut his lines always work in sneakers, never boots, and their ankles are like rubber, very flexible. They never run into problems with twisted ankles and sprains.
 
At some rendezvous and at End of the Trail, I've seem moc makers with some really sturdy products. Very thick, durable looking double soles. Various heights on the tops. Quite expensive, unfortunately. I haven't tried them yet but someday I'll get a pair and see how they do.

If I didn't live in SoCal, I'd treat mocs with some SnoSeal. I think that would help in moist climates.

DancesWithKnives
 
:thumbup::thumbup:Great article, Ankar. Good to hear some pros saying what I've been trying to convince people of for a while.
 
I've done a very rocky 10-miler in the moc-boots made by these folks

http://www.arrowmoc.com/

(Those double-thickness soles offer lots of protection.) I would certainly do another similar hike with them, and I can't rate their products highly enough.

I have very high arches, so I used a flat Spenco insole topped by a FootSmart leather/plastic arch support. It was a great combination, which I've since used walking on concrete around town.

There was a fair amount of water on the hike, but the maker's waterproofing worked fine. However, I have another pair (w/ lower top) for crappy weather whose soles I coated with black ShoeGoo.
 
i wear slippers and I have never had a problem with a twisted ankle except wrestling once but i think thats an exception.

Anyone know how moccasins withstand moisture?
I know they make water proofing sprays and liquids but will that work well for a soft flexible leather?_
 
I've used SnoSeal (wax based) on soft, flexible glove leather and it worked.

DancesWithKnives
 
Yep, I like Carl Dyers. Had the same pair for 10 yrs. Have sent them in twice to be resoled.. Be warned, you must learn how to walk in them , they are very slippery.
 
Most of the place I hike are too rocky. I need even thicker soled hiking boots to deal with it.

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Anyone have a good pattern for making some moccasins. I see a lot of the "pucker" top style on the net, but can't seem to find a good, clear plains style side or center seam pattern.
 
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