Rethinking FOOTWEAR for SURVIVAL. Minimalist vs Supportive? +10km run in hand made, DEER SKIN SHOES
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- čas přidán 2. 07. 2024
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i'd be interested in trying Roman Caligae type sandels over a long distance run or hike. They look like they have stronger soles to protect against the worst thorns and stones, but they still allow your foot a lot of movement. And the hobnails give good grip on natural terrain, but they loose grip on made made surfaces aparently.
The modern equivalent is probably rubber motorcycle sandals, we use them a lot here in South East Asia and they work great.
Good idea. I tested old military shoes with studs: they clung well in the wilderness, even on rocks. On the other hand, you have to be a bit careful on some urban surfaces, on which the nails can become slippery.
The Romans sometimes wore caligae with some kind of socks (like "Russian socks"). Quite a program :-)
I have done a modern version of minmalist sandals with conveyer belt soles that were amazing. I lost them unfortunately made similar to Tom's deerskin shoes. They were amazing. I have now fully transitioned to minimalist shoes and now looking for or making turnshoes to replace those sandals
Out of personal experience, caligae generally are phenomenally comfortable after being worn in. Their really good on soft surfaces, as soon as you go on hard surfaces they start to strain your feet (and they’re hellishly slippery on polished stone or manholes).
Feet dry quickly but also get wet in no time and if you want to do re-enactments your feet are unprotected and will be bloody if someone with caligae steps on your foot. (Same goes for thorns in forest undergrowth)
In dry snow I want pure wool footwear, the kind we call “lugga” in northern Norway. They’re basically a pair of thick felted wool socks with a felt sole and completely covered with wadmol/broadcloth. They most likely have their roots in the winter “inserts” of Norse Iron Age shoes, and are extremely light and warm.
Interesting. I've heard lots of discussion about felted footwear. I'd like to try felt insert for my skin shoes for winter time.
Would you use lugga as stand-alone outdoor footwear or as socks/boot liners? I’ve seen other felted wool winter shoes, but they had rubber cup soles for outdoor wear and a level of protection from melting snow.
I read that Russians used to wear boots called "valenki", made of thick wool felt, they apparently fell out of popularity after ww2, but are still produced today,
They used to be worn with rubber galoshes, an overshoe to stop the bottom of the felt wearing prematurely, and to improve water resistance,
Some more "modern" ones come with glued rubber outsoles,
@@ivanheffner2587
Stand-alone outdoor footwear. They’re best on dry snow, which doesn’t stick to the wool as much as wet snow does. There is evidence that they had something very much like lugga in the Iron Age, except of course that they weren’t knit, and that they would wear them inside their leather shoes, which were very lightweight and very adjustable, similar to the ones Tom made, when it was too cold for just the leather shoes but too wet for just the woollen ones.
@@luke14946
Valenki are similar, but stiffer above the ankle. Both are best suited for dry snow, and therefore not as good if you live in a city where snow has a tendency to turn to slush.
I bought the skinners when they were on Kickstarter years ago and I love them!!! I have the old model without the extra insole, but they are my go to ‘back up’ shoe when I’m out - if it’s an all day bachelorette party, a day out hiking or just a s day at the beach - they are in my bag, ready to put on if I need to give my feet a break from wearing the shoes or sandals I chose for that day….
I’ve even brought them along on a night out to put on when I’m going home so I didn’t have to wear my heels at the end of the night ;)
cool to hear your experience of them! I'm thinking they'd be good as a back up shoe to wear around camp to give your feet a restfrom the boots :)
@@FandabiDozi absolutely… im a ‘barefoot girl’ at Home - i actually really hate wearing shoes, that’s why I bought them in the first place ;)
They give me protection enough when im not sure I want to go purely barefoot, but my feet are tired and need to ‘breathe’…
Maybe consider them an ‘outdoor slipper’… they are also great when you need to pack light and only really can bring 1 or 2 pairs of shoes, but you still want to have the option of a extra pair….
I love mine too! I have the originals, two pairs and I swap them out when I wash one pair (machine wash). It's been years since that campaign, I wear them daily and they are still going strong. I just wish I had bought a size larger. I think my feet have lengthened since I first started going zero drop/barefoot. I skipped their version 2, and recently got their version 3 with the liners, getting a size up from what my originals. The size is great, the liner means I can walk over sharp rocks and spiny plants more comfortably, but they have their issues with slipping and bunching up a bit. Still you can always pull them out if you don't need them, but you have them for rougher terrain.
@@FandabiDozi they are definitely nice for around camp! There's nothing better in my experience, and they are so light and compact there isn't really a good reason not to bring them. Only problem I have had is in the desert, were there are sharp spiny things everywhere, even though I was careful I stepped on a cholla cactus segment. Was that ever painful, and difficult to get out because of the barbs on the spines. That's where a multi-tool with pliers really shines! But on the beautiful moss you have there in the highlands Tom I think you would really appreciate the skinners. Super fast to don and doff if you need to get up in the night to pee or anything like that.
Comprehensive review buddy, I've tended to lean towards the more rigid boots due to waterproofness over the years but I've been making a move away from these as I age my preferance is to more comfort. The minimalist options are one I may try out here, thanks 🤘
maybe salomons if you like waterproofness?
I want a pair but can't justify it rn
This was so interesting! Made me want to get a pair of those mid-range shoes for more casual hikes 😅
Most valuable tip - you have to know you terrain and your needs, and take with grain of salt everything is being said by others. And, most importantly, listen to your body - being an amateur dancer and cyclist, I seen too many people (myself included) that begin to understand, what is safe after some long-term stress traumas.
LMAO the sign about the dogs on leads and then the barking. I just pictured a scenario of where the neighbours dog went.
With the heavier boots I would reccomend getting thw right size and breaking them in with thick socka before going on a trip in them. Use coconut oil for softness to condition them and wax for very wet enviorments. If they get full of water just take them off, dump the water and keep going. But most obviosuly, DO NOT USE THEM FOR RUNNING
Maximal running shoes are a game changer for me. I went on the barefoot journey about 10 years ago. Didn’t get on with it after a real effort. Hoka’s and New Balance maximal shoes have minimised injury for me massively and have minimised foot fatigue. Glad everyone is out there experimenting, no rules, it’s what works best for the individual 🙏
Really enjoyed that, I grew up by a pebbled beach and loved running over them, now I need a wide fit foot fitting. I got trench foot on my Gold DofE experdition in Scarpa Attaks, and I do get aches in knees and hips when wearing Haix's, so my experience follows your theory. Thank you Sir! Keep up the sterling work. m
I like my minimalist home made huarache sandals, but it's very flat around here. I want to make a pair of the skin shoes next.
Ooh, interesting to hear I'm not the only one who gets joint pain from rugged shoes. I'm hypermobile and I'll get joint pain in anything, but I definitely last longer with minimalist shoes.
I’m also hypermobile.
Never really thought much about it before I got heel spur from just a simple hike and my doctor basically came to the conclusion that my joints are soft/over flexible.
Learned that the more or less constant pain from over working my muscles to make up for my flexible joints wasn’t something everyone dealt with.
Dealing with it for the feet and knees suck. Hope you are having a easier time.
I found that crocs while extremely ugly were nice when I tried to recover my foot.
They both were minimal, with plenty of room for the toes to stabilise to foot (take a bit of the pressure), and still maintain and build muscles in the foot. While also offering a bit of structure for the heel of my foot.
And the whole sole was nice, cushiony and gentle to my messed up feet.
I found that on hikes, making sure to walk on soft materials have done a huge difference for my feet and knees. Especially for asphalt or gravel paths.
I often walk slightly of the side of the path.
@@IQzminus2 Oh, I'm glad you've found something that works for you! I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user since about a year and a half. If I had realised my pain wasn't normal sooner I might not have needed it (yet), but it is what it is. I get a lot of surprised reactions for using a wheelchair while I can technically still walk, but I'd rather have more freedom while possibly extending what little ability to walk I have left than ve stubborn. I do miss going on hikes even though I'm outside more now. But I do still walk around the house because my place isn't accessible and it's manageable (thanks to having control over how much I walk out of the house) and I'm pretty much always barefoot.
Great video. I've been looking into minimalist shoes for awhile now. You've given an excellent perspective on several important factors. 👍👍
Really good video. I’ve worn “normal” shoes maybe twice since the middle of March. I’ve worn Reef flip flops or my Tivas, the sandal style shoes, only. I have found that I don’t have nearly the foot problems I had before and I actually want to walk more. Flip flops aren’t good for walking or standing a lot, but my Tivas have done pretty well, stood up to my 285 pounds well, and protected me from a lot as well. They don’t have protection from the top, which has been an issue. I don’t think I’d go back to the big heavy boots again. You’re right about the long term effects from them. Thanks for the video. Love watching your content. One day I’d love to visit Scotland and see where much of my ancestry came from.
Thank you for your vidéo, i've been hiking in France in Marseille last month, between many beach Which are called "calanque", and i've tried aqua shoes from decathlon and it was great even if it was much more minimalist shoes it was a great expérience :) but my brother had many blisters due too the same type of shoes and me i hadn't any thank's to god.
So i depend on the person.
Ps: sorry my english is really bad 😅
i was just thinking about minimalist footwear lying in bed not being able too fall asleep and i hop on youtube and see this
Thank you for this review! I've been looking at the shoe-socks and am glad to hear from someone who has put them through some paces.
I read Born To Run years ago and it is definitely an inspiring work! Thanks again!
Really interesting topic, thanks
To keep my feet from feeling cold and wet, I aim for wool socks. Wool wicks moisture, and is naturally somewhat anti-microbial and performs best overall to prevent chafing. I recommend carrying a small pouch of loose wool which can be applied to areas of chafing/blistering in those heavy boots. The loose wool will reduce the friction and help prevent further injury. I'm convinced it works better than bandages. Cashmere and Alpaca perform as well, but are much more expensive than standard wool. For those allergic to wool, I recommend rayon which performs similarly to wool but is made from plant cellulose. I noticed in the video that you have fur side out on your deer skin shoes which likely does add some water repelling properties to the outer surfaces on top of your foot. In winter months, adding an insole or lining of rabbit or sheepskin would assist in keeping your feet warmer and drier on the inside. I avoid shoes made of plastic since plastic does not allow your feet to breathe as well. This includes neoprene, gore-tex, etc. Thanks for the video!
I never knew I needed this CZcams channel
Well done brother.
Sitting at home with my slippers on, watching you on youtube, keeps my feet warm and dry
last year during lockdown I made myself a pair of shoes loosely based off anglo-saxon turnshoes and they have changed my life. I’m very active,and walk at least 5km per day most days. I’ve worn them pretty much every day since then for everything from
supermarket runs and day to day normality to hiking and beach walks. My knees no longer hurt constantly and I have only fallen once in the entire 1.5 years! I have vertigo and fall a lot - at least once a week in normal shoes or hiking boots, so that is a huge thing for me! They are so comfortable and natural that I actually dont think I could wear modern shoes again. I’ve had to resole them once in that time which took an afternoon.
thanks, good work
In winter we sometimes put plastic bags over our socks to keep our feet dry. Super interesting video! Cheers!
I loved that video!!! Thabks
I was in the Army for 14 yrs we ran alot alot. About year 8 I switched to minimal list running shoes and my knees and hips were much better. And the pain was less while running.
In college I wore Jesus sandals and wool socks and was comfortable even in winter and Wisconsin winters were cold. For me a flexible sandal with some ankle support and wool socks of varying thicknesses depending on the weather is the perfect combo.
Great points all around Tom. I like those minimalist boots you were showing. Perhaps the best alrounders with the knowledge to make a skin pair when you have too.
Nate
Great video, Born to Run changed everything I thought I knew about running.
Another great video!!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!
Great video, very informative, something I was told a long time ago was that sheep poo is highly acidic and damaging to the toughest boot soles, I can imagine acidic soil like peat damaging too.
I just got the vibram five fingers shoes. What a great invention, took them out on a mix ground few mile walk across the hills around me, in 30º heat and they worked a treat, knobly ect. Rocks can be a bit painful if you get your footing wrong but otherwise they are great. Great video as well and I can't wait for the expedition one to drop
my favourite shoe recently has been the earth runners sandal. Super minimalist. Dry fast. Easy to take off and walk barefoot and just clip onto a belt or bag.
Nice discussion. Just enough information to make an informed decision without too much info to doze off. 😁
Good review Tom, weirdly I love rugby boots for steep grassy mountains, bit trippy on stone tracks but excellent when free ranging off rock. No midsole rounded heel cup, awesome grip especially on descents, inov 8 mudclaw and roclite give brilliant grip also and good on rock.
haha! Interesting I imagine they'd be great for slippy grass slopes!
Depends upon the terrain and climate conditions, insulated, waterproof and supportive for cold, wet, mountainous regions. Thicker cushiony soles for rockier terrain. And breathable quick drying for tropical, semiaquatic terrain.
I look fondly back at a pair of double sole elk moccasins I had back in the late eighties early nineties. Mostly these days I wear Teva river sandals with socks when required . But , I would gladly go back to the moccasins. Thumbs up to this video,
i really like the way you catagorized these. ive often thought itd be nice to have more of a transitional boot between the heavy traditional boots and the super flimsey minimalist boots. something with a bit thicker lesther, more robust construction, thicker heel, but still relitively flexable, zero drop etc
Here in sweden (the north atleast) it was common to use birch bark shoes.
Also the use of ”shoe hay” were common. No socks and shoe hay is supposed to be enough for warm feet in the winter.
Interesting! I will need to try make Birch bark shoes one day then!
@@FandabiDozi Do you know if they used shoe hay in scotland?
Its the right kind of long grass that one pulls through a bunch of nails attached to a board. You pull it multiple times until the hay looks like fine hair.
It had superb wicking ability and traps alot of air. So your feet stay optimally warm and dry all year around.
Sadly the craft is all but lost since the old men who knew it have died off.
Rain deer shoes by the Sami are also worn with hay.
I have severe stenosis of the spine. First shown - in 1983 - I lived with it - until 2012 - took me to 2018 to get surgery. 3 level fusion. From 2012 - i wore shoes - that weighed less than 500 grams. At 1 KG - I had migraines due to stress on my spine. You are on the right track.!
My cousin and I hiked the Cape Wrath Trail last February in trail shoes with thin liner socks and neoprene socks 🙂 we didn't have a foot temperature issue in spite of ice, snow and stream crossings. Though I will say neoprene does you no favours when it comes to hygiene 🤢
Great video 😃
Very interesting hearing other peoples experiences with footwear/ sock combos. There seems to be such a range of things that can happen! haha
I tried furoshiki's by vibram few years ago and now I don't want to wear anything else. Incredibly they are still going strong. I did buy another pair for swapping purposes and wear them both daily.
I've try freet connect and connect 2 and are really comfortable, now i use merrell but freet it's top of confort for me 💪
I used to have problems going over on my ankles aaaaall the time, was always told good hiking boots.. support ankles.. blah blah.
I made the switch to minimalist shoes in all aspects of my life, hiking, running, even office shoes for work. I haven't gone over on my ankles since. I dont see lack of support as a negative, it allows your muscles and priopreception to develop preventing injury much more surely than a rigid boot does.
In regards to waterproofness, ive hiked since I was a kid, I've never had a hiking boot that actually keeps water out when it hits the fan, quicker drying is imo a much bigger benefit.
Great video, brilliant points well made.
Another really fascinating video, and someone who owns about 3 pairs of footwear this has made me want to try out a new kind of footwear!
Wonderful video! I personally like my largely minimalist Altra sneakers for walking and running. I almost always wear medium weight wool socks with them.
Gortex socks are great. I used them all the time in the military. The only downside is they don't breath the best in boots. But great in the winter. Love the Chanel brother
Took your advice and gave a section of walk that's fairly grassy the ol bare foot treatment and as you say I was surprised how natural and healthy it felt. Took me back to running barefoot down Bournemouth promenade every summer to grab ice creams
The minimalist boots seem really cool. The best of both worlds. Gonna hafta grab a pair!
what a legend
It really depends on where I am going. In the mountains I used to wear some really heavy boots with a thin pair of cotton socks with thick wool socks over those. On easy tracks some open trainers with two pairs of socks again but both thin. In the right circumstances on a track - barefoot. I always carried spare socks and spare footware.
I once glued carpet to the bottom of my sandals for wading while fishing. They grip the rocks like felt but are very durable when wearing them outside of the water. They are free too. See if you can make something with them.
Awesome video. Really looking into freets. A decent middle ground between freets and the heavy boots are lems waterproof boulder boot. I have some. Not the best grip for slippery mud, but zero drop 10mm sole.
I live in a clay area in in a rainforest and wear wellies in winter and go barefoot in summer. Those neopreen socks look like they would make your feet sweat which would be awfull for your skin. Fun to wear posh shoes once a month and visit a town !
Nice overview. Some interesting options. I have some Keen hiking sandals. Used them out in Philippines, and in UK on stony beaches. For boots i always use sock liners and hiking socks. I want to try waterproof socks one day.
When I was young I used to go out poaching with my brother in the winter time. The top tip was to wear woollen socks and don’t take your footwear off till you got home. If you did for any reason then your feet were cold for the rest of the day.
The GORUCK MACV-1 is a fantastic modern boot to try. I have gone through two pairs and enjoy them very much. They are especially good for long hikes on just about any surface. Intended to be an update to the old Vietnam War style Jungle Boot.
They are very light, breathable, durable, impact-resistant soles (which makes landing on your feet from a decent height manageable), and while they are not water-resistant; they have built-in drain holes and dry relatively fast.
Very interesting vid lad, I'm in my early twenties, and have pains in my knees and hips the odd time, possibly due to going on hikes from the age of 8 or 9, so minimalist footwear may be the way to go, many thanks lad, greetings from Ireland.
Make sure to inform yourself on how to walk properly in them, if you walk the wrong way with them you will do more harm than good.
@@tero2444 Cheers lad, I'll be sure to check it out. 🙂
I think it comes down to what it often is with tools (which is what shoes are): compromises in design based on what you want it to do. Minimalizing inherently comes at the expense of protection and durability, and vice-versa. Similar sliding scales to other qualities and uses.
You do not wear the same clothes for hiking up rocky mountains in the snow as plowing through marsh, bog, and forest in the wet, warm times of the year. The optimal shoes are fitted to the task as well.
I follow the advice of lindybeige on the method used by the SAS in footwear since I was working on site last year before the pandemic and have to walk all day long in safety boots including climbing up building for work inspections.
First apply a generous layer of talcum powder on your feet. Then wear two layer of sock. Inner layer are thick ankle length socks while outer layer is thin knee length socks. Never had any blisters whatsoever and the thick layering somewhat help to wick away moisture keeping my footwear dry. Also I walk using a walking stick since I had knee injury several years ago. It really helps to reduce pain on the legs and sort of like walking using both feet and an arm.
Nowadays I work on my farm using my knee length rubber boots. Very soft and flexible but thick tough soles protects me from any injuries. The rubber layers are tough enough that one time when I missed swinging my machete, the sharp blade just deflected off my boot. Could have had a nasty cut on my shin if I was wearing safety boots.
In short...powder your feet. Two layers of socks (thick inside, thin outside - helps to keep your feet airy and dry and blisters free). Use walking stick.
Seriously, walking stick should be an important apparel alongside shoes for walking or running since it helps to reduce stress on our legs and help with balance. Once I nearly slipped on muddy ground, I just stab my stick into the soil to keep me from falling. Even walking downhill it reduces pain on the knees by allowing me to transfer the impact to my arms. Use two walking sticks and you are literally walking on all four.
After watching your first video about minimalist shoes, I got a pair of minimalist boats from a US company. My spouse and I like to hike the Bruce Trail.
One day we walked a 10km section of the trail, where for part of the section, every step you had to watch your footing due to the fractured surface of the escarpment. It was a moderately difficult hike due to the terrain. It was my first time wearing the minimalist boats. At the end of the hike, the tendons and muscles surrounding my feet were strained. That strain actually caused a muscle injury near my hips. So the lesson out of this is that switching from traditional foot wear to minimalist foot wear should be done in steps, no pun intended, to prevent injury.
The stiffness of the shoes can be corrected by wearing two pairs of socks, which makes the foot less tight and therefore allows better blood circulation. This also reduces the risk of blisters.
Thank you for this interesting presentation :-)
Another reply after two weeks of hiking in the mountains of Styria. There's no simple solution to modern requirements for footware, obviously, but it seems obvious that we could often do with less, and with real benefits. My wife and I (ages 62 and 71) just hiked in the Alps (from about 1000 to 3000 meters above sea level), with a combination of hiking boots, sandals, and barefoot. Pretty obviously, snow is not so good barefoot, for more than a couple of minutes. But for woods and meadows, and even for some "alpine" hiking trails (where they demand "robust" footwear), barefoot is best, in terms of comfort and also safety.
Cool video, Thx :)
Ive been waring the freet connect2 pretty much daily since January last year and they have been the most comfortable shoes ive ever owned! I now have the mudee's for when its wet and muddy and they have performed really well on long hikes.
I would highly recommend Injinji socks (toe-socks) for barefoot shoes, as they allow your toes to spread and flex better than standard socks, therefore improving the barefoot experience.
Nice video!
Another consideration is the weight of your pack. If you're packing a lot of weight over long distance, you need firm soled boots that have whatever arch support is needed to protect the structure of your foot and ankle for extended periods of time. Serious hunting boots seem heavy, and almost too rigid until you put a heavy pack on. Then they seem more flexible and supportive.
The first couple days with a heavy pack might be easy, but sustained walking each day will add up to shoe or foot failure if traveling with lightweight shoes.
As for hip pain caused by heavy shoes, I don't know yet how to fix that problem.
Yes man good on yeah
Buck skin pants !! Wouldn't be hard to make, but cold mornings in Canada to go do chores- : ) It's also, more sensible to not go with fashion or what's in style- I recently found a full length coat, with a hood- closest to a cloak now a days- but when I walk my dog mid winter- my legs don't get cold and then I'm not rushing a husky back inside to a warmer place- she can take her time and enjoy more of what she loves- snow and cold : D
My favorite footwear, aside from barefoot, are my tire sandals. Tire treads cut and thinned down. I have a few pair and they are great, weather permitting. They flex but wear long. They dry out in seconds.
As for colder weather, I like vibram furoshiki.
Fantastic video sir. I've been wondering about this of recent times, as I've been venturing further and further afield whilst hunting with my son. I tend to wear the likes of the Nike Free for my regular running, and I would agree that the benefits of flexibility and a lightweight shoe is a winner. I've gone back to boots at present, but summer in Australia is the antithesis of heavy footwear, so I'm going to be looking at something come this summer. The Freet shoes look really good and appear to be a great option. I fear I've got to sharpen my hunting skills more before I can look at using deer skin for shoes 😋
The funny thing is that everyone in Australia seems to be of the opinion you need incredibly heavy duty footwear owing to snakes, and other nasties, but I honestly believe I'm more at risk of musculoskeletal injury than a snake bite.
Keep up the awesome content!
LL Bean should make a minimalist version of their boots. It would be so easy keep the upper and resole the bottom.
Lightweight semi-rigid boots (suede rather than leather) great for highland mountains - light, protect feet, waterproof and no blisters.
Freet mudees are where its at, nice all round shoe when its too hot or unnecessary for a full boot
My favourite combo is meindl comfort fit boots and trespass anti blister socks, that's all I wear nowadays
All your shoes look nice.
I’ve been wearing barefoot shoes for running, hiking and everyday use and I’m not going back to normal shoes haha. The only down side about minimalist hiking shoes is that you feel the heat from the ground really quickly in summer, but then I just switch to my running shoes with a good grip and it’s fine.
I have all ways been a boot kind of guy but it has to do with my work I do welding to ranch to fire fighting I had my feet saved few weeks ago wean had my legs ran over still recovering but still glad my boots saved my feet from being crushed
Hey, I've got a bit of advice you may find handy one day.
As if you needed yet another reason to carry duck tape with you, basically, any time you feel the hotspot of a soon-to-be blister, apply a piece of strong ducktape directly to the area, then put your boot back on. What this will do is keep friction off of the spot and allow it to cool down, that way a blister won't form, to begin with.
Very good points ! As far as I'm concerned, for any serious survival situation, I wouldn't want anything else than extremely durable military shoes, because a foot injury is the worst thing that can happen. For more relaxed situation (trekking), I love the Skinnerz. I found they work best for me with thick Merino wool socks : it provides a little bit of padding, and also it absorbs the moisture... Merino wool is great even when wet, but of course it's not ideal. I also tried the "waterproof" sock but it was hell, because I found you sweat so much more due to poor breathability, so in the end your feet are wetter. I prefer Merino wool, and if I'm wet, I'm wet : I suck it up and wait for the camp where I can dry them quite easily. (and also, they don't smell much, which was a problem while being barefeet in the Skinnerz.
I recommend wool socks for foot care with any type of shoe, one of the only materials out there that can keep you warm wen wet. It absorbs a lot of sweat from your feet, keeping you feeling dry for longer, is anti-bacterial so less prone to stinky feet and other microbe related issues, and dries about as fast a polyester which is much faster then cotton. They may need to be delicate washed with wool-safe detergent, or hand washed, but IMO it's worth it. There are reasons wool was the favoured sock material of our ancestors for so, so long, and its still good to this day.
Great overview! And I'm grateful for your opinion based on experience because it helps me form my own thoughts better. I've fallen in love with the brand Vivobarefoot because they have both the moccasin style and the rugged hiking boot, all with zero heel rise and a natural wide toe box. They work with indigenous hunters and herders to source leather. They have taken me over every type of terrain with warm, dry, stable, healthy feet as I train to walk across the United States, and I plan to use them for my journey.
One addition to the survival end of the conversation. I'm using huaraches as a backup, specifically because they're something I can make and repair in the field. I got the kit from Xero to start learning how to wear them, and really like the versatility and minimalism, especially in hot and dry climates. They're also great for keeping in my pack when I'm going barefoot but need shoes to go inside a shop.
My handmade (boots by bohemond) 14 century turn shoes just have flexible leather between my foot and the ground. I don’t go running regardless of footwear but do walk 5 to 8 miles a day at historic events in them. I have to walk gingerly on gravel, smooth rugs, or mud. Otherwise they’re perfect. Most normal days I’m barefoot indoors and in sneakers outdoors.
I keep my feet dryest in two pairs of bridgedale ultralight walking socks. Even inside my massive old-style walking boots they rarely sweat. Bridgedale do sealskinz style now too
Great video!! If make your own and you will never depend on a store it’s very important knowledge to pass to your kids. As far as survival goes....if we think big picture survival situations where there is no grid or store to go get all your supplies first, and you will have the rest of your life and generations just you and Mother Earth. Seeds are the future. I love your sponsor! Our Scottish ancestors had deep connection with the earth, the seeds, the elements and spirits, but this info was stolen and lost through the past thousand years. We can learn the information that was lost from our families from indigenous people
I switched to Vivobarefoot hiking boots because of sore joints, and discovered that not only did they reduce my pain, but I can feel where my feet are on the ground and so am more sure-footed, which is a joy. The hiking boots are up to everything except viciously jagged rocks, which dig in but to not penetrate the sole. They are as waterproof as any other quality hiking boot. They are warm in winter too, which I did not expect with a thin sole. Total win.
I used to run track in high school barefoot, I sped up considerably. So as long as you stay on your toes literally, you can increase your speed and distance capability.
You should check out Xero shoes. They have minimalist “barefoot” waterproof hiking boots. Seems like these would check all the boxes you talked about.
They also have an very interesting shoe/sandal in one barefoot shoe
With the front being a shoe, protecting you from rocks and other nasty stuff
But the sides and back being a sandal, leaving out water and keeping breathability up
I bought Xeros about 6 months ago after many types of minimalist shoes. I'll be in Xeros from here on out!
They had a very funny fit for me. So no Xero for me :/
I have their Cloud sandals which I love, but I bought the boot and it isn't anywhere near wide enough for the toes to splay properly. It does have the zero-drop sole and is comfortable though.
I have 3 different pairs of their sandals. Z-trek, Z-trail, and Vera Cruz. Then I have 3 of the shoes. Denver boot, the old version of the Hana, and the HFS. I typically wear the HFS everyday to work. Then sandals in the summer any other time I’m not at work. Then the Denver boot in the winter at work.
I wear darn tough wool socks and Belleville minimalist trainer boots [TR105] year round. I have gotten 8 months of hard use on concrete surfaces averaging 5-14 miles a day, everyday.
I enjoy your content very much kind sir !
My occupation is household mover.
In a more modern version of the deer skin shoes would be either adding a boiled leather sole and/or goop sole. Or rubber cement and tire shavings.
Have been thinking of alternatives to military and hiking boots (due to age, foot spread and deformities) and have tended towards DIY tire tread outer sandals laced over heavy fabric or hide primitive shoe for heavier terrain. Before SHTF and game is hunted out or chased away, training shoes could be augmented for abrasion-resistance and waterproofing by dipping/painting fiber-reinforced roofing asphaltum in layers on the soles and sides.
With heavy duty shoes I find that my walking style actually shreds them fairly quickly compared to lighter shoes. I still walk ball first so that region gets worn very quickly, the heels of those shoes are fine but the ball area is worn to bits.
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Funny to see we both have the Freet hiking boots and sneaker type shoe. My boots are black instead of brown though lol.
i've just started wearing a pair of viking style turn boots that i made from 4/5oz vegtan as my daily shoe. they are the most comfortable shoe i've ever worn. my biggest complaint about them, so far, is that they aren't particularly water resistant
Probably the most comfortable shoe i ever used was when i was training ninjitsu out in the forests. They were split toed canvas shoes with a rubber type sole. You didnt even know you were wearinh them. May see if i can find another pair and try them out again.
Walking outside side my house for a long time without shoes got me use to rocks and stick and Small Town thorns
I love minimalist shoes. When I ran track in school I used to run barefoot at practice but our track was like a polyurethane. My kung-fu shoes were super lightweight. Moccasins are super comfy 🥰
I wonder if those rubber sock like shoes would be even better if they for example: a strip of stab resistant material in the sole. Just to prevent stab wound from big thorns and such.
I've been wearing 5.11 Storm 8" boots with Darn Tough thick summer hiking socks for all of this year. The soft insole combined with the thick sock gives you plenty of movement within the boot with good breathability, and I'm yet to get any blisters despite walking upwards of 2000k in this combo. The boots are fully waterproof, they're damn lightweight for the size and the soles have plenty of grip on all surfaces. It's only possible to heel strike with them unfortunately. If I didn't need the ankle support so badly I'd go for something more minimal, but I'm very prone to twisted ankles.
At the moment I'm making my own pair of viking style turnshoes, very thin sole, and seeing what I can do in terms of ankle support while keeping weight low.