how to make huaraches

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How To Make Huaraches

How to make huaraches. DIY instructions for bare... http://www.invisibleshoe.com/how-to-make-huarac

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These instructions will help you make you your own huaraches from scratchusing our Invisible Shoe Kit.

If you’re just making a tracing of your foot for our Custom Invisible

Shoes, click here.

And, at the end of the instructions you’ll learn how to tie huaraches.

Ultimately this is a relatively simple project, but if it seems like too much, youcan order our Custom-made Invisible Shoe huaraches and we’ll do the trickyparts for you.

Things you’ll need to make huaraches:

Some sort of sole material. Again we use the 4mm Vibram Cherry, becauseit’s so close to barefoot, while still offering protection.

Something to lace the sole to your feet — about 60-72″

per lace(depending on your size). You can use leather lace, hemp cord, etc. Weuse 5/32″ polypropylene/nylon cord… it’s soft, durable, colorful andprovides the right amount of support (too thin can hurt, too thick getsunwieldy).Piece of paper and a marker (like a Sharpie) — to trace your foot.Pencil — to transfer your foot template to the sole material.Strong scissors — to cut your tracing and the sole material.Leather punch — to make the lacing holes in the sole (NOTE: We do not

recommend using a nail or knife to make the hole. Holes made that waytend to tear). You want the holes to be the same size, or slightly smaller,than your cord. We use a 1/8″ punch for our 5/32″ cord (the hole is 1/32″

smaller that the cord). Our hole punch is a standard leather tool thatlooks like a big pliers but with a rotating head of different sized puncheson one end. Note: Depending on the material you use, you could trydrilling a hole (some Invisible Shoes customers have done this with theVibram Cherry sole).Lighter or match — to seal the ends of the lace, if you’re usingpolypropylene/nylon.

Step-by-step instructions for making Huaraches:

Step 1 – Trace your foot

Step on a piece of paper. Lean forward and put abit of pressure on your foot so it flattens a tiny bit.

Click this picture to see

a video of Steps 1-4


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Then, using a marker (like a Sharpie) heldvertically, trace around your foot.

You don’t need to get every tiny nook and cranny,and you’re not trying to get an EXACT

measurement of the sole of your foot… in fact, byholding the pen vertically, you’re making a tracethat’s slightly bigger than your foot, and that’sexactly what you want.

Step 2 – Even out the tracing

You want to smooth out the curves. For example,you want to make the toe area into a curve, rather

than bumps for each toe.

Also, I extend the area on the inside of the big toeand the ball of the foot a little bit (sometimes whenyou run, your foot slips to the inside, so you wantto add a bit of extra space here)

Step 3 – Cut out the tracing

Cut around the tracing. That is, cut on the outside

of the line you’ve drawn, rather than ON the line.Again, that little extra bit can help. Plus, you canalways cut your huaraches and make them smaller,but you can’t make them bigger, so err on the sideof too big.

Step 4 – Check your other foot

Take your cut out tracing, flip it over, and step on

it with your other foot.

If your other foot fits in the cutout, then you’ll usejust this one template. If your other foot issignificantly different (especially if it’s bigger),repeat steps 1-3 on your other foot.


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Step 5 – Transfer the pattern to the sole

material

Place the cutout pattern(s) onto your sole materialand trace around it/them with a pencil.

If you only have one cutout pattern, remember toflip it over otherwise you’ll end up making 2 solesfor the same foot!


a video of Steps 5-13

Step 6 – Cut out the soles

If you’re using the 4mm Vibram material thatcomes with the Invisible Shoe huarache kit, you

can use a strong scissors for this.

You’ll have to make small cuts with the back of thescissors and work your way around the material.

Step 7 – Mark the toe hole

Step on your soles and, using a marker (I use theSharpie from Step 1), put a dot between your 1st

and 2nd toe, right where the webbing betweenyour toes is, and slightly closer to the 2nd toethan right in the middle of the space between thetoes.

The reason for this is, as you run, your foot willwant to shift toward the inside. By putting the holecloser to the 2nd toe, your foot stays in placebetter.

NOTE: It’s much easier to have someone else

make this and the next 2 marks while you juststand on the soles.

Step 8 – Mark the inside ankle hole

Still standing on the sole, place the pen vertically,


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just in front of your ankle bone, and make a mark on the sole at that point.

Step 9 – Mark the outside ankle hole

Still standing on the sole, you’ll notice that there’sa place where your foot makes less contact withthe ground. Make a mark on the outside edge of the sole at that point.

Step 10 – Punch the holes

The size of the hole you make depends on thematerial you use for the laces. For example, when I

use 3/16″ polypropelene/nylon for the laces, I makea 1/8″ hole.

You’ll want to use a leather punch (I have one thatlooks like a pliers but with a rotating head thatcontains a number of different sized punches).

NOTE: I do not recommend using a nail or knife tomake the holes. Doing so can often leave a holethat’s not clean, leading to tearing the sole.

Punch out the toe hole exactly on the mark youmade.

For the two ankle holes, punch a hole about 1/4″ infrom the edge, in line with the marks you made inStep 8 and 9.

Step 11 – Prepare the laces

Depending on your lace material, you may need toprepare the ends in order to get them through theholes.

For example, if you’re using leather, you may wantto cut the ends of lace into a point. If you’re usingpolypropelene/nylon, heat the ends with a flame


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and carefully (so you don’t burn yourself) sealand shape the ends to be as pointy as possible.

Step 12 – Thread and knot the toe hole

Push one end of the lace through the toe hole,from the top to the bottom.

Make a knot in the lace, on the bottom side.

I typically use a “Figure 8 knot”, pictured here.

If you’re using polypropelene/nylon, you’ll want torun the flame from a lighter (or match) under theknot, to melt the nylon slightly , then press theknot together to seal it and flatten it a a bit.

NOTE:If you’re making huaraches for a child, or if you have really small feet, you can make the knotsmaller by removing about 1.5″ of the corematerial from the end of the nylon/polypro lacebefore you make the knot.

This might make the knot wear out a bit faster(because there’s less material to wear through),but you should have enough extra lace that you

can just pull some more through and make anotherknot.

Step 13 – Thread the ankle holes

Pass the lace through the outside ankle hole first,from top to bottom.

Then pass the lace through the inside ankle hole,also from top to bottom.

Follow the pictures to get it correct… you want thelace to “lock in” around the holes.


a video of how to tie


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Step 14 – Put your foot in and tie the

huaraches

There are 2 common ways to tie huarachesrunning sandals. One is the more traditional “toga-style.” And the other (which I learned from“kicksock” on the Google Barefoot Running group)is more stylish and allows you to slip the huaracheon and off without retying.

There’s no easy way to describe the tying methods,so follow the pictures/videos.

Oh, and you may want to check out these new cool,decorative, and stylish ideas about how to tie

huaraches and what to do with “leftover lace”

huaraches

The “slip-on” method

from a 1st person view:

Step 15 – Go out and ENJOY your new huaraches!

Remember, though, to take it easy at first. If you’re not used to goingbarefoot, especially running barefoot, you’ll be putting more stress on yourmuscles and skin than you’re used to. Work your way into your huarachesslowly.

Finally…

Share your experiences, questions, comments, pictures, and more in ourHuaraches and Barefoot/Minimalist Running Forum

And if you come up with cool, new tying ideas, put them on our Tying Page

Like 297 people like this.

Share and Enjoy:


7 of 17 02/28/2011 01:47



Comments

There are (22) Comments for the How To Make Huaraches

daniel moretz said...

i love this idea. i am a gymnast and a coach i am always barefoot at my joband everywhere i go. i am also a new barefoot runner (2yr) i have thoughtabout making those exact type of shoes but did not know where to start. ilook forward to buying your kit and making my own huaraches.CheerfullyDaniel Moretz

Posted on: 25/Jul/2010 at 07:07

1.

Warren Sander said...

Everything went fine putting them together. Nice and simple. Now once Iorder my next kit for my 2 left feet I will be able to go out and run. Don’tknow how I got two rights as I flipped the pattern over. LOL oh well payattention when tracing the pattern on the material.

Posted on: 11/Sep/2010 at 10:09

2.

Steven said...

If I had a buck for every time I made 2 left (or right) feet… well, let’s justsay I’d have a bunch of bucks.

You could, in the meantime, wear one of your shoes “upside down” withthe tread towards your foot.


3.

K@P said...

I just got my kids kit. I happen to have tiny feet. I just cut out mu soles. Itwas pretty easy and thankfully I have a left and a right foot. Now I have tofind something to make the holes. I just watch the tying video and havepretty much decided I like the the slip on style. It just seems morepractical and more stylish in my mind but good to know both.


4.

Steven said...

You can try a 1/8″ drill bit (if you don’t go out and buy a leather punch)…or you can find a leather/shoe repair shop and ask them to help. Usuallythey’ll just hand you a punch and say, “Do it yourself.” Sometimes they’ll

5.


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charge you a dollar. (That’s what I’ve heard from some Invisible Shoeowners)

Posted on: 19/Sep/2010 at 05:09Jan Hetherington said...

Just took my first huaraches for a test run! I’ve been barefoot for about 9months, also have Vibrams, & although I liked the Vibrams at first my feetcrave to be out of them now. Unfortunately my soles are not as resilientyet as I would like them to be so need something for those slightly toughersurfaces – or if I want to be able to go longer distances. It was fun makingthem, still have to refine the size (trim a little off), & I may have created avariation on the toga style! (Might post a video later).

It was very fun running this morning. My feet felt very free (noenclosures, as in Vibrams), though I was surprised to hear a flap, flap flapsound, as my BF running is silent! Anyway, look forward to huarche

adventures.

Thx for the great instructions & videos!


6.

Steven said...

Thanks for the report, Jan.

One of the cool things with huaraches is that they reveal form issues thatcan go unnoticed when we’re barefoot. I’ve seen barefoot runners

overstride, heel strike, slam the ground… all sorts of things that barefootrunning *should* correct (and usually does with time). That “flapping”sound is pointing to a form issue. Namely, some combination of overstriding and/or not being soft enough with your hips/knees.

Check out http://www.Invisibleshoe.com/slap/ for more details (in arambling post I made).

Or, do the short version: Know that it’s possible to run in huarachesalmost silently… then, next time you go for a run, wonder how that’s

possible and see what changes you can make to your form to make thathappen.


7.

Jan Hetherington said...

Thanks Steven. I was “afraid” it might be something I was doing. I did 2miles today & it seemed a little quieter. I think that I may have a little

8.


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“fear” around maybe catching an edge so perhaps I’m lifting my feet alittle higher to make sure I clear everything??? Anyway, thanks for theconfirmation that I should be able to be almost silent. Something to work on!

Oh, & I created a slip on next — I was surprised that it felt more

comfortable & looks better on me. Love the flowers & other interestingknot styles. Gonna see what I can come up with too!

Keeping my FB friends updated with my progress!

Posted on: 22/Sep/2010 at 01:09Jan Hetherington said...

So I’ve run now several days with them – max is 4 miles, along the Frontat Venice Beach (ah, bliss). I’ve been up to 6-miles BF (on easy surface),slowly building back up to being able to do distance again. Slip-on is

definitely more comfortable, still playing with style etc. I think my currenttying may be a little loose as there is space between my sole & the shoe atthe toe knot. I know that finding the right balance between tight enough& not too tight will be interesting. Nothing more uncomfortable on a hotday that lacing that is too tight. About to order some for my husband too!Oh, still making a slight slap sound, going uphill makes no difference. Ithink it might now be the looseness, rather than my placing (or not) of myfeet.

Any thoughts about how close the foot should be to the sole — touching at

all times????

Thx,

Jan


9.

Steven Sashen said...

Hi Jan,

Well, there are 3 places where noise can come from. The first two are thecause most of the time: foot placement, and how you meet the ground. It’spossible that your foot placement is still a bit off, even when you’rerunning uphill. Or it’s possible that you’re meeting the ground with astiffer leg (ankle, knee, hip) than is ideal.

It’s *possible* that you need to tighten up the toe strap a bit.

10.


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It’s almost impossible to give a single, specific recommendation from a fewlines in a blog post (unlike being live, where I could see what you’re doingin real-time).

Oh, actually, I *can* give a one word suggestion: experiment.

Knowing that it’s possible to run very quietly, wonder what changes youmight make, try them, see what happens… repeat if necessary

Posted on: 28/Sep/2010 at 02:09Nadine D said...

I received my huaraches kit yesterday! Soles are cut. I used a 1/8 ″ drill tomake the holes (it worked really well, as long as you put a block of woodor something underneath the sole). Pictures and comments about runningand tying soon!

Posted on: 19/Oct/2010 at 08:10

11.

Hernan said...

Made my first pair today. My heels tend to slip to the inside of thehuaraches. Any suggestions on how to correct this?


12.

Steven said...

Most of the time, you get that effect if you left the heel straps too loose.The solution for that is tightening the heel straps (not so much that they

push the foot forward on the sole).

Rarely, this has to do with some way your foot meets the ground.

I’d play with the tensions of the straps, especially the heel strap, first.


13.

Gas Sensor : said...

i always choose running shoes made of synthetic leather because they lastlonger than natural leather ,,


14.

Merlock said...

I once made a pair of huarache sandals from the insoles of a regular pairof shoes, I did the holes and everything, and I took the laces from thesame shoes and put them to the insoles, and it was pretty good!! jaja, it

15.


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only last like 4 or 5 days of use (and I did use them as regular footwear),but it gave me the feeling of how it would be to have some huarachesandals. I hope soon I made myself a pair, I only have VFF, but really enjoythe feeling of this “provitional improvised” sandals, looking forward tohave a proper pair. cheers!

Posted on: 12/Nov/2010 at 09:11Jojo said...

Hi in response to Jan’s post I wanted to share my experience. I made mysole a lot bigger than my foot at first, fearing that I would make it to small.This was noisy for sure, there was a slap noise and i was no longer silent.Slowly I trimmed the material back on the outside of my foot, toes, andheel. Your foot does slide slightly to the inside so I left the extra there.This helped but there was still to much play on the strap between my toes.The problem was that if I tightened everything up the knot between mytoes started to annoy me after a mile. So I reheated the not with a flameand hammered it to be a little flatter and less intrusive. the results areamazing. I can wear them a little tighter now without feeling the knot atall. the sandal is closer to my foot and the end result is silence. Thesilence is really pleasant and I know that I am not hurting my body.

Posted on: 19/Nov/2010 at 09:11

16.

Jojo said...

So I reheated the knot* with a flame and hammered it to be flatter


17.

Dick Schreiber said...

Do you sell the recommended 5/32″ polypropylene/nylon cord? If not, willyou please name your source. I have been unable to locate same online.Thanks for your help!


18.

Steven said...

Hi Dick…

The lace we sell with our kits and shoes is the 5/32″ cord. We *do* sell itseparately as well, but it isn’t in our shopping cart yet (it will be soon). If you want some, drop me an email — [email protected] — and letme know what you would like and I’ll tell you what the pricing is.


19.

Pat Brooks said...20.


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Just ran a mile in my invisible shoes, my longest “barefoot” run yet. Thesesandals have quickly helped me to transition to Chi running by quicklystopping my overstriding and heel strikes. I absolutely love them. I dreadthe thought of winter snows, but look forward to spring.


Mark Morgan said...

I just discovered this today by googling Tarahumara Indians.Unfortunately, in Northern Alberta, Canada, it gets cold in December andtoday was -25C so I wore ordinary running shoes. However, I intend to getInvisible Shoes ready for when the warm weather returns. If it ever does!

Posted on: 11/Dec/2010 at 03:12

21.

Tim said...

Just made my first pair. My feet almost feel bare. Just ran out to my car,

which in the Northeast, in January was a bit interesting @ 22F. Can’t waitto start “running” in them!

Posted on: 9/Jan/2011 at 03:01

22.

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