Making Shoes - Part 1
Mon Oct 5, 2009 10:06:18 pm

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I have been intrigued by the concept of "barefooting shoes" for a long time, but I haven't purchased any, because they are overpriced and I don't agree with the designs of any that I have found. The general principle behind them is that there is a difference in body mechanics between walking barefoot and walking while wearing conventional shoes. Regular shoes have a rigid sole and the front is curved to allow a rolling movement which substitutes for the natural flexion of the foot that happens when walking barefoot. Also, regular shoes have a very thick heel and usually some type of arch support which allows a person to maintain comfort while being in a bad posture and using the wrong muscles for standing and walking.

Barefooting shoes are designed to address these issues. The common approach for allowing the foot to flex is to divide the hard sole into separate parts that can move independently of each other. The entire sole is also typically made much thinner than conventional ones to allow subtle curvatures in the shoe to occur.

My original plan was to make fake shoes. I was going to add fake shoe laces on top of a pair of neoprene socks to make them look like shoes. I decided against that, because the bottom would probably wear out very quickly. It also would offer very little protection if I stepped on glass or a thumbtack. The other problem is that neoprene traps moisture and would not be convenient for wearing all day. I considered modifications to resolve these issues. For added protection, I could add an extra layer of something. I was considering either rubber or silicone, but I had not made a final decision on what to use. For ventilation, I could cut out a section at the top and replace it with a breathable fabric.

I thought about the modifications needed and concluded that it would be almost as much work as making an entirely new pair of shoes from scratch, so I decided to do this. I am currently at the stage of researching materials and developing a design.