InvisibleShoe.comThe better-than-barefoot running (and walking) sandal

“Barefoot Ted” sells a running sandal he calls the Luna Sandal. It’s similar to our custom-made Invisible Shoes, but with a few key differences:

1) Did you know there are 18 different types of “size 9″? Rather than pick just one of those and pre-make our sandals, the custom-made Invisible Shoes are, actually, custom-made for your unique foot. We use a tracing of your foot to make sure the length and width are correct for your specific foot — and if your feet are different sizes, you get sandals that match. We make sure that the toe and ankle holes are placed correctly based on the size and length of your toes and heel. With Invisible Shoes, you’re getting a product made just for you.

2) We use the 4mm Vibram Cherry sole material to give you the optimal barefoot feel, and for your convenience. Aside from really being able to connect with the ground with our soles, you can roll up Invisible Shoes and keep them in your pack or pocket — go out barefoot, and come back with some protection on your feet. The thicker 6mm sole in the Luna is quite rigid and over 60% heavier… add some glue and a leather upper and you’re further minimizing the minimalist feel.

3) We use soft, durable nylon/polypro laces that don’t stretch or contract when they get wet and dry out, unlike leather or hemp. Our laces are round, meaning that there are no edges to rub on your skin. Nylon/Polypro is a very strong material — I’m still using the original laces in my 12-month old huaraches that I wear every day — and after getting wet, nylon laces dry really fast. And with round laces, you don’t have to worry about “which side is up” or getting them twisted when you use the different tying styles (some of the clever tying variations people have developed require round laces. Plus, you can get our laces in a bunch of fun colors. And if you ever want to replace your laces or get other colors, they’re inexpensive.

4) Our product is “vegan friendly”. So is Ted’s basic Luna Sandal if you get the hemp laces instead of leather.

5) Luna Sandals have an optional leather footbed. Ted is making a fine product… some people like the leather upper — which takes some time to break in and adjust to your foot. We’ve heard from a couple customers who bought some leather and glue and added those to their Invisible Shoes for only a couple of dollars.

Hope that helps.

Many people wear the Vibram Five Fingers shoe for minimalist running… how does it stack up against the huarache running sandal?

Well, this video has some of my thoughts about the two.

Enjoy.

About once a week I get a call or an email from someone who asks, “Can you run in Invisible Shoes for long runs?”

I usually point out to them that the Tarahumara are known for running ultra-marathons in huaraches, so, Yes.

But some people respond, “Sure, but I’m not a Tarahumara Indian.”

True (but not necessarily relevant).

So, how bout a hometown boy who just ran in his Invisible Shoes huaraches… for SIXTY-EIGHT MILES!

Here’s a picture from Barefoot Jason Robillard after his run:

Read the rest of the thread about his run at the Runners World Barefoot Running forum

Raymond Mack devised a “thong-style” method of tying huaraches running sandals. I haven’t tried out the tying method yet, but this video makes me want to go to the beach

Fitness Guy, Al Kavadlo, emailed me today to say, “I gave the Invisible Shoes another mention in my blog today.  I really love them!”

Here’s Al running across the Williamsburg Bridge (between Manhattan and Brooklyn) in his Invisible Shoes huaraches running sandals.

Fitness Guy, Al Kavadlo gave his review of  Invisible Shoes huarache “barefoot” running sandals on his popular blog.

Says Al, “Invisible Shoes are the closest thing that I have seen to actual barefoot running. They’re based on the famous “huaraches” that the Tarahumara Indians wear when they run. Putting them on made me feel like a Native American warrior!”

Check out the complete review on Al’s blog (and sign up for his training tips while you’re there) at  http://www.alkavadlo.com/2010/05/invisible-shoes/

Al also emailed me to let me know, “I’ve found that the I-shoes are great for my strength training workouts as well as running.  Check out this youtube clip of me working on muscle-ups in my Invisible Shoes!”

Sonja came up with this novel way to tie your huarache running sandals that doesn’t involve a cord coming up between your toes. As she points out, one potential drawback is that your foot can more easily shift forward on the sole compared to what happens when you have the cord between your toes… but, especially for people who have real trouble with that toe cord, or with the knot, you may want to try this out.

I LOVE that people are getting so creative with huaraches!

I never get tired of the great reviews that Invisible Shoes barefoot running sandals get

The latest comes from www.LivingBarefoot.info.

It’s an incredible comprehensive review, with great pictures of the process of making your own huarache running sandals from our kit.

Read and enjoy!

(and thanks to LivingBarefoot.info for the review!)

Well-known barefoot ultrarunner, and founder of Barefoot Running University, Jason Robillard, just published a wonderful review of Invisible Shoes at:

http://barefootjason.blogspot.com/2010/04/huaraches.html

We, of course, believe that with a bit more time in his huaraches, he’ll like them even more than he already does

Thanks, Jason!

Having now made hundreds of pairs of huarache barefoot running sandals, and having spoken with many others who’ve done the same, I’m here to report a startling fact.

Knowing how to make your own shoes — even making minimalist running shoes like Tarahumara-style huaraches — definitely gives you super powers.

Oh, I don’t mean the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound (or even two or three bounds), or the power to fly, or the fun of invisibility… instead, I’m talking about something much super-er:

The knowledge that you can make your own shoes!

If you haven’t yet made your own running sandals, you probably don’t know what I mean. You probably don’t get why I would say that being able to make some running sandals is a super power.

But, I assure you, that’s only because you haven’t done it yet.

After I made my first pair of huaraches, and was walking around in shoes that I MADE with my own 2 hands, I was overcome by a profound sense of self-reliance, a comforting knowledge, a feeling of value… just knowing that, if things get bad, I can make shoes for myself and others.

And in a way that I can’t explain, that knowledge felt like having a super power.

I don’t have to explain it to other people who’ve made their own barefoot running shoes; they’ve told me they have had a similar experience.

It’s like growing your own food… there’s something really comforting about knowing you can take care of one of your basic needs.

So, if you haven’t yet, I highly encourage you to see what I mean and develop the super power of making your own huaraches running sandals. And, honestly, I’m not just saying that because I’m in the biz… it’s such a fun feeling, I want you to have it yourself. (But, hey, if you just want me to increase my super powers and order custom-made huaraches, that’s okay with me )

Anyone else want to chime in about what it was like when you developed your super power?