Tying
There are many ways to tie huaraches and lately, it seems, people are getting more and more creative.
Add your ideas to the page and let’s see what we all discover.
Enjoy!
First, a video about that knot under the toe. If you’re making shoes for a child or someone with really small feet, or if, no matter what you’ve tried, that knot under your toes bothers you… well, watch the video below, and then check out Brad’s comments in the Invisible Shoe Forum:
Here’s what a Figure 8 knot looks like:
This next video shows the basic lacing pattern that begins most of the Tarahumara-style lacing styles (click to play):
This is the tying style I’ve been using most often lately. It’s a combination of one of the “ultra-minimalist” styles, below, and the slip-on/slip-off style (also, below). Click the picture to see the video showing how to tie this style.
Here are some “ultra-minimalist” tying styles. Click on the picture, below, to see the first:
And here’s the 2nd ultra-minimalist tying style (click the image to play):
This video, below, shows both the more traditional “toga-style” as well as the “slip-on/slip-off” style of tying:
Here’s that “slip-on” method, but shot with a 1st person view (so you don’t have to reverse everything I’m doing):
Erika Berglund has been on FIRE creating new tying styles. Enjoy these 3 videos (Erica reports that she’s switching all her Invisible Shoes to the 3rd style she shows in these videos):
Here’s Sonja’s “No-Toe tying method”:
Kelly’s No-knot method… combining Sonja’s idea with a loop around the big toe to further secure the front of the sandal:
Kit Raymond has another no-toe style… with the knot moved out of the way:
Raymond Mack devised a “thong-style”:
Amanda Novak has a style that’s also a no-knot version, inspired by her Chaco sandals:
Zach came up with a way to move the knot completely out from under your foot:
Here’s Dan Mozell’s Alternate Toga Style tying method:
Now for the decorative, fun stuff…
If you decide not to simply cut off the extra lace, there are SO many things to do with it. Here’s something I call “The Phoenix Flower” because it was created by my wife, Lena Phoenix:
Here are 2 other images of the Phoenix Flower featuring none other than Lena herself:
Tracy Jones riffed on Lena’s idea to create the “Cute Shoes” style (a rosette version of the Phoenix Flower):
Now check out “Sylvie’s Petals”… this video is a bit hard to see. I made it with my camera phone after a barefoot running talk. In essence, instead of making ONE loop through the slip-knot, Sylvie makes 4 of them… and then uses the leftover lace to wrap through and under the loops. If you play with it, you’ll figure it out.
Hallo Steven,
today I made my first huaraches, all things I needed, I found on your wonderfoul website. First I red the book “Born to run”, then I wanted to try to run a little bit barefoot, so I found you. Thank you so much!!!
Have a good time, greetings from Germany
Angela
Hi Steven,
Thanks for putting all this great info up on the web. I made a pair of huaraches using an old pair of Chacos that I no longer wore. With a sharp knife I cut the soles off, then sanded them with a belt sander to smooth them out. I then resized them according to my foot templates (I used tin snips to cut them) and then used the slip on lacing style you show in your vids. I must say they are by far the best footwear I’ve ever worn and I wish I could wear them year round.
Best to you,
CJ
I don’t use a knot as a stopper under the toes. My solution is to double my cord, putting one end through each hole from a tab off of an aluminum soda/beer can. I then run the doubled cord through the hole toes. The can tab is already flat, and there is no knot to add bulk. I also use flip flops that have been de-thonged as the footbeds. I’m too cheap to send away for rubber soles, flip flops are everywhere and are most of the way to being complete.
cory using a flipflop as the footbed defeats the purpose of these shoes while they are fashionable the point is to have a thin sole to be a barefoot alternative
After weeks of frustrating trial and error I found a way of tying that works for me. Tie an individual loop through each of the holes you have made under the ankles, just long enough so that the top of the loop comes just below the ankle. You can use smaller diameter cord, as these loops don’t bear much stress. Lace the main cord through the front hole as normal and through the ankle loops, around your foot and back to the front. Tie the cord off on top of your foot (although I think any of the other methods of tying would work here). The magic is you don’t have the complicated lacing through the ankle holes, just one simple main cord that goes around your foot and is easy to adjust and, if necessary, to readjust on a run. Three feet of cord per foot left me with enough of a loop at the final knot to allow for repairs in the field if necessary.
Sounds cool, David… care to send us some pictures to post?
I have some pictures showing this tying method on invisible shoes. Unfortunately, I can’t figure out how to attache the pics here. If you’ll give me a hint, I’ll try.
Actually, here are a couple of links to two photos:
http://huaraches.googlegroups.com/web/Huaraches+001.jpg?gda=Uw0rb0MAAABaspW9Ymq8SGIjbINq_J3-KzL_7hEZ_w6nyEOdBM5C1NS0G47zLX-e67w9kWdLw7cytiJ-HdGYYcPi_09pl8N7FWLveOaWjzbYnpnkpmxcWg
http://huaraches.googlegroups.com/web/Huaraches+002.jpg?gda=k8eX_kMAAABaspW9Ymq8SGIjbINq_J3-KzL_7hEZ_w6nyEOdBM5C1AgskSA8sVIWhf42E_3BYywytiJ-HdGYYcPi_09pl8N7FWLveOaWjzbYnpnkpmxcWg
Here’s another way to thread the cord through the holes. Take a 2 inch length of scotch tape and wrap a 1/2 inch of it lengthwise around the end of the cord. Don’t worry about the 1 1/2 inches of tape not on the lace; when you’re done wrapping just flatten that part, but wrap that first 1/2 inch snugly. Then cut the flattened part to a point or just roll it into a point. It is then easy to push and pull through the holes.
I just made my first pair and one cord melted enough to roll into a point but the other I used this method and it worked well.
If you want to run during the winter and it’s cold outside, the Injinji toe socks are very warm and comfortable. I’m sure other toe socks would work, but I just have Injinji ones.
I’ve enjoyed my Invisible Shoes as I’ve searched for a way to get through the winter before going back to totally barefoot running when it warms up. However, the between the toe tying method was causing some issues cutting into my foot (even after experimenting with lace tightness. I just wanted to recommend Sonjabean’s tying method. They’ve stayed on well, eliminated my toe issues, and, more importantly, they’ve allowed me to experiment with other ways to keep my feet warm on really cold days while wearing my huaraches (socks, etc.). I’m a fan of these huaraches, and this alternative tying method made them all the better. Thanks for helping create a community of people here rather than just being a company that gives its customers a one-size-fits-all solution.
I wear the huaraches to go running, but I face a couple of problems, — Going downhill too much blisters my tees and ball of my foot, and the rope between the toes, eventually hurts. And in order to avoid the constant ‘slapping’
of the front half of the shoe I modified the tie to go over the five toes as well, and now they blister on the sides.
Help me improve my huaraches. Or tell me what I was doing wrong.
Hi Eric,
I’m sure this won’t be news to you: Blisters are always a sign of friction.
What may be news is that when it comes to barefoot running: Friction is always a sign of a form issue.
Or, a better way to say it is: friction, blisters and pain are SIGNS… if you read the signs (which means “adjust for your form until those issues go away”) you’ll be simultaneously improving your running form and will run lighter, easier and, usually, faster. Problems are our teachers. We can work around them, or we learn from them.
In short, if you lift/place your feet, rather than reach/pull/push, you don’t create friction and don’t get the issues you’re describing.
See http://www.InvisibleShoe.com/slap for a longer post about “slapping.”
when I run in my huaraches my left foot feels great the whole time but my right foot slides to the right. This sliding causes my foot to blister. Do you know how i can change my form so my foot doesn’t slide?
A bit hard to give specific advice from a 3 sentence post without seeing you run. If you’re sliding on the BACK (heel) side, then tighten up the heel strap. If you’re sliding on the front… I know this’ll sound like a joke, but it’s not: Make your right foot do what your left is doing. Or, another way to say it is: go for a short run and see if you can feel what’s different (once you can feel it, you can change it).
I had a similar issue, but the blister was on my left foot. I went out for a run, when the blister wasn’t totally healed, and thought “if I can’t find a way to run, pain-free, in 10 minutes, I’ll just stop.” As I ran, I kept experimenting with my gait until, just as I was about to give up, *something* changed and suddenly I was running pain-free and lighter and faster. What changed? I stopped overstriding. I started PLACING/LIFTING my foot, instead of… whatever I was doing instead.
I have high and long feet. I find this method really comfortable and keeps the sole close to my foot without any strings having to be too tight:
In Sonya’s video, she mentions she added ultra suede to her Huaraches. Do you know where she got the material and how she attached it? I’ve seen a glue product called Shoe-Goo, but it looks kinda toxic for something that could be absorbed into the skin through the suede, esp. when it gets hot/moist.
Thanks
I don’t know where *she* got it, but I know you can get ultrasuede at any fabric store. Regarding the glue… not a clue.
I just got mine yesterday. I tied them in the “Cute Shoes” style. I’ve already gotten one “cute shoes!” compliment.
And they’re so comfortable! I haven’t ran in them yet because I have bronchitis, but I’m enjoying walking around in them.
I used the slip on tying method…worked so well that I decided to try running in them….ten miles later my only complaint was about the little stones getting trapped between my foot and the sole. Not that bad. I’ll avoid the cinder stuff on the trails next time and stick to a regular trail. Just bought a pair for my son. Thanks so much for the great product.
I was having knot issues and wasn’t satisfied even after removing the chords from the center of the laces. What I ended up doing was melting the end of the lace and smashing it flat so that was like a little mushroom head at the end of the lace. I also originally made the holes a little smaller in the sandals to help keep the lace from pulling out and it seems pretty secure. For pictures and detailed info go to http://flatfooty.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-figured-out-how-to-make-huarache.html
I used Kelly’s No-Knot style on my new Invisible Shoes and they look and feel awesome! Thank you, Kelly, for such clear, easy to follow instructions and extra tips. And thank you, Invisible Shoes, for helping me get my Grok on.
I have medical problems which mean the fewer part of the laces touching my feet, the better. I thought they’d be great to use at school (I’m an elementary school classroom teacher and I have a very understanding prinicipal — and a doctor’s note ), but I’m really uncoordinated with things like this. Any easy suggestions?
The minimalist styles at the top of the page are going to have the fewest parts touching your feet. And if those look too complicated, ask someone for help (I haven’t found a simpler style than those).
As both a former Boy Scout and sailor I can tell you the most common English name for the knot used in the minimalist huarache tying style #1 video is “cow hitch”. As is the case for most knots, depending on the culture and occupation of the knot tyer, what the knot is tied around or to, and the knot’s intended use or purpose, this knot has many names. Some other common English names are “lark’s head”, “lanyard hitch”, “deadeye hitch”, “stake hitch”, “strap hitch” and “bale sling hitch”. Probably a lot more.
—TRIVIA WARNING—
While I used the common but technically incorrect term “knot”, this is actually a “hitch”. What are commonly called “knots” can in general be broken down into three main ways to tie rope:
1) “knot” – a true “knot” is usually a lump formed in a rope by tying it to itself, typically to prevent the end of the rope from going through a block, bull’s-eye, deadeye, or other hole (e.g. “overhand knot”, “figure-eight knot”).
2) “hitch” – a hitch is usually used to fasten a rope to an object such as a spar, ring, pole, stake, etc. (e.g. “cow hitch”, “clove hitch”).
3) “bend” – a “bend” is usually used to fasten a rope to itself or to another rope or sometimes to a sail (e.g. “reef bend”, “carrick bend”, “sheet bend”).
There are thousands of ways to tie rope, and, many exceptions to these “rules”. Your mileage may vary.
While somewhat off topic, I hope that a least a few readers find this interesting and/or informative.
I LOVE all this info/trivia!
Steven, I would like to recommend having some sort of rating maybe based on a poll by people that have used the different tying methods, to get a general idea of what the general voice of the customer is regarding tying. With this, newcomers like me and others, will have a faster browsing through the tying methods
Great idea, Santiago… I don’t have the technology to do that yet, but I’ll look into it!
I take that first “ultra-minimalist” method and then double back through the ankle hole, around the ankle, through the other ankle hole and back to the top for one one half-hitch. Feels nice and secure and never needs to be untied. I am up to 4 miles on pretty rough trails – love em.
Steve, will you be making a video on how to rap the excess cord down the side of the sandal soon?
In fact, I will be, Ward. (I have it shot… just need to edit it)
http://blog.cucullus.com/2011/09/my-huaraches.html
Tying thus way prevents the front of the foot from sliding sideways under wet condition.
Works pretty well for me…
It’s been a while since I visited the site, but I’m glad I came back. I just ordered a pair of the Connect style (really like the improvements – I can’t cut straight to save my life and my existing pair looks a bit ragged).
Also, the 1st minimalist style of tying is perfect. Honestly, I had quit wearing mine because the original tying style wasn’t working for me. However, the minimalist style seems like a much better fit for my needs. I may actually take them for a run tonight if the rain stops for a bit.
I’ve been working up to longer distances completely barefoot, but this will give me something to carry along and use to lengthen my runs for just a bit longer after my feet have thrown in the towel.
Can’t wait to get my new pair!
Kelly
It might be a good idea to offer the suggestion to people at the top of the page in bold letters, that they experiment on a piece of cardboard first. With all the tying configurations and hole placements, they might prefer producing a template that works for them before they punch holes all willy-nilly in their Vibram. If not and the holes turn out to be a 1/4 of an inch in the wrong place, moving them could really ruin the integrity or the holding power. Just an idea.
Fine idea (we’re redesigning this page to make it easier to work with).
I have just finished lacing my invisible shoes to my feet– Perfect! They feel exactly like I hoped they would but didn’t really expect them to. I have never liked flip-flops things between my toes so I measured and re-measured using masking tape on the sole blanks to get that toe hole right. After days of rechecking I finally punched a hole. It was about 1/4 inch from where I had marked the blank for the other foot. But it felt right so lined up the other one and punched the hole to match.
I watched Steven’s vid on starting lacing, then after taking a hitch over the toe cord I wrapped again behind the heel before returning to the instep then the ankle points. There is enough lacing supplied for at least two circuits of the lacing points.
I see that the lacing I have done on each foot is different although similar but both feet feel the same. I’ll have to take pictures before I untie them. Maybe the lacing technique would matter for running or other performance activities but the basic feel of these un-shoes is something I wish that I had first experienced years ago. There may be many paths to enlightenment but these should be serious contenders for the shoes to get you there…
http://www.invisibleshoe.com/store/product_images/k/872/lacedpair-grass500__02825_zoom.png
I just bought a pair of DIY shoes, and i was wondering how i can tie them like this picture.
I’m going to post a video that shows this… but it’s pretty simple: Start with the basic “slip-on/slip-off” style (or the ultra-minimalist) and then take the leftover lace and loop it around the outside ankle cord (tie it off in any way you can think of).
sounds great ill give it a try
I just finished my huaraches, using the ultra minimal method. I have had them on for 10 minutes now and I already love them. I had new surgery in Sept. and my therapist recommended Born to run. After reading it I went to the park and ran in the grass, barefoot. I bought VFFs and I like them, but they wore a couple of toes. I then found these and cannot wait to get out on the road tomorrow.
That post should say knee surgery. Thanks Mark
anyone have an easy way to get the laces through the holes? This is my second pair and I am finding it impossible – about to give up!!!
Take a look at the video onhttp://www.invisibleshoe.com/kit” title=”Tying Huaraches” rel=”nofollow”> http://www.invisibleshoe.com/kit under Step 7 — preparing the lace ends (I’ll move that video over here at some point!)
Just got my first pair, and they’re great! I love them. I’m going to go for a run in them tomorrow morning.
Thanks!
A hemostat works well for lacing. It is the type of clamp used for getting fish hooks out. Can buy them a local sporting goods store.