Xero DIY Feel True Sandal Kit
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- Xero DIY Feel True Sandal kit might be the best way to cheaply be introduced to minimalist sandals for hiking and backpacking and rail running. If you are on the edge about spending $60-100+ on a pair of sandals, spending less than $30 on these might be the way to go to introduce you to the world of minimalist shoes for hiking and backpacking. They would also be great as a first step in going barefoot backpacking and hiking.
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Bug sticks for camp amzn.to/3g5Ow9I
Bug repellent for clothes/gear amzn.to/3dNaxZk
Bamboo toothbrush amzn.to/2NnbyMZ
Xero Backpacking Sandals amzn.to/2NnbOLX
Whitin Shoes amzn.to/2RCS5ua
Bags for food amzn.to/2TU9sZh
Nylofume insert for backpack ishr.site/uzHa
Pack Zimmerbuilt Quickstep isn.page.link/...
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Bivy amzn.to/3asmt1Y (look for the used!)
Cathole digger www.qiwiz.net/t...
Favorite shoes amzn.to/2ZJFJmF
Sleeping Bag amzn.to/2QiyBLj
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Flashlight amzn.to/2QGzqfC
Bidet amzn.to/2MGY6DJ
Winter Backpack amzn.to/2NEsHC8
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Sleeping Pad amzn.to/39NXjuB
Bivy amzn.to/2Fqwz5k
Rain coat amzn.to/3b3zgIE
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McHale Backpack mchalepacks.com/
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#xerosandals
#minimilistshoes
#barefootshoes
The great thing with these is, they're designed to be larger than you need so you can trim to fit. For me that just meant, untrimmed, they were actually wide enough for my feet, which most sandal soles are not, even among barefoot sandals. They also come in a 4mm version, which is a lot thinner than most of the off-the-shelf BF sandals. So, no plans to move on to any other models in my case. I'd gain nothing by spending more.
The bad thing about them, for me at least, was the lace kept breaking at the point between my toes. Two possible solutions:
Keep the lace long and wind it around itself when you tie it so, when it breaks, you'll still have plenty of lace spare to retie them.
Or, better, don't use the lace. I got a sandal strap from Earth Runners and fitted it to my Xero sole. Very easy to do and the result is incredibly comfortable.
Did you use the old (smaller) or new (larger) plug size?
I made some of my own DIY huaraches last year from an old car mat. I didn't think to use a punch, and the holes all ripped. So I am very excited to buy the actual kit with the punch. My one con (besides the ripped holes) is my feet got super dirty! I had to remember to wash them when I came inside. Otherwise, great concept.
Going zero drop/minamalist is the best decision I've ever made. Xero, chacos, and Feelmax for me. Not shilling those brands, just the best combo for my journey!
Thanks for this video and your series! These were the first minimalist sandals I bought too! I got them my first barefoot winter and promptly hurt my feet. I still had very bad running form. These sandals convinced me that I needed to just go barefoot all the way if I was going to learn good running form and un-learn 46 years of bad habits. They were great though to use for those situations where footwear was required or to bring along if I was venturing further afield than I thought my newly bare feet could get me back from. They fit easily into a jacket pocket or a backpack or even just hanging by the straps from my fingers. One way to get really comfortable going barefoot on terrain you never thought you could go barefoot on is to pack or carry some sandals or something as backups to use after you overdo it with your bare feet. I did have one experience though where I went backpacking barefoot with thin Xero sandals as backups and waited until my feet were really sore (about 16 miles in two days with a 27 lb backpack) to put on the sandals. They got me out the last couple of miles, but my feet were sore for a few days afterwards. Since then I got some Luna Oso Flacos that really stick to my feet when wet and are supportive enough for the sharp rocks, but thin enough to pack easily and be comfortable with. Very similar to the Deliberate Life sandals you reviewed. They work great for those days you just want to get in a lot of miles on rough terrain and for long downhill slogs where it is a lot more difficult to place your feet carefully without them slamming onto the ground with the weight of your pack added into the equation.
Thanks again for your fun and informative videos!
All the best, Scott
I am not sure if i stressed it enough in the videos that it is so much better to go thin/barefoot first then go thicker. I have not taken off the Deliberate Life since getting them and am always finding myself reverting to extending my stride and heel planting when I am in a rush.
I don't think it CAN be stressed enough that, if you want to learn to walk and run barefoot on rough terrain, putting even the thinnest sandal on will sabotage that process. Surfaces that I thought I could never walk on, let alone run on are now part of my normal routine, thanks to basically saying no to sandals, except as pack or hand weights. Still a long way to go, but it is great looking back and remembering the stuff I thought I'd never be able to do. It sure is fun exploring what is possible with bare feet!
All the best, Scott
I think these types of zero drop Minimalist Shoes are excellent for putting us back in touch with our environment. People keep saying they're so scared of hurting their feet on rocks and things - that's because we've learned to ignore those because the heavy duty tire treads attached to our feet can handle it. It's just one more small way we've learned to disregard the world around us.
Even people who are not wearing this Footwear, know that if they are Barefoot they have to pay attention to where they are going oh... so obviously you make a point of watching for sharp things on the ground.
On a related note, I'm new to these shoes and I recently started wearing my xero Jessi sandals outdoors. They are more or less the manufactured version of the DIY xero. Pretty much the first thing I became aware of, is that this will also help with spatial awareness... I reached over to pat my dog and plowed my foot straight into a concrete planter lol. Wasn't bad, but that was my body saying, "told you so!" lol
I can tell from your videos you will know what I mean, but people who haven't transitioned to these shoes might not: the first time I went out with these shoes (and that was just on city sidewalks) it was EXCITING! Exciting for my feet, and by extension, exciting for me. Even before these kinds of shoes were a thing, from the time I was a young person in sneakers, I preferred walking on the grass next to the sidewalk rather than on the sidewalk because it was more "interesting" for my feet.
Also, when I became aware of reflexology, it made sense that our feet are meant to be stimulated, for many reasons.
I have been going through this same transition, and have progressed much like you. I don’t hike in sandals, yet, but love my Altra shoes. I too purchased the Xero DIY kit, same reasons you gave. I wear them in the yard and such and really enjoy them. May have to look at one of the more expensive options very soon. Thanks for this series, very informative.
The more expensive ones just allow more security on rougher terrain and feel like they are glued to your feet. Part of it might just be the fact that I transitioned out of these so quickly and maybe if I had gone longer distances and more often I'd have a different opinion.
This has been a great series of vids. Thanks for doing this. Lunas and Xeros for me.
Thanks!
Agree, I have really enjoyed it.
The hard part of the bf movement is that you can get a pair of chacos and a pair tevas on sale for what a pair of Lunas or bedrocks will run.
I don't hike in sandals, but I like having shower and camp sandals. I found some $10 4oz sandals online that work great for me. They're comfortable lightweight, and cheap.
Link?
Matthew Gaming : I can find the link for you, but they got holes in the bottoms really fast (I did wear them every day). I've got other sandals that have lasted at least 6-times longer and don't weigh much more. The longer wearing ones were from Walmart and I can't find them anymore. I've been searching for them every so often. Let me know if you still want the link for the 4oz sandals. They are great other than they got holes in the bottoms. They didn't fall apart anywhere else. You would probably need at least two pairs of the 4oz sandals to finish the AT (wearing them only around camp and crossing streams). But that's still only $20! If you decide you want them, I would recommend ordering the size you think will fit and trying them on. After you know you like them you should immediately order at least two more pairs.
I found this very interesting, I'm not sure I could make it work out here in Arizona seeing as most trails are have large sections of all sharp rock and lots of other stabby things to deal with. With careful foot placement my feet take a beating even with regular shoes, not to mention what my shoes look like after a few hikes. Its not impossible (ie Cody Lundin) but the superstitions will test any footwear and or wearer. I am interested in this as a kind of camp or water crossing sandals.
Look back a video or two before this one for Deliberate Life Sandals. When I am on a trail with stabby things those are what I wear. Your feet will toughen, and you will change how you walk...you really need to know how to walk bare feet in order for these to work.
I have tried hiking in exactly these sandals in Arizona, the thinnest version (4mm thickness). It was do-able , but I really had to focus on where I stepped on Rocky trails and it wasn’t really fun. I hiked Piestawa Peak that way. A thicker sandal with better strapping is probably okay.
Looking for something to wear around the house / pool..
Is the heel support string required, or can it be made to work as slip-on / flip-flop style?
Actually, it would be nice if there's enough material to experiment.. I'd love for example, an open-toe type slip-on sandal where the string just goes from side-to-side rather than between the toes!
These are not good for slip in shoes because you would always have to bend over and arrange the strings because they would just flop down.
Great job! Florida Fire Ants seek out raw skin and Bite and leave nasty blisters. But I just might attach a nice upper and see how that goes. Keep moving! Thanks Steven & Lena
I think I would rather deal with our black flies rather than fire ants
@@PaultheBackpacker Are they like deer flies and horse flies? I had them in Connecticut and they are down in Florida too! They can take pieces of skin of the face and really hurt other parts of the body. I have learned how to kill them. Swing the hand at them from behind them at 45°. Smash hard and kill them. They will chase their prey. Thanks for your feedback. Take care!
I'd rather have the deer flies over the black flies. At least I feel you throw a hat on or something over your head and somewhat good to go against the deer flies. With black flies sometimes I feel like I'm eating more black flies for dinner than mashed potatoes :-) you left Connecticut for Florida? I'm currently in Connecticut.
@@PaultheBackpacker Cheshire. Born in New Haven. Raised in Milford. Too much tax money for programs. Loved Sleeping Giant and the beaches and sailing.
Cheshire and Hamden out my back door, born in New Haven.
Thanks for this video.
Do you remember if you got the 4mm or 6mm thick version?
Pretty sure these are the thin ones, I also have two other sandals and the thin and thicker. If I'm going to be walking in them for a long time I always go to the thicker, but the thin ones are awesome for shorter stuff. I've done 16 miles on thin ones but definitely felt it at the end :-)
Hey Paul, I'm sorry about the rude comment I made, It's been a rough couple of week's up here in the NW
No worries! That's why I put the :-) at the end of my comment. At the point in my TH-cam Empire and which I made this video I really and truly didn't have any kind of microphone or decent camera! Now I have slightly improved microphone and camera, and when I make my my first thousand from my TH-cam Empire then maybe I'll upgrade and be like the big boys on youtube :-)
I appreciate you watching! Which state are you in?
Thank you.
Are you still a fan of Xero products?
Yes, but have switched to other brands that fit me better. Deliberate Life sandals, and Freet shoes.
Interested in using this kit to make my in-soles camp shoes to air out the dogs
And then you might find yourself just using them to start your hike each morning :)
Shamma Sandals but preferably barefoot for me (Shammas on belt). Xeros no good - heavy, slippery, terribly difficult to adjust at night etc etc. (Shamma warriors with powerstraps ... if not barefoot).
In your trail running how did the cinch knot stay put? Been running a quasi socked version of this, but curious how these would work out. Thank you!
This might be a bad answer, but I think the strapping system works as well as the person doing it. I have seen examples where people obviously spent some time and effort to get it perfect for themselves, I just used the easiest tie pattern. I think with some care and adjustment you could get everything to stick pretty good. When I was using them I don't really remember having to adjust them. The reality is there are so many ways to tie them that if it slips, you just change the knot. If you look on the website, if you are already comfortable with sandals, for $15 more you can get the simple sandal they offer which has a more secure strapping system and less to worry about if you are running.
Do you really use the umbrella hat or was that a joke video?
I used to, you are referring to an old video :-) the weird reality is that in the last year I have not gone backpacking in the rain totally just by chance. I don't even remember the last time I went backpacking and had to wear or even bring a raincoat. Hiking I have started to use an umbrella, and I actually wanted to do a video of it, but again apparently in Connecticut it no longer rains when I go backpacking! Hopefully in the fall.
I've been wearing the Z Trails but the footbed is super slippery when wet. How are these when wet?
These would be my last choice if it was wet :)
@@PaultheBackpackerThanks. Is that because the footbed is slippery or is there another reason? Maybe i'll get em and keep a pair of water shoes in my pack for crossings. i have huge feet and Luna, Bedrock etc don't make em in my size so my options are very limited for minimalist sandals :(
They are just not very secure, a loose fitting sandal. I coughed up the $ and got a pair of Deliberate Life sandals. Custom made, good grip when wet. I have a review of them posted right before or after this video
@@PaultheBackpacker Oh, wow! These may just be exactly what i'm looking for, thanks! And the price looks good for being custom made. Gonna check out your review :)
@@PaultheBackpacker I watched your excellent, in-depth review and ordered a pair. Ended up going with the Intuition model because they look like a good road/trail hybrid. Thanks! Subscribed! P.S. I forgot to use your link but if you have a Patreon i can donate to lemme know :)
Has anyone tried or seen these be made with a cross strap by the toes instead of a thong? more like the z-trek..
Do you have any good resource on barefoot walking? There doesn't seem to be any clear video in youtube on it. I've even tried to find vodeos of barefoot indigenous people walking with no luck 🤦🏽♂️
Like a how to?? One book that sticks out and my memory is -- barefoot running, step by step by ken Bob saxton. I just remembered that he used some analogies that made it very easy for my brain to process! You might be able to find it at a library or if you have interlibrary loan there's always usually one that has it in stock at least around me. I know the book obviously has running in its title, but there might be some helpful stuff in there I just can't remember exactly how it was organized.
@@PaultheBackpacker Yes! So I can relearn walking like an old toddler 😂 I'll look those up, thanks! Would be great if you did a video on the topic or even just film yourself walking on concrete with barefoot footwear at different speeds 😊