Homemade Leather Sandals – Round Two

I wore out my last pair of homemade leather sandals in about 5 weeks.

I decided to make another pair of homemade leather sandals, this time from a little thicker leather. The trick was to not use leather that’s too thick, but just right for a combination of durability and suppleness. Where I used a very old scrap of 4-5 oz leather the first time, this time I used 6-7 oz recently tanned and very nice leather – it’s actually the same leather my wife uses to make her camera straps for sale on Etsy.

I’ve played around with the lacing a little more, and there’s too many variables to really settle on one tying method. I just try to wrap it up so it stays tied and doesn’t blister my foot under the knot. With the thicker leather I noticed I had to tie the laces tighter to get the leather to flex and mold to my foot. Despite spraying them with a little water, it was a good 5-6 days before they really broke in to my liking. Next time I think I’ll just soak them in water and wear them until they dry out right off the bat.

They’re breaking in nicely though, and I think I’ll get substantially more use out of what seems to be only a slightly thicker leather. I’m still trying to think of a method of having a more traditional flip-flop style strap, while not having a knot under my toes made from a double strand of leather.

Thanks for looking. _____________________________________________________________________

I’ve written and illustrated two children’s books that are now available in print and digital versions; Coyote Life, and The Cat’s Glasses. If you’ve got kids, check them out. If you enjoy them, please leave a review, tell your friends, etc. Thanks.

Don’t forget to check out some of the fine art prints for sale in my Etsy shop.

My wife Leah also makes and sells some pretty cool leather stuff like minimalist wallets and camera straps. Check out her Etsy store for some cool gear. 

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