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Make your own sandals, Janice style ;-)
Our Customer Happiness Manager, Janice, has been on a roll, creating new DIY sandal designs.This latest was inspired by our Z-Trek sandals. It uses the "loop" idea from this sandal, and the Heel Strap from our Amuri sandals.Remember, when you make a kit that has laces touching the ground (like the outside edge by her pinky toes), you'll want to protect them from abrasion. We recommend using Shoe Goo.
How to Adjust the Xero Shoes Sandals for a Perfect Fit
To get a just-right fit for your sandals, follow the instructions below. And if you need more help, feel free to reach out to our Customer Happiness Team at 303.447.3100 or support@xeroshoes.com For all of our sandals, you want to aim for "snug but comfortable." Z-Trek, Z-Trail and Naboso sport sandals Aqua Cloud and Genesis huarache-style thong sandals Veracruz sandal Shortening the laces on the Aqua Cloud and Genesis If you tighten your heel lacing and end up with "too much lace", you can shorten the laces by following these instructions:
Barefoot Pat's Xero Loop Variation
Pat made a tweak to the Xero Loop style that you may like. His video is in French (with a couple of English words tossed in, like "slip on" ;-) ) First, a few tying tips and notes: Tying the Lace knot: This is the knot we most commonly use, especially with our 100% polyester laces. The "Lace Bead": This is the smallest "knot" you can make for your Xero Shoes. Tying a Figure-8 knot: If you have our original laces with the nylon core, you'll want to use this knot. Lacing tips: The basic running sandal tying pattern Barefoot Pat's Xero Loop Variation Notice that he also found it more comfortable to move the toe hole forward about 1/4"-1/2". This shows how flexible the huarache concept is; find what's best for you and enjoy! Step-by-Step instructions coming soon!
Ande's Blinged out Tying #1
Ande has a fun, funky no-toe, no-thong tying style.(Actually, she has two, and this is the first).Note the added bling with beads
Barefoot Sandals, Triathalons, and Speed
I got a call today from someone asking: I'm a triathlete, and I love the idea of barefoot running, or using your sandals... but how quickly can I put these on and then run with them? The time to transition between biking and running is important to me. And once they're on, will they fall off? Good questions. There are a number of "slip-on/slip-off" tying styles you can use with Xero Shoes (as well as tying styles that you have to lace up every time you wear them). When you have the tension correct, there's no problem sliding them onto your foot and having them stay securely for a run, walk, hike, yoga class, or whatever you're doing. And it takes just a second to put 'em on. I hold the knot at the top of the sandal in one hand, hold the heel strap in the other, slide my foot all the way in, and then flip the heel strap over my heel. Simple. To prove it, here's a quick video of our former Customer Service Manager, Bill Babcock, slipping on his Xero Shoes. Bill is also an ultramarathoner who knocks off 100+ miles/week wearing his Xero Shoes with an ultra-minimalist tying, slip-on/slip-off tying style. In fact, in this video, Bill is wearing shoes with the MOST minimalist tying style ever created, which you can find here
Lee Chase's "Extra Comfy" Huarache Tying Style
Lee Chase developed this variation of one of the tying styles on the Tying page. The only thing I'd do differently: Take the end of the lace and put it back through the half hitches to lock it in place. First, a few tying tips and notes: Tying the Lace knot: This is the knot we most commonly use, especially with our 100% polyester laces. The "Lace Bead": This is the smallest "knot" you can make for your Xero Shoes. Tying a Figure-8 knot: If you have our original laces with the nylon core, you'll want to use this knot. Lacing tips: Lee's "Extra Comfy" style Step-by-Step instructions coming soon!
A lacing tip for your Xero Shoes
Here's a fun lacing tip/trick you can use with your Xero Shoes.Basically, it's making a "lacing loop" out of a small section of our new laces or using our toe loops.There are two reasons you may want to do this:1) It's a cool decorative element (especially if you use a different color for the loop than you do for the rest of your lacing), and lets you re-lace your Xero Shoes really fast.Here's what our sales manager, Rudy, did with this idea, when he added a loop at the ankle holes and toe hole:2) The other thing this lacing loop is good for is "addressing" a form problem.A very small number of people will create abrasion at the outside ankle hole which wears out the lace at that spot (FWIW, I and all the Xero wearers I know have put tens of thousands of miles on their shoes without ever wearing out a lace).If you do this, you can "fix" the problem, by attending to your gait (and stopping creating the extra horizontal friction that causes the problem).OR... you can "address" the problem by making the lace more resistant to abrasion. One way to do that is by rubbing some Shoe Goo on the lace. The lacing loop is another.The video below explains how to make the lacing loop and why you would use it.I can't wait to see what you do with this idea!
Foot tattoos and barefoot sandals
On Facebook, Sarah asked:I'm getting the tops of my feet tattooed and need to find a way to tie them so that none of the laces touch the top of my feet! My big toe too! I figure a loop over my 2nd and 3rd toe....but anyone have tying suggestions for the heel?I said, "Well, that's a tricky one. A 'flip-flop' style will touch the top of your foot, and SOMETHING has to hold in on around your heel or it'll slip off..."But then I came up with the perfect answer. I'm going to use this tying style from now on!And, yes, this is an early April Fool's joke... there's no way you could actually run/walk with this... oh, wait, if I made the strap out of elastic... ;-)
The Phoenix Flower - Barefoot Sandal tying style
Here's something simple and decorative to do with your extra lace.Plus it means you have extra lace with you if you need it!Step-by-Step instructions coming soon!
Amanda's Chaco Style Running Sandal Tying
Amanda has a clever Chaco sandal-inspired tying style First, a tying tip: Lacing tips: Amanda's Chaco-Inspired Tying Style This video makes a reference to our old name, Invisible Shoes. Also, you can do the same lacing style, but "rotate" it so the knot ends up behind your heel! And since there's exposed lace under your foot, I recommend coating that part of the lace with Shoe Goo for added protection.
Raymond's Double-Thong Running Sandal Tying Method
Raymond Mack developed this nice thong styleOnce you get the tension just right, you slip 'em on and off in a second. People use this tying style for everything from walking to running marathons.First, a tying tip:Lacing tips:Raymond's Double-Thong Tying StyleSince there's exposed lace under your foot, I recommend coating that part of the lace with Shoe Goo for added protection.Step-by-Step instructions coming soon!
Kelly's Combined Barefoot Running Sandal Tying
Kelly's is a "combined" tying method. You can move the knot to the back of the shoe, behind your heel, if you like. First, a tying tip: Lacing tips: Kelly's Combined Tying Style This video makes a reference to our old name, Invisible Shoes and show our Classic Kit... you can do this with our FeelTrue outsoles which will be much better. Also, you can do the same lacing style, but "rotate" it so the knot ends up behind your heel! And since there's exposed lace under your foot, I recommend coating that part of the lace with Shoe Goo for added protection.
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