Making Tarahumaran Huarache Running Sandals: Sandal Modifications

After completing my first pair of sandals, I decided to make a second pair with a few modifications of my own. I started with a different sole material; a sport utility sheet of this raised dimple pattern. I thought that this rubber sole material would provide more traction and perhaps a bit more cushion.

I used my first pattern to trace an outline and mark my holes instead of making a new template. Here is the sole traced out on the backside of the dimple pattern.

I proceeded to cut out the sole and punch the holes using a leather punch.

Some of the holes had to be punched in in places that would hinder the tying of the sandals. I will address how I dealt with this later on.

I decided to line the upper part of the sandal with sueded pigskin for comfort and also added traction between the foot and the sandal. I simply laid the sole on the pigskin and cut around it leaving a generous amount of excess to be trimmed later.

Here is the cut out pigskin.

I used contact cement (really sticky glue) to bond the pigskin to the top of the sole. I spread a thin layer over the sole and the pigskin and let it cure for 5 minutes.

I then lined up the pattern with the sole and stuck it on.

I smoothed out any air pockets or folds in the pigskin. Notice there is still excess material to cut off.

Using the leather punch, I re-punched the holes so they went through the pigskin as well.

Because the raised pattern caused problems when tying the shoe, I ground down the dimples around the holes using a numkeg.

Here is an example of the ground down dimples.

Using scissors, I trimmed the excess pigskin from the edge of the soles.

The left sole has been trimmed, the right has not.

For added durability and to make tying the shoes a bit easier, I decided to finish off the holes with brass eyelets. This is the eyelet before it has been set.