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Simple 14th C Turnshoes (Photo Heavy)
Sir Ulrich:
Those look awesome. I'm gonna have to make my own someday but I probably wont wear them anywhere cept DoK cause I could imagine pavement and rocks not being so forgiving on them. Though I bet these don't slip and slide at all compared to the "hard soled" boots most reproduction stuff is. Will have to make my own pair one day, perhaps soles like this would let me lace maille chausses easier to my feet.
Ian:
I disagree with you Sir Aiden. There is currently a resurgence in minimalist footwear for modern use. I'm a believer through years of experience.
I wear five-finger shoes to run on the hard street with and do all of my physical training with, and have for 3 years now. The problem is that modern shoes with all their cushioning encourage you to land on your heel, which physiologically is not how you are supposed to land while running. Your heel is not a shock absorber. So we cushion them up on modern shoes. It's a self-perpetuating problem.
When you run barefoot, or in five-fingers, you're forced to run like you're supposed to run. That is, being a forefoot striker. If you land on the ball of your foot, like you naturally do while sprinting anyway, the action of the foot landing on the ball, collapsing back to the heel, and then re-propelling off the forefoot is what your body was designed to do in order to absorb the shock of running.
I used to have knee problems, when I started running on hard surfaces with NO protection except for the minimal sole on five-fingers, and forced myself to re-learn how to run properly, all my knee problems went away.
All the stabilizing muscles in my ankles and mid foot that had been atrophied from the use of modern supportive footwear, re-strengthened on their own as they were intended to be used.
Medieval footwear replicates this experience.
The reason modern folks discount the use of medieval footwear has little to do with protection, but a lot to do with the poor mass production techniques used that give rise to the false belief that medieval footwear is slippery. This is entirely false. That's why people shouldn't knock 'em til they try 'em. Mass produced medieval garbage does NOT equal real medieval footwear.
In fact, part of the reason I made these was because I always suspected that authentic medieval footwear would be very similar to the modern minimalist approach. I was very happy to confirm my suspicions.
The only thing I will concede is that authentic medieval footwear WILL wear out prematurely on pavement because of the leather soles getting chewed up. But those can easily be replaced, as the upper will remain intact.
Sir Douglas:
--- Quote from: Ian on 2014-03-14, 01:11:39 ---When you run barefoot, or in five-fingers, you're forced to run like you're supposed to run. That is, being a forefoot striker. If you land on the ball of your foot, like you naturally do while sprinting anyway, the action of the foot landing on the ball, collapsing back to the heel, and then re-propelling off the forefoot is what your body was designed to do in order to absorb the shock of running.
--- End quote ---
I walk around barefoot a lot (or in socks during cold months) and I never noticed this before, but you're right. When I do anything faster than a walk, I automatically want to land on the balls of my feet; it's more comfortable, especially on hard or rough surfaces like a side walk. So do you think medieval people ran differently than we do today since they didn't have modern supportive footwear to mess with their natural body dynamics?
And the shoes really look great! Now you need to make some poulaines with ridiculously long toes. ;)
Sir Ulrich:
Ian I have a question, how much did the stuff cost you to make these shoes. Cause I am seriously considering making my own turnshoes for DoK Frankfort and need patterns tools and some leather sewing kits. If it feels like walking barefoot then I am pretty sure I would LOVE a pair of these simple turnshoes, I am very uncomfortable in most shoes even modern ones as I spend most of my time barefoot. The viking leathercraft shoes have a nasty habit of making my big toe numb because I got odd shaped feet and making my own should solve that issue.
Ian:
--- Quote from: Sir Ulrich on 2014-03-14, 06:43:31 ---Ian I have a question, how much did the stuff cost you to make these shoes. Cause I am seriously considering making my own turnshoes for DoK Frankfort and need patterns tools and some leather sewing kits. If it feels like walking barefoot then I am pretty sure I would LOVE a pair of these simple turnshoes, I am very uncomfortable in most shoes even modern ones as I spend most of my time barefoot. The viking leathercraft shoes have a nasty habit of making my big toe numb because I got odd shaped feet and making my own should solve that issue.
--- End quote ---
The leather itself is the only thing that's expensive... For all the leather I bought it was a couple hundred dollars, but I have enough leather to make lots of pairs of shoes..
If you could find a small piece of leather, enough for only a pair or two, it would be relatively inexpensive.
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