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Medieval-Reenactment-Renaissance-SCA-Western-LARP-NERO
Tracking-Motorcycle-Stage-Traditional Bowhunting-Stalking
Mountainmen-Blackpowder-Muzzleloaders-Hiking-Play-Comfort-Fun!
Tracker Moccasin/Moccasins
Sole Considerations: Choosing a sole is as individual a decision as one's needs. If you want a thin sole that works best for a moccasin choose one of the new soles. New Vibram Scooter Sole has the Morflex Micro-Cellular Rubber Compound, making this sole longer wearing and more flexible than conventional Cushioned Soles. A great sole if you are looking for Great Cushion and flexibility. The Vibram Izalco Sole is another great moccasin sole with a tread pattern for added traction. If your main concern is deep traction and long wear, the Lug is best. If you have tender feet and desire consider my Orthotic Cushioned Insole Insert. If you want a thick and stiff sole, with good cushion, but wears fairly quickly, pick the Birkenstock, recommended only for those who are familiar with and love Birkenstock soles. The Conveyor Belt soles are the toughest and longest lasting soles I carry. They are thin and light weight, very flexible and extremely rugged, offering excellent traction as well. The Goop sole, as used on the Stealth Trackers, is the favorite of those who are looking for something more traditional in look. It also allows one to maintain their own soles by reapplying the mixture as needed. It is also the quietest and desired by those who, such as Trackers and Bow Hunters, want to walk quietly through the woods etc. It doesn't have as much cushion as the other's. I tell people it's the perfect sole for those who wish they could walk around barefoot with just a little cushion. It gives one the ability to feel the ground without injury. Not recommended for those with tender feet. I don't recommended arches for Goop soles - they just don't fit well with this sole, as it is designed to wrap around the foot some, rather than lie flat to the ground, like the rest of my soles. For more information on the Sole In A Jar, go to the Goop page below. The EVA Rubber has a thick heel, is thin in front for flexibility, and is made out of rubber for long wearability. Moccasins are soft and tend to give with the foot rather than force the foot like stiffer boots do. Moccasins don't have a heel counter, which holds the heel in place. Without this some find that their heel is traveling over the heel area of their moccasins. Having a heel can accentuate this potential problem. Insoles I have found that the insoles I make out of Wool Felt are far superior to that of the Sheep Shearing which was used when these moccasins were first developed. Initially the shearing feels great, but it wears quickly on all pressure points so that in a short time you have virtually no cushion value in them. The shearing also is harder to keep clean, and traps dirt particles easily. The Wool Felt offers easier break-in, and far greater life and cushion. It also allows for the addition of optional Arch Supports and/or Orthotic Cushioning. Arch supports are a matter of personal preference. These are custom designed according to your tracings. A rubber arch cookie is sandwiched between a piece of leather and wool felt. If you always wear shoes with arches and like them, you may like them in these moccasins as well. If your feet tend to fall in, the arch would definitely help. If you wear on the outside of you feet, arches may just accentuate this even more. If you are flat footed or don't think arches are advantageous, forget them. Others with flat feat swear by them. I don't recommend arches for the Goop sole because they detract from the Goop sole's natural conformity to your feet and your ability to feel the ground.
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