Footwear at the faire

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Sorry if this has been talked about before.  I did post a question on child footwear in "Garbing", but have a more specific question to CoRF, which we will be at in July.  I thought I had seen that walking is sometimes "rocky".  If one was wearing mocassin type shoes, would a sole be a good thing to have, as opposed the the 'soft' sole?  (that is sole not soul - we have plenty of the latter  )

[Capt Gabriela Fullpepper]

Both would be good but shoes especially with soles with tread would be the best as the gravel on the hills can slide out from under you causing you to fall and scrap yourself up, THOSE HURT!

[Demetrius]

I have walked the faire in bare feet many times without any problems other than incredibly sore and painful blisters cuts and bruises on my feet.

I also have a pair of moccasins which I never wear, not because they are uncomfortable on the grounds, but because I have a much nicer pair of boots I bought at the faire.

Unless you are used to walking in bare feet I would suggest at least some form of soled shoe- my moccasins had a thin sole which was okay at faire. You could super-glue some Dr. Shoals or whatever to the bottom just like what was popular in the late to early or middle Renaissance period.

[Zoë]

I would probably suggest a harder sole, just because soft soles slip a bit easier on our hills and that's never a good thing.  Although if you've got some sort of grip on the soft soles it might be okay. 

[Hey- Arent You?]

yes, a sole would be a very good thing.  many loose stones & gravel.  hard soles with tread would be my recommend as well.  and not sandals, cuz those get full of rocks too.  as you can see from the photo, I have some experience.  

Eli wears these.....  http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03652102000P?vName=Shoes&cName=Kids&sName=Toddlers

Cheers!

[Demetrius]

Perhaps we could find someone to carry you around... I do wish that would happen for me...

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

the footwear would be for my 9 year old son.

[Hey- Arent You?]

the footwear would be for my 9 year old son.

then the toddler shoes are gonna be really really tight.   

[Demetrius]

the footwear would be for my 9 year old son.

I'm not sure if we can carry both of you- carry on my wayward son...

[Adriana Rose]

Seeming that the site manager has sabertooth kittens with rabies if you walk around barefoot.

I would do the hard soled shoes and remember the the site is always being worked on and there are screws and nails all over the place!

[Cynthia_Orella]

I have very soft soled shoes and I don't have any problems. Site crew is usually pretty good about keeping the nails and screws off site where patrons could step on them. It would be up to you in the end. But Like I said and now I'm repeating myself (give me a break its late and I haven't been sleeping well) I wear soft soled shoes and am just fine and my feet are rarely sore by the end of the day.

[Hey- Arent You?]

While we are on that subject....
the boots I currently wear are minitonka moccasin boots, modified by my favorite shoe guy.  They have hard soles with boot treads glued on, not thick ones, about 1/2-3/4".  also have reinforcing leather stitched in around the heel cup, to correct that "sliding off the sole" thing that so many people experience.  also scrappy leather tops sewn on.
I love my boots.  all in all I've spent about 150-160 getting them the way I want them.  I have native earth boots, that I spent about 700 on, which I also love, but I wear these, because they are lighter & more comfortable.

theres my 2 shillings. might be worth thinking about.

[ladybootlegger]

Okay, not to completely hijack the topic, but rather take it in a different direction.  I am in need of new footwear for the festival.  My current boots cause such pain in my feet, it literally takes days to recover! 

I am aware of Native Earth (and desperately want a pair), and the guy who sells the boots up by Puke and Snot, but I can't remember the name of the other boot shop.  The one down by the sun-catcher/spinner booth, badger blades and the incense shop.  Does anyone here have a pair of their boots, and would care to let me know what you think of them? 

[Zoë]

My dad has a pair of those, and I can't speak 100% of the comfort as I've never worn them myself, but he does seem to like them.  He has problems finding comfortable shoes (flat feet) but he says these ones are pretty good.  They are hard-soled and pretty damn sturdy.  Might be worth a shot for you to check them out.

[Hey- Arent You?]

the one down hill by the wind spinners is catskill, and I do not reccomend them, for various reasons.  I know many dis-satisfied people.  I love the folks at native earth.

new shop.... on camel slope, sells different kinds of leather, in the shop that used to have the statues..... has some NICE boots, for a decent price.  check them out.