In winter conditions, shoes are safety equipment. Wet feet can quickly lead to frostbite, hypothermia, or trenchfoot. Slips and falls can cause serious joint or back injury. Authenticity is great, but nobody should ever EVER put themselves in danger for the sake of it.
definitely, i always fought bearfoot or in hobnail boots, its not worth it to risk slipping, i know some people had authentic boots that were soled with rubber, the authenticity officers often let it slide because of safety....
@@Wintermute909 rofl, but seriously often barefoot was much safer on grass, better footing, not so good when doing filming for sky norman documentary in febuary....
Thank you for putting safety over historical accuracy. Your videos are always great because you dont talk bad about the less accurate budget options. You just state whats inaccurate and talk about pros and cons. That is very refreshing and makes your videos feel quite professional.
Thank you. I think the information about what's actually accurate is important, to avoid being misleading, or making mistakes for film or any form of reenactment. But safety comes first, and besides, if everyone had to be 100% historically accurate, 1) it wouldn't be fantasy and 2) the bar for entry would be so much higher, based on cost alone! I want to see the community grow, be educated, or at least be interested in historical accuracy, but not feel like they can't even start because of cost or health needs.
@@LivingAnachronism Very well said. The love for history and fantasy is what connects us und we should celebrate that. Without gatekeeping. I myself want to be as accurate as possible but a big problem with that is that im also currently trying to go vegan. And trying to find vegan garb is not easy.
@@LivingAnachronismim going to try and get your attention here. Rub bees wax on your leather boots with some kind of heat. I use a heat gun. It makes them basically weather proof. And helps them last for years. You do have to recoat them every once and a while.
Don't care how cool the larp is, the anachronism of modern boots is second only to modern eyeglasses in the degree of "back off, jack" with me. I've had frostbite too many times.
The modern rubber soles is a godsend. I got some viking turnshoes from grimfrost and they had no traction at all. And I've already injured myself by not having traction, especially in a LARP combat scenario, and so I NEED that modern sole for safety
Shoes are pretty much the only clothing item that was really improved since the stone age. Everything else even Ötzi had pretty much the same as today (bit heavier, less easy drying). But the biggest problem is that we aren't used to that kind of shoes. With more training is not that big of a deal. Lots of walking barefoot is great for that. (Especially in snow barefoot gets really slippery :D I remember crawling back up my driveway because I had to walk a bit barefoot in the snow and couldn't walk back up :D)
Yep. Wore leather soled "cowboy" boots for years while doing appraisals as they were faster to slide on & off and even with the rubber heel they had near zero traction in winter. There are a number of different wool/felt-lined winter boot options, some with removeable liners and some where the liners are built-in, and each has its advantages & disadvantages in regards to comfort, ease of use, and duration of use (aka, a day trip/event is different than a 10-day event), but those rubber soles with traction are awesome. Even lined or insulated leather hiking boots with rubber soles are a great option for a day-trip as they will keep the worst off for a short period of time. Always have spare pairs of dry socks along and some comfortable normal everyday shoes for wearing on the drive back or to switch into if you need to go out twice.
Another thing medieval people did for snow shoes is tie conifer or pine branches to their feet! They worked exactly like snowshoes and might be a good option for peasant larping!
Hobnails do help with traction but have one major drawback for use in winter conditions. The metal nails can conduct cold right through the sole of the shoe and into your foot. External cleats are a better option if possible.
I really appreciate you encouraging people to go with what will keep them comfortable and safe. I live in Alaska and, ultimately, avoiding frostbite is much more important than aesthetics.
Remember: when making your own shoes, too much insulation can be bad, because it can actually frostbite you if snow and water get in. The breathability is important. See the guy who reviews boots, if i can remember his channel name ill put it here. Edit: Rose Anvil
While probably not totally historically accurate, one thing you can do is basically take the idea of the wooden patens that were worn and carve some wooden soles to be a bit like modern ones and attach them to your more historically accurate leather boots. Either with straps so you can take them off as you please, or permanently if that's what you need. Or even attaching the carved wooden soles to the felted wool style shoes that have the removable leather sole covers. This is what I plan on doing in the future once I start putting together my mostly craft by me LARP kit.
I've said it on a previous video, but when winter comes, I tend to cheat a bit and go with either black, thick army boots, or brown hiking boots, hidden beneath gaiters. I've come to realize that finding good fantasy boots that suit me is both hard and expensive. I have not only very big feet, but also very broad ones, and it's difficult to find boots that fit me properly. Not to mention, I usually adventure alone, so my boots being modern doesn't take away from my experience.
I feel your pain. My feet are wide and curved. Waiting for the day when you can stand on a scanner, send your data to your manufacturer of choice, then wait for delivery of your 3d printed custom soles, which can be thrown back in the printer when the soles wear down.
I once bought some boot covers, a pair of faux-leather sleeves meant to look like medieval boots when put over modern shoes. They worked okay, though they didn't fit well over my bulky hiking boots, and looked decent once I had covered the seams with decorations. In the future I would consider making a pair from scratch so that they look and fit better. I think this is a good option for people with a limited budget or who want the benefits of modern footwear.
I tend to use mukluks in very snowy/cold weather. Mine are made of moose hide. They are like moccasins generally, although these also house a thick, felted booty inside and mine have a kind of glue & rubber goop applied to the soles. I've been using them for more than 20 years now and they work well. Alternatively, I sometimes wear my Calcei with hobnails built around thick felted socks. Caution, wearing hobnails on things like marble floors is hazardous to your health. *grins* They also eat wood floors rather effectively. I do have snowshoes, skis, and even an Algonquin style toboggan.Wool socks. Good thick wool socks. :) In the end though, err on the side of safety over period. Falling is never fun...especially as one gets older. :) Enjoy the Winter. I do. Great video!
I HIGHLY recommend Obenaufs Heavy duty LP and Obenaufs leather oil. It was designed to treat the leather products used by forest fire fighters, they extend the life of anything leather and prevents leather from drying out and cracking due to changes in temperature or exposure to elements
The only shoes you need in a medieval or even in a prehistoric winter is "valenki". Felted, thick wool will keep your legs in warm even at -30c. Yeah, they're not super stylish, actually they often look poor, but you can always decorate them however you want.
I did read somewhere that leather shoes can be reconditioned and restored if they get wet, which happens even with modern leather shoes as well. I accidentally wet my leather sandals and tried it and it worked fairly well. I could see devoting time to restoring condition of your shoes if you wear them, after all, they are an investment regardless whether they are modern or medieval.
I have gotten a few different pairs of leather boats soaked and they are all still in great condition. Water should not destroy the boots unless. The boots are of a poor quality
@maxattack3648 If by destroyed stiff, or if it's something worse. Almost all leather will get stiff when wetted, but it can be fixed, and that is what I was referring to. I have no idea the extent of damage, nor can I comment on the quality, but you are right low quality will suffer worse.
Combat boots FTW! I wear black Matterhorn combat and brown Danner hunting boots. Thick waterproofed leather, gore-tex, all-weather Thinsulate insulation, metal speed eyelets, paracord laces, plastic orthotic arch supports, EVA cushion midsoles, and Vibram hard rubber lugged outsoles. Just slap some Obenauf's natural leather preservative on them occasionally to keep them waterproofed.
I have a pair of ghillies that the cobbler put treadmill rubber on as an additional layer to the bottom. From anyone looking at the side of the shoe, it just looks like a layer of leather, but it has all the traction of a rubber sole. These are fantastic. I wish I could remember the name of the maker.
In winter survivalist circles, it is recommended that you have a full inch of insulation AFTER COMPRESSION on all sides of your foot. That means MORE than an inch of insulation under your feet / for the soles. Yes, you'll end up wearing "moon boots" but if you look at traditional mukluks, they ARE that thick, due to the fur and felt liners. (Also, mukluks are designed with rawhide leather, not fully tanned, because fully tanned doesn't allow moisture to move away from your feet, whereas rawhide does...and keeping *dry* in sub-freezing temperatures is vitally important for avoiding hypothermia.)
When the Ohio Renfaire opened their Yuletide Village the weekend after Thanksgiving, I wore my (modern) combat boots and used long wool pants and leg-wraps and that worked out quite well to conceal what i was wearing.
I wear Xero shoes, a brand that typically comes with an 1/8” to 1/4” sole with no arch support; I love them but they do come with similar hurdles to historic shoes, especially where cold is concerned. The sole of the foot is where you will get the coldest first, with tissue temp dropping from toe to heel. The best solution is to make an insole of Mylar-sided insulation. The material is commonly used for insulation or car dashboard reflectors and is cheap, thin, and durable. Snug a pair down into your shoes and if you have enough toe room make a toe box with the stuff and add that in there, too. It’ll look like a silver slipper and it works beautifully.
I agree with your last point- I live in an area that gets very cold with loads of snow. The Native American tribes in the area wear knee- high, fur lined Mukluks and snow shoes. I switched to these over modern boots a few years ago and my feet are nice and toasty. So any European medieval winter look will be paired with knee-high mukluks, because their shoe choices did not adapt for super tall snow drifts😅
When it comes to pattons, plain wood can have very good traction on snow if it's not too cold. Wet snow is especially sticky to wood. Source: have done ski hiking with really oldschool wooden skis. Going got real tough when the layer of tar wore off and you'd need to reapply it every few days. As for felt shoes, they're very good if it's very cold, but can shrink to a point you can't put them on anymore if they get wet and you dry them by the fire.
I like how you stick to the theme. The cool medieval clothes and medieval decorations you have... and then the huge modern mic you have on your chest there :D
@@harbl99 its alright. I do not envy shad. I'd rather have my content than his views. Take a look, you might like it. Shads content is not the real problem, though. It's his ideology. You know that Matt Easton adressed an Apology to the whole Hema community, because he worked with shad on a video? That's how badly toxic the guy is.
@@FlorisGerber You're using words like "toxic" to describe some goofy dude that likes castles. You're weird. Tf did Shad do that pissed you off so badly?
If you are sticking to historical footwear for the looks (not for hardcore reenactment or experimental archeology purposes) you might consider using modern waterproof socks inside your shoes/boots. Some of the options you discuss are great for dry snow and cold, but not so much in wet snow or other soppy conditions. Enjoyable video, as always!
Glad you made it back safe. Hope you hade fun. And as always, I enjoyed the video. Pattens had to look those up. I heard of clogs but I had been told was they were a thick wood shoes with a soft-ish interior... "Boat shoes" Or the modern ones are basically just the design. I didn't know pattens were a thing. I've seen the new ones, made of rubber and metal.
Have worn leather shoes & boots in winter for decades and there are things to help. Glad you mentioned NOT putting wet leather anywhere close to a fire. 1) keep up on your mink oiling & saddle soap, especially just before winter. This also applies to leather tops each year. 2) if you have Force Warm Air you out the boots toes up in the blow from the register or a fan but not in strong heat. Usually atop a stool. This helps dry them out much faster and is also works for felt-pack liners. 3) felt pack liners can be put atop heat ducts to dry them faster especially if all the registers are crowded with boots on stools tipped toes up. As for flat-sole shoes or boots you are going to slip as if you were skiing. I know from a decade of wearing such while doing winter appraisals and having to walk around houses to measure them. For the decades (3+) I went deer hunting with my family & some extended family on my uncle's farm we all wore winter boots with rubber soles, leather tops, and removable felt liners. We had a system including what colored yarn was tied where to keep all the boots straight, and we all wore 2-3 layers of socks with wool socks for the outer layer and cotton for the inner. If we broke through the ice then the liners would NOT be dry the next day (often 2-3 days) but tipping the boots up in warm (not hot) air meant they were generally dried out enough by morning, so we generally tried to save the liners from older boots so we had 2 sets of felt liners per person. Hunting season was a 10-day "vacation" for us where we would sit in the cold of northern Wisconsin every morning & evening, except for lunch, the first weekend; sat briefly in mornings and/or later evenings before Thanksgiving and helped gather & pile firewood all day Monday & Tuesday or so; gathered 3 families and did drives before & after Thanksgiving dinner and the next day; then back to posting early mornings as we processed deer meat closing weekend. So yeah, although I was technically born & lived 9 months out of the year in the city I spend enough summers and "winter" weeks up on a farm, sometimes without running water, that I know a bit about when, where, & how to place boots near an indoor wood-burning furnace (the FWA blower made this better) and what angle to hang liners over the furnace, as well as to NEVER EVER put wet cotton or wool directly on a wood-burning stove or furnace liner as they would combust (a city cousin did this once and the long-underwear burst into flames when my father through them out the front door).
Felted boot inserts can be "decorated" into a more medieval-looking manner via embroidery, couching, appliqué, or using a felting needle with wool roving. (The latter is the easiest for decorating the toebox area, since it's awkward to maneuver a needle & thread in such a small space, though a curved needle can be useful for couching & appliqué)
I love in Norway, where the temperature regularly pases -25c and we get a meter of snow. What I would probably so if I were do larp or reenactment, is wear modern winter boosts, but make myself a pair of medieval looking gaiters. That way you get the benefit of the modern shoe, while getting the look and benefit of gaiters (great to avoid getting snow inside your boots in deep snow). You wouldn't have to make the gaiters out of very Rick leather, so they'd be fairly easy to dry.
I would think that carving a pattern (either simple linear or some sort of hashed lines) into the wood can grant a basic level of traction when using pattons.
Pattons were generally used in urban areas to keep feet above the muck from my understanding, thus mostly on cobbled streets. I have no idea if they were commonly treaded but that would cause them to wear faster. Other options would have been used in rural areas including ones Kramer mentioned including skiis, snowshoes, and rag wraps. Another a different poster mentioned was spruce bows tied to the shoes to act as snowshoes. If pattons were worn in rural areas I would love to review any sources :)
Shoes would be the hardest thing for me during the winter, as when my feet get cold or wet I'm just done. Luckily I no longer live in a snowy climate. Thanks for the video and info Kramer!
doing reenactment, we hardly ever wore authetic footwear in winter....but whenever i was wearing boots, even in summer, they always had hobnails, simply for safety..and climbing slopes, the difference is amazing....
great followup! probably directly in response to my comments about shoes I suspect. haha. I had gone and done some research myself. i found one vid of an ancient Himalayan climbers shoes preserved. lots of talk about the straw, and how it was actually quite effective. but, this vid had even more information that I looked up. pattens/clogs should absolutely work great. lots of heat transfer from direct foot to ground surface. open air itself is not NEARLY as cold, or have as much transfer as touching the ground. add in then moisture transfer to leather shoe, which would be very bad and speed up heat transer even more. then next, yep better traction then the smooth leather as well. The patten overshoe is probably the best option for reenactment. should be fairly cheap, can just be added to any previous outfit/shoe, without destroying it. in fact, help preserve any leather boots to keep water off em. in fact, these weren't JUST for the winter. any situation of wet grass, mud, etc, these were worn.
Fun fact. In a modern factory there's a job right at the end of production call burnishing. Burnishing is where thay takes a blowtorch to the shoes. Not a blue hot flame but an orange flame. This process is performed for multiple reasons, 1 is to burn off any loose threats. Second is to shrink the leather. Leather being a natural material is full of inconsistencies so shoes will often have small creases and wrinkles but a bit of heat from a blowtorch will mostly shrink out all of that. So in effect you are doing exactly what you said you're doing shrinking your shoes drying the leather out... that sort of heat can also reactivate the glues that are holding the thing together. And if that happens yeah your whole shoe just become broken. :)
There's also things that combine options, at a couple nearby reenactment stuff, they have a strap on thing of hobnails similar to a paten, but essentially two layers of leather with straps to lock it over your normal shoes/boots. Ontop of that, there are more structured inserts for leather shoes that also add insulation, a stiffer wool boot liner helps protect the boots when they, inevitably, get wet.
For winter grip on ice and snow, I saw another youtuber (UA-camr: Engineering Knits. Video: Getting a Grip: Preventing the Victorian Lady's Slip'n'slide || Historical Knitting) explore a type of shoe covering used in at least the US, made of knitted wool. These added a lot of grip to shoes which seems to be a combination of friction and sticking caused by melted ice and snow re-freezing on the wool. Though they wear down very fast on pathed paths and roads they last much longer on just snow and ice. I doubt they last through many uses over all but an accomplished knitter could make a new pair very quickly if they had the wool to hand. Pure speculation now - similar to the wool, I wonder if a detachable under sole could be made with something like rope, like the sole of an espadrilles. Something rough and fibrous but more hardwearing then the wool. I wonder how that would hold up. It would be fairly easy to make, I've seen youtube videos of rope soles made from coiled rope pinned to a template then sewn and glued into place.
Oh yes, that's great too. Noticed that as a kid going outside with just my woolen socks and I remember it working great too to simply put socks over my boots, but I haven't done this since I grew up. To Your speculation, yes it does work. There's sandals and clogs with an outer sole made of string/ropey material. The pair I had are from a wellness resort, and they provided great traction on icy and sandy ground even when wet.
Thinking about it, in my first reenactment group we went to Pembroke Castle, it was utterly bickering down with rain, the 3 of us who were combat capable were very reluctant to fight in our period shoes but the boss got on our back after the custodian asked when combat was. We all slipped and got poked with swords, some in places you really don't want to be poked.
Today, we mostly think of Japanese wearing wooden overshoes, but they were really common in Europe too, just a different design. I do wonder if these shoes had nails on the bottom, it would make sense to me, though nailheads are slippery on stone! The Japanese had found a simple workaround for slipping, it seems, by using one or two wooden protrusions on the sole of the wooden shoes. However, this works only in one direction (well front and back)
I modified a pair of leather shoes for a re-enactor" by stitching parallel strips of leather across the bottom of the shoes - essentially creating "tread." I had to groove out the stitch lines pretty deep (to avoid stitch-wear), but I was using a 9-10 oz leather, so it wasn't a big deal. Maybe this gives some folks an idea.
Yeah I'm prone to foot infections. I'm wearing modern boots properly weatherproofed with mink oil in the winter. I got some tall leather boots from Sierra that are genuinely comfortable.
I've been thinking about making the things I need rather than buying them. I think a nice pair of boots that I can wear on a daily basis and use for Larping is in order! Thank you for your fun and informative channel! ❤
As someone who now wears wool socks exclusively year round, I cannot recommend them enough. I also wear what is essentially a modern mesh shoe, also year round. I often have to slosh through snow melt and slush and I’ve never had cold feet from doing so. I have completely abandoned the concept of keeping my feet dry in the winter and rely on wool or layers of wool socks to keep my feet warm and comfortable. Grab your ketchup and crunch away my friends.
🎩Hi for me the most important thing is the grip, hobnails are great on grass and snow, but on stone or any modern surface oops. One easy way to keep your feet dry is to wear plastic bags on them inside the boot. To properly dry wet boots stuff newspaper in them and it keeps them in the correct shape.
I think it's great to be historically as possible but we are at Winters door ! It's important to protect your feet! We don't live in those times now, poor souls 😢 Love your wife's shoes, listen to her lol I really like your costume 😊
I agree with Kramer's suggestion in going with the Modern shoe idea (I do this myself in many situations). Wear a modern shoe (see some of Kramer's suggestions) with a more period appropriate looking pair of Gaiters overtop of them. In this way you can cover much of the anachronistic qualities of modern shoes (depends on the shoe and the gaiters, but it's possible to have not but the toe and lower shoe/heel showing) while still benefiting from the more desirable qualities of modern shoes.
If you are planning on fighting in the snow, do not wear slick-soled moccasin-type boots, especially if your fighting style involves sudden changes in direction. You will experience 'involuntary skating' and instead of a subtle, sword-side stutter, shield side-side pass with a backhand blow that leaves your stalwart opponent 'dead and admiring', you end up sprawled on your butt in the snow, with both you and said opponent inarticulate with laughter.
I find it remarkable that both medieval Europeans, and Japanese people all came up with strapping wood to their feet to keep them dry, but the Americans didn't.
While I love your content for the sake of the content, I just wanted to say that your music selection is also top notch, and I often can't help tapping along to it at the end of each video. I know yours isn't specifically commissioned, but it's right up there with Shadiversity and Game Theory in terms of my favorite UA-camr themes. Good luck and stay warm on your adventures.
Honestly I've always thought Uggs were a fairly passable entry level option for foot garb, and they have a modern sole and do a good job of keeping feet warm, not sure about waterproofing them but I suspect either one of the paste waxes or one of the spray silicone options would give them good enough waterproofing.
"I wonder if these fit... They do." 👀👀👀 Brb dying. But it may be worth checking into the hiking community. They've got crampons and snowshoes that you may be able to lift some of the ideas for anachronistic snow gear!
Good to see you back! I've heard some people on the frontiers of colonial America put paper inside their shoes and moccasins to ward off the cold in winter... just unsure what that would do for the stealth or comfort of them.
Leather boots can very easily be conditioned to be waterproof, and reconditioned if they get "destroyed". Yes, if wearing them frequently, you'll need to condition them once a week or so, which is work, but... Life is work. They're more durable and waterproof than many modern boots if treated properly.
Coalcracker Bushcraft has a video on how to make snow shoes using natural materials. That could be an option, if you are going for a plausible, historical look.
Fun fact i read in a couple autobiographies is that many spies & spy-catchers pay close attention to shoes because in surveillance operations it is easy to use reversible jackets or swap them or your hat etc.....but its much more difficult to change shoes and because surveillance teams spend a lot of time walking they tend to have favourite shoes they wear all the time.
The medieval shoes Kramer mentioned at the beginning of the video which have soles the same weight as the rest of the leather used to make them were specially worn indoors or with pattens. Shoes with thin leather soles don't last long outdoors. I've worn two different types of pattens, hinged and one piece. The one-piece ones were easier to make and harder to get used to wearing, though I could easily go up on pointe (ballet for "standing on your toes") if I tried to reach up. The hinged ones were very easy to get accustomed to walking in. I wore them at a week-long event in late winter, where we had freezing rain for several days in a row. After I'd soaked both pairs of boots I'd brought along in case we had muddy weather, I was unwilling to mess up my nicer boots. Instead, I wore just my thick wool socks and the pattens. My feet stayed warm and comfortable despite the weather.
Hey Kramer people of olden days did use wood as a base for shoes in the netherlands we have "Klompen" they are still made with wood and are still in use the introduction of rubber has only improved this item
Canadian larper chiming in, my go to for all year round is a good soft toe leather work boot. Good ankle support and room for lots of socks. I wear them all year round larping or dressing casual. I've personally never had an issue with my boots getting soaked through, though i do oil them probably way more than i need to. Mine are laced because thats whats most comfortable for me but they do make leather work boots that you just slip on like rain boots. At the end of the day winters can be harsh and you should wear what keeps you warm and dry. (Also if at all possible you should bring a few snow shovels to your larp, best way to keep snow off your feet is to not walk through too much snow)
I'll just throw out a recommendation to a channel, the woodland escape. He shows hot to make some leather shoes that would be characteristic of a melding of tech of european shoes and moccasins, and he shows the winter version as well, with 2-3 layers of wool sewn into a shoe and put inside a larger sized shell. You pretty much just sew it and form it to your foot. He lives out of his, and he's 70, and out there building log cabins and an early american fort.
oh wow, i was just binging your last like 5 videos only to find out you uploaded a new video like 1 minute after i closed your videos tab to watch each individual video
rabbit fur covers would be a nice way to hide good modern shoes, some little scrappy pelts w a leather string to tie it, could even sew a hidden snap to pop it off quick
For traction, attaching pieces of cord to the soles (sewing or otherwise) was also a thing, at least by C15th and possibly earlier. I imagine if you layer right it's not so obvious to your feet. I imagine making detachable soles from cord might also be a poor man's patten, but that's just speculation.
Damn bro, Australian summer to American winter, brutal! How’s the jet lag? One of those pairs of boots look like they have a Blake stitched rubber sole ( I think it was the leather ones with buckles?) if you go to your local cobbler they can put a full leather sole and wooden heel block on. You can also get a couple of sets of Segs to fit yourself, they are very similar to hobnails and work in the same way. If you want I’m happy to send you a few sets? As always love the content, thanks for the hard work in making it!
I grew up with 2' of snow at all times in winter - wool socks/ furlined in good winter boots are a must ! I myself have to have warm shoes or i will lose my toes due to poor circulation. Scouts Leather Cream is a great way to give your boots some moisture and color back ! Who knew Cramer had such tiny feet?! 😆. My husband wears a women's size 9-mens 7.5-8 , I a woman can wear mens 9, womens 11 . . pro tip - just don't ruin the broken in on your wives boots as your toes are layed out different !
when i was doing LARPing I purchased a pair of plain brown modern calf length boots from a charity shop, then i paid a frend of mine to make leather covers that looked the part to go over the top, they attached by a series of hooks and eyes at the front, best £20 I spent on my kit.
Waterproofing leather with a mix of animal fat and beeswax was a thing back in the day and still is. It is an easy mix to make with a lot of videos here on UA-cam on making it. Even modern waterproofing materials can be use. As far as slick soled footwear, adjust the way you walk. I wear buckskin moccasins and you have to step toe first and not heal first.
Check out Malcolm PL's videos about shoes, especially in winter. He made a full set of gear out of leather he'd tanned and tried it out in winter, so legitimate as can be.
From Nordic (Finnish) point of view: Sami style fur shoes, where the sole is two piece fur, one piece pointing forward and one backward. The fur provides great traction.
What about hobnailed pattens? They don't permanently alter your shoe, and you combine the grip of the hobnails with the avoidance of stepping directly on wet surfaces you get from the pattens.
Yeah, trust me. Rubber soles with traction are a mfing Ancestor-sent boon. I dislocated my knee LARPing in "pebble" soles. I can only imagine what would happen in traditional medieval soles.
Leather is actually great in the winter. Just have to make sure to oil them regularly. You can even use beeswax to waterproof it. I wear leather boots year around. Oiling them in winter really helps em stay dry and they won't crack as much if you heat em up by the fire
When I shovel my driveway, i just wear large 100% wool socks over cotton socks and a pair of trekking sandals. I find leather boots tend to actually make my feet colder. This is especially true after I got frostbite in Alaska.
I really recommend just regular modern barefoot shoes for winter. I have a pair of winter shoes, it has like wool-ish fluff inside, it's faux leather but looks very like real leather. I wear barefoot shoes because it helps my hypermobile ankles not get sprained and also helps with my balance. They work well in show too, from my own experience, and never got frozen feet in low degrees.
Well done. I was looking through tutorials on leather footwear construction, when I came across "Medieval Boots, Fantasy Footwear". So, I followed a link to another of your videos, and I think you've got a great thesis. I'm not really into fantasy personally, but I love that you're exploring the subject of common footwear in earlier periods, and keeping the historical information alive. Subbing.
Kramer, I have to mention this. Your comfort in medieval shoes with skyrocket if you stop walking wrong. If you are still stepping from heel to toe like normal, you need to stop. The human foot was created to walk from toe to heel. Medieval shoes with softer soles were designed to allow this, unlike modern heeled shoes which entirely prevent it. You dont need to add more cushioning or layers or padding for your winter shoes if you are properly foxwalking, because you wont be slamming your bone-y heels on the ground anymore. Layers for warmth is one thing, but most people do it to protect their heels, which aren't designed to take impact.
Hobnails in a thick slab of leather tied to the boot would be good for ice and non-permanent. I saw somewhere that using pine pitch or tar with crushed up softer barks/straw and slapping it on the bottom provides effectively an insulated rubber sole.
Historically, such as in the 1600s, it was common to have 5 pairs of leather shoes and 3 pairs of heavy woolen "Irish stockings". The rationale was that leather was harder to come by, and since you would wear through your shoe soles before anything else, it didn't make sense to waste leather on full boots. The knee high stockings were thick enough to serve as leg protection. I personally wear a pair of high ankle leather chukkas with doubled wool socks. They have a delightful treaded modern rubber sole.
Not necessarily for winter... But I have been using what are called jazz (dance) shoes for my garb. they look like the Viking shoe, and you can replace the laces with toggles. If you're crafty. I feel they definitely look the part, although they are harder to waterproof than I would like.
I have some boots called Mika from Xero Shoes that make barefoot shoes. They are very medieval looking and made out of canvas and synthetic leather. They are flat and have a sole with tread. They are super warm and comfortable and good in the snow.
I have a pair of xero shoes and I love them it's pretty much all I ever wear now. I think the exact model I have has been retired, but the "pilgrim" is probably the closest thing they have now. My shoes are slightly darker in color.
Invest in a thermal shoe dryer. It will dry shoes days faster while not damaging them. I use mine every day due to sweaty feet 😅 You have to condition the leather more often due to moisture loss but it is wildly better than damp shoes.
In winter conditions, shoes are safety equipment. Wet feet can quickly lead to frostbite, hypothermia, or trenchfoot. Slips and falls can cause serious joint or back injury. Authenticity is great, but nobody should ever EVER put themselves in danger for the sake of it.
A great point! Fashion is great when it's convenient, safety first!
definitely, i always fought bearfoot or in hobnail boots, its not worth it to risk slipping, i know some people had authentic boots that were soled with rubber, the authenticity officers often let it slide because of safety....
@@neoaliphantbear foot sounds terrifying! 😊
@@Wintermute909 rofl, but seriously often barefoot was much safer on grass, better footing, not so good when doing filming for sky norman documentary in febuary....
@@Wintermute909 Well, actual bear foot are probably pretty good for snowy surfaces too considering how wide they are lol
Thank you for putting safety over historical accuracy. Your videos are always great because you dont talk bad about the less accurate budget options. You just state whats inaccurate and talk about pros and cons. That is very refreshing and makes your videos feel quite professional.
Yep. Great points he makes and why I appreciate his videos as well
Thank you. I think the information about what's actually accurate is important, to avoid being misleading, or making mistakes for film or any form of reenactment. But safety comes first, and besides, if everyone had to be 100% historically accurate, 1) it wouldn't be fantasy and 2) the bar for entry would be so much higher, based on cost alone! I want to see the community grow, be educated, or at least be interested in historical accuracy, but not feel like they can't even start because of cost or health needs.
@@LivingAnachronism Very well said. The love for history and fantasy is what connects us und we should celebrate that. Without gatekeeping.
I myself want to be as accurate as possible but a big problem with that is that im also currently trying to go vegan. And trying to find vegan garb is not easy.
@@LivingAnachronismim going to try and get your attention here. Rub bees wax on your leather boots with some kind of heat. I use a heat gun. It makes them basically weather proof. And helps them last for years. You do have to recoat them every once and a while.
@@wesleymccurdy1200That sounds like something a medieval person would do to mitigate for the weather.
Don't care how cool the larp is, the anachronism of modern boots is second only to modern eyeglasses in the degree of "back off, jack" with me. I've had frostbite too many times.
The modern rubber soles is a godsend. I got some viking turnshoes from grimfrost and they had no traction at all. And I've already injured myself by not having traction, especially in a LARP combat scenario, and so I NEED that modern sole for safety
I have some 14th century shoes, and I added rubber tread to them.
Shoes are pretty much the only clothing item that was really improved since the stone age. Everything else even Ötzi had pretty much the same as today (bit heavier, less easy drying).
But the biggest problem is that we aren't used to that kind of shoes. With more training is not that big of a deal. Lots of walking barefoot is great for that. (Especially in snow barefoot gets really slippery :D I remember crawling back up my driveway because I had to walk a bit barefoot in the snow and couldn't walk back up :D)
Fortunately Rubber on the bottom of your feet is not very visible. Also, you can make rubber almost look like leather.
Yep. Wore leather soled "cowboy" boots for years while doing appraisals as they were faster to slide on & off and even with the rubber heel they had near zero traction in winter.
There are a number of different wool/felt-lined winter boot options, some with removeable liners and some where the liners are built-in, and each has its advantages & disadvantages in regards to comfort, ease of use, and duration of use (aka, a day trip/event is different than a 10-day event), but those rubber soles with traction are awesome.
Even lined or insulated leather hiking boots with rubber soles are a great option for a day-trip as they will keep the worst off for a short period of time. Always have spare pairs of dry socks along and some comfortable normal everyday shoes for wearing on the drive back or to switch into if you need to go out twice.
I bought some 13th century leather shoes, wore them to school, almost ate it walking around on carpet 😂
Another thing medieval people did for snow shoes is tie conifer or pine branches to their feet! They worked exactly like snowshoes and might be a good option for peasant larping!
Hobnails do help with traction but have one major drawback for use in winter conditions. The metal nails can conduct cold right through the sole of the shoe and into your foot. External cleats are a better option if possible.
I really appreciate you encouraging people to go with what will keep them comfortable and safe. I live in Alaska and, ultimately, avoiding frostbite is much more important than aesthetics.
Remember: when making your own shoes, too much insulation can be bad, because it can actually frostbite you if snow and water get in. The breathability is important. See the guy who reviews boots, if i can remember his channel name ill put it here.
Edit: Rose Anvil
rose anvil?
Just look up the winter boot so worm it caused frostbite
@@BlaBla-pf8mf he's the shoe cutter and reviewer!
I wore a pair of hobnailed caligae with handmade woolen socks in the snow for a 2 day larp, and they were surprisingly warm and dry
While probably not totally historically accurate, one thing you can do is basically take the idea of the wooden patens that were worn and carve some wooden soles to be a bit like modern ones and attach them to your more historically accurate leather boots. Either with straps so you can take them off as you please, or permanently if that's what you need. Or even attaching the carved wooden soles to the felted wool style shoes that have the removable leather sole covers.
This is what I plan on doing in the future once I start putting together my mostly craft by me LARP kit.
I've said it on a previous video, but when winter comes, I tend to cheat a bit and go with either black, thick army boots, or brown hiking boots, hidden beneath gaiters. I've come to realize that finding good fantasy boots that suit me is both hard and expensive. I have not only very big feet, but also very broad ones, and it's difficult to find boots that fit me properly. Not to mention, I usually adventure alone, so my boots being modern doesn't take away from my experience.
I feel your pain. My feet are wide and curved. Waiting for the day when you can stand on a scanner, send your data to your manufacturer of choice, then wait for delivery of your 3d printed custom soles, which can be thrown back in the printer when the soles wear down.
I once bought some boot covers, a pair of faux-leather sleeves meant to look like medieval boots when put over modern shoes. They worked okay, though they didn't fit well over my bulky hiking boots, and looked decent once I had covered the seams with decorations. In the future I would consider making a pair from scratch so that they look and fit better. I think this is a good option for people with a limited budget or who want the benefits of modern footwear.
I tend to use mukluks in very snowy/cold weather. Mine are made of moose hide. They are like moccasins generally, although these also house a thick, felted booty inside and mine have a kind of glue & rubber goop applied to the soles. I've been using them for more than 20 years now and they work well. Alternatively, I sometimes wear my Calcei with hobnails built around thick felted socks. Caution, wearing hobnails on things like marble floors is hazardous to your health. *grins* They also eat wood floors rather effectively. I do have snowshoes, skis, and even an Algonquin style toboggan.Wool socks. Good thick wool socks. :) In the end though, err on the side of safety over period. Falling is never fun...especially as one gets older. :) Enjoy the Winter. I do. Great video!
I HIGHLY recommend Obenaufs Heavy duty LP and Obenaufs leather oil. It was designed to treat the leather products used by forest fire fighters, they extend the life of anything leather and prevents leather from drying out and cracking due to changes in temperature or exposure to elements
The only shoes you need in a medieval or even in a prehistoric winter is "valenki". Felted, thick wool will keep your legs in warm even at -30c. Yeah, they're not super stylish, actually they often look poor, but you can always decorate them however you want.
I did read somewhere that leather shoes can be reconditioned and restored if they get wet, which happens even with modern leather shoes as well. I accidentally wet my leather sandals and tried it and it worked fairly well. I could see devoting time to restoring condition of your shoes if you wear them, after all, they are an investment regardless whether they are modern or medieval.
I have gotten a few different pairs of leather boats soaked and they are all still in great condition. Water should not destroy the boots unless. The boots are of a poor quality
@maxattack3648 If by destroyed stiff, or if it's something worse. Almost all leather will get stiff when wetted, but it can be fixed, and that is what I was referring to. I have no idea the extent of damage, nor can I comment on the quality, but you are right low quality will suffer worse.
Combat boots FTW! I wear black Matterhorn combat and brown Danner hunting boots. Thick waterproofed leather, gore-tex, all-weather Thinsulate insulation, metal speed eyelets, paracord laces, plastic orthotic arch supports, EVA cushion midsoles, and Vibram hard rubber lugged outsoles. Just slap some Obenauf's natural leather preservative on them occasionally to keep them waterproofed.
I have a pair of ghillies that the cobbler put treadmill rubber on as an additional layer to the bottom. From anyone looking at the side of the shoe, it just looks like a layer of leather, but it has all the traction of a rubber sole. These are fantastic. I wish I could remember the name of the maker.
10:24 that side eye! I cackledddd
Welcome back to your own channel. I loved the stuff you did with Shad and his crew, but it is great to see you back in your native element as well.
In winter survivalist circles, it is recommended that you have a full inch of insulation AFTER COMPRESSION on all sides of your foot. That means MORE than an inch of insulation under your feet / for the soles. Yes, you'll end up wearing "moon boots" but if you look at traditional mukluks, they ARE that thick, due to the fur and felt liners. (Also, mukluks are designed with rawhide leather, not fully tanned, because fully tanned doesn't allow moisture to move away from your feet, whereas rawhide does...and keeping *dry* in sub-freezing temperatures is vitally important for avoiding hypothermia.)
When the Ohio Renfaire opened their Yuletide Village the weekend after Thanksgiving, I wore my (modern) combat boots and used long wool pants and leg-wraps and that worked out quite well to conceal what i was wearing.
When I was stationed in West Germany I bought a pair of boots lined with rabbit fur. They were very nice once they were broken in.
I wear Xero shoes, a brand that typically comes with an 1/8” to 1/4” sole with no arch support; I love them but they do come with similar hurdles to historic shoes, especially where cold is concerned. The sole of the foot is where you will get the coldest first, with tissue temp dropping from toe to heel. The best solution is to make an insole of Mylar-sided insulation. The material is commonly used for insulation or car dashboard reflectors and is cheap, thin, and durable. Snug a pair down into your shoes and if you have enough toe room make a toe box with the stuff and add that in there, too. It’ll look like a silver slipper and it works beautifully.
I've been interested in Xero shoes for a while, so this is great and helpful information to know
I agree with your last point- I live in an area that gets very cold with loads of snow. The Native American tribes in the area wear knee- high, fur lined Mukluks and snow shoes. I switched to these over modern boots a few years ago and my feet are nice and toasty.
So any European medieval winter look will be paired with knee-high mukluks, because their shoe choices did not adapt for super tall snow drifts😅
When it comes to pattons, plain wood can have very good traction on snow if it's not too cold. Wet snow is especially sticky to wood. Source: have done ski hiking with really oldschool wooden skis. Going got real tough when the layer of tar wore off and you'd need to reapply it every few days.
As for felt shoes, they're very good if it's very cold, but can shrink to a point you can't put them on anymore if they get wet and you dry them by the fire.
11:09 that leather sole-shoe looks a heck of a lot like an Irish dance lightshoe/ghillie. And, as someone who has worn ghillies, I think that's cool.
I like how you stick to the theme. The cool medieval clothes and medieval decorations you have... and then the huge modern mic you have on your chest there :D
So glad to see you on Shads channel too
shad is an anti-endorsement.
@@FlorisGerber im just saying they were fun to watch together and hopefully their channels can grow because of it
@@FlorisGerber And envy is a stinky cologne. Mr
@@harbl99 its alright. I do not envy shad. I'd rather have my content than his views.
Take a look, you might like it.
Shads content is not the real problem, though. It's his ideology. You know that Matt Easton adressed an Apology to the whole Hema community, because he worked with shad on a video?
That's how badly toxic the guy is.
@@FlorisGerber You're using words like "toxic" to describe some goofy dude that likes castles. You're weird.
Tf did Shad do that pissed you off so badly?
If you are sticking to historical footwear for the looks (not for hardcore reenactment or experimental archeology purposes) you might consider using modern waterproof socks inside your shoes/boots. Some of the options you discuss are great for dry snow and cold, but not so much in wet snow or other soppy conditions. Enjoyable video, as always!
Glad you made it back safe. Hope you hade fun. And as always, I enjoyed the video.
Pattens had to look those up. I heard of clogs but I had been told was they were a thick wood shoes with a soft-ish interior... "Boat shoes" Or the modern ones are basically just the design. I didn't know pattens were a thing. I've seen the new ones, made of rubber and metal.
Have worn leather shoes & boots in winter for decades and there are things to help. Glad you mentioned NOT putting wet leather anywhere close to a fire.
1) keep up on your mink oiling & saddle soap, especially just before winter. This also applies to leather tops each year.
2) if you have Force Warm Air you out the boots toes up in the blow from the register or a fan but not in strong heat. Usually atop a stool. This helps dry them out much faster and is also works for felt-pack liners.
3) felt pack liners can be put atop heat ducts to dry them faster especially if all the registers are crowded with boots on stools tipped toes up.
As for flat-sole shoes or boots you are going to slip as if you were skiing. I know from a decade of wearing such while doing winter appraisals and having to walk around houses to measure them.
For the decades (3+) I went deer hunting with my family & some extended family on my uncle's farm we all wore winter boots with rubber soles, leather tops, and removable felt liners. We had a system including what colored yarn was tied where to keep all the boots straight, and we all wore 2-3 layers of socks with wool socks for the outer layer and cotton for the inner. If we broke through the ice then the liners would NOT be dry the next day (often 2-3 days) but tipping the boots up in warm (not hot) air meant they were generally dried out enough by morning, so we generally tried to save the liners from older boots so we had 2 sets of felt liners per person. Hunting season was a 10-day "vacation" for us where we would sit in the cold of northern Wisconsin every morning & evening, except for lunch, the first weekend; sat briefly in mornings and/or later evenings before Thanksgiving and helped gather & pile firewood all day Monday & Tuesday or so; gathered 3 families and did drives before & after Thanksgiving dinner and the next day; then back to posting early mornings as we processed deer meat closing weekend.
So yeah, although I was technically born & lived 9 months out of the year in the city I spend enough summers and "winter" weeks up on a farm, sometimes without running water, that I know a bit about when, where, & how to place boots near an indoor wood-burning furnace (the FWA blower made this better) and what angle to hang liners over the furnace, as well as to NEVER EVER put wet cotton or wool directly on a wood-burning stove or furnace liner as they would combust (a city cousin did this once and the long-underwear burst into flames when my father through them out the front door).
Felted boot inserts can be "decorated" into a more medieval-looking manner via embroidery, couching, appliqué, or using a felting needle with wool roving. (The latter is the easiest for decorating the toebox area, since it's awkward to maneuver a needle & thread in such a small space, though a curved needle can be useful for couching & appliqué)
I love in Norway, where the temperature regularly pases -25c and we get a meter of snow. What I would probably so if I were do larp or reenactment, is wear modern winter boosts, but make myself a pair of medieval looking gaiters. That way you get the benefit of the modern shoe, while getting the look and benefit of gaiters (great to avoid getting snow inside your boots in deep snow). You wouldn't have to make the gaiters out of very Rick leather, so they'd be fairly easy to dry.
I would think that carving a pattern (either simple linear or some sort of hashed lines) into the wood can grant a basic level of traction when using pattons.
Pattons were generally used in urban areas to keep feet above the muck from my understanding, thus mostly on cobbled streets. I have no idea if they were commonly treaded but that would cause them to wear faster.
Other options would have been used in rural areas including ones Kramer mentioned including skiis, snowshoes, and rag wraps. Another a different poster mentioned was spruce bows tied to the shoes to act as snowshoes.
If pattons were worn in rural areas I would love to review any sources :)
Shoes would be the hardest thing for me during the winter, as when my feet get cold or wet I'm just done. Luckily I no longer live in a snowy climate. Thanks for the video and info Kramer!
doing reenactment, we hardly ever wore authetic footwear in winter....but whenever i was wearing boots, even in summer, they always had hobnails, simply for safety..and climbing slopes, the difference is amazing....
great followup! probably directly in response to my comments about shoes I suspect. haha. I had gone and done some research myself. i found one vid of an ancient Himalayan climbers shoes preserved. lots of talk about the straw, and how it was actually quite effective.
but, this vid had even more information that I looked up. pattens/clogs should absolutely work great. lots of heat transfer from direct foot to ground surface. open air itself is not NEARLY as cold, or have as much transfer as touching the ground. add in then moisture transfer to leather shoe, which would be very bad and speed up heat transer even more. then next, yep better traction then the smooth leather as well.
The patten overshoe is probably the best option for reenactment. should be fairly cheap, can just be added to any previous outfit/shoe, without destroying it. in fact, help preserve any leather boots to keep water off em. in fact, these weren't JUST for the winter. any situation of wet grass, mud, etc, these were worn.
Fun fact. In a modern factory there's a job right at the end of production call burnishing. Burnishing is where thay takes a blowtorch to the shoes. Not a blue hot flame but an orange flame. This process is performed for multiple reasons, 1 is to burn off any loose threats. Second is to shrink the leather. Leather being a natural material is full of inconsistencies so shoes will often have small creases and wrinkles but a bit of heat from a blowtorch will mostly shrink out all of that. So in effect you are doing exactly what you said you're doing shrinking your shoes drying the leather out... that sort of heat can also reactivate the glues that are holding the thing together. And if that happens yeah your whole shoe just become broken. :)
There's also things that combine options, at a couple nearby reenactment stuff, they have a strap on thing of hobnails similar to a paten, but essentially two layers of leather with straps to lock it over your normal shoes/boots.
Ontop of that, there are more structured inserts for leather shoes that also add insulation, a stiffer wool boot liner helps protect the boots when they, inevitably, get wet.
I was going to mention "Spats" and why they were common decades ago when all shoes and boots were made out of leather :)
Didn't think a video about footwear would be this intriguing and entertaining but i really enjoyed this one.
mink oil for leather boots - preserves, allows easier stretching, and does pretty good at waterproofing
For winter grip on ice and snow, I saw another youtuber (UA-camr: Engineering Knits. Video: Getting a Grip: Preventing the Victorian Lady's Slip'n'slide || Historical Knitting) explore a type of shoe covering used in at least the US, made of knitted wool. These added a lot of grip to shoes which seems to be a combination of friction and sticking caused by melted ice and snow re-freezing on the wool. Though they wear down very fast on pathed paths and roads they last much longer on just snow and ice. I doubt they last through many uses over all but an accomplished knitter could make a new pair very quickly if they had the wool to hand.
Pure speculation now - similar to the wool, I wonder if a detachable under sole could be made with something like rope, like the sole of an espadrilles. Something rough and fibrous but more hardwearing then the wool. I wonder how that would hold up. It would be fairly easy to make, I've seen youtube videos of rope soles made from coiled rope pinned to a template then sewn and glued into place.
wool is really sticky against snow, i keep the top parts of an old pair of wool socks in my coat pockets as emergecy boot covers for this purpose....
Oh yes, that's great too.
Noticed that as a kid going outside with just my woolen socks and I remember it working great too to simply put socks over my boots, but I haven't done this since I grew up.
To Your speculation, yes it does work.
There's sandals and clogs with an outer sole made of string/ropey material.
The pair I had are from a wellness resort, and they provided great traction on icy and sandy ground even when wet.
@@Null8fuenf10 ive got some of teh cheap rubebr strecthy ones with tiny metal cleats, they work great on modern shows on ice, only cost £1
that works well, as for why? i dont know
Thinking about it, in my first reenactment group we went to Pembroke Castle, it was utterly bickering down with rain, the 3 of us who were combat capable were very reluctant to fight in our period shoes but the boss got on our back after the custodian asked when combat was. We all slipped and got poked with swords, some in places you really don't want to be poked.
Supposed to say bucketing down not bickering, shows I shouldn't do the typing whilst tired.
Today, we mostly think of Japanese wearing wooden overshoes, but they were really common in Europe too, just a different design.
I do wonder if these shoes had nails on the bottom, it would make sense to me, though nailheads are slippery on stone!
The Japanese had found a simple workaround for slipping, it seems, by using one or two wooden protrusions on the sole of the wooden shoes. However, this works only in one direction (well front and back)
I modified a pair of leather shoes for a re-enactor" by stitching parallel strips of leather across the bottom of the shoes - essentially creating "tread." I had to groove out the stitch lines pretty deep (to avoid stitch-wear), but I was using a 9-10 oz leather, so it wasn't a big deal. Maybe this gives some folks an idea.
This is a great idea, when I eventually resole my shoes, I may try this
Yeah I'm prone to foot infections. I'm wearing modern boots properly weatherproofed with mink oil in the winter. I got some tall leather boots from Sierra that are genuinely comfortable.
I've been thinking about making the things I need rather than buying them. I think a nice pair of boots that I can wear on a daily basis and use for Larping is in order! Thank you for your fun and informative channel! ❤
As someone who now wears wool socks exclusively year round, I cannot recommend them enough. I also wear what is essentially a modern mesh shoe, also year round.
I often have to slosh through snow melt and slush and I’ve never had cold feet from doing so.
I have completely abandoned the concept of keeping my feet dry in the winter and rely on wool or layers of wool socks to keep my feet warm and comfortable.
Grab your ketchup and crunch away my friends.
🎩Hi for me the most important thing is the grip, hobnails are great on grass and snow, but on stone or any modern surface oops. One easy way to keep your feet dry is to wear plastic bags on them inside the boot. To properly dry wet boots stuff newspaper in them and it keeps them in the correct shape.
I think it's great to be historically as possible but we are at Winters door ! It's important to protect your feet! We don't live in those times now, poor souls 😢 Love your wife's shoes, listen to her lol I really like your costume 😊
I agree with Kramer's suggestion in going with the Modern shoe idea (I do this myself in many situations). Wear a modern shoe (see some of Kramer's suggestions) with a more period appropriate looking pair of Gaiters overtop of them. In this way you can cover much of the anachronistic qualities of modern shoes (depends on the shoe and the gaiters, but it's possible to have not but the toe and lower shoe/heel showing) while still benefiting from the more desirable qualities of modern shoes.
If you are planning on fighting in the snow, do not wear slick-soled moccasin-type boots, especially if your fighting style involves sudden changes in direction. You will experience 'involuntary skating' and instead of a subtle, sword-side stutter, shield side-side pass with a backhand blow that leaves your stalwart opponent 'dead and admiring', you end up sprawled on your butt in the snow, with both you and said opponent inarticulate with laughter.
I find it remarkable that both medieval Europeans, and Japanese people all came up with strapping wood to their feet to keep them dry, but the Americans didn't.
While I love your content for the sake of the content, I just wanted to say that your music selection is also top notch, and I often can't help tapping along to it at the end of each video. I know yours isn't specifically commissioned, but it's right up there with Shadiversity and Game Theory in terms of my favorite UA-camr themes.
Good luck and stay warm on your adventures.
Thanks very much!
@@LivingAnachronism You're very welcome.
Honestly I've always thought Uggs were a fairly passable entry level option for foot garb, and they have a modern sole and do a good job of keeping feet warm, not sure about waterproofing them but I suspect either one of the paste waxes or one of the spray silicone options would give them good enough waterproofing.
"I wonder if these fit... They do." 👀👀👀 Brb dying. But it may be worth checking into the hiking community. They've got crampons and snowshoes that you may be able to lift some of the ideas for anachronistic snow gear!
Good to see you back!
I've heard some people on the frontiers of colonial America put paper inside their shoes and moccasins to ward off the cold in winter... just unsure what that would do for the stealth or comfort of them.
a wool inner liner would be better
Leather boots can very easily be conditioned to be waterproof, and reconditioned if they get "destroyed". Yes, if wearing them frequently, you'll need to condition them once a week or so, which is work, but... Life is work. They're more durable and waterproof than many modern boots if treated properly.
This is just what I need, thank you for another awesome video 🙏
Yay another video thanks for starting my weekend off strong!!
Coalcracker Bushcraft has a video on how to make snow shoes using natural materials. That could be an option, if you are going for a plausible, historical look.
Fun fact i read in a couple autobiographies is that many spies & spy-catchers pay close attention to shoes because in surveillance operations it is easy to use reversible jackets or swap them or your hat etc.....but its much more difficult to change shoes and because surveillance teams spend a lot of time walking they tend to have favourite shoes they wear all the time.
The medieval shoes Kramer mentioned at the beginning of the video which have soles the same weight as the rest of the leather used to make them were specially worn indoors or with pattens. Shoes with thin leather soles don't last long outdoors.
I've worn two different types of pattens, hinged and one piece. The one-piece ones were easier to make and harder to get used to wearing, though I could easily go up on pointe (ballet for "standing on your toes") if I tried to reach up. The hinged ones were very easy to get accustomed to walking in. I wore them at a week-long event in late winter, where we had freezing rain for several days in a row. After I'd soaked both pairs of boots I'd brought along in case we had muddy weather, I was unwilling to mess up my nicer boots. Instead, I wore just my thick wool socks and the pattens. My feet stayed warm and comfortable despite the weather.
Many happy returns! How was your adventure?
It was an amazing experience. And like many great adventures, it also feels great to be home!
Hey Kramer people of olden days did use wood as a base for shoes
in the netherlands we have "Klompen" they are still made with wood and are still in use
the introduction of rubber has only improved this item
Canadian larper chiming in, my go to for all year round is a good soft toe leather work boot. Good ankle support and room for lots of socks. I wear them all year round larping or dressing casual. I've personally never had an issue with my boots getting soaked through, though i do oil them probably way more than i need to. Mine are laced because thats whats most comfortable for me but they do make leather work boots that you just slip on like rain boots. At the end of the day winters can be harsh and you should wear what keeps you warm and dry. (Also if at all possible you should bring a few snow shovels to your larp, best way to keep snow off your feet is to not walk through too much snow)
I'll just throw out a recommendation to a channel, the woodland escape. He shows hot to make some leather shoes that would be characteristic of a melding of tech of european shoes and moccasins, and he shows the winter version as well, with 2-3 layers of wool sewn into a shoe and put inside a larger sized shell. You pretty much just sew it and form it to your foot. He lives out of his, and he's 70, and out there building log cabins and an early american fort.
oh wow, i was just binging your last like 5 videos only to find out you uploaded a new video like 1 minute after i closed your videos tab to watch each individual video
❤love your guides man thank you so much for bringing in your passion again❤
rabbit fur covers would be a nice way to hide good modern shoes, some little scrappy pelts w a leather string to tie it, could even sew a hidden snap to pop it off quick
For traction, attaching pieces of cord to the soles (sewing or otherwise) was also a thing, at least by C15th and possibly earlier. I imagine if you layer right it's not so obvious to your feet. I imagine making detachable soles from cord might also be a poor man's patten, but that's just speculation.
Leather gaiters are pretty standard in the Mandalorian Mercs costuming group(Star Wars) and a great way to cover up more modern shoes.
Damn bro, Australian summer to American winter, brutal! How’s the jet lag?
One of those pairs of boots look like they have a Blake stitched rubber sole ( I think it was the leather ones with buckles?) if you go to your local cobbler they can put a full leather sole and wooden heel block on. You can also get a couple of sets of Segs to fit yourself, they are very similar to hobnails and work in the same way. If you want I’m happy to send you a few sets?
As always love the content, thanks for the hard work in making it!
I grew up with 2' of snow at all times in winter - wool socks/ furlined in good winter boots are a must ! I myself have to have warm shoes or i will lose my toes due to poor circulation. Scouts Leather Cream is a great way to give your boots some moisture and color back ! Who knew Cramer had such tiny feet?! 😆. My husband wears a women's size 9-mens 7.5-8 , I a woman can wear mens 9, womens 11 . . pro tip - just don't ruin the broken in on your wives boots as your toes are layed out different !
when i was doing LARPing I purchased a pair of plain brown modern calf length boots from a charity shop, then i paid a frend of mine to make leather covers that looked the part to go over the top, they attached by a series of hooks and eyes at the front, best £20 I spent on my kit.
Waterproofing leather with a mix of animal fat and beeswax was a thing back in the day and still is. It is an easy mix to make with a lot of videos here on UA-cam on making it. Even modern waterproofing materials can be use. As far as slick soled footwear, adjust the way you walk. I wear buckskin moccasins and you have to step toe first and not heal first.
Check out Malcolm PL's videos about shoes, especially in winter. He made a full set of gear out of leather he'd tanned and tried it out in winter, so legitimate as can be.
Excellent video with good advice. Here in the north where I'm at, we get a good deal of snow. Good winter footwear becomes a must!
Commenting for the algorithm!
I can even see making a pair of hobnail shoes to fit over your regular boots.
From Nordic (Finnish) point of view: Sami style fur shoes, where the sole is two piece fur, one piece pointing forward and one backward. The fur provides great traction.
I would be very interested in a comparison between leg wraps and boots.
What about hobnailed pattens? They don't permanently alter your shoe, and you combine the grip of the hobnails with the avoidance of stepping directly on wet surfaces you get from the pattens.
Newspaper is awesome for drying shoes out without damage
Yeah, trust me. Rubber soles with traction are a mfing Ancestor-sent boon. I dislocated my knee LARPing in "pebble" soles. I can only imagine what would happen in traditional medieval soles.
Leather is actually great in the winter. Just have to make sure to oil them regularly. You can even use beeswax to waterproof it. I wear leather boots year around. Oiling them in winter really helps em stay dry and they won't crack as much if you heat em up by the fire
When I shovel my driveway, i just wear large 100% wool socks over cotton socks and a pair of trekking sandals. I find leather boots tend to actually make my feet colder. This is especially true after I got frostbite in Alaska.
I really recommend just regular modern barefoot shoes for winter. I have a pair of winter shoes, it has like wool-ish fluff inside, it's faux leather but looks very like real leather. I wear barefoot shoes because it helps my hypermobile ankles not get sprained and also helps with my balance. They work well in show too, from my own experience, and never got frozen feet in low degrees.
Well done.
I was looking through tutorials on leather footwear construction, when I came across "Medieval Boots, Fantasy Footwear".
So, I followed a link to another of your videos, and I think you've got a great thesis.
I'm not really into fantasy personally, but I love that you're exploring the subject of common footwear in earlier periods, and keeping the historical information alive.
Subbing.
Kramer, I have to mention this. Your comfort in medieval shoes with skyrocket if you stop walking wrong. If you are still stepping from heel to toe like normal, you need to stop. The human foot was created to walk from toe to heel. Medieval shoes with softer soles were designed to allow this, unlike modern heeled shoes which entirely prevent it. You dont need to add more cushioning or layers or padding for your winter shoes if you are properly foxwalking, because you wont be slamming your bone-y heels on the ground anymore. Layers for warmth is one thing, but most people do it to protect their heels, which aren't designed to take impact.
He's actually covered that in previous fantasy/medieval foot wear videos
Hobnails in a thick slab of leather tied to the boot would be good for ice and non-permanent. I saw somewhere that using pine pitch or tar with crushed up softer barks/straw and slapping it on the bottom provides effectively an insulated rubber sole.
Another grate video
One for the algorithm 😊
Historically, such as in the 1600s, it was common to have 5 pairs of leather shoes and 3 pairs of heavy woolen "Irish stockings". The rationale was that leather was harder to come by, and since you would wear through your shoe soles before anything else, it didn't make sense to waste leather on full boots. The knee high stockings were thick enough to serve as leg protection.
I personally wear a pair of high ankle leather chukkas with doubled wool socks. They have a delightful treaded modern rubber sole.
Not necessarily for winter... But I have been using what are called jazz (dance) shoes for my garb. they look like the Viking shoe, and you can replace the laces with toggles. If you're crafty. I feel they definitely look the part, although they are harder to waterproof than I would like.
I have those same exact thursdays
I love them, but they did not serve well on a medieval camp trip
I have some boots called Mika from Xero Shoes that make barefoot shoes. They are very medieval looking and made out of canvas and synthetic leather. They are flat and have a sole with tread. They are super warm and comfortable and good in the snow.
I have a pair of xero shoes and I love them it's pretty much all I ever wear now. I think the exact model I have has been retired, but the "pilgrim" is probably the closest thing they have now. My shoes are slightly darker in color.
As to my Spanish heritage I use espadrilles both on winter and summer
Invest in a thermal shoe dryer. It will dry shoes days faster while not damaging them. I use mine every day due to sweaty feet 😅
You have to condition the leather more often due to moisture loss but it is wildly better than damp shoes.