Moccasins

T

Trekker

Joined
Apr 30, 2003
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Does anybody here wear moccasins in the wilderness. I am looking to purchase a pair, but not really sure want to buy. Do they make a modern type of moccasin with better trend and better durability than the leather sole ones, or are the simple Indian moccasins the way to go?
 
Moccasins are great for wearing around camp, but they don't last long on the trail or offer much support. In northern Canada, you might see someone wearing moccasins with rubber overshoes. Otherwise, you mainly see academics wearing them at environmental gatherings, to establish their ethnicity:barf: ... indoors, of course.
 
I wear my Minnetonkas around camp like Ed mentioned, but I wouldn't want to do much hiking in them. . . maybe an hour or two on the well kept trails at the park near me, with no pack, or maybe just a light day pack with lunch in it, but that's about it. They have a rubber sole, but no tread and I can say from experience that walking on any kind of mud in them is about as treacherous as you can get. Leather souls may actually have better traction than the rubber on mine, but they wouldn't be as durable. I may go and see what I can turn up on Google since you've sparked my curiosity.
 
Wabajack said:
Why not wear shoes or boots?
Click to expand...

Moccasins ARE shoes. Just traditional aboriginal style. They give great feel for the terrain, but take some getting used to. Better than going barefoot, but without total loss of contact with the ground. I might well ask "why step off the concrete sidewalk".


I've worn the heavy bullhide Carl Dyer's mocs and they have plus's and minuses. If you get them wet, you have to wear them until dry or they shrink. The leather bottoms are durable enough, but are slick when new. You have to rough them up to get good traction. No, they add no support to feet and ankles at all. But they are the cat's meow for comfort and silent walking while hunting. IMHO, buy the heavy ones, not the reservation store Taiwan thin ones. Dixie Gun Works, Crazy Crow Trading Post are some places to start looking.

Codger
 
I have two pairs of Arrow mocs that are great in the woods very thick double sole, they have one called a Bushboot that is 8" or 10" high boot style & double sole. I have worn them hunting since 1993 & they are still in good shape, if the sole wears out they will replace it. I think the site is Arrowmoc.com they are very high quality. check them out!
 
I take some homemade moccasin hunting. slip them on to stalk in. just slightly better than barefoot.

Heres a trick for your moccasin.
use Shoe Goo, silicone athletic shoe repair goop, to put a few lines of tread on the sole. gives them a Little more traction.
 
There are a few companies, like Russell mocassins, that make a sturdy wilderness capable moc, but they are expensive.

I've worn mocs with good success in the wild while hunting, but I never hiked any distance on hard ground in them.
 
I'll throw my $0.02 in.

I wear moccasins almost exclusively for woods wandering. Have for years, and they were always the cheapo kind from Wal-Mart. I've become picky about their design and construction though.

Suede soles are fine, except for wet weather. I prefer them actually. They are very slippery so you have to grip the ground with your toes. Once you get that down they're great. You can feel the ground, don't leave tracks, and so on. I've read about greasing suede mocs, but I could also strap banana peels to the soles to make falling on my ass funny.

Rubber soles are better for wet ground, and more tender feet, but some lots carried in stores have very thick soles with squares molded in. Those suck, because all you can feel are rubber squares and not the ground! If you can find the flatter type, get those. And also avoid the plastic soles (K-Mart), they don't flex as well, less ground-feel, and they make more noise.

And one of the biggest advantages to me is that they form to the exact shape of your foot. After a few days, they're custom.

Thick wool socks can provide cushion.

If your mocs collect sweat, just pour some powder in to them, and shake it around. No smell, clean, dry, cozy.

I love moccasins. And cheap ones will last if you give them half a chance.

Hope this helps. Take care.
 
If you make some you can put a rawhide bottom on them. It won't help with traction but they will last longer.
 
Hey Guys...

I'd love to wear these,, however I've got sensitive feet (from stepping on F-ing Lego blocks for the last 10 years) and we have Alot of hawthorn around..

Sure as heck the first walk in them and I'm gonna get stuck with one of those things...

If theres a sharp stick,hawthorn or rusty nail,, I'm the first one who's gonna find it...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
If you have a chance read the annotated journal of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Making mocs was a major part of their day to day lives. There were sections of the trail where mocs lasted less then 24 hrs. Most of us are out for a day or three so longevity isn't a problem but bruises could be. Start slow, like maybe a 1 day trip, before a multiday trip.

You could also buy those super expensive mocs from the fantasy movie "The Hunted". I can't remember the maker off hand. Better yet, just stick with a pair of lightweight traill shoes or boots.
 
Chacos or barefoot for me. If it starts to get below 50 and its a wet cold, I wear wool socks too.

Never had a pair of these but they are supposed to be the bomb. Expensive from what I understand. Soles are made from a conveyer belt...

http://www.catskillmoccasins.com/

These are The Hunted mocs
 
Arrow mocs run around $60.00 & up depending on which style & sole the double sole is two 1/4" pieces of leather & very tough ( Arrowmoc.com)
 
I have a pair a double soled Carl Dyer's "RENDEZVOUS" Moccasines, and I really like them. I have worn them on several hikes and one of my Tom Brown tracking classes.

Ron
 
Codger_64 said:
Moccasins ARE shoes. Just traditional aboriginal style. They give great feel for the terrain, but take some getting used to. Better than going barefoot, but without total loss of contact with the ground. I might well ask "why step off the concrete sidewalk".
Codger
Click to expand...

People stopped wearing them for a reason is all I'm am saying. :D
 
moccasins are like knives & flashlights & other things, their is a wide range of quality both in materials & workmanship. some are alot better than others! top of the line moccs are well made of very heavy leather & xtra thick or double thick soles. also treated for water resistence just like modern leather boots.
 
Catskillmoccasins were the mocs featured in the movie the hunted however, Tom Brown has, or at least did have or wear at one time, carl dyers moccasins. Indian or loafer mocs I believe. No tread so it didn't leave any footprints. : )
 
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