From Elk Hide to Shoes! Complete Build

Not long ago I posted a video showing how to make leather from animal hides using the ancient bark tanning method. In this video I'll use the bark tanned leather from that project to make some hand made moccasin style turn shoes for hunting this fall. These medieval shoes are comfortable, quiet and relatively easy to make, although it does take a while to make all the stitches by hand. I always strive to use every animal I take while hunting as completely as possible. Leather working projects like this are just another way we can do that. The thin, soft soles are perfect for sneaking quitetly through the forest, which is primarily what I'll be using them for. But they'd also be great footwear for reenactments. For a more detailed tutorial, visit shoemakingschool.com.
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[@j6nighttrain]

The irony of what I’m doing just hit me. Using the most advanced technologies to watch videos to learn to be a hunter gatherer. This is like the Jetsons studying to become a Flintstone. Thank you for the tutorials! Love it!

[@Clark42EoC]

Jetson universe is held up by tech that could collapse and then everyone's back to the Flintstones. Knowing the basics of the real world is always wise.

[@theabhorrentchef7226]

Yes indeed. Someone’s got to keep the old ways alive so that when nature, or the ever present and always nefarious “they”, pull the rug out from under us we’re not doomed to death or serfdom.

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

😂✊️🔥✌️💚

[@RockyMountainThugs]

Your ancestors would be proud 😂😂

[@gregorycruxdatsalutem5291]

Well, when all the tech is gone ( coming soon to a neighborhood near you). If you can find and kill a 900lbs elk, you can make some shoes, chaps, and a jacket with matching hat.

[@eduardoalves58]

I changed my mind, shoes (in the stores) are very cheap! Impressive the amount of work is used in order to do a simple pair of shoes!! Congratulations and thank you to show those techniques.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank you very much!

[@allenjones2450]

These are definitely $250 shoes at minimum, after all the time punching holes and sewing.

[@ANXIETOR]

I’ve looked for moccasins online before, and was always shocked by the price. Well, now I know. If I were to attempt this, Webster’s would have to add a bunch of new cuss words to the dictionary. Good job, Clay. Cool video.

[@clayhayeshunter]

😂

[@Clark42EoC]

Well said

[@theresagomez2605]

😂😂😂

[@SERENITY_byNATURE]

This video is an oasis of calm. The tranquility and natural beauty are perfect. Anyone else loving this?

[@dennislanigan1082]

If you’re watching this and thinking of making deer turn shoes, keep in mind deer hides stretch as you wear them. source: I am a bark tanner and made the exact same style of shoes. Better hides for shoes: cow, buffalo, goat, yak, and elk.

[@roxrequiem2935]

Dear sir, I understand these are primitive technologies, but given the geological makeup of my area, it is incredibly jagged rock. I'm afraid the protections offered my these primitive moccassins would not be up to the task and so I humbly ask if there is some sort of upgrade wherein a moccassin can be processed to have wooden and or padded soles? Whilst I understand the unlikelyhood that I need make any of these as would not suit my environment, I am still interested in leathercrafts nevertheless. May I ask your opinion where I may look into next? Thank you kindly.

[@adamredden2007]

You just saved me a ton of disappointment. I'll wait until it's time for my angus bull to leave this plane......

[@whippyboy6272]

This was elk

[@whippyboy6272]

​@roxrequiemdutch style clogs might-just might...suit you better2935

[@whippyboy6272]

​@@roxrequiem2935Dutch style clogs may suit your purpose

[@TheArtofCraftsmanship]

I just made a few pairs of these earlier this spring for my wife, daughter, and myself. The first two stiched by hand…and the last on my leather sewing machine😉. Awesome job on yours. Turning these babies is no joke😂.

[@johnmachner6450]

Awesome clay those are bad ass.You could market those I bet .

[@clayhayeshunter]

Got that right!

[@rshaart4810]

I'm sure others have said it in the comments, but turn shoes are easier to turn if you soak the leather first in water. I can't speak for hunting in the mountains, but after 12 years of reenactment fighting in turn shoes with leather bare soles, I've only slipped half a dozen times at most, I found that walking on the balls of your feet and stepping toe first vs heel first makes it easier to maintain your footing, that and a little bit of beeswax on rubbed on the soles daily gives enough grip for my needs.

[@timmynormand8082]

I think the rhino liner would work well

[@ericcarpenter7184]

@@timmynormand8082 too rigid not enough flex so stiff it would most likely crack and it would be loud just like a boot.

[@timmynormand8082]

@@ericcarpenter7184 ahh possibly it was just a thought. I never made any shoes before

[@brandyjean7015]

​@@timmynormand8082thinking is good. Most crafts are improved through trial & error.

[@Stitching_Sassenach]

Nicole Rudolph is a dress historian and shoemaker here on KZbin. She also has some excellent videos on making turn shoes by hand.

[@ManInTheWoods76]

From free elk skin and $2 worth of rubber bits and cement.... Clay just made a $500 pair of shoes. Beyond belief. A true testament to the value of combining skill with man hours.

[@JohnRichardson-lk8pp]

Dollars? What's that? Near worthless pieces of paper? Nah, no need for that. Natural tinder everywhere.

[@Freeman-Dl70]

You should really check the prices on a decent sized can of Barge cement. $2 dollars wouldn't pay for the brush that doubles as a cap.

[@DanBCooper]

Not to rain on your parade, but your average skilled tradesman earns $500/day easy. I’m betting this guy spent much more time than that on these beautiful moccasins . Awesome, work, but not cost effective in the slightest

[@JohnRichardson-lk8pp]

@@DanBCooper How much time to catch, prep, and smoke the salmon? Or to raIse and butcher the goat?

[@appledravia]

Those came out great! Any time I've done a project like that I just keep thinking that it used to be done with tools of stone and bone and I'm floored at how hard our ancestors worked at being alive.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Definitely 💯

[@stewartpalmer2456]

This is reminding me of the book "The Farmer Boy." Which I read as a child. I remember them describing him having his first shoes made by a cobbler. Very awesome.

[@colinnelson225]

I'm in love with this whole project, but I'm over here completely mind-blown about the sticking power of contact cement...WOW!

[@brandyjean7015]

Barge glue is definitely worth every penny.

[@bootstrapoutdoors8686]

The term renaissance man comes to mind. truly enjoy your videos.

[@herrb.3756]

Perfekte solide Handarbeit . 💪🏻 Allein vom zusehen kann man einiges lernen. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jillturnbull6042]

Is there anything you can't do? I'm constantly amazed at your skills and impeccable precision. Thank you for sharing your passion. What a blessing it is to watch you.

[@Clark42EoC]

He sees things through to the end. It's not that he's a godly fount of knowledge. It's that his determination to learn, understand and do are truly undaunted.

[@joulsch]

Awesome, I like that stuff. Made myself a pair of mocs a few years ago and felt it was very satiesfying ...😊 greetings from Germany!

[@MikeJones-vb1me]

That was enjoyable. I just started hunting and my guide buddy recommended I find some soft-sole slippers for stalking. I bought some leather moccasins (I do some leather work making sheaths for my knives but never considered making my own) and I could not believe how much quieter the were in the forest and on logging roads compared to my boots. I'd far rather change into these than ruin another pair of socks stalking an animal!

[@Hopeknives13]

I just tanned my first deer hide and was thinking some moccasins would be amazing for stalking. Because I wear my tennis shoe hunting already. Thanks for this video 👍🏼

[@growersmindset]

dude those shoes are sick! love the quiet times while you document the process. didn’t realize how much work it takes to make shoes. keep it up dawg. love your videos

[@JAEUFM]

I watched a video of a boot maker in Japan, make a pair of boots from wild boar hide. What fascinate me, was how many specialized cutting tools he used to make different cuts in the different pieces, was engrossing to watch.

[@JRad933]

Hahaha, maybe it’s the algorithm but just yesterday I was watching a a young man crafting a neat pair of boots and that’s what brought me to this guy so you probably talking about the same one. Boycut, dressed in white, no talking whatsoever

[@brandonpowers5672]

Your time on Alone was awesome. Your skills are amazing! Your the reason i pulled the trigger on getting a Leatherman Arc. Have taught me how to make a fishing rod and reel in the bush, snaring and more. I look forward to all your videos. I've been doing bushcraft/survival stuff for years, but have learned so much from watching your videos and the show. Thanks for what you do.

[@clayhayeshunter]

👍

[@SingleMost]

i suggest making a lined mould of the bottom of the shoe to step onto the material while wearing to get a dr.scholl sole

[@michaelthomson8065]

Really well done.Glad you showed how you skived the edges of the thick soles.

[@DGibsonxio]

When i got my first job and paycheck i purchased a pair of moccasins and my first issue of Mother Earth News magazine. I wrote those until the bottoms were full of holes. And I kept them for many years after. List somewhere along the line in one of my many moves, I still think of them.

[@jackspratt44]

Its always good for a man to walk off into the sunset with his dog. I love my dogs

[@PamChoate1969]

Thank you for your videos.I am trying to learn as much as I can.I'm going to be 55 on September 1st.And I have some knowledge and I could live in the woods if I need be but I sure Do need to learn your skills that I do not have again.Thank you for sharing your knowledge and GOD BLESS 💯🙏😎🇺🇸

[@bracoop2]

It’s pretty amazing how this art form used to be a very important profession and now nobody has any idea how their nikes are made

[@3passa]

Your magic hands! Lovely workmanship, and camera, as always. Really exciting project, more so after seeing you tanning the hide. Very interesting process with the duct tape mold. Love the tools too, the awls and that brutally sharp knife!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank ya

[@brettchristoffel6391]

I'm an Aussie and I watched the bark tanning video and after 43 years it got me interested in getting back into doing some tanning but using the bark method, but it would be roo skins using wattle/acacia bark, and to make the viking style shoes I would potentialy need to use double thickness as roo skin is pretty thin. Gotta say both vides are flamin awesome mate.

[@johnwalker7592]

sometimes I'm jealous you guys can just get roo skins from the side of the road... I have to pay a pretty penny to get the stuff in the USA... I build motorcycle gloves with the stuff, nothing in the world beats roo skin on impact resistance and most importantly abrasive resistance. wish it was cheaper for me, making jackets of the stuff would be my dream.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Heck yeah, give it a go.

[@brettchristoffel6391]

@@johnwalker7592 Used some to make a quiver some 45 years ago, still got that quiver

[@DeniseSkidmore]

You can use the thinner leather for the upper and get soles of cow leather.

[@evilbarbie2160]

Makes great snake whips.

[@TORAH-613]

now we need a full week review of you wearing them all week.

[@Vovastik170]

За неделю они только удобнее станут)

[@workinprogress5431]

I hope we do see a follow up! I'd love to feel how a pair of these wear after really conforming to the feet. But I'd also like hearing feedback on how this method of sole feels and holds up. By looks they seem extremely comfortable, and at least if the sole does wear or separate it's easily repaired.

[@coreywalker1571]

Please enable closed captioning for your videos it really helps those of us with poor hearing! Awesome video and craftmanship regardless though!

[@davidvaughn7752]

Love my elk hide mocks! Cant put a nail through them with my bare hands. Great leather. Having leather like you made would be the only thing I'd want for. Beautiful design! Thanks!

[@brianeaton3734]

Great job… I bet those will soften up nicely after a break in period.

[@cedricdesmarais1418]

So many skills required for those pairs! Amazing.

[@joehanson2635]

Those are some bad ass shoes I dig them.

[@CampfireKodiak]

Those should work well for sneaking up on game! Adding traction was a good idea especially for wet grass or muddy slopes. I was just doing my own leather work yesterday making a knife sheath. It's a very enjoyable pastime.

[@deweywesley6262]

Save a bit of cow hide for the sole, will last much longer for mocc sole. No need to remove the hair. It'll eventually wear with use with hair side out. Leave hide in wet towel or equivalent. Makes stitching easier for the sole especially with thick leather. Great video!

[@aranha9365]

That is really cool. I would suggest to make a "toe box" in order to leave room for the fingers spreading out doing their thing, and making the shoe anchor point on the ankle, not on the toes, ideally they would not touch the shoe tips. Thank for that Clay, it is really awesome l!

[@Andrea-bu3vn]

Greetings from germany! Very cool shoes!👍😃❤

[@davidmerriott7356]

I would buy a pair!!!! Those look perfect for outdoor camp chores. Nice job.

[@charlesleblanc6638]

Great piece of work ... you just know there comfortable !

[@dingus01]

I’ve made these shoes too! Turnovers! I modified it a bit and went ver the ankle and added two more toggle buckles. I also used a thick veg tan for the soles (slippery yes I know but oh so much more comfortable)

[@lunkydog]

I'm with you on the slick bottomed part. My Dyers, while awesome in south Texas hunting pigs was lethal in Montana on an elk hunt. Ended up on my ass a couple of times.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yeah, they definitely need some traction in the hills.

[@jagannadhveluvarti]

AWESOME, FANTASTIC, MINDBLOWING, AMAZING SKILL

[@carolburton4711]

Very informative video on bark tanning and shoe making, appreciate u sharing your many talents with us Mr Hayes. I could watch these kind of videos all day.

[@bettytroyer9436]

Wow! That's my style of shoes. (I hate shoes.) But after all that hard work I'm not sure I'd want to actually wear them. Beautiful!

[@foxtrot978]

Wow I really would have never thought to try this. What a cool project!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glad you liked it!

[@kerlyn3582]

Very cool shoes

[@oleksandrkozynets148]

hand made thinks are always beautiful

[@adamakaru2683]

AMAZING they are like moccasins. Really beautiful how I wish I could do something like that thank you.

[@davidfleer5307]

Cool work there Clay in 2 months you can put them to work sneaking up on a bull 👍 I hope you did that while Liz was gone on her hike and got it cleaned up before she got back 😆 good luck hunting this year 👍✌🏻🇺🇸

[@crash7951]

Bravo maestro 👏👏👏👍

[@cynthiastandley5742]

Wow. They're beautiful.

[@CombatCulture175]

Those are awesome! I would 100% buy a pair of those!

[@divinenonbinary]

Absolute dream shoe. Exactly what I been looking for. Now just gotta find an elk 😭😭😭

[@georgelauchland7512]

I sure hope you and your family are safe with the fire down the canyon❤

[@donphillips7329]

Well now i can quite crying over you cutting that hide down the middle...well done and tks !!!

[@QuartBernstein311]

There's a few companies that do this. Sodhoppers is one. You make a cast the same way and mail it to him in Oregon. Later on you can either buy or make your own tire shavings and reapply it where needed. I tried it once on an old pair of moccasins and was not able to have any luck with it. It fell off after a day. I wondered if I needed to sand down the grain of the leather to get a better adhesive. Just be careful with some of those adhesives. Best to do it outside to avoid the fumes. Also whenever using glue be careful used waxed based conditioners (Obenaufs) near the glue as it can delaminate it.

[@madamecampsalot6384]

Wow, what a beautiful hide and shoes!

[@chriswoyce6285]

Beautiful job Clay!

[@michaelstrauss6587]

Nice. Took me back, a long time ago, to when I was a teen, a made a pair. You sacrificed the right sock.

[@Delta2-4Gaming]

3:27 and shoes done! Thanks for the help man!

[@a.911]

Technology is art, it’s in our dna to create

[@reddirt5489]

Wow, another amazing lesson. Thank you!

[@SurvivingJamesRoberts]

love this! I saw your little pack of leather working stuff.. I really like the idea of having something like that. I'd love a list of tools and items you have in there.

[@divinenonbinary]

Turning shoe inside out was crazy! Did not expect that at all!! I was wondering did you add extras to the pattern? Or the seams didn’t take much material away?

[@garyjohnson9297]

As someone who has made and worn mocs as a reenactor for over forty years I would like to say a few things about this build . Firstly nice job tanning your hide ..do you have a staking beam to soften the hide after tanning ? Next why did you over stitch the edge with cordovan lace ? It might look nice , but with wear it will chafe your ankles it should have been left out Next why did you stitch it inside out ? Next , why did you attach the toggle so low on the back of the foot ? You should have used a loop back button or an antler til button higher you the side . The holes that you used to attach the tab with will stretch with age and will allow both sand and water to enter . Your stitching technique is great and shows that you might be either a harness maker or saddler ..but using a stencil knife for cut out ? And though the hand forged knife is nice and sharp , for skiving , you should have a single edge knife with a 45 degree angle blade like a skew chisel . You treatment of the bottoms , though innovative would have been better done if you had used either full grain buffalo hide from the hump of a bull, or moose, it is thicker and will wear longer . Go online and find a copy of W Ben Hunts book Indian Crafts and Lore It has three different styles of mocs and how to make them . Your mocs , are a variation of the Navaho but they are lower . The Navaho used a second sole that they could replace as it wore out without having to make a whole new moccasin and the collar is over ankle bone to keep out the sand and duff . Lastly , being a hunter , do you have or can you get beat fat to render out the oil ? Bear oil , where mixed with bees wax makes an excellent leather softener and water seal and lasts longer than anything with petrochemicals and silicones and after applying to your moccasins, you hands are nice and soft

[@thewanderer077]

You should do a video on fly fishing exclusively, love to see your setup and some of your methodology. Just a thought… thanks for the video 👍

[@cb750k1974]

Wow, good job......I really enjoyed all the steps to make some shoes......I bet they'll serve you well.

[@puchipood5330]

What an awesome video! It's amazing to see the amount of precision and time it took to make these moccasins! I want a pair now 😂

[@doodybird5766]

Beautiful shoes! ❤

[@glennbayley5863]

Clay Thank you for fantastic video you most have a lot of patience 👏🏾

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks for watching!

[@patogden856]

Thanks Clay . Astonishing ❤Pat nz

[@jerryj3047]

I did that as a kid ...Two Little Savages from Ernest Thompson Seton good book...good video man👍👍

[@BryanKoenig379]

This is an excellent tutorial thank you❤

[@Nivedxolo]

Super and made it dahm clear it seems to look at video it is gradually most clear some and most satisfying video and looking it on this best gradually all the best for your upcoming videos

[@TheMadManPlace]

Very well done - thanks for showing us how.

[@clayhayeshunter]

No problem 👍

[@MThomas001]

Nice work. Those are very cool. Rubber bottom is awesome.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks 👍

[@ervintaylor6508]

Clay this is one of your best!!

[@ms-ht1cj]

Shoes are great, but is this sole made of rubber particles a good idea? These small pieces will gradually fall apart and litter the forest. Why not making a whole rubber sole?

[@josephhawkins5750]

Really dude

[@DeniseSkidmore]

Yes, that's my experience with making this type of sole. The coating flakes off in chunks and after it gets dirty it's harder to securely adhere patches. I prefer "soling sheets" when the sole design is flat and just a drying oil regularly applied for rounder sole shapes. "Climbing rubber" is a very thin option that lets you feel the ground almost as well as bare leather.

[@tylertapp131]

Wow these are gorgeous, they look very viking esk to me, so awesome.

[@stihl888]

Nice build Clay.

[@GrowinwithAJ]

you should make a mode of your foot liike wood or plaster seems like that would help when putting the hide together

[@lahure]

Très beau travail ❤❤❤❤

[@chriszeis5477]

I really like them nice work!

[@alheno5423]

What beautiful leather!

[@ericallaire8677]

Nice design. Thanks for sharing.

[@dianabenobo]

I was wondering about pine tar and sand for traction but rubber has made a debut for the moccasin.

[@dianabenobo]

I guess I could gouge rubber off that old tire that my neighbor rolled into the creek.

[@deej9367]

I have a pair of carl dyers from 25 years ago. I love them

[@_kline9571]

Awesome 👍

[@FERNANDOAMENDIVIL]

“Would definitely pay for the craft$”man”$hip.” ~ Worth EVERY dollar. ~

[@peteward6478]

Excellent video mate.😊

[@bracoop2]

Dude I know what I’m gonna be wearing into the woods to hunt this year! Duck tape shoes!

[@DeniseSkidmore]

Very slippery and don't breathe

[@gingebrien2408]

Awesome job.

[@kevincain2697]

Those were some cool shoes

[@wildsnook]

This is good work. Thanks for sharing.

[@papercuts777]

the 1st time was the ;last time he wore them. 'buckles' on the inside, next pair and less gription gunk. good work

[@joeklempel8759]

Very cool, I think I'll have to try that!

[@donaldhosford1068]

I love love it ❤👍

[@IreneTozetti-v5n]

Amazing

[@inga3188]

My flat feet would love these.