Why I Wear Wooden Shoes in the Shop

3 years ago I made a video about carving wooden shoes for my shop. • How to Carve Clogs by ...
I wear them every day as they are comfortable and protective plus they are incredibly comfortable. Wooden shoes, clogs or Klompen, they make me happy. Some might call it sustainable fashion but I jsut want to look like jackman works!
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[@adelheidsnel5171]

Well I’m Dutch and I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw you wearing our “klompen”. They suit you very well James!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks. Most comfortable shop shoes you could ask for.

[@LogiForce86]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo People always think the opposite though, but next time you buy wooden shoes I would recommend willow. Willow wood isn't porous like other wood choices like aspen. Well, they are porous that they breath but under the microscope you can see that the wood actually has valves inside. So moisture can get out but not back in. It's amazing as a Dutchman to see people liking clogs. I haven't worn them in years but used to always wear them as a kid until I went to school and was made fun of because of them. I could run in them as a kid and what was especially fun was drifting around a corner with them. It would wear them out really quickly though especially on the rough surface tiles we have on the sidewalk in the Netherlands. 😅

[@fredcain7668]

@@LogiForce86 I think the reason the children made fun of you was because children are very heavily into peer pressure. Everyone has to be exactly alike. But the irony here is that shoes and other articles of clothing go in and out of fashion. Klompen may one day become a hit again and the kids will tease a child who shows up at school without them. That is not a prediction but it COULD happen. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[@LogiForce86]

@@fredcain7668 Maybe they will. Of course I am 35 now and I could care less about the impressions of others. The trend at the time was that Nike was becoming a hot item in the Netherlands. Just was a couple of years prior to the release of the first Nike Air. So think 1991/1992. That hype basically continued throughout the 90s.

[@fredcain7668]

@@LogiForce86 Logi, That is quite possibly a good suggestion but where can you find Klompen made from willow? After searching online, all the online suppliers have popular.

[@TaylorTheOtter]

Here in the Netherlands we have an idiom: "Nou breekt mijn klomp!" Literal translation is "Now my clog snaps!" it actually means something like "I can't believe this!" usually in an annoyed/exasperated context. Example: "You can't dimension lumber without power tools and you call yourself a master hand tool woodworker? Nou breekt mijn klomp!" Note on pronunciation: - "Nou" like in "noun" (or use the synonym "Nu" like in "numeric") - "breekt" like "breaks" but with a hard R - "mijn" is hard but if you try pronouncing "meyn" you'll get pretty close. Alternatively, use the contracted form "m'n", pronounced like "min" but with a shorter, nearly skipped over i sound. - "klomp" you heard it in the video. "Klompen" is plural, just drop the -en to make it singular. Kudos to you if you read through all this. I honestly don't know why I made this comment so detailed... Have a nice day! Ps.: "Snaps" is the closest translation I could think of but it feels like there's a subtle difference between the two.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Interesting. I love leering interesting idioms. one of my favorite is Hungarian "Don't Drink Beer to the Bear till it is gutted" but i think one with klomp might take first place now. thanks!

[@displaychicken]

Thanks Sven, I’ve been practicing and I’m going to add this phrase to my repertoire!

[@tux_duh]

This is actually quite funny, the idea of a clog snapping into being so unbelievable its a common idiom

[@SentinalSlice]

Interesting.

[@skydivenext]

When I read I thought it was "now break my klomp"

[@hillt0py0deler]

I've been wearing wood clogs much like yours since 2017 and I absolutely love them for all of the same reasons you listed. I use them in the shop to protect my feet (and also wear them regularly around the house), and they are so amazingly comfortable and supportive! The main modification for me though is that I glued some rubber sole material to the bottoms of each shoe to provide better traction on slick flooring, and having rubber soles also cuts down a little on the loud clump clump sound that the shoes make when walking.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

right on. I ended up putting rubber flooring in the shop to protect falling tools.

[@teresaellis7062]

My dad has a pair he bought when he was last in the Netherlands, years ago. He uses them for his gardening shoes. He wore them so long that he needed to have them resoled at a local shoe shop, so they have rubber soles.

[@andrebartels1690]

How do they fair with the rubber soles? I believe there must be a reason why klompen are not equipped with rubber. Would love to find out if there is any downside.

[@grumbeard]

You are still using them for a very decent modern application. The safety shoe thing is official here in the netherlands. Except for slightly extra slippage you do have a larger area of your foot protected. For modern usage it is a niche thing. In the Netherlands it is mostly people from farming families adn their children who still wear them. Also nice for garden work.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I just installed rubber floors on my shop. So now there's no slipping issue and they're a lot quieter. Absolutely love using them everyday.

[@benvasilinda9729]

I saw people using them to run in marathons. I could hear them for a long time behind me clopping along.

[@abel6846]

When we would get new clogs, we’d wear them for a couple of days and then go back to the clogmaker to get adjustments. After a couple of weeks, we would again go back so the clog maker could see the wear pattern on the soles. If it was really uneven, the clog maker would put hardwood plug in the part that was worn most. Also, l grew up with boys who would run and play football/soccer with clogs on.

[@killianlee8338]

They looked weird until I realized they're pretty much wooden crocs

[@Eludinium]

Nah, crocs are foam clogs. Not the other way around.

[@brandonl375]

Still look weird

[@Jeppe.P.Bjerget]

We always use a open type of this when we were child. Its still used here, and is even more popular in Sweden. Netherland is one of the country that use it for daily use and souvenirs. Best wishes from Jan in Norway

[@channelchannelchannelchannel]

How much does a pair cost from a local shoe maker where you live?

[@borjesvensson8661]

​@@channelchannelchannelchannel here in sweden it is about 2-300 sek for a standard pair (about 20-30 euro/dollar) and about the double for nicer ones with vegetable tanned leather.

[@shiftinto1]

I was watching your saw sharpening video and at some point you sat down and I could see your shoes! At that point all I could think was, "dude - the shoes! What about those!?" So then I found this one. Great shoe story. In the saw video they must have been newly carved and finished. And I am not a fancy shoe person, but they were beautiful!

[@garyd5622]

I have a pair of wooden shoes my father bought in Holland, Michigan 50 years ago and still wear them also in the shop in my basement. They are comfortable, clean and safe to wear.

[@MichaelHampton-Whitney]

I love klompen! I think they're exceptionally practical.

[@jayalan8478]

I love your mention of the story told by the wearing of the design and material. ❤ organic art

[@jadesabrexiv]

I’ll confess, you have caught my interest. I’ll look thru your other videos in the morning and hope to see the generation of a new set. The amount of time it would take to make them is what intrigues me.

[@tammylentine978]

I bought my wooden clogs from Holland Michigan several years ago. I wear them in my pottery studio for a lot of the same reasons. They clean up easy and they are easy to kick off when I come and go from the studio. The poplar is a softer wood so the longer you wear them the better they conform to your foot. On St Nichols Day (December 6th) they are put out to be filled with candy. Holland Christmas tradition we learned about when our daughter was in second grade. I do have a tight spot that I need to carve out. I’ll watch that video next. Maybe I can fix it. I knitted some thick socks for cushions but it makes my shoes a little tight. Anyway thanks for the video

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Nice! I have actually worn through the soles on mine. I recently put new wood on the bottom and should be able to get another 10 years out of them. it is amazing what a good hook knife can do to fit them to the foot.

[@beverlyhollenbeck3406]

Great idea in the shop!

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

Definitely would be interested in a build video, and/or a reasonably priced source of "blanks". I see them as better than the conventional safety shoes because they are strong all over the top of the foot instead of just that little steel toe box.

[@marianhood1025]

I love my klompen! I bought them in the Netherlands three years ago and have worn them as shop shoes since. One of the guys making them mentioned that they were used for safety which is where I got the idea but, until I saw one of your videos, I didn't know of anyone else who actually wore them in the shop. Greetings from Canada and I thoroughly enjoy your videos. I use mostly hand tools as well.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

thanks man. yes there are a few of us crazy people out there!

[@nielsvanginkel1952]

Back in the days of the industrial revolution the wooden shoes were thicker for safety. So the people working in factories would wair thicker ones than on the sundays. When the industial revolution came in france people would throw their wooden shoes in the machines. Thats were the word sabbotage comes from. This fact is covered in QI some years ago. And like i mentioned 'sunday' wooden shoes. In the Netherlands people would have an extra pair for the sunday. Those would be sanded clean white and people wore those walking to church. No idea if anybody will read this but i think the wooden shoe has a interesting history.

[@wilwulpje5684]

In the past in the Netherlands, wooden blocks were simply glued under.

[@kaycecover9083]

Love your video and love these shoes and have worn out several pair in the last decade. We live in a wet area in SE Virginia. When rain falls on the clay soil, it sits on top for days. The wooden clogs are instantly warm, impervious to rain, easy to clean, slip on and off, and wear very well. However, we tend to lose the heart of the wood under the ball of the foot (rather than losing the height of the heel). We have been trying to figure out how to repair these. Would love to see that if you decide to try it.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I did a live video about a year ago re Soleing these with a harder sole. Love them now.

[@mattbranham1105]

This was a great explanation and vid. I never thought about using wood shoes in the shop. Awesome!!

[@mabelselesho4307]

Were are you from

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

We will start a fashion statement yet!

[@ga5743]

Geezzz time flies. I recall you carving them.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

yes it does.

[@zaizen4359]

I greatly appreciate you putting a link to where you purchased your clogs from. You just saved me hours of searching online for a reputable seller! I've just ordered a pair. Looking forward to customizing them! Very curious to experience wooden footwear.

[@obscuriosities]

Omg. I wasn’t expecting to actually want/need these but they are EXACTLY what I need in my studio-shop for all the same reasons! My shop is like 100-200sq ft in a studio general store right next to my kitchen/“parlor”…and to get any ventilation I have to step out on a gritty roadside porch. I try to keep flip flops but it’s just-well, u know. But I’m constantly having to take shoes on and off to weave around my space at all and have to walk through my kitchen or over a “no shoes ever” shag carpet just to get to my basement or bathroom. I cannot tell u the angst of the battle I have had with steel wool (as someone who restores things primarily) - and HOW many times I’ve, barefooted been like “I’m just gonna take the short cut thru/past my shop to the kitchen/bathroom…. AND then HOW MANY TIMES I end up trying to yank steel Woolf splinters out of the bottom of my feet in the middle of the night (or glass or wood etc). These are far cheaper than work boots etc & I imagine easier fo take on and off that cling flip flops. yesssssssss (now if u happen to have any suggestions for steel wool alternatives that done shed….lol everything I’ve found is discontinued) Ty for sharing!

[@asdfgidji879]

is steel wool magnetic? idk about stuff that doesnt shed but i use a magnet to clean my stones for knives. Not completely perfect but its better than just trying to brush them clean, maybe beats sweeping.

[@michaelheurkens4538]

Two points for you to consider, sir. 1. Klompen, at least the Dutch version I'm familiar with, are made from yellow poplar or willow and carved green for easier removal of material from inside the foot socket, and less chance of splitting the blank. Even though they seem hard to stand on, wooden shoes will provide some cushioning from your concrete floor; you can work/stand longer with less fatigue or joint issues on a wooden floor compared with stone floors. Maybe you could just glue on a piece of poplar to the worn areas instead of replacing them. 2. Willow and poplar are used because they are inherently waterproof and quite lightweight in comparison with the green wood. My father used to wear them on the farm when he was young with heavy wool socks when the weather got cold; never wet nor cold feet or dirt in the house. Cheers.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Right on. These ones are poplar.

[@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367]

Yeah people would wear moss for cushioning in the past

[@heinmade2746]

They're beautiful, nice carving job mate. In the EU they are official considered a Safety boot. pretty cool!

[@hassanal-mosawi6049]

Thanks for sharing that, well said!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

my pleasure! thansk!

[@davanders2006]

I really like the shoes. I really like the detail work that you did. I think I'll have to make a pair for myself. I wear croc's because it's a whole lot easier to put on and take off. But i have dropped boards and tools on my feet which have caused a great deal of pain. I like the idea of wooden shoes as protection of my feet from any more damage. Thanks for sharing

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Right on David. I have had several times when I needed to set something down and they work perfectly for that.

[@mitziseyfferdt3866]

Thank you, I love them, very interesting, woyld love to see the process of carving them and shaping them to your feet.

[@craz4mom]

I always loved wooden shoes, but until I retired and bought a pair -I totally love them

[@thejoshpope]

How about putting a vibram sole on them, and then they last almost forever?

[@PeteLewisWoodwork]

I would definitely wear them in my shop!

[@user-sn6ye7ws1f]

😊❤ Dat is liefde voor de klomp

[@cherrypoppins2738]

This guys wife: "quit klompin around down there and come have dinner!"

[@davidpeterson5186]

You could laminate a new heel and sole on those and keep on going.

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

I thought about that, maybe making two sides is better (so instead of top and bottom, left and right)

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have thought of that. I might. we will see!

[@fricstix7072]

You could also glue more wood to the bottom and tire rubber underneath

[@LowlyMountainBanjos]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo If you do you could do the hard maple for the sole and poplar for the rest. Best of both worlds?

[@logik316]

Those are NICE 👍

[@calebwhite1999]

I wear my Arbesko clogs, from Sweden, in the shop. They are not the wooden soled versions, as I find them to be slippery and incredibly uncomfortable, but their rubber soled version with a steel toe provide comfort and the convenience of easy on, easy off.

[@nodarikirtadze8220]

They're awsome!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

thanks. I do love them!

[@chaliealexis7471]

Now I want

[@TheMrchuck2000]

I have to say, when I first started watching your videos, I saw the clogs and found them a bit obnoxious. Thought they came off as self-consciously “distinctive”, and kind of wrote you off. Lucky for me, I got past all that and discovered what a treasure trove of brilliant information your channel has to offer. Now, when I want to learn a new technique, or how to use an unfamiliar new tool, you’re often my first and most trusted guide. Thank you so much for sharing your vast knowledge and experience with the rest of us. (I’ll bet you’re a great dad, too!)

[@ganeshcool1]

In india it's very common... It's called khadau.. my grand father also wears it

[@LilyJaneH]

Swedish style clogs like those made by Troentorp at typically made with alder soles and leather uppers.

[@OuroborosArmory]

Because if your first video I now have a pair of these for my shop. I am a blacksmith and I needed safety shoes. And you can see them in some of my videos. Thanks for the idea.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Sweet I am going to have to go check.

[@OuroborosArmory]

Wood By Wright How 2 I also occasionally wear crocs as well for the same reason. I have found if I am doing a lot of standing, I go for the clogs. If I need to kneel or sit on the floor (for like welding and assembly) I wear crocs.

[@markkoons7488]

Wading around in muck is what originally made them popular plus they were made of a local, easy-to-carve hardwood we called popple growing up in Wisconsin. They jack your heinie up an inch and a half or so, about like cowboy boots but without the pinch. With a pair of heavy wool socks you'd be good all winter in the polder, potato fields, pig sties, and dairy farms all the way south from Holland through Belgium to parts of France. I heard a story of a guy in sandals working with a big socket chisel, a boatwright's slick, that fell off its handle when he lowered it to his side... nipped off his little toe.

[@hudsonhornet6558]

The Michigan shout out haha that’s where I live and that’s where I got mine

[@catalinamarquez6937]

Good afternoon beautiful world and play with the kind of shoes my grand grand grandma 😂😂❤❤

[@ytah7]

You can also buy them precut in Holland, they are called weddingclumps😅

[@carolynv8979]

When they’re done you could shave the heal off entirely and have a cool set of hanging wall vases.

[@justinschutte9127]

I live in the netherlands on the country sode and a lot of peapole stil wear them

[@RandOm-ro2gb]

You can slide on carpet with those if you get a running start.

[@MichaelKieweg]

I often wear that kind of wooden shoes. I find them comfortable. When my last pair broke, I kept the soles and build arond them with all kind of leather scraps. Those are my everyday in thehose, garden and workshop shoes now.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

right on. I have thought of making a half top pair some day.

[@de7io407]

damn I can’t believe I just got sold on clogs

[@MCsCreations]

Hey James, you can always make a new base for them with a different kind of wood. 😊 It was pretty common back then. Stay safe there! 🖖😊

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have thought of that but part of me wants to show making a whole new pair.

[@MCsCreations]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo Well, if that's what you want... Go for it! 😃 We have a saying here in Brazil... I don't know exactly how to translate, but it would be something like: "it's doing what you want/like that the joy of the life comes from". 😊

[@djdutch87]

I wear them every day, but even in the Netherlands people look weird when your wearing them in a supermarket

[@AmazingAutist]

I'm glad Bill Burr found another hobby

[@Russ0107]

it really seems to have calmed him down.

[@Eludinium]

I imagine wooden clogs are quite sanitary too, in the same way a wooden chopping board is safer than a plastic board.

[@JoeBob79569]

I wish I had a pair of these last week when I dropped a claw hammer on my toe. I was just wearing a pair of light runners, and I thought I was going to die from the pain! I've also got a pretty bad habit of trying to catch things with my foot when they fall. Probably not the best idea when using a chisel. I need to get me some clogs..

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

They've saved my toes quite a few times.

[@rolandkeys8297]

I had a set that had leather uppers and wooden soles. I nailed the rubber from a car tiers to them so the would have better grip and not wear out so quickly

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have tried putting rubber on but have not gotten them to stay well enough.

[@lhpl]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo until I was 12 or so, I only wore clogs (wooden sole with leather top) when outside, all year round, except for sports. In wintertime with snow I wore a boot version with a longer shaft (in Danish, clogs are called 'træsko" - tree-shoes or wood-shoes, and the boot version is "træskostøvler", I wonder if they are available anywhere now.) When the rubber sole wore out, typically on the heel, my dad would cut a new sole from an old tire and nail it on using very thin and short nails. To protect the leather (also nailed, or maybe stapled, to the sole) at the front, he would also nail on a metal bracket, a flat band of thin steel, wider in the middle and bent in a U-shape. This would also function as a toe protector, and even provide some safety from above. It also made them a formidable defensive weapon, getting kicked by such a clog would be painful, I climbed trees wearing them, and walked on the stony beach in them, never had a problem, and they were very comfortable and extremely sturdy. Even after I began wearing sneakers in school, I would always have a pair of clogs for working outside. I can imagine how a completely wooden shoe could be comfortable, but the tough and quite hard leather, which I guess was steam-pressed to shape, would probably be a bit more elastic than carbed wood. Without a rubber sole they would be very noisy, and slippery on for example concrete sidewalks in rainy weather. My dad rarely wore anything else until he died 88 years old in 2015. I still have a pair that I use when working in my workshop or outside.

[@cbenschoter]

Have you thought about gluing some rubber shoe blanks to the bottom to extend the life and add some traction?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Some people do that. Particularly if you're working on hard floors it is quieter and adds more traction. But my floors are rubber after this video I ended up putting on new souls made out of purple heart so they're far more durable

[@tryingagain14]

I can see your point. They work well as shop shoes. Plus they are more solid if you drop something. I know from experience at work if you drop something or an animal stands on your foot, it is inevitably just past the steel toe. There's another advantage, after social distancing ends, you can invite someone over for clog dancing and clomping around. Sorry couldn't resist.

[@RossTomazin]

Do a live video clean, restore, and BLO refresh on the clogs!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Now that is a sweet Idea!

[@ruffruff7063]

I agre with david peterson , also you could drill holes (not all the way through)and press in cork and maybe rubber (and you get to drink some wine) it is great for grip .my Australian boots have rubber soul with cork mixed in . I never slip over but somtimes i have fall when drunk

[@truthseeker002]

Good to wear..we are electrical beings.. help keep us grounded

[@user-sn6ye7ws1f]

Mijn achternaam is klomp ik draag ook klompen houten en leren klompen ik heb een hersen beschadiging 2 jaar geleden een hersen kruising door de klompen hebben mijn voeten meer stabiliteit dus lekker sterk en stevig

[@sylvaingregoire9262]

Thx Mr.Wright , always was wondering “why” lolll cause , the onlytime i saw those , was when i was seeing a sweeden movie 😜🤣 or the story henzell and gretell but never thought it was that confy thx 😜👍🏼🇨🇦🌈

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I think I get the question every other day.

[@hdwoodshop]

I would totally wear wood shoes. If I can ever buy a decent pair I totally would buy them

[@tammylentine978]

You can get them from Holland Michigan. Know your European size. They cost me an $40. If you live close enough, it is a really cool place to visit. The locals do clog dancing and there are other attractions too. Once this pandemic is over anyway.

[@janakujawa1629]

I love clogs but since getting fibromyalgia they are too jarring on my body. Your clogs are carved very nicely!

[@JackmanWorks]

Yeah, but where are the wheels??

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

We can't all be as cool as you!

[@dustinswafford9232]

After watching this, I can appreciate your use case. I'd still prefer steel toe Crocs. 🤣

[@Augcliffe]

I hear the words coming out of your mouth, but I cannot believe that wooden shoes are "very comfortable". So, I bought some to try them myself :D

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Once you carve them to match your foot, they get incredibly comfortable.

[@Augcliffe]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo ok so I got these delivered. I agree that they are more comfortable than you’d think, however the instep is quite painful when attempting to walk. Did you experience this? Any recommendations to fix?

[@rosewiththorns4669]

I love clogs 😃

[@vestcoat]

Your carving is beautiful. You can retire them as planters...they would lovely with some greenery flowing out of them.....in my case, probably fake because I don’t have great luck with indoor plants. Plus fake wouldn’t require water and so the wood would last forever...maybe on either side of a block case or mantle.

[@vestcoat]

Book case

[@cbryantbear6498]

Thank you for all you do!!! Curious question, could you glue a piece of leather to the bottom soul to help with wear?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

thanks. I use to have leather stuck to the bottom but it was more of a pain then it was worth as it picked up too much junk and they did not stay well. I also tried rubber. but I have thought of planing them off and adding hard maple or something like that.

[@thefamilycircuss]

What about softer wood for the inner portion and hard wood for the top and bottom for durability

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I ended up replacing the sole with Purple Heart.

[@korenmolenwerkhoven8548]

I also wear clogs (Klompen) everyday as being a dutch schoolboy (I'm the only one in school wearing them). I only wear them out in half a year, so I'm not reshaping the inside of the clogs. My feet conform to the clogs. Running on clogs is not a problem for me, I even like to do it and watch the fases of the people around me. Here in the Netherlands, people have the same reaction when they see the clogs as over there ;)

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

Hmm I can't say that I have ever seen someone wearing klompen to school :) it would be fitting for my school since I go to the wood and furniture collage (HMC) I might just get a pair of my own some time

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have thought of wearing them for a night on the town just for the looks!

[@d-not_telling]

I have a pair for the garden and a pair for the shop.

[@ManuelGarcia-ww7gj]

I cannot tell you how many times that ordinary shoes have let me down, especially when I worked in a shop fabricating steel and pipe.

[@jacobb6451]

Stupid question but could you just wood glue a heel on it or would that not work

[@kimmonshandtools6849]

Ya know, I’ve been having an arch support issue in my left foot for a couple months because I’m almost never off of my feet. I’ll be damned if wood shoes isn’t a viable option in my case. I could imagine the support would be unbeatable. I may need to peruse wooden shoes as one of my next hobby ventures.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

They are amazing when they are carved to match your feet.

[@justplanebob105]

Now that I have dropped my new moxon vise on my toe, I am looking at these more seriously. I've re-watched your videos to see just how you shaped the shoes to your feet. Are they slippery on the concrete? My garage floor is finished quite smooth.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

They are slightly slippy however there are no more slippery than my tennis shoes on wood curls. And most of the time my concrete floor is covered in wood curls so it doesn't make too much of difference. However I am soon going to be installing rubber flooring but that's more to protect my tool from dropping off the bench.

[@lourias]

The GREAT SAFETY SHOE!

[@Maggies87]

Seems like a 3-D foot scan and automated custom-carved footbed should be possible these days!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

They call that custom orthotics.

[@Dextamartijn]

Great video are your klompen made out of Poplar or Willow Willow is a sturdier stronger wood. My klompen are made from Willow. I go through a pair about every year and a half I need a new pair now but can't go to to the Netherlands I like the tripklompen They are with a leather band across the top very comfortable to wear great information

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Mine are poplar. You can't get much willow here. I just re soled mine with purple heart they should last a bit longer now.

[@fredcain7668]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo I agree with this. I am having trouble finding willow. I was referred to three different websites that sell willow - all in the Netherlands. One site does not ship to the U.S. and the others need about 80 euros (over a hundred bucks) to put a box of shoes on an airplane. Please let me know if you can find some.

[@emmengel]

Have you thought about making the uppers out of popular but making the souls out of something like purple heart? It seems that they would last a lot longer.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

oh I like the idea of having shoes with a purple heart sole!

[@emmengel]

It's going to be a bear working it with hand tools

[@drawlele]

Personally I think they are awesome and where exactly in Michigan can I find them because no matter where in the state it is it's only a day bv trip for me. I'm not big on unbendable shoes but I think my daughter would like them, she hates shoes but likes things that clop and make noise, shes 3. I do remember the video where you got and carved them and for 4 years of use that's not a bad amount of wear, even steel toe safety shoes would have had to have been replaced at least 3 times by now. Looking forward to watching you carve out a fresh pair but my vote is black walnut instead of hard maple or poplar.

[@davidpeterson5186]

The Poor Man This is an obvious answer, Holland Michigan.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Holland MI there is a factory there that makes them for the tourist industry. Walnut would be SWEET!!!!

[@jimwilliams2682]

Yeah, sure! You are going to use maple! Right! Watch for the white oak shoes coming to a channel near you!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol how do you know!

[@darcy5823]

Where in Michigan can I buy these? I go back to Flint every year to visit mom, and I'd love to buy a pair for both of us!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Holland, Michigan. They actually have a tulip festival there every year, but there are a few clog makers there.

[@daleknebel9382]

My basement is in my shop too!

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

the commute is a pain each day.

[@Idefix70]

Welcome to the clogs club :-)

[@myrawright282]

Love I'm!

[@justplanebob105]

Early in the week I knocked over a heavy oak board on my foot. Clogs are lookin' better. LOL.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol been there done that.

[@shawnmartin7620]

I'd be interested in trying some, but I've looked in the past and never been able to find my size (US 15). I think the only way I'd be able to have a pair is if I make some myself, but I don't know how. Not sure if I have the right tools either.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

yup it takes a hook knife and a lot of patience. I do want to do a video some time making a pair. I thought it would be a ton of fun!

[@Camelcando]

I wear mine every day

[@connerphillips1228]

Hi James, would you mind commenting on the "fit" of the uppers? Since you can't cinch them down, in my mind they have to be rather loose and subsequently floppy-- like thong sandles with no heel strap. That would drive me buggers.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

they are very lose enough that I can stick a finger in between the top of the foot and the sole. they take a bit of getting use to but after a day or two you don't even think about it.

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

I have never had proper klompen, but I do often use half wooden and half leather klompen (open in the back) which I use for the garden or short walks to the garbage bin ect One question you might just know, is there any reason for the use of poplar or willow accept for the ease of carving? I did my most recent internship with a restorer, and he used a shed which was on the property of a greenhouse, we also made use of the cantine over there, one person who worked there also always wore klompen and every year he would wear through 4 pairs of them, he gave them to the restorer as fire wood

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

poplar and willow are easy to carve but the big reason is they are light. harder woods are often twice the weight.

[@LegoMan-cz4mn]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo thanks, that makes sence

[@asdfgidji879]

this is fairly unrelated and im pretty sure i know the answer. I saw on a forum post once someone mention wearing wood clogs in a kitchen but i was kinda high i didnt think it was sarcasm at the time but it likely was. On a rough concrete floor would these be good to wear? or alteratively and significantly less likely a smooth tile one. keep in mind the wet and potentially oily kitchen floor. really cool that youve found a use for an otherwise pretty antiquated form of shoe tho

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Yes. I use them on a concrete floor for a few years. I now have a rubber floor former shop. Some people put leather or rubber on the sole if they're working on a hard floor as it makes them quieter and gives a little bit more friction.

[@TheGrandPooBahe]

You could really easily put a leather or rubber sole (like on cowboy boots or dress shoes on the bottom which would: 1 help avoid slipping, 2 extend the life of the clogs because you could replace the soles as needed. You could also easily put a leather or rubber sole on the top, wouldn't do much, but you could... just saying.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I've done that in the past but with the poplar I have not been able to get them to stay long term. Nails will go out and glue breaks free. one other thought I've had is planning them down and putting on a harder soul like maple and with that I could attach rubber or something of that nature. But we'll see.

[@barefootfred1479]

Is it traditional to carve out the sole to conform to the contours of the foot or do they leave it flat on the sole?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

yes it is carved to match your foot. that way there are no pressure points!

[@lestergrayson3049]

When they were out just glue a new sole on them?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That is what I might do. We will see.

[@1911dawg]

Huh… this wasn’t posted on April 1st?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Lol nope. I actually have quite a few videos on these clogs as I've made several adjustments to them over the years. But I wear them everyday. They're the most comfortable shoes I have and they're protective. Perfect shop shoes.