Make Your Own Camp Sandals

Ethan Goss
4 hours ago
4 min read

There's a certain satisfaction in kicking off your trail shoes at camp and slipping into something you made yourself. These camp sandals are one of the quickest, most rewarding builds you can do with a handful of materials and an afternoon. No glue, no last, no complicated construction, just a custom sole cut to your own foot and a paracord lacing system that goes on and off in seconds.

The construction is simple enough to complete as a first project, and the result is a lightweight, packable camp sandal that fits because you built it to your own foot tracing.

Below is the full walkthrough. Two sole options are covered, a simple single-layer sole for a faster build and a foam sandwich sole with a fabric top layer for more cushion.

Materials

For the sole, you have two options. The simple version uses one layer of roughly 3/32" high density foam, rubber, or Hypalon. The sandwich version uses a gridded top fabric (Challenge Ultra works well), 1/8" closed cell foam, and a bottom layer of high-density foam, Hypalon, or rubber.

Beyond the sole you will need grosgrain or herringbone binding tape, paracord (about 3 to 5 feet per sandal), and either grommets or just a hole punch depending on which sole option you choose. Tools are minimal: a marker, scissors or a rotary cutter, a hole punch or awl, a grommet setter, and a sewing machine for the sandwich sole.

Step 1: Trace Your Feet

Place a piece of paper on a hard, flat floor and stand on it. Trace around each foot with a marker, keeping the pen nearly vertical to avoid undercutting the edge. Label each tracing L and R. If you can, have someone else hold the pen, because keeping it truly vertical is harder to do yourself.

Step 2: Refine the Outline

Draw a second line around the outside of the foot trace at roughly 3/8" offset. This is your cut line and gives the sole a small margin beyond your foot. Cut out the paper patterns.

Mark three hole locations on each pattern: the toe post hole between the first and second toe, and the two ankle holes directly under where your ankle bones fall on each side. The ankle holes should sit right under the bony prominences, not on the edge of the sole.

Step 3: Cut Your Sole Materials

For the single-layer option, cut one layer of your sole material to the pattern shape, punch or cut the three holes, and skip ahead to Step 6.

For the foam sandwich, cut three layers per sandal using your paper pattern: a gridded fabric top layer, a 1/8" closed cell foam middle layer, and a sole material bottom layer.

Cut sandal pattern — Trace your foot pattern on your material

sandal footbed components — All three materials for the "Sandwich" construction (L-R: Ultra200, 1/8" EVA foam, Hypalon)

Step 4: Bind the Foam and Fabric

Stack the top fabric and foam layers together. Wrap the perimeter with grosgrain or herringbone binding tape, folding it evenly over the edge, then stitch the binding down around the full perimeter on your sewing machine. Take your time around the toe curve, since a slow, steady speed gives cleaner results on tight curves.

bind the edge of the footbed — Bind the foam and top fabric together

bound sandal footbed — Bound top two layers with punched grommet holes

Step 5: Sew the Sandwich to the Sole

sew the sandal together — Stitch the bound top and middle layers to the sole material with two rows of stitching

Place the bound foam and fabric assembly on top of the sole material, foam side down. Sew them together with two lines of stitching along the binding to secure all the layers firmly.

Step 6: Install Grommets or Punch Holes

For the sandwich sole, install grommets at all three marked locations on each sandal, one at the toe post and one at each ankle hole. For a single-layer sole, punch clean holes through the material at each marked point with an awl or punch. The cord's stopper knot will hold against the underside; on thin single-layer soles, a washer or larger knot prevents pull-through.

Step 7: Thread the Toe Post

Cut a length of paracord, about 3 to 5 feet per sandal. Tie a stopper knot on one end, then thread the cord up through the toe hole from the bottom so the knot seats against the underside of the sole.

Step 8: Lace the Outside Ankle Strap

lace sandals — Lace up through the outside grommet or punched hole

side ankle post — wrap the working end around the toe post cord 2-3 times

Bring the cord up through the outside ankle hole or grommet. Wrap the working end around the toe post cord. The number of wraps sets how high the strap sits around your heel, and two to three wraps works well for most feet.

Step 9: Lace the Inside Ankle Strap

sandal ankle strap — Create a "heel loop" and lace down and through the inside grommet

lacing — wrap the working end around the heel loop

Put the sandal on your foot. Run the cord around the back of your heel, then up through the inside ankle hole or grommet. Wrap around the heel cord the same number of times as the outside side to keep the strap even and centered.

Step 10: Tie the Adjusting Knot

sandal sizing — Lace around your foot to figure out sizing

adjustment knot — Tie an adjustable loop

Loop the cord around the over-foot and toe cord, then tie an adjusting barrel knot working back toward the ankle. This knot lets you loosen or tighten the fit without re-lacing.

Step 11: Adjust Fit and Finish

Put both sandals on and walk around to check the fit. The cord should hold the foot securely without cutting in anywhere. Adjust the barrel knot as needed, then cut off any excess cord and melt the ends lightly with a lighter to prevent fraying.