People think the most daunting part about ordering our custom-made sandals is the foot tracing but it’s REALLY EASY! We have a video that you can watch (see below) that demonstrates how it’s done. There is a sample tracing (click here) that you can look at to allay any fears. Or, you can just give us a call at 973-951-4404 and we’ll walk you through it.

We know that it would be easier to offer standard sizes like all the other footwear companies. But we also know that nothing compares to wearing a sandal that is made for your own two feet. Take the extra couple of minutes and trace your feet. You will be happier and your feet will thank you

The Details:

Tracing your feet accurately ensures that your GladSoles will fit you perfectly.

Take your time when tracing, as the more accurate your tracings are, the better fitting your sandals will be.

It’s best to stand while doing the tracings. It might be easier to have someone else do the tracing for you. I like to start at the heel and trace forward to the toes. Then I start at the heel again and trace forward around the other side of the foot. No matter how you do it, try to keep the pencil vertical as you trace.

Tracing your feet is easy. Just take your time and don’t forget to mark the space between your big & 2nd toe. See the attached picture so you can see how to do it. You can also view the instructional video here.

Scan & Email, or Regular Mail Us Your Tracings:

If you have access to a scanner, just make sure to save your scan as a PDF file (Adobe Acrobat). And, make sure that it’s set to actual size with NO scaling. You should also check to make sure that the correct paper size is selected (US Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches). Draw a ruler line on your tracings with inch marks (6 of them would be good). We need this ruler line so we can make sure that the sizing is correct when we print out your tracings on our end.

Or, if you prefer, just send us your tracings in the regular mail: GladSoles, 194 West Fairview Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079

Please DO NOT take a picture of your tracings – photos can skew the footprint, making it very difficult to produce a well-fitted sandal.

And, if you have any questions or need help with all of this, just give us a call at 973-951-4404 or email me directly at Rich @ GladSoles.com

Go ahead and trace your feet, your GladSoles will be on their way to your door very soon!

9. They’re Ultra-Light
GladSoles weigh practically nothing. Even Nike Frees feel heavy by comparison. It’s a pleasure to walk and run without feeling weighed down below the ankle. They’re also easy to pack since GladSoles lie absolutely flat. My GladSoles take up almost no room in my suitcase or backpack.

8. No Knot Underneath
Some minimal sandals have a knot underneath the sole, ours don’t. Smooth, flat and awesome.

7. Machine Washable
I was out running in the rain, and just at the end I splashed through a mud puddle. I threw my muddy GladSoles in the washing machine with the rest of my clothes and let them air dry. They’re as good as new!

6. Room to Move and Breathe
Letting my toes move freely, and letting the skin on my feet get fresh air and sunlight are what got me hooked on barefoot running. It just feels so good. GladSoles give me just what I need: a little protection, but nothing to encumber me.

5. Rain or Shine
So I was out on a walk / hike / run and it started to rain. My feet got wet of course, but the Vibram® sole didn’t noticeably absorb any water, and the nylon lacing wasn’t phased either. Other shoes get squishy when wet. But in my GladSoles, the rain comes and goes and my feet are perfectly fine either way. No chafing or discomfort.

4. Easy Lacing
Yes, I had to follow the instructions to figure out how to tie them. And it took a little tweaking to get the tension just right. Now that I’ve found the right lacing for me, I can slip them on and off without re-tying them. I wasn’t sure if I’d have to re-do them each time. I don’t! Yay.

3. Zero-Drop = Full ROM
The sole is perfectly flat, which means I enjoy full range of motion in my ankle joint. That means I get full extension of my calf muscles, because my heel fully descends. It’s more functional, and better for my strength and flexibility below the knee. Plus, it just feels good.

2. Vibram® Soles
Vibram® knows a lot about how to make a sturdy, non-slip sole. They’re thin, flexible and ultra-comfortable. They protect my feet without getting in the way of my natural gait.

1. Custom-Made by Hand for My Own Two Unique Feet

Get Ready for the 7th Annual Global Mala Peace Event this Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013 from 9am – 3:30pm (doors open 8:15am) at the Newark School Stadium in Newark, NJ.

After sponsoring Yoga Festival by the Sea’s beautiful sand mandala last year in Asbury Park, GladSoles (

custom made sandals

) is returning to the Newark location for this year’s peace event. This is the 3rd year in a row that we will be supporting the mission of the Global Mala Project to raise both funds and consciousness for some of the most pressing issues facing the world today.

Since its inception, this annual event has helped so many wonderful causes around the world from AIDS, War, Poverty, Environment, Children, Education and more. This year, 70% of proceeds from the event go to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund NJ! Global Mala NJ has become the largest Global Mala event in the world.

The purpose of the Global Mala is to unite the global yoga community from every continent, school or yoga approach to form a “mala around the earth” through collective practices upon the sacred cycle of 108.

Global Mala coincides with UN’s International Day of PEACE as well as the Fall Equinox. If each of us imagines and believes in peace and if we each do our part, no matter how big or small, we will all see meaningful differences and together we will manifest peace. Peace is Powerful!

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” –Mahatma Gandhi

In the barefoot shoes industry, we would like to consider ourselves the best running sandals maker.

When we tell people that we’ve started a company producing custom-made barefoot sandals we are often asked “Where do you have them manufactured? Are they made in China?” The answers are we don’t and no, they aren’t! We don’t have the sandals manufactured at all. We hand make each pair of GladSoles individually right here in our home studio in New Jersey!

It’s a true labor of love, but we take great pride in our product. Rich is a tinkerer, and he’s constantly working on ways to make the sandals even better. They’ve evolved from having the lace fastened to the sole with a simple knot, to using a big washer and glue, to our most recent innovation: the lace is now counter-sunk into the underside of the sole, so that it’s completely smooth on the bottom, and doesn’t use any glue. Yes, it takes longer to make each pair, but the laces stay in place, and the sandals are even more comfortable than they used to be, and no more glue means that the laces are very easy to switch out, if you decide you want a completely new color combination. Rich also takes the time to smooth the edges with a sander to make the finished sandals look even sleeker.

So, when you buy GladSoles, not only are you getting a product that has been made with love, but you’re also supporting a very local small business!

One of my favourite moments of each sale is when a customer gets their new pair of sandals, puts them on, and experiences, for the very first time, that feeling of lightness and comfort that comes from a minimal sandal that has been made just for them right here in the USA. Also, we love it when our customers send in pictures from wherever their GladSoles take them – we’ve posted some of them on our GladPix page. And we are always looking to add more so keep sending them in!

–Jennie