subject: The Indoor Outdoor Shoe [print this page] Moccasins were originally used by Native American Indians for just about every occasion. They had moccasins for ceremonies, hunting, walking and even horseback riding.
Now, even though the American Indians have been mostly driven from their lands, modern society has adopted the moccasin. Why have they become so popular?
It may be because it is such a versatile shoe. I interviewed two people on why they like to wear moccasins so much and their answers both reflected the fact that they are such a versatile shoe.
One of the interviewees I talked to says he loves the shoe because it is great for indoor wear, as a slipper, as well as outdoor wear. He likes that it has a plastic sole so that he can wear it outside and it is warm and comfortable enough to wear indoors as well.
The other interviewee says that much like the Native American Indians described, he feels much closer to the earth and to the land when he is wearing them. He says it is easier to sneak up on the animals he is hunting.
He says he achieves this by wearing tender feet moccasins which don't have the plastic bottoms and allow him to feel what he is about to step on before he does it, making it a much quieter and "sneaky" shoe.
He does point out that his soft soled moccasins wear out much faster than a hunter's boot would and get slippery when wet. They are also very absorbent of the moisture and water so when hunting especially he says to make sure you have an extra pair of boots or moccasins with you.
The second interviewee also says that if you have a good quality pair of moccasins they are easy to repair as well if the sole starts to become loose.
Just as in the first days of moccasin wearing, women often wear them today as well. For women they serve more fashion purposes than function. The shoes have recently come back into style as a popular shoe.
Even the Eskimo moccasins, found most often in our society as boots with fur lining, are a very popular style among women and just as the regular moccasin style can be found on people outdoors as well as people indoors. So why do women love this shoe so much?
It is just as comfortable or more comfortable than a slipper and more durable as well. They can also wear them out to the mall or grocery store without appearing to have an actual set of slippers on.
These shoes also come in a wide variety of colors making them even more versatile and appealing to all. Even though moccasins are usually inexpensive, ranging from about $15 - $30 in price, some may reach up to $150 depending on the material and dye used to make the moccasin.
These more expensive moccasins are usually made from less common and rarely found hides. Overall the moccasin is a great buy whether you are looking for a comfy indoor slipper or a little more adventurous outdoor shoe.
