How this all got started
Alright, so you know how I used to play volleyball like, all the time? Yeah, my knees and feet used to feel absolutely wrecked after a game. Totally smashed. Especially trying to sleep after – just throbbing, you know? Regular shoes or those fancy sporty slides did squat. Nada. Zilch. Like walking on concrete.
I figured, something gotta give. Needed some kinda layer to eat up the pounding, make things less ouch for the body. Thought maybe wood? Like a super simple sandal thing, but with some give? Timber seems kinda forgiving compared to plastic bricks they sell at stores. Worth a shot, right?
The messy middle part
First attempt? Total disaster zone. Seriously. Grabbed some scraps of pine I had lying around in the garage – leftover from shelving. Cut out two rough foot shapes with the jigsaw. No plan, just eyeballed it. Felt like wearing two planks of wood duct-taped to my feet. Zero shock absorbing. None. Clomped around like Frankenstein. Wife laughed her head off. “Your big timber experiment?” she asked. I was mortified.
Okay, back to the basics. Maybe softer wood? Different shape? Went digging online, kinda browsing around (not like deep research, just poking). Saw someone mention cork. Huh. Light, squishy naturally. Maybe mix timber frame with cork inside? Felt like an actual idea!
Got my hands on some cedar planks – nice smell, right? And a thick sheet of cork. Used the jigsaw again, cut the cedar thinner this time, shaped it better for the sole. Took a chisel – carefully! – and carved out a deep pocket in the center of each cedar piece. Glued chunks of the cork slab into those pockets. Used heavy books stacked on top overnight. Praying the glue held.
The “sleeper” part comes together
Woke up next morning. Poked the cork. It felt… bouncy! Glue held! Sanded the edges smooth so no splinters – that’s important! Added some scrap suede leather straps I had leftover from another failed wallet project. Just basic straps, front and heel, kinda secure but super loose for easy slip-on.
Tried them on. Took a few tentative steps in the garage. Okay… not bad. Jumped a little. Huh. Not like jumping on pillows, but definitely better than the pine bricks. Way, way better. The cork absorbed the landing shock surprisingly well. Actually felt kind of nice underfoot! Walked indoors. No giant “clomp” sound. Felt stable enough to shuffle around without thinking too hard. Perfect for post-game zombie mode.
Been using these ugly ducklings for a few weeks now, honestly? Game changer after volleyball. Feet feel less beaten up. Knees ache less the next morning. They just live by the door now, my designated post-beatdown timber sleepers. Not winning any beauty contests, but man, they do the job. Cork crushed down a bit, molded to my foot shape too! Totally unexpected win. Still looks totally janky though.
