What are Huarache sandals?
The Tarahumara, also known as Raramuri (those who run fast), are an indigenous ethnic group that live in the Copper Canyons, in northern Mexico. Running is of great importance in their culture and whether they are hunting or racing – they can walk up to 170 km in one day through gorges and valleys.
To protect their feet, they wear the “Huarache sandals”, a minimalist “barefoot sandal” usually made of car tires, which protects the foot like a “second skin” and thus allows the “balling, or bale running”. Here, the foot is not “rolled off” over the heel, but the bale is first put on. This forefoot running is a natural form of running that we can also observe in small children.
Even with many natural peoples, especially hunters, the forefoot running is still common today, because it allows a gentle and flexible locomotion.
More and more long-distance runners are switching to barefoot running sandals. With fixed and muted soles, many runners lose intuitive access to this natural running shape, which can result in injuries. For this reason, we have developed the Tarasoles asphalt – barefoot sandal. Find out more here…
My experience is that the forefoot running is very knee and joint-gentle, and I am also “relaxed and light-footed” on asphalt and gravel slopes.
The Tarasoles are a voluntary project of our association for the research and promotion of natural movement. This is an extension to conventional foot, joint and back therapy.
The bale is an excellent cushioning!


We deliberately avoid hard and inflexible footbeds!
