comfy shoes for travel?

[somechick]

Hi. I'm going abroad this spring and I'm looking for really comfortable leather free shoes for all the walking I'm going to be doing. I have a pair of sneakers but I'm loking for something a bit more stylish to take along as well. Any thoughts?

[vggiegirl]

You know, maybe it's the dirty hippie in me, but you really can't go wrong with a pair of THESE (http://www.birkenstock.com/c/advancedSearch.py?manager=Research&simple_material=80&user_id=0&store_id=0&page=0&cat=adv)

[ProudVegan]

veganstore.com have some good shoes...

[Buckwheat]

And here too some stylish hiking shoes and others.

http://www.veganwares.com/shoes.htm#walking%20shoes

I haven't bought yet but am planning to.

[kentauros]

And here's my favorite site for shoes/sandals :yes:
(separated into the pages you might want to look at)

Unisex Hemp Sport Shoes (http://www.rawganique.com/FootwearSPSH1.htm)
Unisex Organic Hemp Boots (http://www.rawganique.com/FootwearBoot.htm)
Vegan Hemp Sandals & Hemp Clogs (http://www.rawganique.com/footwear2.htm)

[DannyKass]

Vans slip ons.

[Buckwheat]

And here's my favorite site for shoes/sandals :yes:
(separated into the pages you might want to look at)

Unisex Hemp Sport Shoes (http://www.rawganique.com/FootwearSPSH1.htm)
Unisex Organic Hemp Boots (http://www.rawganique.com/FootwearBoot.htm)
Vegan Hemp Sandals & Hemp Clogs (http://www.rawganique.com/footwear2.htm)

Ewww, thank for the link Kentauros! I really like those hemp boots. Never had hemp footwear before. Can they really be durable? I read some time that hemp is very good material for hot weather. May be hemp boots don't feel too hot here in tropics compared to synthetic materials?

And amazing. You really don't have to pay much extra for non-leather shoes. comments anybody on quality / price rate?

[kat]

I think hemp is pretty breathable. Reading this thread reminded me I'd bought some sandals from a jumble sale for about 30p. They're brand new and I just left them on one side, thinking they'd come in useful. (I bought heaps of second hand clothes to sell on ebay) So I check them and they're ideal for my trip to Africa, but they're made from leather. :(

Not sure if I'd wear them or not. I don't feel I'd be supporting the leather industry, as I bought them secondhand and they aren't obviously leather, but the thought of it touching my skin is yucky. Also if I'm out there for 8 months, I'm likely to need to replace shoes, and it may not be so easy to get vegan shoes over there.

I guess if I have room I will pack them, I can always give them away to someone who needs them more.

[kentauros]

Ewww, thank for the link Kentauros!

You're welcome, Buckwheat! :) (you're avatar looks really familiar, by the way...)


I really like those hemp boots. Never had hemp footwear before. Can they really be durable? I read some time that hemp is very good material for hot weather. May be hemp boots don't feel too hot here in tropics compared to synthetic materials?

The oxfords I bought were also my first pair of hemp shoes, and though we're not in the "tropics" Houston, Texas is darn near close! :lol: I find them very comfortable and they do breathe as kat pointed out. Here's some hemp info from the footwear section (http://www.rawganique.com/footwear.htm) of the site:

All our hemp shoes are durable, eco-friendly, vegan, and thoughtfully & mindfully constructed, making them comparable in quality to leather and synthetic shoes but without the chemicals, cruelty, and unsustainability that are part and parcel of the manufacturing process of conventional shoes.

* Hemp shoes have a stylish natural look that are timeless in their appeal.
* Plant fibers "breathe" much better than leather and synthetics -- and hemp breathes better than all other plant fibers.
* There's no "breaking in" period with hemp footwear as there is with synthetics or leather -- it's comfortable right from the start, especially when the quality of construction is as high as ours. (My addtion here: I'm not sure why they say there's no "breaking in" since the info on my oxfords says there is a kind of breaking in period of 1-2 weeks for the fabric to mold/conform to your feet as well as stretch a little over the tops...)
* Hemp is resistant to mold and bacteria -- shoes made out of hemp are much less prone to odor problems and are healthier for the feet as well as for this fragile planet of ours!
* Hemp fabric is hypoallergenic and non-irritating to the skin.
* No animals are killed for the manufacture of a plant-fiber shoe. This can have enormous ecological benefits. The rearing of animals uses far more resources than the cultivation of plants and produces a significant amount of pollution, which the tanning process increases. The primary byproduct from plants is oxygen, which helps to forestall our escalating environmental problems. In addition, many people prefer not to use animal products for ethical as well as health reasons.
* Hemp fiber is ecologically sound, whereas synthetics are not. Hemp fibers are totally biodegradable, having been produced from a natural origin without all the pollution resulting from the manufacturing of synthetics.
* Hemp also has greater ecological benefits than other plant fibers since it is the most ecologically positive of all agricultural crops, returning much needed nutrients to the soil that other plants can use. Hemp also lends itself easily to organic farming and actually improves the soil in which it is grown. More hemp facts and info. (http://www.rawganique.com/whyhemp.htm)


And amazing. You really don't have to pay much extra for non-leather shoes. comments anybody on quality / price rate?

Since I don't have any non-leather shoes, I can't really comment on that particular comparison. The only bit of "wear" I have noticed so far is a little separating between the sole and the fabric on the side of one of the shoes. But, when I say "little" it really is minor. If it gets worse, I'll just slip some glue in it and not worry about it. The latex soles are wearing very well, and other than some minor scuffs (which can be cleaned with warm water and maybe a little soap) the rest of the shoes are in great condition. I think when you take into consideration how short the lifespan of standard shoes bought at Payless or any other shoe outlet is, then hemp shoes will actually be far more economical than even the cheapest new shoes. Of course, shoes bought secondhand will always be the better deal moneywise; depends, too on how long even the secondhand ones last.

[somechick]

I'm so completely with you on the Birks Veggie Girl!! What I'll do if I ever get a job where I can't wear mine everyday as soon as the snow if gone I don't know. The only reason I'm considering something else is I'm not sure about the temp. issues in the areas in Europe I'll be in May. I prefer to wear them sockless and it may be a bit chilly.