Ok, I'm really into the idea of getting a pair of Earth Shoes for work, maybe a pair to wear around, but I've read mixed reviews. Most people I've found reviews for love them, but a few say things like "Magnetism 2 sticks to my feet and makes sucking sounds" or "The heels make me fall down the stairs." Well, I probably wouldn't have a problem with the latter review, because I want something with a platform, but I'm having a hard time finding many reviews, and I'd like to know what people think before I shell out the big bucks. The ones I'm really interested in:

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/8569855/c/15497.html Earth Vanessa, platform clogs, the most expensive but look perfect... Zappos says they have leather lining but they're vegan everywhere else... so I don't know...

https://secure11.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/product_detail.asp?CS=vegane&RowID=1375&All= I love the red although I don't have much to match it, they're on sale for half the price of the others! I'd probably get black for work though...

So those two are the top two contenders... if any of you have those or any other Earth shoes please tell me what you think of them!!!

i think zappos is mistaken about the vanessa. i have it and it's totally vegan. i got mine from mooshoes. the negative heel is no problem for me. and they've been a rare pair of shoes that i could just put on and wear all day with no chafing, no breaking in period. i always wear with socks. i can see where they might make funny noises if you didn't.

I tried on a pair of Earth Shoes at MooShoes and I wasn't sure about them so I didn't buy them. I may go back since I need new shoes and try them again, I just felt the negative heel was weird and I did not want to spend a $100+ and not be sure if they were right. I hghly recommend MooShoes as they are vegan owned and their prices are actually lower then Zappos. www.mooshoes.com

What exactly is a negative heel?

here is some info (http://www.earth.us/comfort.asp) about earth shoes and the negative heel.

Ok, the negative heel info on the Earth Shoes website is good, but a little too vague... well, for me at least. I guess it just is better to know what others think. I have located some places that sell the shoes, but I work all the time and don't have time to try them out. I'm wondering what everyone thinks of them compared to other shoes... is there a big difference with the negative heel? Are they hard to get used to? Or are they just really comfy when you put them on? Those ones on veganessentials.com are only $40! Seems like a steal compared to others. So, do you think it's worth it to take a plunge and just order a pair?

I haven't worn Earth Shoes for many years, but when I last did, I remember absolutely loving them. They take a bit of getting used to, but once you do, you'll either love them or hate them.

This thread makes me want to get a new pair!

They sound so awesome, and I'm SO desperate for a good pair of shoes. I work retail and have to run up and down the stairs all day, and we're not allowed to stand in one place because we don't look busy, so by the time 9 hours goes by, I can barely walk. I walk to and from work up and down a hill. I might just buy them.

Here is a link to the vegan section of the earth shoes web site. I hope it helps.

http://www.earth.us/Fall2005catalog.asp?Gender=women&cat=VEGAN

I just bought a pair of Earth Shoes, and the were 40 bucks on veganessentials.com. Look in the clearance section. They are pink blue and green. I like them, I had always wanted a pair, but I am too cheap (actually, I think the word I am looking for is 'poor') to spend more than 50 bucks on shoes.

Are these shoes Fair Trade?

I'm going to try a pair of sandals from Veganessentials, either the red ones or the green ones because they're on sale for $40, but now I just have to pick which ones :-P

Ok, just one more question... do those of you with Earth shoes buy your regular size or do they run big/small? The shoes I'm going to order are non-returnable...

Earth shoes are made in China under the standard lousy conditions. Earth is owned by MDA Shoe (a company that produces huge amounts of cheap shoes for WalMart). Earth shoes are made in uncertified factories and their workers are required to live on the premises in group dorm rooms. It is surprising that a number of vegan stores carry these shoes, nonetheless.

Earth shoes are made in China under the standard lousy conditions. Earth is owned by MDA Shoe (a company that produces huge amounts of cheap shoes for WalMart). Earth shoes are made in uncertified factories and their workers are required to live on the premises in group dorm rooms. It is surprising that a number of vegan stores carry these shoes, nonetheless.

Are you sure about this? I was under the impression that these Earth Shoes and the ones carried by Walmart come from completely different companies.

Well, poopy. I need to find very sturdy fair trade vegan shoes. My husband has horrible feet (he calls them "bags of oatmeal") and he goes through shoes very quickly. We are both very hard on shoes because we spend a lot of time outside on rough surfaces.

Are you sure about this? I was under the impression that these Earth Shoes and the ones carried by Walmart come from completely different companies.

Yes, it's MDI Shoe that owns Earth. This is the same company that produces cheap shoes for Walmart. The quality of the shoes differs, but the company is the same. See www.earth.us and scroll down to the bottom to see that they are actually MDI. Ask Earth Shoes why they do not have their China factories certified by an NGO (third-party non-governmental organization) like New Balance and some other large manufacturers do?

Responses from Earth Shoes at their message boards last year:

http://www.earthvegan.us/display_message.asp?mid=876
http://www.earthvegan.us/display_message.asp?mid=760

Also, the Vegan Freaks spoke to some Earth Shoes reps at the Boston Food Fair recently, and you can hear from them by listening to the most recent podcast (http://podcast.veganfreak.com/index.php?id=19) (or, subscribe (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=76786086) through the iTunes Music Store and subscribe to An Animal-Friendly Life (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73799522) while you're there).

Ok, the negative heel info on the Earth Shoes website is good, but a little too vague... well, for me at least. I guess it just is better to know what others think. I have located some places that sell the shoes, but I work all the time and don't have time to try them out. I'm wondering what everyone thinks of them compared to other shoes... is there a big difference with the negative heel? Are they hard to get used to? Or are they just really comfy when you put them on? Those ones on veganessentials.com are only $40! Seems like a steal compared to others. So, do you think it's worth it to take a plunge and just order a pair?


which ones ar $40?!?!?

A side comment to the China comment on the earth boards linked above:
I wear Chacos, which are made in Colorado (I've been on the floor there). I pay $95 for mine (first pair was $78)
No slave labor, no animal products.
Not sure why Earth couldn't do it.
Earth Shoes (vegan) are comperable in price with my Chacos.

Because they're all made in China under questionable working conditions. No factory certifications for fair trade, fair labor, co-op american approved, or anything else. Similar to shopping at Walmart, FYI.

The negative heel is interesting, It seems like something you would have to try to be sure about. --Cerri