Where to buy non-animal shoes in person?

GhostUser · Dec 29, 2002

Does anyone know of a major shoe manufacturer that produces shoes made out of v*gan material for dudes? My old Airwalks are slowly dying, and I'd like to get out of the dead cow as soon as possible. I'm looking for something like this: 
1. Looks like a normal shoe. No bubbles, inflating domes, or silvery flashing lights that envelop my feet like something out of Moonraker. This also precludes punky stuff with rad flamez and rah-rah Avril Lavigne anarchy crap. 
2. I can buy it from a Brick & Mortar store, IE actually go to a physical location and try it on before I buy it. Repeatedly ordering shoes from the UK just to find out they don't fit just sounds frustrating. 
3. Not Converse Chuck Taylors. 
I tried on the CTs, but my feet are just too wide for them and they hurt. I'm assuming that at least some duders here have to be wearing something akin to what I'm looking for.

GhostUser · Dec 29, 2002

So far I've managed to turn up <a href="http://www.cowsarecool.com/alt.html" target="_blank">this</a>, but I have no idea if it's accurate or up to date.

GhostUser · Dec 29, 2002

Update #2 
Looks like Van's for me. From browsing their website, they seem to have a plethora of normal-looking styles.

Michael · Dec 29, 2002

I buy my shoes from Payless or Wal Mart. I just check the label for "All man-made materials." Both seem to be using leather more and more though. Of course that may bring up other issues - like sweatshops, I don't know.

Jon · Dec 30, 2002

I bought my last pair of shoes (in the UK) from ASDA (who have recently been bought by Walmart), other than that <a href="http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/</a> are very good.

RichBeBe · Dec 30, 2002

I was given a New York City Guide to Vegan as a late birthday present for Christmas and in it they had places to buy vegan clothing and this place stuck out as one to visit. Maybe one day this week I will go and check it out, I need some new winter/hiking shoes as well as just looking what styles they have. I will give a report after I go there. <a href="http://www.mooshoes.com" target="_blank">http://www.mooshoes.com</a> 
P.S. I bought a pair of Chuck Taylor Converse a week or so ago and the first day I wore them the canvas ripped <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

"> But Sports Authority Exchanged them no questions asked <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="

">

Verbivore · Dec 30, 2002

I think all New Balance sneakers are animal-free. <a href="http://www.veganstore.com" target="_blank">Pangea</a> sells them but you can buy them in offline shoe stores, too. They aren't cheap but they're worth the cost.

GhostUser · Dec 30, 2002

I love my New Balance sneakers. They have lasted me 3 years and haven't even begun to look worn. The price is definitely worth it if you ask me.

GhostUser · Dec 30, 2002

Tonight I picked up some Vans Authentics, which actually managed to fit my wide feet fairly well. 
Also, I didn't manage to find any Men's New Balance sneakers. Pangea only seemed to offer their running shoes. It's a neat link though, I might hazard a purchase of their dress shoes one of these days.

Michael · Dec 30, 2002

In case you're not familiar with them Pangea is pretty reputable. I've never heard of anyone having problems with them and have ordered from them several times myself. I've also had good luck with <a href="http://www.veganessentials.com." target="_blank">http://www.veganessentials.com.</a>

GhostUser · Jan 2, 2003

Ah ha, got another pair. Van's Geoff Rowley Classics; a totally vegan shoe, and very comfortable even for my wide feet. I'm almost tempted to buy two or three pairs just in case they stop making them. However, I'm thinking that in 3 or 4 years there's going to be a wider selection of synthetic shoes. <img alt="" src="http://vans.speedera.net/shop.vans.com/image/3792776B.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

GhostUser · Jan 3, 2003

I, too, just look at the labels wherever I go to make sure it's man made materials only. I like canvas sneakers, and intergallactical snow shoes (just kidding about these ones!) lol. I get the winter boots that are some incredibly warm man made material with a thick lining in them. I go to payless and walmart, too. I find so many other stores only sell leather or partially leather shoes. So, I save money and a waste of time, too, going to payless and walmart. Plus I can't afford to buy the high priced vegan online stuff or I might.

GhostUser · Jan 3, 2003

New Balance's <a href="http://www.newbalancecloseouts.com" target="_blank">online store</a> is having a nifty little sale on shoes if anyones interested. Many of their athletic styles are completely synthetic. <img alt="" src="http://www.newbalancecloseouts.com/products/M805NV_lg.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"> 
Hooray for new shoes.

soilman · Jan 3, 2003

"I buy my shoes from Payless or Wal Mart. I just check the label for 'All man-made materials.'" 
Just about all Payless shoes that are marked "all man-made materials" have uppers made out of material that doesn't breathe. I find that getting breathable uppers makes a tremendous dif in re to how my feet feel, esp after wearing shoes for extended periods of time -- like more than an hour. 
My recent pair of Vegetarian Shoes brand shoes are working out very well. My last pair were a little too small. This pair is just a hair too big -- they are much more comfortable. They do not "adapt" to your feet the way leather does. So i think if you get breathable urethane uppers you should definitly err on the side of slightly too big if you are not sure what size to get. Even if you think your measured size is a UK 7, you might want to get a UK 8, or even a 9. (they don't have 1/2-sizes) You can always put a little piece of foam in them, here and there, to take up some of the room. They won't stretch and stay stretched, the way leather does. They stretch and bounce back like rubber. If they are just a little too small, this causes abrasion on your feet, and pain. I find erring on the side of too big makes them much more comfortable. 
I recommend only the vegetan micro from vegetarian shoes Not the regular vegetan. The micro breathes better, lasts longer, and is just as water-resistant, as the regular vegetan. 
Leave room for insoles, too, when you decide what size to get. 
I am very happy with my Vegetarian Shoes Doc Marten traditional 8-eyelet boots, that are a UK size 11, even tho measuring my feet would indicate that their size would be about 1/2 way between UK 9 and UK 10. Someone told me get the smaller size if I was between sizes, and that the material would stretch. Bad mistake. 
With 2 pair of socks, in the winter, and with thin insoles, the size 11's are actually a bit snug. With one pair of socks and thin insoles they feel just a bit loose. They don't hurt my feet nearly as much as the UK size 9 that I got last time. My heels lift up a bit when walking if I am wearing only one pair of socks. To correct this, I put a piece of foam between the tongue and the top of my foot. This keeps my foot from sliding forward in the boot, keeps my heel against the back -- which keeps my heel from sliding up when I walk.

Bannanna · Jan 30, 2004

Simple Shoes makes some. If you don't dig Chucks or cow though, this is gonna be a long uphill battle for ya. I went through all that crap in high school. Honestly, Payless carries bunches of stuff you can wear, but you're not gonna want it and most major manufacturers that used to make a lot of Vegan apparel don't so much anymore (like Simple, and Airwalk did a bunch of vinyls and fabric stuff at one point). Look for companies like I Path, Ethical wears, Ecolution, and so forth. <a href="http://www.mooshoes.com" target="_blank">www.mooshoes.com</a> is a good place to start. They have moo-free skate style shoes, girly shoes, mens dress shoes, and boots. <div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Marumm <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
Does anyone know of a major shoe manufacturer that produces shoes made out of v*gan material for dudes? My old Airwalks are slowly dying, and I'd like to get out of the dead cow as soon as possible. I'm looking for something like this: 
1. Looks like a normal shoe. No bubbles, inflating domes, or silvery flashing lights that envelop my feet like something out of Moonraker. This also precludes punky stuff with rad flamez and rah-rah Avril Lavigne anarchy crap. 
2. I can buy it from a Brick & Mortar store, IE actually go to a physical location and try it on before I buy it. Repeatedly ordering shoes from the UK just to find out they don't fit just sounds frustrating. 
3. Not Converse Chuck Taylors. 
I tried on the CTs, but my feet are just too wide for them and they hurt. I'm assuming that at least some duders here have to be wearing something akin to what I'm looking for.</div>
</div>

skarrlett · Jan 30, 2004

Like a lot of others, I buy my shoes from Payless or Walmart. I need lots of dressy shoes in various colours and don't want leather. So, I buy $15-20 shoes. I find that they seem to last longer than leather dress shoes.

GhostUser · Jan 30, 2004

Payless, Walmart, Target, etc. have bunch but then there is the issue of slave labor and how these items were produced. Vegan sites sell vegan shoes for like 60 plus dollars. Payless etc sell them for 10-30 dollars. I have a hard time going with buying shoes online as i like to see how they fit and look on me.

eggplant · Jan 30, 2004

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Verbivore <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a> 
I think all New Balance sneakers are animal-free. <a href="http://www.veganstore.com" target="_blank">Pangea</a> sells them but you can buy them in offline shoe stores, too. They aren't cheap but they're worth the cost.</div>
</div>
 
All are not vegan, but they have a lot that are. Check the individual style.

Walter · Jan 30, 2004

Marumm posts! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smitten.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":smitten:">

epski · Jan 31, 2004

I'll chime in about New Balance. Many vegan options, and sporty, too. 
But, more important, Mooshoes rules! I went there over the holidays and bought a couple of pairs of shoes. One is from Italian company that knocks off designer styles, and the other is from Deja Shoes, which look just like Converse and so forth, only no big-ass logo. 
The only thing that concerns me is whether or not the Chinese labor employed in making those shoes is being treated fairly...

Where to buy non-animal shoes in person?

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