My Shoes (Ipath 1985 - Hemp)

Member Name: timmah10

Product:	Ipath 1985 - Hemp
Date:	07/03/06 (1071 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Keep my feet warm, Eco friendly

Disadvantages: Probably only available online theese days

Well about a year ago I decided that I really did need some new shoes and began looking around online for something unusual. Being a vegan and having an environmental conscience affect most of the purchases I make, but I often find myself annoyed at the types of avenues left open, most people making shoes suitable for me produce sandals or other items devoid of all style and comfort- I wanted something different, I wanted a new pair of skate shoes. Eventually I came across the I-path Hemp skate shoe and was almost immediately sold, it was on eBay for £35 but it was unfortunately not my size. I continued my search and found my size available in a few online stores, the best deal being £50 with delivery inclusive, but was it worth it?

Eco Vegan:
The materials used in these shoes makes them perfect for me, Reading from the label inside they are made of two things- Hemp upper, rubber sole. Short and sweet! Hemp for those of you who don't know is my favourite material and Hemp fibre is longer, stronger, more absorbent and more insulative than cotton fibre. It is the strongest natural fibre and is naturally resistant to most pests and is grown in tight rows and can out compete weeds so pesticides and herbicides are not necessary. Unlike most shoes these do not contain any animal products and are good for the environment, which is a must in my book especially when you consider the mess we are making of the planet.

Long lasting:
Well hemp being the strongest natural fibre is one thing, but how does it compare to all these fancy manmade materials that most people don't mind buying? The answer is in fact very very well! I’ve had mine for almost a year now, they are the only pair of shoes I own and so I wear them everywhere, they have even been in the sea with me and they are still fine. There is a small patch of damage on one shoe from gradual wear and tear but due to the multi layer design the shoe itself is still fine. The rubber soles are very thick and very hard wearing, the tread has only gone a little bit bald at both heels but there’s about another 2 cms left of sole before there’s any real problem there.
Overall I would say for around a years wear, everyday these shoes are in excellent condition, when they are dirty they can be machine washed and this just makes the hemp inside feel nice and soft again.

Style:
As I mentioned earlier these shoes are not just about the environment or being hard wearing they are about style, and stylish they are. The woven hemp on the outside is really unusual when compared to the smooth trainers most people wear these days, and the designs are made of rubber. They are simple yet very stylish and I love them.

Comfort:
Not only is hemp strong it can be woven to be soft too, the multi layer technique involved in these shoes ensures that this is the case, they are nice and solid to give ample support but inside they are nice and soft (warm too!). Every now and again stick them in the wash and they will be even softer than the first time- magic!

****************Bonus Features*****************************************
These shoes came with an extra bonus feature too, not listed on the websites I viewed them on. Inside the tongue of each shoe is a small Velcro pocket suitable for keeping valuables and it is padded too so whatever you stash won’t cause discomfort to your foot. This pouch would come in handy for those carrying something they shouldn’t be or just something they don’t want stolen, never had much use for it myself though, too much hassle taking shoes on and off just for a pocket.

Summary:

Well it’s as simple as this; would I buy these shoes again? YES!
They have and still are lasting so well, they are the best shoes I have ever bought and good value too. A quick sum tells me that I have paid less than 14p for every days wear so far and I will probably get another year out of them too. If you can’t find a pair then I would recommend seeing if they have a new version out, it will be worth it- they are even better than the shoes I used to wear.

If anyone needs to know of any other eco/vegan friendly products, other than the traditional style then leave me a question and i can let you know, especially hemp.

Summary: Best shoes ever