Vegan Shoe Review: Patagonia Advocate
Shopping for a vegan shoe isn't always a simple task, but PlanetShoes and Patagonia make it easy.
Disclosure: Patagonia and PlanetShoes sent me a pair of their vegan shoes for this review. All opinions are 100% mine.
Patagonia Advocate Week is back! Patagonia will donate $10 to the World Wildlife Fund for every pair of Patagonia footwear sold on PlanetShoes from March 21 - April 4. The WWF is the world's leading conservation organization with an admirable set of preservation goals for the coming years:
The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.
WWF's expansive work includes the Tiger Survey Team:
Monitoring tigers and their prey is essential to achieving our goal of doubling wild tiger populations by 2022. By employing camera traps, tracking technologies and DNA collected from scat, WWF scrutinizes the progress of tiger populations in order to adapt our strategies and make conservation decisions based on strong science and field experience.
Photo credit: © WWF Indonesia/Tiger Survey Team
Ready to update your spring wardrobe with some eco-minded wares? Patagonia and PlanetShoes has just what you need!
Shoe manufacturing is rarely Earth-friendly due to the use of leather and synthetic materials, but vegan shoes offer a nice alternative for eco-minded or vegetarian/vegan folks. The best choice for a vegan shoe is organic cotton, canvas, hemp, or anything recycled (not leather). Opting for second hand shoes (or repairing the shoes you have) is another way to green up your footwear without harming animals and minimizing your environmental impact.
Vegan Shoe Review
An Eco-conscious company, Patagonia offers a wide variety of vegan shoes, not to mention almost all Patagonia footwear incorporates recycled materials. The Advocate Lace Plaid shoe boasts a recycled PET fleece collar and lining, a 15% recycled EVA insole, and a 20% recycled and durable armadillo rubber sole. And true to a vegan shoe, no leather or animal product is used in the Patagonia Advocate. A slip on shoe, the Advocate is cozy, cute and an easy choice for a camp shoe. The handy rear pull-loop makes it easy to slip these comfy shoes on and off, or clip them to your pack while you're rockin' your heavy duty kicks on the trail.
Overall I'm enjoying these shoes. Definitely casual and comfy, great for either wearing around the house like a slipper or cruising the streets of San Francisco. Small and soft, I can see taking them with me on trips as they pack easily or can be clipped onto my carry-on.
And for the fellas, Patagonia makes an Advocate for men.
Sizing
The Advocate line only comes in full sizes, so if you are a half-sizer like me you may want to order a size lower as they seem to run a bit big. I'm a 7.5 (but can occasionally wear an 8) and I ordered an 8. The fit is just a bit loose but doable with a sock. If you plan to rock these without socks than I definitely recommend going a size down.
Patagonia and the Environment
Patagonia has been one of my favorite company for years, from their awesome selection of outdoor gear to their committment to supporting environmental causes, it's a company that has earned my loyalty. A member of 1% for the Planet, Patagonia also maintains a high level of transparency about their manufacturing processes, so consumers are always able to make informed decisions when buying Patagonia products. You can read more about Patagonia's environmental initiatives on their site.
Check out the wide selection of Patagonia shoes on PlanetShoes and purchase by April 4 to support the World Wildlife Fund. And be sure to enter our $100 Gift Card Giveaway from Patagonia.
