Tevas Shipped + 2 Week Review
As expected they were super comfortable and so glad I was able to get them at a discount (they were releasing a new strap color so my guess is they wanted to sell old stock) of $37.00.
I am not sponsored, but I have no problem endorsing a product that I feel has done their due diligence and given me something worth paying for.
My sister decided to get a pair as well and once my mom found that she decided to sponsor the purchase, so in case she ever sees this, thank you for getting them!! I love them!!!
*Spongebob narrator voice*
2 Weeks Later...
For the first week, I wore them every single day backpacking (traveling on a budget) through Italy. They more than carried their weight on this trip. I took a risk and only brought them as my shoes. The entire trip, they were comfortable and were able to hit the uneven payment running. My complaints are few and far between.
Due to the nature of velcro, when one of the straps rubbed against the design pattern, it frayed the stitching a little bit but nothing a quick trim couldn't fix.
By the end of the week, the strap had rubbed a part of my skin raw (I was wearing socks with them), which caused some irritation. Also side note, Italians will point and laugh if they see you with socks and sandals lol.
This last one is user error, but as we took off in the plane, my foot swelled and the straps cut off circulation. Learned my lesson the second time around though and loosened them up a bit.
I am still more than happy with the purchase and would absolutely recommend them to anyone else.
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Sustainability and Footwear
This weeks focus was on getting a pair walking shoes. On campus, I only keep some flip flops, a pair of sneakers, and Birkenstocks that I took from my sibling. Going into it, I knew I wanted a pair of sandals it was just about choosing the right pair.
Guidelines I focused on:
Durability
Materials Used
Comfort
Repairability
Strap design
Chacos
I have no personal experience with trying on Chacos, so I cannot attest to the durability or comfort of them. That being said, the general opinion is that the last a long time and are comfortable.
The website states that the recycled materials are outsourced to a company named Repreve. The program takes industrial plastic waste and coastal waste from shore lines and turns it into recycled plastic fibers. That fiber can then be turned into other objects, or in this case, sandal straps. I will note that the percentages shown on websites can often be misleading, and I've cited an article that discusses this in relation to the fashion industry. However, I am glad that the effort is being made, but I don't know if this is truly sustainable in the long run. It is putting what other wise would be considered waste to use, but this shouldn't be the norm in the long run. *sigh* I don't know man, its a good gesture but... anyways.
Another interesting factor to look at with Chacos is their sandal repair program, where if something breaks, instead of just buying an entirely new shoe, you can send it in and pair for the repair and parts that need fixed. Their moto is, "sustainability through reparability." Now that is something I can get behind! Love to see that especially since, the shoes have a pretty substantial up front cost. Strap designs are cute but nothing that stuck out to me.
Tevas
I tried on Tevas at a store near me and absolutely loved the Hurricane XLT2 line. Friends have told me they have used them for hiking in Colorado Mountains before and never had any issues which is a testament their comfort and durability.
They first came across my social media feed from the below video which describes their recycling program. However, as of todays date (2/18/24), I no longer see this program on their website.
As far as materials used, similar to Chacos, Teva uses the Repreve fiber. For their leather work, they are certified from an outside organization called Leather Working Group, which ensures the traceability of their products.
I do, really enjoy their strap designs and find them to add a little pop. Additionally they don't have the toe thong which I appreciate.
Birkenstocks
As far durability is concerned, the pair I 'borrowed' from my sister have lasted at least 4 years. In fact, only now have they started to come apart at the heel, and only a little bit at that. Super comfortable once they are broken in to. If you are in a rush in the morning, there is no effort to put on the shoe as the ones I am looking at are slip ons.
Material wise, the sole is made up of cork which can be harvested repeatedly without harming the tree. The straps have options of leather, brand created synthetic, canvas, wool, and linen. The leather is claimed to be made with strict social and environmental standards, but I could not find anything that defined what those standards are.
One con, that is only really a con in comparison to the other shoes on this list, is that they are not able to be worn in water without sacrificing the integrity of the shoe.
Final Decision...
The Tevas!!!! I got them for a great deal at only $37.00, instead of their usual $75.00. The sale was going on because they were introducing a new line colors and wanted the old stock to be removed. I was even able to convince my sibling to purchase a pair with me to save on shipping costs.
After trying them on for about a month, I will post my experience with them and see if it was worth the buy.
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