As a part of my online shoe store review series, after checking out TOMS Shoes and The Walking Company, my next stop was to check out Planet Shoes, another popular online shoe store which carries a wide selection of shoes for both men and women.
PLANET SHOES (http://planetshoes.com)
As the name suggests, Planet Shoes are for the earth-inclined. By that, I mean the shoes are basically for a) hippies b) outdoorsy people or c) people who want really comfortable shoes. They’re eco-friendly, often vegan, and almost always insanely comfortable. It’s an ideal combination for backpackers. But it’s also appealing to the many of us who just want good shoes.
Because I’m a big walker, and I love comfortable shoes, I’m all for Planet Shoes. This is site for Birkenstocks. It’s for Crocs, Clarks, Patagonia, or Teva.
But I just wanted to clarify what this website is not: a fancy footwear site. In fact, the “dress shoes” really aren’t that dressy at all. So, in short, look elsewhere for wedding slippers.
(Use this link and coupon code TENOFF to save 10% at Planet Shoes)
But Planet Shoes isn’t unbearably grungy either. Most of the shoes range from $50-150 and the selection is wide enough that you can find an assortment of footwear. Overall, Planet Shoes is primarily concerned with delivering comfortable, sustainable, and long-lasting shoes, whether from Earth Spirit or Chinese Laundry. And some of the shoes happen to be very stylish. Others are just plain comfortable. But it’s all there.
For the shopper, Planet Shoes is laid-out well. You can check options like “fringe,” “flats,” or “adjustable” to find exactly what you’re looking for. The only downside is you can only check one option at a time.
For the granola girls, though, there are some very grungy shoes. Like these shoes:
Wow. This is a total hippie shoe. It’s made by a Spanish company called El Naturalista. The shoe is made from all natural materials, like chrome-free leather, cork, natural rubber, and natural colorings. The glue is even recycled from ground powder. And, somehow, coconut is also listed as a material. It’s expensive ($240) but it’s natural, and hand-crafted, and would probably work with skirts or pants. But I would never buy it. Why? I think it’s ugly.
But look at these slippers. Don’t they look scrumptiously comfortable? I am almost frustrated that I can’t wear them right now.
This faux leather ballet flat (with rubber outsole) is adorable. It’s perfect for work or casual events. Not to mention, I love the softly scooped collar, twisting center-knot, and cushioned insole. Also, it’s got the smallest heel (1/8 of an inch), which is not exactly going to make you taller. But it’s a small boost.
Also, Planet Shoes offers a special “Vegan Shop” section. As a former vegan, I can’t stress enough the perils of shoe shopping. Rather than settling for the first shoes you find, the “Vegan Shop” offers great options, including wrap-boots, house slippers, and athletic shoes. If you have vegan friends (or you’re vegan), definitely peruse the Vegan Shop.
For sock mavens, Planet Shoes has a “Sock Shop.” The majority of the socks display elaborate designs that clash with one another – but in a whimsical, intentional manner. They’re primarily made of wool and go mid-calf. I even found socks that were 22% bamboo. Unfortunately, they happen to be obscenely expensive – anywhere from $14-30 per pair. Most of the pairs are about $20. That’s more than I spend on a full pack of socks!
How about shipping? It turns out that Planet Shoes offers an eco-friendly shipping alternative, if desired. First, they deliver by ground rather than air. Secondly, for an additional cost of $1.01-1.75 per shipment, Planet Shoes allows customers to “offset the carbon emissions that are a result of our shipping their order to them.” This money is donated to CarbonFree® Plus Shipping Initiative, which supports a host of potential and current projects, including wind farms in Iowa and retrofitting children’s schools with photovoltaic solar panels.
(Click to see the latest discounts and coupons from Planet Shoes)
Overall, I find some Planet Shoes to be way too hippie or grungy. But most of the footwear is definitely wearable, whether or not you frequent Deadhead events and psychedelic recycling conventions. In particular, I highly recommend their slippers, like those unbearably soft-looking pairs shown above. But, whatever you’re looking for, Planet Shoes is a company, like TOMS, that cares about the world. And that chalks up for a ton of respect in my book.
MORE ONLINE SHOE STORE REVIEWS
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