Running Shoes - Gear - Runner's World

Sian Rogerson

02/08/2006 at 09:27

Hi there, great to see all this info re running shoes but can anyone tell me which company's shoes are the ethical choice?

2 trenches

02/08/2006 at 10:10

New balance are vegan, and made in Britain.

Inov-8 similar if you're looking for offroad stuff.

Sian Rogerson

02/08/2006 at 12:47

Many thanks for that. I've looked onto the New Balance site and they say some shoes are made in the US, some in the UK but don't specify whether or not they have Corporate Social Responsibility. I checked the Asics site, they have more info on their policies and a link to the below site which details Fair Labour Annual Public Reports for many sports manufacturers. http://www.fairlabor.org.

2 trenches

02/08/2006 at 12:59

You want to talk to Iron Duck Girl - she's a leftie vegan type, and will be able to point you towards the models that are made in Britain. She should be knocking around somewhere (to be honest I'm surprised she hasn't popped in here yet)

Muttley

02/08/2006 at 13:24

We all like to make ethical choices if possible, but for running the number one consideration for me is - are the shoes right for my running style? Sweatshop labour, vegan or non-vegan, political correctness etc come second to the need to avoid injury.

Sian Rogerson

02/08/2006 at 13:50

Surely we can have both? I'd like to find out. Where are you Iron Duck Girl??

M.ister W

02/08/2006 at 14:12

I think NB are as good as you're going to get for a socially responsible shoe manufacturer. Their UK website used to show which shoes are made in the UK and which are made elsewhere.

cougie

pirate

02/08/2006 at 14:24

Just ignore the New Balance Veal range....

Yeah DG advocates NB - she was a big fan of the dear departed 854.

That bloke from Coldplay wears NB - I'm sure he's looked into it all.

Recovery Runner

02/08/2006 at 14:44

He drives a BMW X5 as well though. Like Muttley, he's probably socially responsible as long as it doesn't compromise him in any way....

Muttley

02/08/2006 at 15:45

Oooooh, RR, that's a wee bit unfair, doncha know!

Sure I'd like to make the world a better place. But I'm also a biomechanical basket case, and if Nike shoes work best at stopping me from becoming even more of an old crock, then Nike shoes is what I'll buy.

I leave others to claim the moral high ground.

Recovery Runner

02/08/2006 at 16:21

I do apologise, having a bad day....

Sian Rogerson

02/08/2006 at 16:32

:-) It's not about claiming any moral high ground, it's just about being aware and making sure our purchases don't harm others, our wallets have enormous voting power, wouldn't it be great if we could all just get a great running shoe knowing that buying them doesn't mean we're perpetuating the harm of people outside of our reality? (I'm dead normal - honest)

Muttley

02/08/2006 at 16:54

Not offended, RR, no worries!

And anyway, 6-year-old Malaysian kids need to eat too :-)

Samm

02/08/2006 at 17:23

I agree with Muttley to be honest. I choose for comfort and personal fit. Its very nice to say you want to make sure your “purchases don't harm others” but in reality it’s a much larger job that that. Where is the sole manufactured, where do they get the rubber? What about the laces? The plastic for the lace ends.. the fabric for the shoe itself the material for the insole? Is it all manufactured by the company, where do they get their raw materials ?

Even this site and its magazine, right down to ink paper and staples. Do RW have a socially acceptable policy, where do they source their paper, where is it farmed and how are they treated. What about their advertising?? Jump up a level to the Magicalia Company. They host the site and provided this lovely colour scheme! Are they behaving responsibly, where are they based, what is there energy consumption like, where are they servers manufactured? What about your ISP? How about you computer? Where any components made in third world countries?? What did you eat today? Where did that originate? What are those company polices? Where did the ingrediants come from! What soap do you use etc etc

Frankly I could go on for pages in greater and greater detail. Yes it would be great to know my running shoes where not harming anyone else but my first concern I am afraid has to be are they harming me?

Sian Rogerson

02/08/2006 at 17:39

Samm, I totally agree with you and I do try to make purchase decisions with all these questions in mind. Of course we need our running shoes to be the best they can be, but is it possible to find a good running shoe from a socially responsible manufacturer?

cougie

pirate

02/08/2006 at 17:42

If NB is good enough for Iron Duck Girl - its good enough for me.

Samm

02/08/2006 at 17:52

New Balance Seem to get the best rap.. But then I'm not entirely convinced maybe call it the lesser amoung evils. Also Running bear be careful where you buy them though lol cause that opens another can of worms!

Duck Girl

pirate

09/08/2006 at 21:45

Oh dear - i'm the forum's token Lefty Vegan - i think i'll take it as a compliment.

New Balance are (mostly) UK-made & vegan - their website will show you which are. They also do width fittings, which is muchly useful for people with Weird Feet like me, and they are primarily a Proper Running Shoe manufacturer (though they do do a few 'fashion shoes') - so they are the best place to start looking.

Muttley, to some extent i do agree (i compromise on kit, 'cos there seems to be no such thing as fair-trade running vests) - but if it's important to you then you could try looking at New Balance first, & if they work for you - double-good. & I'm definitely a biomechanical mess - dyspraxic size-10 shoes aren't easy to find either :¬)

Duck Girl

pirate

09/08/2006 at 21:46

(sorry for the delay 2T et al - been off to stay with fellow vegan lefty runner - who does sub-2:45 maras - for a few days).

Stuart G

10/08/2006 at 00:03

vegan + shoes? Are you looking for a new delicacy or something?