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Fashion Fitness Friday: Patagonia Shoes (Review and Giveaway)

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Patagonia Fore Runners

 

I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.

-Oprah Winfrey

Patagonia boxFrom their Black Friday ad that asked you not to buy this jacket, to their repair program, to their corporate responsibility and commitment to sustainability, to their policy of recycling clothing at the end of its life cycle, Patagonia is an epically eco company that’s getting it done.

And from now until April 23rd, they’re showing their eco ethics by donating $10 to Healthy Child Healthy World for every pair of Patagonia shoes sold through Online Shoes!

Awesomesauce, right? But what are the shoes like?

Patagonia sneakers

 

I got to try out a pair to tell you about, and went with the Patagonia Fore Runner in Deep Plum/Flash Pink for running the trails at the state park that borders our property. The road that I take from my house to pick up the trails is pretty steep, and has lots of loose gravel and whatnot. I really wanted something with a bit of grip.

Bear with me here, I’m a novice runner and I don’t really know what an experienced runner looks for. These are just the details that jumped out at me.

I agonized for hours about what size to order; I can wear anything from a 10 to an 11 depending on the brand. Figuring I could always stretch a slightly-too-small shoe (as opposed to blistering in a too-big shoe), I went with 10s and they fit nice and snugly without caging my toes in. Yippee!

The Patagonia Fore Runner claims to be a minimalist trail runner and ideal for long distances. I’m still maxing out at about 3 miles, so I can’t vouch for that bit, but I did take these shoes out for a treadmill run and a trail jog.

My other pair of athletic sneaks are Asics, which I always thought were pretty light (compared to the Pumas and Converse I wore before them); the Fore Runners are notably lighter. The insole really cradles my high arch, which is pretty unusual for a sneaker (usually I have to buy some gel inserts).

 

Patagonia Fore Runner

Why yes, I do have the knobbiest knees ever. Thanks for noticing!

 

I ran just under 3 miles on the treadmill (without stopping! OK, no I slowed to a walk once, but only for a minute and I made it up at the end! super slow, but I did not die! Thx Couch to 5K!) the first time I wore these out, in retrospect not the brightest idea in the world, but with no ill effects. No “breaking in” period: the Fore Runner is very flexible right out of the box, which made me wonder if they weren’t going to be the best trail shoes ever.

A cautious jog downhill to the park (and then a slow jog back up the hill), a distance of a little over a mile, made me pretty confident that I can run faster in these on our crumbling backroad and the trails without breaking my dang leg. They were plenty grippy and I didn’t go sliding at all. Which may or may not have happened before. Which may or may not have resulted in me almost falling in White Clay Creek.

So all in all, I like ’em a lot. They’re nice and light and comfy and sturdy, and they don’t look too much like “hiker” shoes— super cute for every day, even if they do nothing to minimize my giantess feet (Pumas have the market cornered on that quality).

Also, they match my hair, as a lovely older gentlemen pointed out to me at the Y.

 

Patagonia Fore Runners

 

OK, you got me. You can’t really see my hair in that photo, but I’m using it as #PROOF that I ran. If you want to see my pink stripe in all its gaudy glory go here.

Patagonia Fore Runner specs:

  • breathable airmesh and synthetic leather with perforated nylon overlay reinforcements
  • moisture-wicking, 100% polyester airmesh collar and tongue lining keep feet cool and dry
  • 15% recycled anatomical EVA footbed
  • gender-specific footframe provides a smooth forefoot stride, while a shock-absorption distribution plate protects against rocks
  • multi-density sticky rubber outsole provides 360-degree wet/dry traction
  • shoebox has pretty swirly design on the inside and invites you to turn it inside out and reuse for storage. SO BRILLIANT. How is it that I’ve never seen that before?

 

GIVEAWAY!!

Online Shoes and Patagonia are offering up a pair of shoes to one lucky reader! Whoop whoop!

Doesn’t have to be sneaks or trail shoes, they have lovely comfy-casual and decently-dressy kicks too. Not just for the ladies, either! Menfolk, feel free to get in on this action 🙂

Just follow the directions on the Rafflecopter widget. This sweeps will end next Friday, April 20th, at midnight.

Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
Disclosure: I received a pair of shoes for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
 

Patagonia: Eco Fashion is Ethical Fashion

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patagonia

Because the greenest product is the one that already exists.

-from the Patagonia website

Patagonia is a clothing company that’s taking sustainability seriously.

I’ve been meaning to write about them ever since they ran an ad on Black Friday that read “Don’t buy this jacket,” with this copy:

The environmental cost of everything we make is astonishing. Consider the R2 Jacket shown, one of our best sellers. To make it required 135 liters of water, enough to meet the daily needs (three glasses a day) of 45 people. Its journey from its origin as 60% recycled polyester to our Reno warehouse generated nearly 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, 24 times the weight of the finished product. This jacket left behind, on its way to Reno, two-thirds its weight in waste… There is much to be done and plenty for us all to do. Don’t buy what you don’t need. Think twice before you buy anything.

We’re then invited to take the Common Threads Initiative pledge, which asks you to reduce, reuse, and repair. Only when you’ve exhausted the usefulness of your item, should you then recycle. And then Patagonia introduces a the fifth R, to reimagine a world where we take only what nature can replace.

It all seems counter-intuitive and somewhat gimmicky, and at the time I thought the selling point was that their clothing was hardy and well-made from quality fabrics and therefore long-lasting; so by BUY LESS they really meant buy Patagonia and you won’t need to buy as often. Which, don’t get me wrong, is a very valid argument.

But Patagonia totally seems to be putting their money where their mouth is.

  • You can have your clothing repaired and your footwear resoled through the company; they will pay for repairs that they’re responsible for and charge a fair price for repairs due to normal wear and tear.
  • You can recycle your Patagonia clothing by sending it to them or dropping off at a store, “ideally, while you’re running other errands, to reduce environmental impact.” What’s salvageable is repurposed. Totally worn out garments are recycled into new fiber or fabric.
  • The cycle is closed with items for purchase made from recycled textiles.
  • “Nothing wearable should be hoarded; useful things should be in circulation.” Patagonia has established an online store on eBay green where you can resell your used clothing or buy from other sellers. Since their clothing is built to last, these recycled items are likely to be in good condition.
  • The company donates factory seconds to activists in the field and to those who have lost their belongings in disasters.
  • The site allows you to ask questions about the product right there on the item description page, which helps you to make the right decisions as to fit and suitability. How is that eco fashion? Let me ask you… how many times have you bought something only to have it languish in your closet because the fit was off? Not to mention the resources saved by not having to do a return.
  • And finally, Patagonia is one of California’s first Benefit Corporations, meaning that the company is committed to achieving “general public benefit.” While other companies are legally bound to maximize profits,

Companies that incorporate as Benefit Corps must consider an array of stakeholders beyond shareholders, including workers, suppliers, the environment and the local community. They must measure their progress toward that goal against a third-party standard.

It’s a solid, all-around corporate ethic, one that a person can be proud to support with their dollar. Hopefully it’s sustainable for them as a company— inspiring others to follow suit.

Confession:
I’ve never purchased anything Patagonia. Will I love it?