Vegetarian/non-leather boots

[mattplace]

But they had a nature, free life, they were not farmed.

 

Fair comment!

[Daniël Bos]

In addition to the "farmed" argument, plastics can be made from a wide variety of plant-based oils and starches.

[PeteB]

I applaud you for you convictions in veganism even though I could not consider it personally. Even though it is a principle that figures high in your life, surely there are times when practicality overcomes view point in terms of safety?

 

On a similar note, would a Sihk be allowed to work in a turban? After all, their religion is just a firmly held belief surely.

[easy-lift guy]

On a more serious note I have talked this over in the chat room and it was decided that you could use wooden clogs for your work boots.

 

i presume you mean the clogs that are used in holland. as in the uk clogs have leather uppers:thumbup1:

if so how wood you put steel toecaps on them:confused1:

 

I did mean the same kind from Holland, and I guess we will have to affix the steel toe caps with some sort of glue, can not be made from animals unless there the same kind Skyhook was talking about.

easy-lift guy

[Daniël Bos]

On a similar note, would a Sihk be allowed to work in a turban? After all, their religion is just a firmly held belief surely.

 

Yes, they are. There is a special piece of legislation relating to this.

 

S11 of the Employment Act 1989 exempts turban-wearing Sikhs from any requirements to wear safety helmets on a construction site. Where a turban-wearing Sikh is injured on a construction site liability for injuries is restricted to the injuries that would have been sustained if the Sikh had been wearing a safety helmet.

[Al Duffill]

I've been a veggie for way too long to mention and am at the mo going vegan. I don't believe you can get vegan chainsaw boots apart from wellies which you really wouldn't want to be climbing in. I think you will have to choose leather or not climb. I had to weigh up the whole issues surrounding new leather but tbo you've gotta flex sometimes and think about yourself

 

Regarding Goretex, this is not a material like leather or plastic, boots are not made out of this stuff, it is a membrane IN your boot, coat ,trousers, etc, that doesn't let water in but lets water vapour out(sweat) keeping you toastie and dry, but it is vegan!! lol:biggrin:

[Stereo]

I was veggie for about 15 years and it didn't go down well in a beef farming community but there you go. We must give thanks that we can do exactly what we feel is right in this world, hopefully without too much sarcastic comdemnation. I'm not a veggie now. I thought about it. A lot. That makes me feel comfortable with my choice. Some people don't ever make that choice. They don't push themselves that far.

 

Thumbs up to all those helping the OP with a solution to their problem.

[Pedroski]

MattXD, there's a place down here in Brighton Vegetarian Shoes - Cruelty free shoes, boots, trainers, sandals, belts, jeans and para boots. - who make a steel toe safety boot. Might be worth speaking to them and seeing if any possibility of a chainsaw boot if market big enough. If they knew they would sell for £200/pair then it might be something they would consider. Always worth asking.

[Graham]

I think the major stumbling block for veggie chainsaw boots would be getting them CE marked. Cost a lot of money to do so and the market size wouldn't warrant it.

[MattXD]

Wow, this seems to have stimulated a lot of interesting comments then. It's been a few days since I've checked it, so apologies for summarising/replying in one go.

 

If someone can demonstrate how you fit climbing spikes on to clogs, screw it, I'll give them ago. Sustainability at its finest.

 

On a more serious note:

 

Dave D - good point about animal derived glues in rubber boots. I have to admit this isn't something I've thought about before, and makes finding a specifically vegan/vegetarian boot all the more important. I've been vegan for nine years now, and it's something I feel very strongly about.

 

Pedroski - I live in Brighton myself. I went into Vegetarian Shoes earlier this week to ask them about the posibility of making me a one-off pair, but them seem really un-interested unfortunately. And anyway, presumably they'd have to get them independently tested/verified, which would be really expensive.

 

HOWEVER, in really good news, I've just spoken to another ethical footware manufacturer who said it's something they've thought about, and have even produced some samples, which looked great. They sent me over a picture and the design spec and it all looks spot on. I'm going to persue them about getting a pair made.

 

Would anyone else (Dryadude?) be interested in getting some made at the same time - might be cheaper if there are a couple of orders at once? Let me know.