I predominantly focus my attention and my content around the cannabinoids extracted from hemp, in order to be consumed as an oil or a topical treatment, however hemp has so many unbelievable uses.
Hemp can be used to create rope, clothes, food, paper, bioplastics and even biofuel. But today I want to turn my attention to hemp shoes.
What Are Hemp Shoes?
Hemp shoes are an eco-friendly shoe, which are normally highly durable and utilise the sustainable natural fibre from the hemp plant instead of the traditional option of cotton.
Benefits Of Hemp Shoes
- It might sound bizarre, but a large portion of the shoes you see on the shelves in shoe stores aren’t vegan friendly. Even if it’s just a part of the boot or the heel, they will often contain leather. They may also be made from suede or wool. Hemp shoes are (the majority of the time) a great vegan option if you’re looking for something that doesn’t use anything from a living animal.
- Hemp fibre is incredibly strong. I mean seriously strong. Hemp shoes tend to be much more durable than your average shoe, meaning they should last a long longer.
- Hemp is weather resistant, meaning you don’t have to be worried about being caught in the rain. It’s also resistant to mould and UV rays.
- You can also feel good about yourself if you’re buying hemp shoes, as the plant absorbs a huge amount of carbon dioxide, more than trees do, while they also require much less water than many other crops, so you’re opting for a more environmentally friendly option.
- Hemp is grown organically, without the use of pesticides or insecticides (well, for most good hemp farms, but be cautious and make sure to check for their certificates of approval). This means that the crops won’t be harming bees, insects and birds.
- Hemp is hypoallergenic, meaning it is considered to be unlikely to cause any form of allergic reaction, so this should be a suitable option for the vast majority of people.
- You can say goodbye to bad foot odour (if this is something you suffered with), as hemp is thermo regulating, meaning your feet won’t get overheated and then sweaty. As they contain anti-bacterial properties, you should also find the odours don’t tend to linger, unlike some other synthetic materials.
Are Hemp Shoes Comfortable?
This will depend on the actual shoe you buy, the quality standards, plus any other materials they use, but in general, hemp shoes are considered relatively comfortable. I’ve tried a couple of them on and found them to be decently comfortable.
How Do You Protect Hemp Shoes?
If you want to keep your hemp shoes in top quality conditions then you will have to perform a little bit of maintenance.
You should make sure to wipe them down regularly after going on a walk, especially if walking on grass. Give it a spot clean if you notice any bits of dirt when possible.
Some people throw their shoes in the washing machine when it’s dirty, but this can damage hemp shoes, so I would recommend against this.
Another area that people regularly forget is to wash the laces when possible, as this will bring them back to their bright white colour they used to have. You can also buy new laces to give it a new-shoe look.
Do Hemp Shoes Stretch?
If you’ve gone and bought some shoes and they feel too tight, your next thought track (if not returning) might be on how to stretch your shoes.
Some of the conventional options when stretching shoes include using a blowdryer, however this method is set for leather, with the heat loosening the leather up.
I’ve also heard of people putting their shoes in the freezer, I’ve not done this myself so I can’t make too many comments, but I know many people try this for non-leather shoes, however I’d follow a guide on how to perform this effectively.
You can also buy a shoe stretcher, which aren’t too expensive and might hold some long term value if you have a number of shoes that are a bit tight. You may want to give them a little spray with warm water before trying a shoe stretcher.
Can You Get Hemp Shoes In The UK?
Yes you can, there are a number of different options available in the UK market, such as Bohempia, Astral, Vivobarefoot, Sanuk and Rackle Shoes.
While the big brands are slow to enter this market, we are seeing an increase in big name brands working on hemp shoe creations.
You may also want to visit either a vegan event or a hemp expo, as many small brands have great hemp shoes, but simply don’t have the online presence currently and aren’t sold in big shoe stores.