dwindling athletic shoe options

Hi all,
So the shoes I know I can wear (yes, it's a limited list):

Uggs
Kamik
PO-ZU --> these are amazing!  Plus, if you're vegan, than they have a lot of those options
Gabor
Birkenstock

That's all I know.  Don't trust any other mass-produced athletic shoe.  Even ones where a company has verified for me, I have had problems because most of them are made in places where the company doesn't actually see what's going in their shoes (the joys of globalization and the exploitation of cheap capital).

The shoes in the above list will cost you a pretty penny, but they are well worth it.  They hold up well, are comfortable, and are well-made.  I've owned a couple of pairs of my Gabors for five years and I wear them a lot.

lots of options!

So after my devastating allergic reaction to my Newton's I was despairing.  I emailed a number of companies and most have been great about offering to look into whether they use thiuram.  TEVA does not use thiuram!   They make hiking boots, biking shoes, water shoes, multi-sport shoes, sandals, and more!  It's great to have a lot of options.  http://www.teva.com/THINK Shoes http://www.thinkshoesusa.com/ has a commitment to being safe.  They would be great for anyone with multiple allergies.  This is the information from the email they sent: 

Think uses organically tanned leather composed of tanning agents from ground tree bark extracts, bark from plantation trees and waste product from the timber industry. No trees from primeval or tropical rain forests are felled for our tanning agents. The bark for our tanning agents comes from timber tree plantations. This means: no tree in the open country dies solely in the interest of organic tanning. On the contrary: the bark, which would otherwise be nothing more than waste from timber processing is put to good use. Think's all-natural organically tanned leather is breathable, skin friendly, moisture absorbing, full bodied in structure and, free from harmful chemicals and toxins. Aluminum, chrome, mercury and the like, are not added to our organically tanned leather to make it easy care; we are highly apprehensive about such methods. This is why we leave our leather as natural as it is. None of our vegetable dyes contain heavy metals. And it goes without saying that we do not use synthetic inorganic chemical compounds or cheap carcinogenic coloring agents such as azo dyes. Organically tanned leather has no chemical additives. The animal skin is made durable by means of natural substances. This allows the leather to breathe and to absorb moisture naturally. It feels good and robust. Without additives such as chrome, PCP, formaldehyde, and the like.To be sure nothing slips through the cracks, we have our leather randomly tested by the laboratories of independent research institutes . After all, better safe than sorry. Intangible to most but important to us. Thanks to short transportation distances, our raw leather does not have to be treated with chemicals to preserve it. Special salts and a proper cooling chain suffice.  Few tanneries can produce organically tanned leather. Availability is very limited. Our philosophy rules out 95% of tanneries! A fact that has an effect on pricing. Organically tanned leather is simply better but more cost  intensive, slower and more complex to produce. In this day and age, vegetable tanned leather is an extravagance mastered by very few European tanneriesThe result: a non-polluting product completely free of chemicals, exclusively produced in quality European tanneries with high environmental standards. Hypoallergenic, thus no harmful substances come into contact with your skin.Our anatomically designed cork footbeds consist primarily of natural cork (which over time molds to the natural shape of your feet to create a custom fit) and natural rubber from the Hevea tree. Natural latex is a sustainable raw material which provides natural cushioning, outstanding thermal insulation and high slip and wear resistance. When nothing else is possible and where we must use microcell rubber, crepe or polyurethane because of weight restrictions or technical requirements, it is always free of ozone depleting fluoro chloro carbons.A number of people are allergic to nickel. Think! has thought of this as well. We only use nickel free accessories and ornaments created in house by our own designers.Rest assured the quality of the Think! shoes you wear is healthy. Think! - Healthy shoes. Naturally beautiful. Designed in Austria.

I also received a detailed response from Finn shoes.  80% of suppliers don’t use thiuram they also don’t use 'p-tert- butylphenol formaldehyde resin', (PTBT), but do use mercaptobenzothiazole', MBT.
Oboz shoes use TMTD (Tetramethylthiuram Disulfide) only - so if you know which of the four kinds of thiuram you're allergic to, you might be able to get away with those.  I will add more as I get more responses.  In the meantime I'm off to hike, buy some shoes, and got to work!  Have a lovely itch-free day!

Not my Newtons!

I have bad news.  W'eve lost one more brand of shoes we can wear.  My favourite pair of Newton running shoes was on its last legs and I decided to buy another pair.  I had an allergic reaction to them. It's mild even though it sucks to have itchy feet again for the first time in ages, but mostly it sucks because I loved those shoes and they have changed them since telling me they are safe.  So, a tip from me: Don't wear Newtons if you are allergic to thiuram.  I'm hoping Inov8s are still ok.

Hiking boots

Trying to find hiking boots... Sigh. I'm tired mof having to search and email. I've had a few companies email me back but with nothing definitive.

favourites

It's difficult to have this allergy for a number of reasons. It SUCKS to have itchy feet, it's expensive to replace all of your shoes, socks, and pantyhose, and you feel like you're going to have dowdy old lady shoes or crazy hippie shoes made only out of hemp. Don't fear! There are some brands out there that are stylish, fun, comfortable, and most importantly, won't make your feet itchy!

I've bought a lot of shoes in the past three years. I'm on my feet all day and try to switch my shoes often. I also LOVE shoes. It was quite the blow when I had to get rid of all of my shoes. But now I buy better quality shoes, and they are actually cute and more comfortable! I thought it might help to run down a few of my favourite shoes to give you an idea of what's out there.

My favourite shoes:

I own a LOT of Gabor shoes. They are awesome because they have comfortable tennis style shoes that resemble converse but they are all leather. They have classic pumps in different styles, funky fashion shoes, tall and short boots, ballet flats, etc. They come in a variety of styles, colours, and with different decoration like bows, studs, and rhinestones. I love that I feel great in these shoes because they look stylish, young, professional, and they are comfortable because they are usually lined with leather and it is stitched. (The Gabor fall/winter preview just came out, so now I have to fight the urge to shoe shop!)

My Kamik rain boots are AWESOME! They are waterproof, fitted to my foot and not too loose like other rain boots, and come in fun patterns. They help me protect my other shoes because I will wear these and switch into my shoes when I get to work. They are also made in Canada! So I love that!

My Newton running shoes allow me to work out and jog. They are also great because I've learned to midsole run because they are a midsole running shoe which is better for one's joints.

I have two pairs of winter boots from Ugg. I have their classic tall sheepskin boots and the Adirondack style which I can use to go snowshoeing. They are comfortable and keep my feet toasty.

Birkenstocks rule for summer! I also wear them around my house often if I've been on my feet in high heels all day because they are supportive.

Sanuk skimmers are great for kayaking because they dry easily.

Those are my favourites!

Newtons are no longer safe!  check out TEVA

Shoe Protector spray

I believe, despite the fact that I have no confirmation of this because they wouldn't/couldn't help me, that the SoftMoc WSP 365 Leather and Fabric Protector contains Thiuram. I think this acutally triggered my allergy because I developed it shortly after spraying most of my shoes with it.

I have not had a problem using the Ugg brand of shoe protector on my classic Ugg sheepskin boots, and they said they don't use it, but I'm always apprehensive so I don't protect my other shoes with this spray, just my winter boots.

Leather shoes are easier. I use Po-Zu edible shoe cream. It's made from coconut. It's awesome! Plus, you can eat it! I figure that if I can eat it, then my feet won't be allergic (unless you're allergic to coconuts) http://po-zu.com/eu/coconut/edible-shoe-cream-page

Europe - stricter chemical controls

Europe is the best! Here in North America, we are almost completely unprotected by government legislation from chemicals. This ranges from shoes to health and wellness products. As of the US has only banned 8 chemicals for use in cosmetics; whereas Switzerland has banned over 1100. Imagine what's allowed in shoes made by American companies! When in doubt, ask a European shoe company!