Vegan Inline Skates

[amolibertas]

I recently watched Whip It and now really want some skates. When I looked up info, though, inline is better for outdoor than Quad without having to switch wheels.

I've mostly only come up with Quad skates but I found

these Eco Friendly SkatesI sent an email to that company asking exactly what that particular skate is made of- as eco friendly, of

Comments

[cyybergod]

The leather vs synthetics debate is something i find really hard to reconcile.

As someone with vehement environmentalist and decidedly anti-civ ideals, I find it really hard to opt for synthetics over leather. I recognize that the skin of another animal is not ours to wear, but I find it very difficult to argue that we should supply a demand for MORE petroleum so we can have "leather-like" products.

My last pair of shoes were made from "man-made materials," but I'm really working on reminding myself that there is no Expert in a Lab just making this materials out of thin air--they're sourced from oil. And that's fucked up.

I can't give any kind of definitive opinion on it, as I'm not really sure where I stand on the issue yet. Just wanted to share my thoughts.

Perhaps Reusing is the answer

[amolibertas]

I suppose if I found some gently used man roller blades (wide feet) I wouldn't have to consider vegan synthetic materials vs Leather issues any further.

Or learn to make my own skates haha

I'm not sure if I implied I was looking for "leather like", but I don't really care what the blades look like as long as they don't kill my feet.

I recently bought Vegan shoes that were made from hemp and recycled rubber- I suppose I don't know how exactly how they reshape the rubber (more heat vs more chemicals) but I felt that was a reasonably good middle ground. Also the most comfortable shoes I've ever bought. ^_^

Re: Perhaps Reusing is the answer

[____hissunshine]

Mind if I ask what shoes you bought? I have been looking for comfy vegan shoes!

Re: Perhaps Reusing is the answer

[amolibertas]

Review and Link here

Good price and feels good on my sometimes considered extra wide feet (when it comes to shoes, I usually buy men's)

[seringue]

I dont know about inlines, but the quads I used to use were Riedell R3's.
Google Sin City Skates cos they do a vegan boot too...though not sure if they do inlines.

[complexzeta]

Presumably a non-vegan wrote that. It is customary for those who do nothing to accuse those who do something of not doing enough.

[orphe_]

i didn't know there were leather or leather-like inline skates... i've always had ones with a hard plastic outer shell and removable foam liner.

Sources

[amolibertas]

Some in-line boot shells are leather or a combination of leather and polyurethane plastic.

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/In-Line-Skates.html#ixzz0xS0fDDXZ

sustainability wise, I read this article about how polyurethane makes up for the energy to use it, by being the ultimate in insulation when it comes to housing. I don't know how this would translate towards an inline skate however.

Re: Sources

[orphe_]

i was a huge fan of blading back when i was younger - this is pre-vegan - and i never once had any leather in my blades, so if you decide you do want a plastic pair it should be very easy for you. i will say that i find it silly to use the "leather is better for the environment than plastic" argument as a way to justify the use of nonvegan items. both are toxic.

Re: Sources

[amolibertas]

most leather is not biodegradable due to the tanning process

I suppose the people who say leather is greener is considering animals a "renewable resource" as opposed to our finite source of oil.

In the end, I opted to reuse another's gently used pair on Ebay. This way, I don't encourage more oil or leather use all around