Terra Plana Dundan Boots Review

When I first reviewed Terra Plana’s Lucy shoe back in May, I honestly thought I would never find a shoe I loved so much. I wrapped my heart around those shoes, said “I Do”, and never looked back.

Well, I’m thrilled to be able to say that Terra Plana has stolen my heart even more on the next go-round with their Vivo Barefoot Dundan boot.

And, keep reading because, yet again, they’ve generously agreed to give readers of The Greenest Dollar a 20% off coupon. Yay!

Why Terra Plana Shoes Are So Amazing

For those of you who have already read my Lucy shoe review on why Terra Plana is so unique, you can skip this section and scroll down to the next.

But if this is your first time ever hearing about Terra Plana, and their Vivo Barefoot line, then stay with me here. You won’t be sorry.

Now, Terra Plana’s Vivo Barefoot line is like no other shoe you’ve ever worn. They’re shoes that feel nothing like shoes.

Here’s why: 99% of the shoes out there mold your foot into a certain shape with the insole. When you put them on, your foot is forced into a certain shape, and you feel like you’re wearing shoes.

But Terra Plana’s Vivo Barefoot line doesn’t do this. This line is designed to simulate barefoot walking. Your foot is left in its natural shape as you walk and your toes spread out, free and unencumbered by the shoe itself.

The reason why Terra Plana makes shoes like this is because of the health benefits. Human beings were designed to walk barefoot, and our bodies are just naturally happier when they’re not being forced to walk in a certain way by our shoes.

The Vivo Barefoot line keeps your feet in their natural form with an ultra-thin sole that lets you feel every rock, brick, and pebble you walk on. With these it’s really hard to trip, because your feet are able to feel and respond to the ground underneath. You always know what’s going on because you can feel it.

Viva the Vivo Barefoot!

So, what’s so special about these boots?

Wow, let me count the ways…

Your Second Skin…

First of all, they feel like a part of my skin. I don’t feel like I’m wearing a “boot” at all.

Here’s an analogy: If I was a Scottish clansman and painstakingly handmade a custom pair of boots from the softest leather and then wore them every day for six years through the highlands, they might be as comfortable as these boots. Maybe.

With the Dundan, you get that “custom made and completely broken in” feel the moment you pull them out of the box. No kidding.

I also did not get one single blister from these boots. I have worn the mess out of them since they came in, and this includes carting them across the Atlantic to Barcelona, where I walked 10+ miles per day in them for 11 days.

Not. One. Blister.

They’ve Got Sole…

I also need to take a minute to rave about the sole. Now, you might think a “thin sole” means that it could easily be punctured by something sharp, like glass.

Not so. Need proof? Well, A and I love to dance, and when we were in Barcelona we went out dancing in this really dark, really packed dance club. And since my Dundan boots were the only shoes I brought, this means I went out dancing in them.

The floor was littered with all kinds of stuff, most of which “crunched” while we were dancing. I could feel it through the thin sole, but couldn’t tell what the heck it was. After about an hour the lights got brighter for just a bit, and I was able to look down and see what I’d been dancing on all this time.

It was broken glass.

People had dropped beer bottles and glasses all over the floor, and I’d been grinding my feet into it for the past hour. And the soles hadn’t gotten punctured once.

Yes, the sole of the Dundan boot is thin. And yes, you can feel everything under your feet. But this sole is tough as nails. You’d really have to put some effort into it to puncture the bottom of these boots.

Cozy Warmth…

Another great thing about the Dundan boot is that it’s warm. It has a thin layer of insulation on the inside for chilly winter days. And they’re water resistant, so you can tromp through the snow and not have to worry about ruining them.

Vegetable Dyed Leather…

Another cool thing about the Dundan boot is that they’re made from vegetable dyed leather. Vegetable dyed leathers are much more eco-friendly than traditional dyed leathers because they don’t use any harsh chemicals. You can find out more on the benefits of using vegetable dyes on leather here.

Why Is Terra Plana Green?

So, what makes Terra Plana such a green company?

Well, they add recycled elements to all their shoes. Each shoe is different, but there could be recycled rice husks in the sole, recycled foam in the footbed, recycled leather in the shoe itself, or recycled PET bottles in the mesh.

Terra Plana is also the winner of the Observer Ethical Fashion award, and recently picked up an award from Drapers for Ethical Retailer of the Year. They’re definitely taking some cool steps to make sure their business is green (and this includes using old parachutes and old coats in their shoes!).

Terra Plana Coupon

So, want to try a pair for your very own? Well, Terra Plana has generously agreed to give us all a 20% off coupon. Thanks Terra Plana!

The coupon is for their Vivo Barefoot line only, and is good from Oct. 19-Nov. 30. Just enter the coupon code “GREENEST20” when you check out.

You can click here to check out their Vivo Barefoot line.

Last Word…

So, what’s my last word on these eco friendly boots?

Well, if you couldn’t tell already, I absolutely love them. Terra Plana’s Vivo Barefoot line is amazing, and I love feeling like I’m not really wearing a shoe at all. My feet feel so free in these boots, and I know I’m going to be wearing them all winter.