REVIEW: ecoLiving Essentials Travel Booties

The world is a pretty germy place.  When your at home or in an environment that you can control, it’s easy to take control of your exposure to germs.  But travelers get hit with germs in ways that they can’t always plan for.  One of those germy times is passing through airport security.  ecoLiving Essentials has developed two eco-friendly products to help give travelers a little bit of a defense against the germs of the world – Biodegradable Travel Booties and a Biodegradable Shower Cap.

ecoLiving Essentials biodegradable travel booties

The company was founded by two moms, who, as frequent travelers. were concerned about their germ exposure when removing their shoes at airport security.  They saw the bins of plastic booties offered at a few of the airports, and although they admired the concept, were concerned about the amount of plastic being sent to the landfill.  (TSA allows booties to be worn through the security screen, but requires that they be disposed of in that area.)  Refining the concept, the two were able to come up with a disposable and biodegradable alternative that could protect travelers from germs and was still affordable.

A second travel product, the shower cap, attempts to accomplish the same thing – replace a commonly disposed item with a biodegradable option.  You can stop using the ones you find in your hotel room, using, and re-using, a biodegradable one.

The company claims, that in addition to the products themselves being eco-friendly, all the packaging is also naturally biodegradable, completely eco-friendly, BPA-free and non-toxic (the bags are made of plant material).  This means you can toss the products and packaging into the recycling bin, compost pile, or in the trash (if you must).  As an additional selling point, both packaging and products are made in the US with local materials.  Yay for creating local jobs!  While I think we all prefer re-usable products, the reality of travel is that we often are faced with making disposable choices.

The travel booties are priced at $5.95 for two sets of booties, and the shower cap at the same price point for three caps.

I was sent a sample of the booties for review, which gave me the chance to check out the packaging and product.

Biodegradable travel booties

The first thing I noticed was that the exterior package felt and crackled like cellophane (that really noisy crackling type of cello wrapping paper), and carried a choking hazard label.  I don’t know why that warning label bothered me, but it did.  I know that it’s important labeling, and packaging can be a serious danger to small children, but I guess I naively want my package to be both earth friendly and kid friendly, too.  It’s my issue, but needn’t be yours.

The booties are large (one size fits most), and heavy enough that you feel like you’re getting real protection on your feet.  These aren’t the flimsy kind that you pick up at the airport security bin, and they did make me feel like my feet were protected.  Elastic around the ankle area is designed to keep them on your feet, rather than slipping off, and with bare feet it worked fairly well.  With socks on, however, it felt like the booties were going to slip off.  They didn’t, it just felt that way.  The plastic was also textured enough that I didn’t slip and slide on the airport floor.

In short, the product did what it claims it can do – keep your feet protected.  And if walking through security in your stocking feet is a big gross out for you, then these booties are a product that you’re going to love.  It may also mean you can wear sandals or flip flops and not have to worry about going barefoot in the security area by putting on the booties.

For me, however, the germ issue when passing through security isn’t enough of an “ick” factor for me to spend the money (albeit a nominal amount) and time to deal with the booties.  I know all the arguments about germs on the floors, mats, etc., and I know that the security area doesn’t get cleaned nearly often enough.  But I work on an airplane.  I am exposed to more germs in one flight that many people are in an entire month.  I deal with it by taking steps to keep myself healthy, keeping my immune system in great shape, washing frequently, and by trying not to think too hard and long about all the germs.  In this case, denial helps me keep the issue in a neat little box, allowing me to do my job.

However, that’s just me.

If the thought of all these germs creep you out, if you have a compromised immune system, or if you’re prone to picking up every bug that happens by, that will be enough to send you running for booties.  And if you’re going to use them, I can recommend the ecoLiving Essentials booties.  $6 will buy you two pair, enough for a roundtrip, and plenty of peace of mind.

Overall rating:  3 1/2 stars (out of 5).  I think it’s a quality product, but am not sure that there’s really a need.  I’m not sure it’s one of those things that makes traveling that much easier and/or enjoyable.

Your thoughts?