The great bargain hunting season has begun! Yes, this is the prime time to search for slashed prices, one-day deals, and to get that one thing you’ve had your eye on for yourself or someone special. PlanetShoes.com has loads of bargains and great prices every day, and as the holidays approach there are even more than usual. Here I’ve picked out four of my favorites that cost less than $50!

I am so much better at remembering to bring bags to the store than I used to be. Really, I am- I keep them in my car and I’m all set for the grocery store or other big shopping event. But I never have one for the unexpected stop or the small trip.

Who wants to carry around a bag just because you might possibly want to buy something sometime? That’s a hassle. But I spotted this and I think I have a solution to my problem. The Timbuk2 Hidden Tote is a great solution and a great gift idea.

Small, it fits in my purse or computer bag without taking up much space, it then expands to be a shockingly large and useful bag. A proper bag that fits over the shoulder and is easy to carry and that will hold books from the library or just that one thing I needed at the pharmacy.

Made out of recycled material, I feel more virtuous just buying it. After I use it, I’ll feel like an eco-saint!

Winter is now upon us and it seems like my feet may never see the light of day again. During these dark days I like to do a little off-season shopping for Summer shoes. It helps me to remember that some day it will be sandal season once more. A perfect example, the Mohican by Planet Shoes.

A decidedly Summer shoe with nice leather detailing that sets it apart from the ordinary. The center leather medallion looks like the sun that I miss! It is the perfect shoe for my Winter shopping. This will help me wait for the warm weather, unless I hop a plane to warmer climes- it could happen.

The flexible strap on the back means a comfortable and adjustable fit while the cushioned sole will be easy on my feet. I like the slight rise from toe to heel, giving me a little height and a stylish look. The sandal is simple enough to pair with jeans but with enough flair that I can wear it with a skirt or dress for an afternoon of shopping or visiting with friends.

A hat, a hat, I love a hat. I look good in hats. Don’t doubt! This sweet Shred Alert cap is perfect for Winter without being a knit ski hat.

Made of wool, it will be warm without being bulky. The material is soft but keeps its tailored shape and looks sharp and put together.

The brim is just enough without getting in the way and the buckle detail is nice finish to the look. With three shades to choose from I can decide what looks best on me and what fits into my wardrobe to be useful.

Looking for something small? The perfect grab-and-go wallet by Haiku, it is big enough to hold everything you need and small enough to be easy to carry. It fits right in a regular purse or you can pull out the wrist strap and use it just as its own little bag.

I like the stitch detail and the nature motifs that Haiku uses. Their whole line of bags and wallets has a great look. Natural with an edge, it’s just their thing.

Planet Shoes is proud to announce the donation of 57 cartons of shoes, containing hundreds of pairs, to The Shoe Bank, a Texas based charity that collects gently used shoes and distributes them both in the US and worldwide.

The Shoe Bank, founded in 1989 by Mike Barringer, was started as a way to put comfortable and durable shoes on homeless men in Dallas, TX. It has since expanded its efforts to become one of the leading shoe charities in the US, donating over 150,000 pairs thus far to Central America and responsible to sizable donations of shoes throughout the US.

The Shoe Bank accepts used men’s and women’s athletic shoes, men’s dress shoes and children’s shoes that are in good condition and distributes them throughout local facilities in Texas and worldwide to locations like Central America, Africa, India and Turkey. As shoes play a major role in preventing illness and enabling people to work, The Shoe Bank has managed to make a sizeable impact on the lives of children and people worldwide by simply encouraging people to donate shoes that have a lot of wear left in them!

Planet Shoes saw the opportunity to work with The Shoe Bank, by offering consumers the opportunity to donate used shoes during the purchase process.

“Customers were offered the opportunity to donate used shoes during the checkout process. If they opted in, Planet Shoes sent a prepaid UPS pouch and all the customer had to do was place their shoes in the pouch and drop them off at a UPS location. The response has been fabulous and we’re thrilled to be able to use our business and website to facilitate donations to such a great organization,” said Phil Meynard, President of Planet, Inc.

Planet Shoes plans to continue to offer this option to customers going forward and plans to continue donating as many used, good condition shoes as possible to The Shoe Bank.

“We believe these kinds of donations are not only the right thing to do to help those less fortunate, but they also represent a more sustainable approach to living. Those shoes might have ended up just being thrown away when they have a lot of wear left in them. So we believe we’re helping people and the earth – so it’s a win win situation!” said Meynard.

To learn more about Planet Shoes partnership with The Shoe Bank, visit PlanetShoes.com.

Have you been looking for a shoe that really helps rugged meet fashion?

Are you a true traveler who needs comfort and form to make your fashion?

Do you love a beautiful, earthy and detailed shoe?

Well, we were also looking for all of these things and we found a great new brand for spring here at PlanetShoes.com – Off the Beaten Track or OTBT Shoes.

Off The Beaten Track was introduced in January and they are quickly making their mark. According to their marketing director, Amy Gallagher, their “…creative team has dedicated themselves to creating a travel-inspired footwear brand that really brings the ‘off the beaten track’ mentality to life.”

This is certainly true in their spring line as they’ve taken fashionable and modern shapes and combined them with durable materials and interesting textures.

The Gladiator Sandal, for example, became hugely popular last summer because of its comfort, durability and style and OTBT Footwear has created two great Gladiator sandal options that incorporate some cool and new elements.

The OTBT Beaufort comes in earthy tones and uses the Gladiator shape but has incorporated a thicker and more durable upper of leather and fabric. This is a great sandal for long walks, hikes and even out for a nice dinner.

The fabric texture enhances the style by offering an interesting contrast and the adjustable nature of the three buckles means these sandals can be customized for comfort by the wearer. The manmade bottom is designed for cushion comfort and durability on long treks.

The OTBT Natick likewise maintains the modern Gladiator styling but also brings in the hot new inspiration for spring – the tribal look.

Offered in black with leather with blockier leather contrast stiching, these sandals have a more primitive look while maintaining all the modern benefits of today’s shoe construction.

The vertical strap also subtly extended over the toe and up the leg and in this case, they have chosen Velcro enclosures for easy fitting and on and off!

The other stand out sandal from OTBT, at least to me, is the OTBT Vineyard – a tribal inspired, rough hewn thong sandal designed to look easy and offer maximum foot, heel and ankle support.

Set in dark brown leather and with a cork look to the sole, these will work with almost any casual outfit on the road or in the woods – from durable khaki cargo’s to bohemian chic summer dresses! The contrast stitching in orange also offers a fun and trendy detail that elevates these sandals to a different level.

So as you’re considering your spring footwear choices, check out this hot new brand. You won’t find it many places yet – but if you’re going on walkabout this summer, or exploring someplace cool, consider some Off The Beaten Track footwear for your trip! I for one know those Vineyard sandals are coming to join me on my summer travels.

Earth Footwear Lodge Boots at PlanetShoes.com made the Today Show 26 Slim Ideas holiday gift list!

TODAY has put together a number of gift lists for the holiday season and PlanetShoes.com is thrilled to be a part of this list, selling the high quality and healthy Lodge Boots from Earth Footwear.

Featuring the Kalso Negative Heel, the Lodge Boots are stylish and will encourage proper posture and core muscle strength. Recommended by medical professionals and created by a Yoga master, Lodge Boots will look great while they make you healthier!

The World Shoe Association show was held in Las Vegas the last week of July. This is always an exciting time to reconnect with great brands and resources. It is also the first strong read for the Spring 2009 season. The two main trends for next spring are a continuation of “gothic” styles and the emergence of “tribal” fashion. Earth tones and ornamentation will be the strongest influences in spring styles.

PlanetShoes.com will be fashioning these trends into an exciting product offering focusing on earth friendly products, recycled materials and socially responsible brands. We look forward to offering unique brands and products throughout this fall and into next spring.

Barry Bresnick, Executive Vice President