8 best vegan trainers that tread lightly on the planet

by Lauren Bravo Oct 04, 2021 6 minutes

There are now 1.5 million vegans in the UK, a figure growing rapidly each year. Whether it’s for ethical reasons, environmental concerns or both of the above, more and more of us are striving to swap animal products for plant-based alternatives – and that means in our wardrobes as well as our fridges.

Generating 700 million metric tons of CO2 per year, the footwear industry is, to quote Tansy Hoskins, author of Footwork: What Your Shoes Are Doing To The World, “at least 10 years behind the rest of fashion in terms of human rights and environmental standards.”

The good news is that vegan footwear has made great strides in recent times, with a veritable buffet of new plant-based materials. Recycled plastic made from post-consumer waste is becoming a common feature, and more brands are considering what happens to their trainers at the end of their life by ensuring they’re recyclable too.

Thankfully, we’ve come a long way from the days when sustainable shoes meant scratchy espadrilles; these days there are designs out there to please even the pickiest sneakerhead.

How we tested

We’ve tested every pair on daily walks and assessed them for comfort, fit and finish as well as their eco credentials. Some brands on the list are entirely vegan, others have a mixed offering – it’s your call – but we’ve prioritised those committed to ethical, transparent supply chains.

Read more:

Be warned: as with most areas of sustainable consumption, peace of mind does tend to come with a higher price tag. But as vegan footwear steps further into the mainstream, hopefully that will change.

The best vegan trainers for 2021 are:

Best overall – Humans are Vain challenge V2: £120, Immaculatevegan.com
Best platforms – Superga organic cotton flatform: £85, Superga.co.uk
Best for a pop of colour – Beflamboyant UX-68: £101.74, Beflamboyant.com
Best casual plimsolls – Saye Modelo ‘89 vegan: £120, Sayebrand.com
Best splash/stain-proof sneaks – 8000 Kicks explorer V2: £95, 8000kicks.com
Best trainer under £100 – Ecoalf sandford sneakers: £89.90, Ecoalf.com
Best for a leather-like feel – Flamingos Life old 80s black white bicolor: £131, Flamingoslife.com
Best for versatility – Veja condor 2: £130, Veja-store.com

Humans are Vain challenge V2

Best: Overall

If you thought vegan shoes might be lagging behind in the style stakes, Humans are Vain is here to prove you wrong. Designed in Sweden and made ethically in Portugal, the challenge V2 is a triumph in minimalist Scandi design and Portuguese expertise, with a chunky shape that nods to the Nineties but a composition that looks entirely to the future.

The breathable “leather” upper is Oeko-Tex certified and the bold orange heel panel is Piñatex, a material made from pineapple leaves that provides added income for farmers in the Philippines. Elsewhere in the shoe there’s corn fibre, recycled cork, organic cotton and a far higher percentage of recycled materials than you’ll find in the average high street “conscious” collection.

We love the chunky terrazzo-style sole (70 per cent recycled rubber), which feels solid and durable but made light work of a three-hour weekend walk. The fit is a little narrow, so if you’re between sizes or prefer a thick sock, size up.

Buy now £120.00, Immaculatevegan.com

Superga organic cotton flatform

Best: Platforms

An Italian institution turned Instagram favourite, Superga has been making its iconic plimsolls for more than a century. Now the brand has launched its first organic collection, made from a blend of 60 per cent organic cotton and 40 per cent hemp with a natural cork insole and 50 per cent recycled rubber sole. It’s only a fraction of Superga’s overall offering, and there’s very little information on its suppliers or workers’ wages – but it’s a baby step in the right direction.

This exaggerated flat form shape is the closest we’ve come to wearing heels in over a year, but the cork insole keeps it comfortable, and the natural beige tone is a classy departure from white that won’t look grubby so quickly. Go by the European size rather than the UK size, as these came up roomier than expected.

For cheaper options, it’s worth knowing that more than 30 Superga styles are vegan, including the classic white 2750 COTU (£55, Superga.co.uk).

Buy now £85.00, Superga.co.uk

Beflamboyant UX-68

Best: For a pop of colour

With the vast majority of vegan sneaks in monochrome or neutral colourways, it’s refreshing to find a pair as bold and beautiful as this. We do understand that they’re super comfy, with the removable insole providing a nice amount of cushioning and the chunky sole giving good support. The finish is of a high standard and they’re a classy package all round, with (yet more) free seed paper and a hessian tote bag in every order. Unlike most of the trainers we tested, these come up a little bit snug – so if in doubt, size up.

The aptly named Beflamboyant is yet another vegan sneaker brand designed in Spain and made in Portugal, using a high percentage of recycled materials. Though lots of the eco-spiel is hard for the average customer to decipher (“chromium VI-free lining”?), this brand is meticulous in its supply chain reporting. The skater-style UX-68s reportedly emit 45.2 per cent less CO2, 79.1 per cent less phosphate and use 47.3 per cent less water to make than the average pair of leather trainers.

Buy now £101.74, Beflamboyant.com

Saye Modelo ‘89 vegan

Best: Casual plimsoll

Everything about Saye’s Modelo vegan sneakers suggests attention to detail, from the embroidered logo and velvety-smooth lining (made from 50 per cent recycled polyester), to the supply chain transparency on its website and the tomato seeds included in every order. All packaging is plastic-free, and two trees are planted for every pair sold.

With a narrow shape and not much in the way of cushioning, these are definitely more of a casual plimsoll than a serious sporting shoe – but they look as good with dresses as they do with cropped jeans, and were plenty comfortable enough for an urban stroll. There’s a retro beige version made with mango peel leather, but we like the chic “caramel” colourway with its toffee-coloured rubber sole.

Buy now £120.00, Sayebrand.com

8000 Kicks explorer V2

Best: Splash/stain-proof sneaks

Durable, plentiful and naturally sustainable, hemp has been used in clothing for thousands of years – but “marijuana’s sober cousin” was pretty much unheard of in sneakers, until now. Founder Bernado started 8000 Kicks three years ago in his grandmother’s garage, making use of her 50 years experience in the textile business to develop a prototype that celebrates weed’s many (legal) benefits.

The result is the explorer: a sleek, minimalist trainer available in five different colourways, with a stain-repellent, splash proof coating that promises to leave you dry, if not high. We tested them in several London puddles and can report that the claim holds up. They’re also blissfully comfortable, thanks to a biofoam sole made from algae, and far more stylish than a shoe made of leaves and bacteria has any right to be. A perfect vegan dupe for Allbirds.

The fit is roomy so we’d suggest going down a size, especially if you want to wear them without socks. Which, thanks to the antimicrobial and antibacterial hemp insole, shouldn’t be a problem.

Buy now £95.00, 8000kicks.com

Ecoalf sandford sneakers

Best: Trainer under £100

If you like to wear your heart on your sleeve – or perhaps your soul on your sole – then Ecoalf ticks all the right boxes. “Because there is no Planet B” reads the heel, and it’s far from an empty slogan. Through its charitable foundation, the Spanish B Corp fashion brand has collected 600 tonnes of plastic waste from the world’s oceans since 2015, some of which makes up the 100 per cent recycled nylon uppers on its Sandford sneaker.

At less than £100 these are more affordable, relatively speaking, than most other sustainable vegan shoes out there – although with their stuck-on detailing and slightly more homespun finish, they don’t look as premium as some. They’re incredibly comfortable though, with cushioned heel support, an extra-light sole and a shape that harks back to nineties streetwear classics.

Buy now £89.90, Ecoalf.com

Flamingos Life old 80s black white bicolor

Best: For a leather-like feel

They might look charmingly retro, but with a bamboo lining, cork insole and an upper made from 47 per cent corn waste, these sleek high tops from Spanish brand Flamingos Life are a thoroughly modern sneaker. As well as sustainability, Flamingos Life prides itself on putting social mission at the heart of the business – each pair of old 80s sold helps to support an NGO bringing clean water to remote areas of Uganda.

At £132, these aren’t exactly a bargain (prices start at £105 for low-cut sneakers) but the quality and finish are impressive. They felt the most authentically “leathery” of all the leather imitators we tried, and the sleek design looks equally at home with a midi dress as it would on a basketball court. The cork insole is pleasingly springy but a little thin compared to some of the chunkier styles on the market, so we wouldn’t necessarily wear these hiking – but for running around town, they’re a slam dunk. They do come up large though, so opt for a size down.

Buy now £132.00, Flamingoslife.com

Veja condor 2

Best: For versatility

If you’ve encountered just one vegan sneaker it’s likely to be by Veja, whose sleek designs have graced the feet of Meghan Markle and become a staple for hip mums on the school run. The bouncy condor 2 is billed as the brand’s most sustainable shoe to date, made with 58 per cent recycled or bio-based materials – including a mesh upper made 100 per cent from recycled plastic bottles, rice waste in the outer sole and a midsole featuring sugar cane and banana oil.

They look pretty sweet, too. While technically a running shoe, it seems a shame to muddy up that petal-pink colourway when it pairs so well with a prairie dress. Luxe design features like a padded tongue and springy sole help to justify the premium price tag, and we found they offered a perfect amount of arch support. Thanks to a strict code of conduct and living wage supply chain, they’re equally comfy on the conscience too.

Buy now £130.00, Veja-store.com

The verdict: Vegan trainers

If Humans Are Vain, then it’s only because we fancy ourselves so much in their sneakers. The chunky Challenge V2 came out on top for its blend of craftsmanship, fashion kudos and sustainable credentials – and the brand is 100 per cent vegan, so no moral quandary there. As a (slightly) cheaper, more streamlined option we also loved 8000 Kicks’ hemp creations, which felt like walking on clouds.

Voucher codes

For the latest discounts on trainers and accessories, try the links below:

Looking for eco conscious fashion labels? Read our guide to the sustainable clothing and accessory brands to have on your radar