Culture Sustainable Fashion The 9 Best Vegan Boots of 2023 We love Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather’s innovative take on leather alternatives. By Steph Dyson Steph Dyson Steph Dyson is a bilingual freelance travel writer, guidebook author, and blogger originally from the UK. She covers sustainability and adventure travel for Treehugger. Learn about our editorial process Updated April 29, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Culture History Travel Sustainable Fashion Art & Media Holidays Community We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. If you’re vegan, chances are you also care about protecting the environment. Unfortunately, when it comes to shoes, vegan alternatives can be an eco-friendly minefield. Leather—aside from being bad for our furry friends—is terrible for the environment, as land clearance for pastures contribute to climate change and the chemicals used in tanning can cause all kinds of pollution. However, vegan materials often aren’t perfect either. Synthetic leathers are often made from petroleum and fabrics such as PVC come from chemicals that are also damaging to the environment. These types of plastics can also take 100 years in landfill before they decompose. So what’s the most ethical, cruelty-free and planet-happy option? We’ve examined innovative new types of vegan leather, and looked at boots made using everything from eucalyptus tree fibers to organic cotton to find brands that eschew animal products and environmental impact in equal measures. Ahead, the best vegan boots. The Rundown Best Overall: Good Guys Don't Wear Leather Blaze Boots at Goodguysdontwearleather.com Jump to Review Best Budget: ASOS Chunky Chelsea Boots at Asos Jump to Review Best for Women: Matt & Nat Denver Rain Boots at Mattandnat.com Jump to Review Best for Men: Will's Vegan Store Work Boots at Wills-vegan-store.com Jump to Review Best Hiking: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Hiking Boots at REI Jump to Review Best Leather Alternative: Minuit sur Terre at Minuitsurterre.com Jump to Review Best for Snow: Hunter Insulated Short Snow Boots at Amazon Jump to Review Best Waterproof: Ilse Jacobsen Rubber Boot at Amazon Jump to Review Best for the Office: Nae Vegan Shoes PETA Green Desert Boots at Nae-vegan.com Jump to Review Best Overall Good Guys Don't Wear Leather Blaze Vegan Ankle Boots 5 Good Guys Don't Wear Leather View On Goodguysdontwearleather.com You’ll never look at an apple core the same way again after seeing these ankle boots from innovative French designer Marion Hanania. These aren’t traditional vegan leather boots. The soft black “leather” used in these shoes is made from leftover apple waste sourced in Italy and then repurposed. They top our list because they're eco-friendly, and because the classic style can be worn with both dressy or casual outfits, and is available in both men's and women's sizing. They'd made an excellent addition to a minimalist wardrobe. We love the silky softness of this bio-based leather alternative, which gets a huge thumbs up for being both cruelty free and plant-based. You can also rely on these boots being Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certified, meaning there are no nasty chemicals lurking anywhere in the manufacturing process. Price at time of publish: $180 Best Budget ASOS Gadget Chunky Chelsea Boots ASOS View On Asos Although these women's boots from ASOS may be made with less eco-friendly materials than the other picks on this list, they check off many of the right boxes. That's often the trade-off when you're looking for affordable vegan options. These budget-friendly boots have a chunky sole and comfy fabric inserts. Made from synthetic rubber, you can simply wipe these boots clean with a damp cloth or sponge if they get dirty. Price at time of publish: $45 Best for Women Matt & Nat Denver Rain Boots Matt & Nat View On Mattandnat.com Look chic with these polished rain boots from Canadian vegan clothing stalwarts Matt & Nat. A cross between a traditional Chelsea boot (with a tartan-patterned, elasticated gore) and a timeless brogue (thanks to the stylish detailing around the toe cap), these boots are waterproof and ready to face the winter. Combine with a thick pair of socks and you’ll take even the chilliest of conditions in your stride. Made from recycled PVC that’s been polished to the point where you can practically see your face in them, they’ll be as comfortable splashing through puddles as keeping you smart at an important meeting in the office. Price at time of publish: $135 Best for Men Will's Vegan Store Work Boots Courtesy of Will's Vegan Store View On Wills-vegan-store.com Fully vegan down to the glue that holds their vegan leather together, these stylish tan boots from London-based Will’s Vegan Store are the perfect companion to a range of outfits. Made from organic cereal crops in Europe that are then converted into bio oil, these shoes are fully carbon neutral—just like the brand. Buying these shoes means protecting animals and the planet, one step at a time. Their deep tread soles made from recycled rubber mean these are more than a match for everything from city pavements to country paths. They’re water-resistant and easy to clean, so your feet will remain dry and your shoes will continue looking brand new for the foreseeable future. Price at time of publish: $116 Best Hiking La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Hiking Boots 4.5 REI View On REI View On Amazon View On Sportiva.com Take the mountains by storm without compromising on your vegan commitments with these GORE-TEX hiking boots from Italian outdoors brand La Sportiva. With a fully breathable yet waterproof lining and abrasion-resistant nylon outer, these boots will keep your feet dry and comfortable, even on the most challenging terrain. La Sportiva have been busy ramping up its eco commitments, focusing on avoiding waste in its manufacturing processes and ensuring that leftover rubber is recycled internally. Even better still, a network of resolers means you can prevent your boots from ending up in landfill by getting a replacement sole fitted when your boots are ready for a new lease of life. La Sportiva is also part of the 1% for the Planet initiative, which means the company donates 1% of all revenue to environmentally-focused non-profits. Price at time of publish: $209 The 8 Best Hiking Boots of 2023 Best Leather Alternative Minuit sur Terre Minuit sur Terre View On Minuitsurterre.com Turn heads with these sumptuously soft and sexy low-heeled boots from an exquisitely ethical French brand. Made from Oeko-Tex certified synthetic fibers with a lining and inner made from sustainably sourced, cereal-based materials, as well as recycled PU, they’re cruelty free and—almost as importantly—absolutely gorgeous. We love Minuit sur Terre for its range of shoes, boots, and sandals in innovative new forms of vegan leather, including grape, apple, and cereal. The company also operates a recycling program for any old vegan shoes, which are transformed into brand new sustainable footwear and for which you’ll get a cheeky discount on buying a new pair. The 9 Best Vegan Shoes for Women of 2023 Best for Snow Hunter Women's Original Insulated Short Snow Boots Courtesy of Hunter View On Amazon View On Zappos With 278 fully vegan products available across their full range of swanky boots, this British brand is leading the way when it comes to ethical and practical fashion. Hunter's short snow boots are available in three colors and are the match for wintry days when snow is underfoot. With a cozy fleece lining, waterproof membrane and drawstring topline so they fit snug against your calf, they’ll keep you warm down to as low as -7.6 degrees. What’s more, these boots are handmade and use 100% natural rubber in their lugged sole, which Hunter has committed to sourcing from deforestation-free and environmentally-friendly plantations. The Best Organic Socks of 2023 Best Waterproof Ilse Jacobsen Rubber Boot Courtesy of Nordstrom View On Amazon View On Nordstrom Who said rubber boots have to be boring? These certainly don’t look like the wellington boots of your youth; in fact, Danish brand Ilse Jacobsen have turned the concept on its head with these effortlessly chic lace-up design boots. They’re made from natural rubber harvested sustainably from a single estate. Designed to withstand chilly temperatures all the way down to -4 degrees, these handcrafted boots feature a cozy cotton fleece lining. They're a good pair to get you through the wettest and coldest parts of the year. Price at time of publish: $230 Best for the Office Nae Vegan Shoes PETA Green Desert Boots Courtesy of Nae Vegan Shoes View On Nae-vegan.com For casual styling that’s smart enough for the office, we can’t get enough of these rustic, unisex boots from Nae. They’re PETA-approved and made from 100% organic cotton, a sustainable fabric that uses 46% less water than conventional cotton. As a result, these boots are as effortlessly ethical as they are cute. With Goodyear welted soles for durability, and a footbed made from coco fibre mixed with natural rubber and antimicrobial cork, these boots are built for comfort—making them perfect for busy days on your feet. Better still, $5 from every purchase goes to fund PETA, so the benefit to your furry favorites goes way beyond being an ethical fashionista. Price at time of publish: $68 Final Verdict We love Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather’s innovative and stylish take on leather alternatives with a classic ankle boot made from apple waste, which are silky soft and completely chemical free. Nae’s organic cotton and coco, rubber, and cork desert boots also look surprisingly smart in a timeless, rustic way that we think is perfect for the most workplaces. What to Consider When Shopping for Vegan Boots Materials The most common non-vegan materials found in shoes are wool and leather. Ideally, vegan boots are not only made without these animal products, but are plant-based too. That means looking for natural fibers or bio-based synthetic leathers, like the materials featured in many of the boots on this list. Avoid plastics like PVC when possible. Style + Versatility If we can manage to buy fewer overall pairs of shoes, we’ll have a lighter environmental footprint. So, it’s a smart idea to buy boots that can be worn on many different occasions, so you won’t feel like you need as many different styles. Don’t buy a boot if you don’t love the looks of it — those pairs will just end up forgotten in the back of the closet and you’ll end up buying other pairs. Durability At the end of the day, the most eco-friendly boots are the ones you can wear the most times and replace the least often. Look for boots with a robust construction and thick soles. Also keep in mind that repairing boots when the soles wear out or something rips is often the most economical and eco-friendly choice. Why Trust Treehugger? To make our picks, we looked for boots that are not only free of animal products, but are also made with more sustainable materials. Steph Dyson writes about sustainable clothing and living, with a particular focus on vegan options that don’t pollute the environment. She believes we can all make small and conscious changes to our day-to-day lives that’ll have a large impact on the planet. The 8 Best Vegan Coats and Jackets of 2023