Looking to replace trainers made with leather and other animal-derived materials? Whether you’re looking for chunky, vintage-inspired, sporty chic, there are more and more vegan styles to step into, and they’re every bit as chic.
It’s not just vegan brands doing the legwork, either. Whether it’s vegan styles from Veja, Kurt Geiger or trainer veteran Gola, high street favourites and sportswear big hitters have launched stylish, considered and leather-free creps, that deserve a spot in any sneakerheads rotation.
As for sustainability, the leather industry has been linked to the environmental impact of deforestation and pollution from leather tanneries, but, on the other hand, vegan alternatives made with synthetic materials bring their own set of issues, not least, plastic pollution. But we’re seeing exciting innovations in plant-based materials (think apple leather trainers, made from waste from the juice industry and running shoes made from castor bean-derived nylon).
To help you secure a design that fits your style and your values, we’ve been stepping into a range of vegan trainers. From celebrity-rated sneakers to vegan versions of iconic silhouettes, these are the ones to know.
How we tested the best vegan trainers
Whether we wore them on drizzly commutes, park strolls, supermarket runs or long nights out, every pair of trainers has been taken for a test drive. Crucially, we wanted to get a good idea of their fit, and how comfortable they were when worn fresh out of the box. Style, support, breathability and wearability were all factored in, as were any eco credentials, such as making use of recycled or plant-based materials. Keep reading to see which pair you should invest in.
The best vegan trainers for 2024 are:
Kurt Geiger lennox sneaker
A loud sneaker from Kurt Geiger, these are registered with The Vegan Society, and are for us, a standout. With a cool, bold aesthetic and fun style quirks (see the unusually arranged laces). There’s a lot going on, but it all works. While the pastel pink and mauve colour way we tested is no longer available, it’s now available in white or black.
The quality is evident just from looking at these, and when it came to actually slipping our feet into them, our first impressions were confirmed. Robust and well-made, they’re also dreamily comfortable from the get-go. The thick and dynamic sole feels sturdy, but what we really noticed was how grounded our feet felt when walking around. Perfect if you don’t like bounding around on bulbous shoes, but want that look.
The upper materials have a nice flex to them, but our feet felt well supported. They’re fairly wide, and we found they were lovely and breathable. With all this in mind, while they’re not cheap, their value for money is excellent. Kurt Geiger really stepped up with these.
Buy now £129.00, Kurtgeiger.com
Clae malone apple
Hailing from Los Angeles-born footwear label Clae, these are very chic, with an off-white, slightly grainy finish affording a retro look. Crafted from apple skin, made from leftover apple fibres from the juice industry, they need to be on your radar if eco-conscious materials are as important as style to you.
In terms of fit, they don’t have a lot in the way of padding – compared to some of the other trainers we tried – but this didn’t affect their fresh-out-of-the-box comfort. Tapered towards the tip of the toe-box, they look relatively narrow, but this didn’t translate to a narrow feel. They didn’t let us down when it came to breathability, thanks to ventilation holes in the toe-box, which was proved during a long night spent almost entirely on our feet. One of our new firm favourites for a reason.
Buy now £110.00, Clae-uk.eu
Loci atom
With its styles previously worn by Mila Kunis, Ben Affleck and Eva Longoria, celebrity-approved vegan sneaker brand Loci caught our attention with these cool, classic trainers. Handmade, and inspired by skatewear, their two-tone design really pops in the forest green, cream and white colourway – but they’re also available in softer hues.
Showcasing the premium label’s eco conscious ethos, the supple and buttery smooth vegan bio-leather upper blends recycled textiles and non-food grade corn waste. Similarly, the pair is lined with bamboo and recycled nylon, while the cork and recycled foam insoles (which look great) point to these being a considered, well-made pair.
Supremely comfortable, we noticed no pinching or pressure points at all. The perforated toe-box offered a generous amount of wriggle room, and the tongue boasted a small amount of padding. We also noted that while not chunky, they boast a reassuring weightiness. Put simply, these are really, really good trainers.
Buy now £140.00, Lociwear.co.uk
Ration.L r-kind trainer neptune blue
Ration.L founder Kavita Basi coined her vegan fashion label after recovering from a life-threatening brain haemorrhage, the catalyst for wanting to turn her interest in sustainability into something more. The footwear and apparel label holds a B Corp certification which, covering myriad elements of ethical and sustainable practices, is no mean feat.
Sleek, contemporary, cool, the sneaker collection reimagines a simple silhouette in different monochrome hues, for a pared-back look that we really love. Certified by The Vegan Society, the playful pastel blue tone instantly uplifted our outfits. The laces are made with organic cotton, while the eyelets are made from certified recycled aluminium. Crafted from certified non-toxic PU, the smooth, flexible upper didn’t show any signs of creasing after a day’s wear and flexed with our movements, so while snug, these aren’t restrictive. The outsole feels nice and sturdy, too.
It’s recommended you size up if you’re in between sizes, which we did, and found the fit secure. And all for a very reasonable price point. And, five per cent of profits from each pair will go to The Brain & Spine Foundation Charity.
Buy now £70.00, Rationl.co.uk
Gola classics vegan women's tennis Mark Cox high trainers
Synonymous with retro, Gola has stepped up with its The Vegan Society registered collection. Drawing inspiration from the original sported by tennis pro Mark Cox, these trainers feature the Gola’s original branding in blue faux leather, a vintage blue and gold coloured heel tab, and gold-coloured branding on the tongue, affording interest to an otherwise pared-back design.
While we enjoyed the level of breathability the cotton canvas offered, and think these are a perfect pick for when warm, dry weather hits, it’s worth keeping in mind that they will become mucky and wet quickly, and will be difficult to clean. That said, the malleable fabric ensured immediate comfort, owing to no rubbing or pressure points. Gola doesn’t offer half sizes so we had to size up, and we’re glad we did, as the high-top silhouette ensured they always felt secure.
Buy now £70.00, Gola.co.uk
Veja venturi CWL white pierre trainers
Loved by the likes of Emily Ratajkowski and Kate Middleton, Veja uses innovative materials (think plastic bottles and natural rubber) to make its sustainable shoes. This vegan version of one of the label’s bestselling styles is made using organic cotton, Amazonian rubber, natural latex and recycled polyester. The faux leather upper is smooth and sleek, while the sole is bouncy and supportive. Attesting to its quality, the leather feels slightly stiff on initial wear but soon loosens up and moulds to your feet.
Our thin feet were snug in the shoes, so those with wide feet should probably steer clear (we would have struggled to get them on without the aid of the large pull tabs). The chunky silhouette gives the trainers a contemporary feel while the white finish will slot easily into your existing wardrobe, whether styled with jeans or midi dresses. Yes, they’re pricey but the style is timeless.
Buy now £112.00, Veja-store.com
Adidas Stan Smith Primegreen shoes
The Adidas Stan Smiths are a classic that, despite their impressive longevity, still feel fresh. To reduce their footprint on the planet, sustainably-focused materials have been incorporated into the construction of this vegan-friendly redesign.
The perforated upper has been graced with a smooth, relatively supple vegan material, which is made with 50 per cent recycled content. As for the soles, these are made from recycled rubber waste. While the whole shoe feels wonderfully lightweight, we noticed, with their low-profile silhouette, they still feel sturdy, with superior construction. Insole padding and a large, flexible tongue afford comfort, but the heel is quite stiff, so may require wearing in.
If it’s truly timeless trainers you’re looking for, the Stan Smiths are well deserving of a spot in your sneak rotation.
Buy now £60.00, Schuh.co.uk
Hylo impact
Looking for vegan running shoes designed to tread lightly on the planet? Consider Hylo Athletics’ debut vegan running trainers: the Hylo impact. The upper is made with an alternative to synthetic materials: a knitted, bio-based nylon derived from castor beans. When they’ve finished their final mile, they can be sent back to the brand to be up-cycled into fresh new pairs, which we really rate.
Supremely cushy and comfortable, the impact trainers are a delight to wear. They’re featherlight, with a wide-toe bed that leaves plenty of room, and energy return is super. There’s also a high level of cushioning, which we appreciated while running downhill. Caught in the rain, they managed really well, and kept our feet impressively dry, owing to their water-repellent upper. The outsole was grippy when turning corners on wet ground, which makes sense, when you consider their inspiration was a Formula 1 racing tyre.
While substance over style is paramount when picking running shoes, we think these deserve applause for marrying a comfortable ride with good looks. In fact, we were more than happy to don them as everyday footwear, too.
Buy now £150.00, Hyloathletics.com
Superga 2631 stripe platform organic natural dye
Combining the casual comfort of a plimsole with the chunky silhouette of a platform, these trainers hail from Superga’s vegan range. While the colourway that we tried – a natural, subtle colour – is no longer available, you can shop the pair in pastel pink or a fun giraffe pattern. The style is understated but beefed up by the chunky, solid outsole, which is made with partly recycled vulcanised natural rubber. The platform also provides extra height, which goes some way towards protecting the upper from splashes and dirt. Despite the outsole being relatively chunky and the ankle being quite low, these didn’t slip off of our heel as we walked. Keep in mind that the outsole does show the dirt quite a bit, but the worst of it can be wiped clean.
Buy now £42.50, Superga.co.uk
8000kicks explorer V2 for women
Hemp is a time-tested, natural fibre hailed for its strength and durability – in fact, it’s even stronger than steel. Making an equally strong case for using hemp in trainers, this explorer V2 pair is wonderfully lightweight, and is billed as the first waterproof style of its kind. There’s a protective, splash-proof coating and a waterproof membrane, providing two lines of defence against soggy socks.
Hemp also boasts environmental benefits, as it has a smaller carbon footprint than cotton and polyester, and a much smaller footprint than leather. One pair of this brand’s trainers will be responsible for 4.1kg of CO2, compared with up to 100kg for a leather pair, according to the brand.
Meanwhile, you can cast aside any expectations you might have about hemp shoes only coming in dusty brown hues, as we tested a navy blue colourway. We did find the trainers came up slightly small, so, you might want to go up a half size.
Buy now £91.85, 8000kicks.com
The verdict: Vegan trainers
We fell head over heels instantly when it came to Kurt Geiger’s lennox sneakers. Bold, busy and very, very cool, they feel as good as they look, offering cushy comfort that, for us, was matched. Another standout, we just keep coming back to the Loci atom – in fact, their casual style and comfort made them our everyday go-to. Alternatively, the sleek, monochrome trainers from vegan label Ration.L boast brilliant value for money.
For more footwear finds, we’ve also reviewed the best vegan boots for women
