Comparison Chart

What is better than hiking? Scenic paths, beautiful running trails, and challenging mountainsides to scale.

However, with all this in mind, you need a durable yet comfortable pair of vegan hiking boots. Boots that can support you on any terrain and boots that support your highly ethical beliefs!

That’s why we put together this list of the top ten best vegan hiking boots for men and women.

XPETI Women’s Dimo Mid Waterproof Hiking Outdoor Boot

These vegan hiking boots are made from fabric and synthetic materials. They have a waterproof mesh upper, a moisture-wicking mesh lining, molded TPU ankle support, and a rubber sole in two color options.

The XPETI Women’s Dimo waterproof hiking boots are mid-rise and would make ideal winter wear. However, they are great for hiking in weather conditions because they can keep your feet dry and warm and not slip on the terrain.

This lifestyle hiking boot for women provides unique technology to protect your feet, directly molding rubber toe caps and molding TPU at the heel for perfect protection. They are durable and stable, lightweight and comfortable.

Cons:

They tend to run a bit on the small side, so make sure you size up at least a half size or more. No blisters!

XPETI Men’s Thermator Mid-Rise Waterproof Hiking Trekking Insulated Outdoor Boots

The boots above are made for women. However, this is their male counterpart.

They also offer rubber toe cap protection and rubber outsole for optimal trail grip while hiking. They have a very aggressive sole to grab the rocks and give excellent traction for all terrains.

The XPETI Men’s Thermator hiking boots are mid-rise, lightweight, yet sturdy enough even when carrying weight. They offer Thinsulate insulation for -13 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cons:

There are two cons to these boots. For one, the sizing can be a bit tricky on these boots. Unlike the women’s boots that recommend you to size up, the men’s versions recommend you size down at least a half size.

For two, the men’s boots only come in three colors, whereas the women’s come in seven colors.

Merrell Women’s Siren Hex Q2 E-mesh Hiking Boot

Perhaps a mid-rise boot isn’t your style. This is an ankle-high pair of hiking boots.

They are the Merrel Women’s Siren Hex Q2 E-mesh hiking boot and use pro-biotic technology to provide odor control to keep shoes fresh.

They have been designed with alignment and comfort technology to reduce fatigue and increase support.

The high-performance rubber sole offers unmatched durability, stability, and slip resistance, allowing you to hit any trail confidently.

Cons:

The sole is highly flexible, which makes them ultra-comfy. However, this feature also makes it less suited for very rough terrain.

Plus, with it being a low-rise boot, it will make a better spring/summer hiking boot and less so a fall/winter hiking boot.

Merrell Men’s Moab 2 Vegan Hiking Shoe

If you are an avid hiker, you will love these! They are the Moab 2 vegan hiking boots. Guess what Moab means!!! Moab stands for MOTHER OF ALL BOOTS. Aptly named, with these boots, you will experience out-of-the-box comfort with durable vegan leathers, a supportive footbed, and Vibram traction, all in a versatile package.

The leather and mesh uppers provide breathability and durability on the trail. The Air Cushion in the heel absorbs shock and adds stability.

Cons:

These are low-rise hiking boots, but they are warmer than a sneaker and will keep snow out. However, a high-rise boot may be better suited for extreme conditions. Another con is that they only come in one color, and olive isn’t precisely a universally loved color.

Vivobarefoot Magna Trail Marl Women’s Vegan Multi-Terrain Hiking Shoe with Barefoot Sole & Thermal Protection

These are probably the most stylish-looking hiking boot on the list. They are rugged, all-season leather-free hiking shoes designed with a hydrophobic recycled PET Cordura upper.

This is the Vivobarefoot Magna Trail Marl FG women’s hiking boot.

They are high-performance, multi-terrain and cruelty-free. The shoes are designed for unrestrained adventure from the concrete jungle to the harshest off-road terrains nature can throw at you.

If you’re looking for stylishness in your fitness, these are for you!

Cons:

Well, these boots don’t use traditional laces and don’t have a tongue that can be pushed forward when attempting to slide your foot into the shoe. Due to this, the shoe has been reputed to be a bit difficult to put on.

Will’s Vegan Shoes Men’s WVSport Waterproof Hiking Boots Black

These Will’s Vegan Shoes Men’s WVSport waterproof hiking boots are between the low-rise and mid-rise boots on the list as far as shaft height goes.

The shoes have advanced ballistic welded construction, and scuff-resistant uppers are created with Lyliane 3DMX and Cordura materials. They have Vibram rubber injection outsoles for super grippy traction and durability.

They have a waterproof construction with a special membrane, a sealed tongue, and treated uppers that allow breathability yet long-lasting waterproof protection.

The articulated lace hooks are also durable and allow for better lace sliding. Furthermore, these shoes offer removable EVA insoles to support the forefoot and midfoot.

When you order on Amazon, these ethical shoes will be delivered through an eco-friendly plastic-free carbon-neutral supply chain and presented in sustainable non-treated paper and cardboard packaging!

Cons:

The only con to be found is that these boots only come in two colors, black and brown, so if you are looking for more variety, it isn’t here. However, these boots can survive a hike in the dead of winter through several feet of snow, so the lack of variety may be worth it!

Jambu Women’s Spirit Bootie Vegan Water-Resistant

These are the Jambu Spirit Booties. Jambu isn’t an entirely vegan company, but they do have a line of quality vegan shoes.

These are some of those vegan hiking boots that are made of 100 percent waxy, embossed neoprene.

They have a memory foam footbed and are suitable for all-terrain traction. These hiking boots are solidly built and come in four different colors.

Two colors are navy and tan, which are super cute and great for showing a bit of personality without being too over the top.

Cons:

As cute as these hiking boots are, they are probably more suited for walking trails rather than rigorous hikes. Additionally, they are not insulated, so that they wouldn’t be great in winter weather.

Men’s Arc’teryx Acrux FL GTX Approach Shoe 

These are very sleek pairs of hiking shoes. The Arc’teryx Acrux FL GTX Approach Shoe is designed for technical approaches and day hikes with the durability and adaptive fit GORE-TEX liner to make every venture comfortable and well supported.

The GORE_TEX liner uses minimal seams and adhesive to secure the membrane, maximizing its waterproof and breathable surface area. Keeping the science of the foot in mind, these were constructed with durability, breathability, and efficiency for safe traveling in even the harshest environments.

The waterproof and breathable membrane extends to the full height of the separately constructed liner, which delivers the best in climate control and waterproofness.

Cons:

The sleekness makes them aesthetically pleasing, but if you have a bit of a wide foot, you may need to size up. These hiking shoes are narrow. Now, if you have an extremely wide foot, you may consider nixing this option altogether. Another con is the fact that black is the only color option.

Native Shoes Johnny Treklite Boot Rain

These are the Native Johnny Treklite boots. They are vegan and contain no animal by-products. Plus, Native shoes are reaching and cassia compliant and BPA, Phthalate, Formaldehyde, and hazardous materials free.

They offer the defender repellent systems with a Scotchgard and coated PU and ripstop nylon with waterproof backing and microfleece lining.

They have a two-part outsole. The compression is EVA midsole, and they have an ultra-lite rubber outsole.

At every step, Native ensures its production processes are cleaner and greener.

Cons:

These boots only come in two colors, gray and brown. They look more like work boots than hiking boots, so they might not be for everyone’s style.

Another con, but it’s more about Amazon, is that these are listed as “unisex” boots, which makes sizing challenging because it is hard to ascertain whether the sizes are based on men’s or women’s.

Men’s La Sportiva Trango Cube GTX Hiking Shoe

These are the men’s La Sportiva Trango Cube GTX hiking shoes. They are technically advanced and on the cutting edge of seamless technology with durability and protective comfort to keep you on any outdoor adventure.

They have a seamless, waterproof upper made of QB3 waterproof fabric, Flex Tec2 fabric, and a Gore-Tex Performance Comfort lining that keeps moisture out while providing excellent breathability for a dry foot environment.

The boots have a Thermo-Tech injection TPU lacing system with PU eyelets that delivers a secure and comfortable fit and have an integrated removable tongue made from a soft stretch fabric to allow for smooth movement.

The Vibram®rubber rand protects the front of the foot from rocks and debris. Plus, they have a cushioned EVA midsole with protective PU in the toe and heel area and TPU inserts for the crampon attachment.

Cons:

This is a more personal opinion; however, they are not the most aesthetically pleasing pair of hiking boots. Plus, they tend to run small, so if you get a pair, you should size up either a half size or more.

Solomon Yalta Ts men’s boot

This boot is lightweight and gives you a strong grip, stability, and powerful foot protection while guaranteeing optimal comfort.

Its design is simple and Vegan (100% Synthetic). It features strong laces that remain attached to your feet and a protective rubber toe cap.

This shoe is convenient for running and all your mountain hikes. It is waterproof, which gives you all your protection, comfort, and stability, without being pulled back by the shoe’s weight.

It is the most popular model. These boots are comfortable, breathable, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive compared to the many advantages.

They keep their feet cool in hot weather while effectively protecting them from the dangerous elements of nature. They are rigid enough at the ankle to provide stability without restricting movement.

They do not provide the same rigidity as a traditional all-leather hiking boot. But their flexibility and versatility outweigh the lack of support and stiffness.

They have a waterproof Gore-Tex Performance Comfort lining, making them safe to wear when hiking across streams. 

Pros

• Good traction
• Water resistance
• ankle padding
• Versatile
• Lightweight and breathable
• Excellent value for money

Cons

• Works large
• excessive padding in the tongue
• Lack of rigidity under the foot
• Large size

Buyer’s Considerations

Two of the biggest challenges of buying vegan hiking boots are picking a quality boot that will stand up to the hikes you want to take and buying a genuinely vegan boot.

Quality

We’ll start with why quality can be an issue. After all, it’s only fair to tell both sides of a story. Vegan boots can be more lightweight and breathable. However, there is something to be said about the durability of animal leather. Plus, the synthetic materials of vegan shoes tend to break down a bit faster. That’s why you must research the boot’s materials and durability. Of course, this list has been curated with this issue in mind. Every boot on the list is reputed to be durable and long-lasting.

Is it Vegan

The second issue is going to be finding truly vegan boots. If you’re lucky, they will be clearly labeled as such. However, that’s not always the case. Another buzzword to look for is synthetic. You can assume these are safe.

Conversely, statements to be wary of are “non-leather,” “leather-free,” “organic,” and even the phrase “vegan leather” because this doesn’t necessarily mean the products aren’t made without animals. There could be animal by-products in the glue. Other areas to look for animal by-products are the uppers and the sole.

There will be some words that you could look for that suggest the pair of boots are vegan. These words include:

• Breathable mesh
• Manmade materials
• Synthetic materials
• Synthetic mesh
• Thermoplastic urethane
• Polyester
• Nylon
• “Synthetic” leather

When purchasing genuinely vegan hiking boots, you can do a few things to verify their “vegan-friendly” aspect.

First, always check the product info for details about the materials. Steer clear if they explicitly state leather. Otherwise, see above for words to look for that are generally vegan buzzwords.

Second, you can specifically use “vegan” in your search term on the web or directly on a website. If you go shopping in a store, you can ask an employee to help verify the shoes are ethically safe.

If you have difficulty verifying the boots are authentically vegan, you can contact the companies directly.

In our research, we did not contact the companies. However, we did something just as good. We went to PETA’s website for recommendations for vegan hiking boots. PETA stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, so they are pretty much a top authority on the subject of “vegan-friendly”. About 80 percent of the boots on this list were recommended and reputed by PETA as being ethically safe.

Other considerations

Apart from the quality and the genuinely vegan issues, there are a few other things to consider when shopping for your next pair of hiking boots. They can be summed up with the tip of picking a pair of boots that suit your needs. To elaborate:

Consider the activity for which you require the boots.

Are you a walking trail kind of person? Are you planning to hike Mt. Everest? Are you trying to scale the side of a cliff? Asking yourself questions like this will help guide you because they will speak to the flexibility and traction-ability you need. It will also help you consider the level of ankle support you need. We included boots of ankle height up to an 8-inch shaft height on our list.

Consider weather conditions.

If you’re planning a hike and they’ll be several feet of snow on the ground, you should consider insulation. You should also probably consider some level of water resistance; otherwise, you’re in for a pretty miserable hike. You should also find waterproof hiking boots in the event it rains on your hike.

Consider the socks you plan to wear.

Listen, I know this sounds silly, but if it’s winter or you want to wear thick socks, you may need to go a half-size to ensure you don’t have chafing issues.

Features to consider:

1. Waterproof/water resistant
2. Narrow or wide fit
3. Ankle height, mid-rise, or high-rise

This list was curated to give men and women options for high-quality vegan hiking boots. We’ve provided options for people who are just looking to hike some beginner’s trails and those who prefer more vigorous terrain. There are a variety of shaft heights. We’ve even included boots that offer color options so your new boots can make a fashion statement! Now get to picking your next pair of vegan hiking boots!