FAQ: Leather-free, wool-free shoes
Every so often, we get phone calls and emails from fans looking for vegan shoes; i.e. products without animal products (wool, leather, silk, down/feathers, or fur).
To start with—we never use fur, silk, or down. However, there’s a lot of nuance to labeling something as vegan-friendly, which is why only a few styles pop up when you click the vegan filter on our site. Shoes can have up to 40 components that all need to be verified as vegan, and the sources of these components can change season to season. For us, our glue source is usually in flux and we cannot always guarantee the glue is not free of animal products.
That being said, we do have many wool-free and leather-free shoes, sandals, and boots. Here’s an overview of our fan-favorite non-leathers for women, men, and kids. (Please note that some styles listed below may not be available on our website due to fluctuating inventory.)
Top picks for men and women
The Newport Collection
Many styles of our iconic adventure sandal are made with a washable polyester webbing upper. This includes most of our water-friendly styles, plus unique styles like tie-dye and hemp, and the majority of our kids’ styles. Leather versions will be clearly marked in the materials section.
Newport styles to check out:
• Newport Hydro sandal
• Newport Eco sandal
• Newport H2 sandal
• Newport Retro sandal
• Newport Hemp sandal
• Newport Revival sandal
The UNEEK Collection
The tagline is, “two cords and a sole,” and the majority of our UNEEK collection are built with just that: polyester cord, micro-fabric upper, and a super comfortable PU midsole. These may become your go-to shoe. The collection offers endless color combinations and a variety and styles, including sandal, slide, sneaker, and more. Leather versions will be clearly marked. (Intrigued? Check out our employee blog post, How we wear it: UNEEK X Portland.)
UNEEK styles to check out:
• UNEEK
• UNEEK LTD
• UNEEK Monochrome
• UNEEK X RFW
• UNEEK EXO sneaker
• UNEEK O2
• UNEEK O2 LTD
• UNEEK Flat Cord
• UNEEK HT
• UNEEK Slide
The Howser Collection
The Howser II, Howser III, and Howser boot are made with microfleece lining (not wool). With a sturdy rubber outsole and outdoorsy upper, this indoor/outdoor cabin shoe collection is perfect for dry, cool days. The non-marking outsole and cozy fit also makes them a great slipper.
EVOFIT ONE
A giant leap forward in comfort and flexibility, this award-winning sandal is made with a quick-dry synthetic upper. This delivers a sock-like fit that feels like a second skin, making it perfect for water sports. This versatile sandal can take on loads of outdoor activities, thanks to its secure fit, protective toe, and grippy outsole.
Top picks for women
The Elsa Sneaker
This fun sneaker comes in canvas ( Elsa II Sneaker and Elsa II Slip-on), embroidered fabric ( Elsa II Crochet Sneaker ), and quilted ( Elsa II Quilted Sneaker ). All of them are perfect for spring and summer urban adventures. Bonus: The canvas sneaker, embroidered sneaker, and canvas slip-on are all certified vegan—that means the glue, too. Check out our Elsa feature in the Spring Looks We Love blog post.
The Terradora Collection
This wide collection of breathable hikers with knit fabric uppers were built specifically for a woman’s foot, which means a better fit. They come tons of colors and multiple leather-free styles, including low and mid-height sneakers (Terradora WP Terradora WP Mid, and Terradora Evo Mid), a moccasin (Terra Moc WP), and a fun vented version for summer trails (Terradora Ethos). Additionally, there are Terradora shoes for children—see below. Leather styles are clearly marked.
More leather-free, wool-free styles for women:
Elsa II Waterproof Quilted boot (leather-free in Canada only)
Sienna Canvas mary jane
Kona Flip II sandal
Yogui sandal
Yogui Arts sandal
Whisper sandal
Bali sandal
Venice H2 sandal
Clearwater CNX sandal
Sedona Pulse work shoe (aluminum toe)
Sedona Pulse Mid work shoe (aluminum toe)
Top picks for men
Saltzman Waterproof
This is a fast, flexible hiking shoe with a waterproof mesh upper—the perfect sneaker for iffy weather. A springy midsole provides long-lasting cushioning, while the webbed overlay amps up the support.
Axis Evo Mid
This is our most progressive hiking boot yet, with a lightweight, breathable knit upper. Built light so you can move fast, including an aggressive outsole and a contoured fit for better agility.
Winterport
This snowboot brings together the synthetic upper of our Newport with our KEEN.DRY waterproof breathable membrane and our KEEN.WARM insulation. A quick-draw elastic cord adjusts to a toasty fit, while the dual climate rubber outsole stays hard in the cold for a better grip for winter adventure.
More leather-free, wool-free styles for men:
Kona Flip II sandal
Yogui sandal
Yogui Arts sandal
Waimea H2 sandal
Clearwater CNX sandal
Aruba II slide
Top picks for kids
The Newport Collection
The sandal that started it all is a hit with kids and parents alike. With a colorful synthetic and textile upper, supportive, easy on-and-off design, and protective toe bumper, this sandal is a summer camp favorite. Available for big and little kids, plus some toddler styles. Check out the Newport H2 , Newport Neo H2, and Newport H2 Glow-in-the-Dark sandals.
The Moxie Collection
For girls who go all in, this colorful collection features the Moxie Sandal, Moxie Mary Jane, and Moxie Flat. All styles feature durable, washable uppers made from washable polyester webbing, synthetic, or textile materials. Available for big and little kids, plus some toddler styles.
Kids' Terradora Collection
Similar to the women’s Terradora, both kids’ versions, the Terradora Waterproof and Terradora Waterproof Mid feature a breathable knit upper. Super durable and ready for adventure. Available for big and little kids.
Kids' Lumi Waterproof Winter Boot
With insulation rated to -40°F/-40°C, this is our warmest and lightest winter boot for kids yet. This boot is wool-free, featuring a durable waterproof EVA shell design and textile upper. With its ultralight design with cold-weather traction, little legs can move easily through winter weather. For big and little kids.
Kids' Chandler Waterproof CNX
The streamlined, flexible, and light Chandler CNX and Chandler Waterproof CNX sneaker features a lightweight, quick-dry performance mesh and synthetic. It's breathable and grippy with multi-directional traction, allowing kids to be fast and sure on their feet. Available in toddler, big kid, and little kid styles.
More leather-free, wool-free styles for kids:
Winterport NEO boot
Seacamp II CNX sandal
Rio sandal
