Certain materials such as leather, silk, wool, and cashmere are not used in the best vegan hiking boots. Vegan hiking boots are formed by using materials, for example, faux leather, plant-based wool, and faux fur.
Made from several fibers, some of these resources are even better in rainy seasons. So, hiking throughout the wet environments becomes comfortable by using vegan hiking boots. These vegan hiking boots also decrease the impact people have on animals.
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The advantages and disadvantages of using vegan hiking boots
Advantages
Similar to any outdoor gear, vegan hiking boots hold several qualities that can be both useful to and unfavorable for your hike. Some of them are:
1- Lightweight
Vegan hiking boots are made out of synthetic materials that make them lighter & further flexible instead of conventional hikers. Their lightweight manufacture does not allow your feet to get over-fatigued throughout your hike.
2- Affordable
Vegan hiking boots are more affordable as compared to reliable leather boots. Synthetic materials are faster & earlier to manufacturing, lowering their overall price. Alternatively, getting animal byproducts and converting them into leather for hiking boots takes more time & resources.
3- Animal-friendly
Vegan-friendly hikers decline the usage of each material that originates from animals. Instead, synthetic materials & animal-free-adhesives are utilized to make this kind of gear. The goal of this production method is to reduce the requirement of animal slaughter.
Disadvantages
1- Less durable as compared to authentic leather
In terms of durability, vegan hiking boots are remarkably weaker as compared to genuine leather. Top class leather boots are exposed to a complicated method, that makes them the most durable material you use for hiking.
On the other hand, vegan hiking boots having synthetic materials are more likely to damage caused by various elements, wear, and tear.
2- Weaker against the elements
Vegan hikers are more prone to water as well as moisture as compared to the most excellent leather hiking boots. Footwear producers have addressed this issue by coating the upper layer of gear with a water-resistant finish or providing it with a water-repellent liner.
3- Vegan hiking boots are not as stable as the best leather footwear.
All-leather hiking boots provide the perfect ankle support. Moreover, they adapt well in terms of the shape of your feet when you go through trail conditions. On the other hand, vegan hiking boots lack this quality that makes them less stable.
How are vegan hiking boots prepared?
Synthetic upper of vegan hiking boots is often combined with textile fabric or mesh panels. It is also provided with a water-resistant coating to stand against the elements. This design makes the gear lightweight while maintaining a sufficient protection level against water.
Top vegan hiking boots are prepared with water-resistant liners for protection in rainy trail conditions. Gore-Tex membrane technology is used in premium vegan hiking footwear. This specialized technology uses a microporous external coating to block water that makes it both waterproof & breathable too.
Although vegan hiking boots are less durable as compared to leather footwear, they can still take a beating. Additionally, the best vegan boots are equipped with rubber toe caps, heel guards, and rands to improve its durability against damage.
How to buy the best fit from the top vegan hiking boots?
Purchasing the best fit from the vegan hiking boots is the basic thing to get the most out of your pair. Keep in mind some essential tips before getting a pair. Here are some things to consider:
- Certain brands offer a variety of vegan hiking boots for men and women adventurers.
- They come in standard sizes for both males and females. They are generally sold in standard width.
- You should consider the added girth your hiking socks contribute to the total fit. Wear your hiking socks while fitting the vegan boots.
- If you want to try these boots in a store, it is better to walk around by wearing them for some minutes. Because of this practice, you will get an idea of how these hiking boots feel.
How to verify if the vegan hiking boots are truly animal-friendly?
Here are some guidelines to help you decide if the boots you are going to buy are truly vegan.
1- Check out the vegan pair you need by the website of the brand
The specifications of your preferred pair can be obtained in their respective website of the brand. You can access this info & examine the technologies as well as materials used in the manufacturing of these vegan hiking boots
2- Contact the producer
Sometimes, the info found on the website may be inadequate. Instead of making a blind acquisition, it is better to contact the producer to confirm whether the pair you want to get uses vegan resources or not.
3- Check the reviews of footwear model
Another way to verify if your preferred pair is having vegan materials or not is to read reviews of the product. Go for the footwear reviews on customer & specialized review websites. Such links will provide you info on how these boots are made and how they do well on the trail.
Where to buy the best vegan hiking boots?
There are several vegan hiking boots available to choose from. Some of the top vegan hiking boots are given below.
1- La Sportiva Trango TRK GTX
The La Sportiva Trango boots are suitable for hiking. Abrasion-repellant fabrics form their uppers, & they have a Gore-Tex membrane. It means that these boots are waterproof and well ventilated; therefore, they are safe for a rainy environment.
They are very lightweight, particularly when you think how bulky they look; this is due to the Thermo Tech Application, which offers the shoe with protection & arrangement without any extra inserts. It makes them stable but does not add further weight to them.
The 3D Flex system is present in the heel, which provides grip, firmness, and support. This also makes them very flexible & just gives you more control while walking on rough terrain.
One disadvantage of these boots is their cost. They are very costly, & the men version costs double as compared to the women version.
Pros
- Breathable & waterproof
- A lot of support & stability
- Great traction
Cons
- Expensive
- Not true to size
Product Information
- Outsole: Vibram outsole having climbing zone at the toe
- Waterproof: Yes
- Materials: Thermo Tech Application and Abrasion-resistant fabric
2- Merrell MOAB 2 Vegan
These boots from Merrell come in several versions, together with a vegan one. If you are in search of a shoe that performs exceptionally well, then this one will be the best choice you can get.
They have the perfect ventilation as the uppers of these boots are made out of synthetic & mesh. Mainly when you associate the mesh on the upper of the shoe with the ventilated mesh lining. This property makes them the best option for the hot and wet summer days.
A disadvantage of this version is that they are not water-resistant. Therefore, they are not a good idea for the rainy season. However, this version of MOAB is not vegan-friendly.
As for heel support, this brand contains a ready-made nylon arch shank. MOAB has a molded EVA midsole for stability & relaxation, and the Merrell Air Cushion found in the heel, which is a shock absorber and improves your balance.
Pros
- Breathable boots
- Rough outsole for an outstanding grip
- A lot of arch & heel support
Cons
- Not waterproof
Product Information
- Outsole: Vibram TC5+
- Waterproof: No
- Materials: Synthetic & mesh uppers
3- Inov-8 Roclite 345 GTX
These boots by Roclite contain TPU as well as mesh uppers, and a Gore-Tex membrane. They are vegan-friendly and eco-friendly as they have recycled materials.
A G-Grip graphene outsole provides you with an amazing grip on each surface. This outsole is prepared with a lot of deep lugs for an excellent grip. Along with that, Roclite boots are very flexible & have better grip as well as traction.
They also have Powerflow midsole, which is an EVA midsole considered to give you about ten times more shock absorption & 15% more energy return as compared to regular midsoles.
Although Roclite boots are waterproof, they are not suggested for winter or snow, as these boots are not insulated. Another thing you need to know that these boots are slightly narrow, & they do not come in full versions.
Pros
- Good grip & traction
- Great shock absorption
- Waterproof
- Flexible boots
Cons
- A little bit narrow, you should go half a size up
- Not insulated, not suitable for winter
Product Information
- Outsole: G-Grip graphene
- Waterproof: Yes
- Materials: Mesh & thermoplastic urethane
4- Astral TR1 Merge Hiking Boots
The hiking boots by Astral come in men & women versions at the same price, and they are inexpensive too. Their uppers are formed by several materials, including canvas, TPU edges at toe & heel along with a mesh tongue. Because of the mesh, these boots can breathe and emit hot air, and this makes your feet stay cool and dry.
The one downside of these hiking boots is that they are not water-resistant. But, they have Water Ready holes that allow them to drain when they become wet. The Polygene treated insoles eliminate any smell and keep you fresh when you spend a lot of time on the trail.
The midsole is made out of EVA foam, which gives you lots of stability as well as support. Moreover, the heel also adds stability.
The G Rubber Trail Grip outsoles are rugged & aggressive, having 5 mm lugs which provide you with an astounding grip in each step. You also have a lot of traction in these hiking boots, on all land types.
All shoes from Astral are vegan-friendly. They have recycled polyester & are very cautious about sourcing materials. Astral hiking boots are the right fit for you if you support a vegan- friendly brand.
Pros
- Vegan-friendly brand
- Supportive & stable
- Great grip & traction
Cons
- Not good for winter
- Not waterproof
Product Information
- Outsole: Trail Grip Rubber outsole
- Waterproof: No
- Materials: Canvas, TPU, and mesh
5- Mammut T Aenergy High GTX
If you want to buy something rugged, then vegan hiking boots by Mammut are an excellent option. Their uppers are formed by a combination of durable TPU as well as abrasion-resistant textile. They have better protection because of the rubberized border.
Along with that, these boots have a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane to make your feet cool and dry during your hikes.
The midsole of these hiking boots has a TPU piece at the heel, which makes them excellent shock absorber. The tongue of these boots is made out of memory foam to make them comfortable at all times.
These boots contain a Vibram Scale outsole along with several deep lugs. They have an aggressive outsole for an excellent grip and traction on each terrain type. The Mammut hiking boots come in men and women’s versions, and they go right to size.
Pros
- Great breathability
- Great grip and traction
- Very comfortable
- Rugged outsole
Cons
- Pretty costly
- Not have several size options for females
Product Information
- Outsole: Vibram Scale outsole
- Waterproof: Yes
- Materials: TPU & abrasion-resistant textile
6- Adidas Outdoor Women’s Terrex Swift R Mid GTX
These boots have exceptional ventilation, which keeps your feet dry as well as cool even in the hot season. Their upper is made up of synthetic & breathable mesh, and they contain a Gore-Tex membrane.
They are a good choice for winter and snow, but they lack any insulation, & they are not truly warm. They have a rubber outsole with many deep lugs, which provides you an excellent grip on wet terrain. However, the outsole is not very rugged.
They are a good option for normal hiking; however, not the best choice for rocky & steep terrain. They also lack ankle support. Although they are cut pretty high, they do not provide us as much ankle support as we expect.
This model is only available for women and does not have a lot of sizes. Furthermore, these boots are a little bit narrow & not the best option if you have wide feet.
Pros
- Comfortable & Lightweight
- Breathable and water-resistant
- Great grip on wet terrain
Cons
- Not providing too much ankle support
- Do not have a lot of size variety
Product Information
- Outsole: Traxion outsole
- Waterproof: yes
- Materials: Synthetic a swell as mesh
Whether you are vegetarian, carnivore, or a fully-fledged vegan, the excellent collection of these vegan hiking boots is assured of having something for you. In addition to that, if having a pair that is fully synthetic is non-negotiable, then you do not need to compromise on the best hiking footwear at all. Happy feet all round!
