Last year, the amount of vegan products sold in the United States went up 11%, with 73% of that total being footwear. People no longer want to buy real leather products. Consumers are becoming more aware of shopping ethically, opting for cruelty-free boots that do not contain leather.

Cowboy boots date back to the 1500’s, typically made from the hide of a cow. The skin of the cow has to go through numerous treatments just to make it look like the leather we know, so why not use faux leather? Faux leather looks identical to real leather and doesn’t involve harming animals. The leather is made from polyurethane, meaning that it is plastic based, also called ‘pleather’.

Cowboy boots are becoming increasingly more vegan, but it still can be difficult to find cruelty-free options, so we are here to help. Here are the 11 best vegan cowboy boots on the market today.

Kat Mendenhall is conquering the vegan cowboy boot market. Unlike some vegan leathers, these are nylon based, which gives them a leather grain appearance. They have dozens of options on the website, with many of them being customizable. This Texas-based brand aims to deliver the most authentic options.

The Cowboy Curl Ups give the traditional cowboy feeling without the traditional leather material. Each pair is handmade by the brand’s expert shoemakers, which allows for the wide amount of customization. Online shopping can be difficult when sizing, but with the simple and easy process of ordering, you can make sure the boots you order are just right.

I often shop for shoes and get frustrated seeing the size and style differences between men and women’s shoes. Often times, women’s shoes focus more on style rather than comfort. Fortunately, these are made for both men and women, with no style differences. Cowboy Curl Ups can be worn during a hard day’s work, or out to your favorite restaurant.

Matisse is an international women’s shoe company based in Los Angeles, California. They sell heels, flats, sandals, and sneakers as well as cowboy boots. There are several options available in their Coconuts collection. Although their specialty isn’t cowboy boots, they definitely deliver with quality for a great price.

While not customizable, Cimmaron comes in a variety of colors. Their Matisse design maintain an appearance of high quality but are sold at a very generous price. If you are looking for a good first pair but would rather not spend over $100, these are just right for you.

Matisse knows that sometimes, you just really want shoes that look good. Many cowboy boot brands value comfort while forgetting the style, or value style while forgetting the comfort. Cimmaron boots are fashionable, and Amazon reviews show that no amount of comfort is lost, with a rating of 4.3 out of 5 and over 600 customer reviews.

Very Volatile is another brand that has great choices for women. They also make a wide variety of shoes that have appeared on Project Runway, as well as several fashion magazines including Seventeen.

Amazon currently offers this boot in 4 different colors, including tan, black, taupe, and wine. The Volatile brand is offering these shoes directly from their website as well, but if you buy with Amazon, its about $10 cheaper.

With a comfortable fit and practical design, these boots have become Amazon’s choice in cowboy boots with over 700 reviews. Many customers mentioned that they run a bit big, but that’s nothing thick socks can’t fix.

Very Volatile sells a wide range. If you are interested in this brand, I recommend taking a look at the rest of their selections. They also have children’s sizes. The Rascally kids ones are similar in design to the Raspy, so definitely check these out if you are looking to match with your little one.

Sometimes you want a pair that stands out from the rest, and that’s exactly what Metrocharm has provided. These are meant to look like crocodile skin, with no real skin involved. They take the traditional look made from cow hide and turn it into something unique and exciting.

Unlike others, these sit a little lower on your calf. This makes them perfect for wearing under jeans; the top of the boot will not make an outline on you pants. In addition to the low style, they also come with a removable chain and belt. If you want to wear them around town or to a formal event you can attach the belt and chain, but if you need to get down and dirty, you can take them off.

If these fashionable boots appeal to you, I recommend checking out more from Metrocharm. They provide a wide array of boots for men, but many of them are made with real leather. Make sure you read the description before buying for words like faux, synthetic, or manmade.

Roper is a brand that specializes in everything western related. They have departments for men, women, and kids, each selling cowboy boots. Their most classic is the Basic Square Toe.

Amazon also offers them in other colors, however they vary in overall design. The shaft maintains the same look, but the toe design changes. These are also offered directly from Roper’s website. If bought from their store within a limited timeframe, they will ship right after you order them, making for a speedy delivery.

Although they are officially labeled as men’s shoes, they simple and comfortable design allows them to be unisex. Many reviews across different stores express how they are great for women as well. This can make for a perfect couple’s gift if you’re into matching.

This is another pair of boots from the Coconuts by Matisse brand, geared towards women. The style comes from gauchos, rather than traditional American cowboys. Gauchos originated in South America and helped inspire the cowboy look that we know today. This gives them a unique design variation of the traditional design.

Matisse’s gaucho is a modern take on this old classic. They don’t have any eye-catching colors that would clash with an outfit, so they make for the perfect boot to wear out and about, or even under a wedding dress.

These may not be true to size, running a bit small, but this can be fixed by buying up one half size. Although they are comfortable, they are mainly for fashion, rather than for working. Wear them with your favorite outfit to make a statement.

These have all the same qualities of the Cowboy Curl Ups, with a different style. Like the Curl Ups, the Fancy Fandango boots have a tremendous amount of customization options. The material, stitching, and toe shape can all be customized to create the perfect fit for anyone.

Fancy Fandango boots can be worn while working, but also around town. The are shorter and sleeker than a traditional boot, which can be paired with jeans or a skirt. These have a modern feel, so brands that do not make cowboy boots often use this style for a ‘formal’ boot. Like all Kat Mendenhall, they are unisex. They are waterproof as well, making them perfect for any outdoor activity.

Kat Mendenhall all sell for around the same price. This may be expensive, but the boots are very well-made, and are guaranteed not to fall apart anytime soon. If you are looking for something to last a while and have money to spend, I definitely recommend getting yourself a pair of Kat Mendenhall.

It’s the 4th of July and you are searching for the perfect pair of patriotic cowboy boots. All that you have in your closet is tan and black boots though, so what do you do? Get yourself a pair of American Patriot Western boots by Roper. Show up to that barbeque with one of kind shoes, that nobody else will be wearing. These Unique shoes can become a conversation starter as well.

These Roper boots are perfect for any patriotic event but shouldn’t be worn for serious occasions. Although they are unique and stylish, the boots have reviews mentioning the low quality. If you want to buy these boots, take into account that they are just for show and should not be worn to work in.

I recommend only breaking these boots out a few times. Memorial Day and Independence Day are the perfect occasion for sporting this patriotic footwear.

Cowboy boots aren’t just for riding horses, and Refresh proves that. These boots are fashionable enough for everyday wear, with over 1,000 Amazon reviews to confirm this. These shoes come in 7 different colors, giving you plenty of options to choose from.

The Refresh brand aims to take classic shoes and gives them a fun, feminine twist which is definitely shown in these modern cowboy boots. Because of their stylish design, you wouldn’t want to wear these while doing work. Save them for an everyday look to avoid dirtiness.

Pair these boots with jeans, leggings, a dress, or your favorite skirt to complete a country-chic look. You definitely don’t want to do any hard work in these stylish boots; keep them as a fashion piece and get another pair for working in.

Snakeskin vegan cowboy boots? I was even a little skeptical at first, but these boots are 100% manmade, from the faux leather to the faux snakeskin. These boots come in 2 metallic colors, brown/copper and brown/gold.

These boots also offer a variety of wide sizes. Standard shoe sizes are meant for one type of foot, but Laredo know that not every foot is the same. Currently, sizes 9-16 are available in wide options, while supplies last. This also includes half sizes as well.

Add these boots to any look, creating a statement piece that will definitely become a conversation starter. The design is fashionable, yet practical enough to go riding in. Accessories such as belts and chains won’t get in your way.

Laredo also sells a variety of women’s boots as well. Many of their boots are made with real leather, so be sure to read the description before buying your boots.

Finishing out our list is the Hinton Boot from Justin. This boot is built with the J-Flex Flexible Comfort System®, which means the boot has amazing insulation and shock absorption. The boots also have Grip-on-Demand™. giving riders more control of the stirrups.

The Hinton is meant for serious activity that requires a lot of movement. With this boot, you won’t have to worry about sore feet; the built-in comfort system gets rid of that problem for you.

Wear these boots when channeling your inner cowboy, or when walking around town. Hinton boots maximize comfort, whether it be for walking around the city or horseback riding.

Because these boots are not offered on Amazon, there are limited reviews. There are currently no reviews on Zappos.com, but if you want to learn more, check out the official website at justinboots.com. The boots aren’t marketed as vegan, but every leather-like material is labeled as faux.

Vegan cowboy boots come in a wide range of styles, but there is one thing in common among them. Vegan leathers tend to cost less than real leathers, with a few exceptions (such as Kat Mendenhall). When you buy real leather shoes, you are buying into the cruelty that went into producing it. Choose the cheaper option and don’t contribute to animal cruelty.

When buying the perfect pair, it all comes down to the style you want, and when you want to wear it. Since these are made for a variety of occasions, you can choose a ones that are suitable for one, or a versatile that can satisfy many different needs. Buy a pair now and walk around in style.