Best Vegan Skate Shoes For Grip And Performance
Shoes For Vegan Skateboarding
Contents
Fortunately, that won’t happen with any of the vegan skate shoes on this list. Don’t settle on any old pair of sneakers because you can’t find the pair for you. They have way less grip and provide no support for you while skating because they weren’t made for it.
The most important things to consider when buying a pair of skate shoes is support, grip, durability and comfort. If they aren’t a reliable brand which offer great support and will last you maybe wasting your money
Originally, skate shoes were made from leather. With the rise of cruelty-free materials, they can now be made with rubber, polyester, canvas, or faux leathers. If you buy vegan skate shoes, you won’t have to worry about animal products like of leather. Real leather shouldn’t get wet, but faux leather or synthetic materials are totally unaffected, so you won’t have to worry about any puddles or rain.
This is a list of the best vegan skate shoes to help you find the shoe that is just right for you.
#1 Accel Plus Ever Stitch Skateboarding Shoes
The Accel Plus Ever Stitch from eS may look like a pair of sneakers, but they are not just your average shoe.
Take these with you to your next skateboarding session, feeling confident and comfortable.
With these, you won’t have to worry about laces getting in the way of your tricks.
The Velcro strap keeps them secure on your feet without laces that dangle down. Basically, the laces are just for show, so you won’t have to worry about tying or untying them.
The built-in Everstich helps your feet breath, without overheating or getting too sweaty. This is perfect for when you are wearing these shoes during a long day of physical activity.
There are also hot melt quarter panels built in, which reinforce the shoes in addition to the toe cap, making them more durable.
Pros & Cons
Lace-free
Lightweight
Reinforced for durability
Breathable
Expensive
Only one color option
#2 Jameson HT Ryan Lay from Etnies Vegan Skate Shoes
Etnies is a brand for skaters, by skaters. They understand what you need in a good pair of shoes, and completely deliver.
The Jameson HT Ryan Lay are stylish and durable; perfect for anyone.
Landing tricks can be hard if a pair of shoes provide no ankle support.
We’ve all made a fall and felt our ankles give out because of the lack of support. The Jameson HT extends up the ankle, providing ankle support as you land tricks.
There is also a built-in toe cap, making them more durable and long-lasting. Toe caps are in many shoes and can help protect your feet as well. When you search for the perfect pair for you, look for options that have a toe cap.
If you are interested in Etnies collection, be sure to check out their website. They have a vegan collection for men, women, and children.
Pros & Cons
Enhanced grip
Lightweight
Ankle support
Comfortable
Small arch
not great for wide feet
#3 Romero Laced from Emerica Vegan Shoes
The Romero shoes from Emerica are designed and named after Leo Romero, a pro-skateboarder from California.
Romero included important qualities in his design, such as toe cap support for durability and triangle tread for maximum grip.
The shoe is currently offered in 19 different colors, so if the classic color combination isn’t your style, there are plenty of other options.
Each option works with simple colors that will enhance your skating without drawing too much attention with bright colors.
The Tongue stabilizing wing built-in helps you during those difficult tricks. You definitely don’t want your shoes to fall off mid-trick, so the stabilizing wings will help.
Pros & Cons
A lot of color options
Lightweight
Stabilizing wings so they won’t slip off
Comfortable
Sizes run small
A few reviews claiming they fall apart
#4 SB Nyjah Free Skate Shoes from Nike
Like the Romero Laced from Emerica, these are designed and named by a pro-skateboarder as well.
The SB Nyjah Free is Nike’s first pair of skate shoes, but with Nyjah Huston, Nike created the ultimate shoe.
Nike is well-known for their wide range of athletic shoes that enhance performance and keep your feet comfortable. With the Nyjah Free, Nike maintained this performance and comfort.
These shoes have an internal flywire that connects to the laces. This means that when you tighten the laces, the entire shoe tightens around your foot. Normal laces only tighten the top, so the sides of your foot can still feel loose in the shoe.
In addition to the flywire, the shoes have an inner sleeve that forms to your foot like a sock. This helps keep the shoe snug around your foot.
Pros & Cons
Flywire and inner sleeve to keep shoe snug on foot
Lightweight
Maximum grip and flexibility
Sizes run a bit small
Expensive
#5 Swift Everstitch Skate Shoes from eS
The Swift Everstich vegan skate shoes are another vegan option from eS. Although they offer a limited amount of vegan options, the options they have keep the same level of comfort and control as their nonvegan options.
These shoes are incredibly lightweight. The open cell foam creates a footbed that feels like you are walking, or skating, on clouds. Often times, skate shoes can feel heavy on the feet, especially if they are made with a lot of rubber material.
eS creates shoes that form to your feet, almost like a pair of socks. The centralized foot wrap provides support around your entire foot, so you won’t have to worry about the Swift Everstich slipping of while you’re skating. If you’re looking for a shoe that is lightweight and supportive, definitely check out the Swift Everstich. eS has many options but not all of them are vegan, so be sure to read the descriptions.
Pros & Cons
Very durable toe cap
Lightweight
Amazing board control
Skate resistant
Expensive
May run a bit small
Vans is one of the most iconic brands producing dozens of different vegan skate shoes. My personal shoe collection is mostly Vans; they are incredibly comfortable and can be worn for a variety of occasions. The Old Skool is one of the most popular pair that Vans sells, being the original shoe to have the iconic stripe on the side.
Although these are a great classic style, they are not as durable as other brands. The Old Skool Vans are not built with a toe cap that helps the shoe withstand hard falls and tough tricks. The canvas can also possibly rip or tear. Falling or sliding in these will shorten how long the Vans will last.
If you don’t skate and are just looking for a pair to wear on a daily basis, definitely check these out. I have several pairs of Vans that are just for everyday wear; they are comfortable and casual to complete any look. Vans has so many vegan options, you are bound to find the right shoe for you.
Pros & Cons
Classic look
Great for everyday wear
Comfortable
High reviews across several websites
Canvas can rip
Not the most durable
The Era Skate Shoes are another classic pair from Vans. Along with the Old Skool Vans, these are one of the brand’s most popular pair of shoes. This pair comes in an amazing 32 pairs of colors.
The great part about Vans is if you can’t find a color scheme you want, you can design your own pair through the Vans website. Vans allows you to customize every section of the shoe, either with a solid color or with a predesigned pattern. For an extra price, you can add your own pictures to the design.
Because Vans are made out of canvas, they may not be the most durable for your skate sessions. They shouldn’t be worn for more intense skating; wear them casual skating instead, so they won’t fall apart easily.
Vans bring the classic style to you. If you want to stay true to a classic look, check out the two pairs of Vans in this list, and the wide range that they sell on the Vans website.
Pros & Cons
Amazon’s Choice
Great for everyday wear
Comfortable
A lot of customization options
Canvas can rip
Not the most durable
#8 Low Canvas Sneaker from Shoes like Pottery
Shoes like Pottery is a brand that originated in Kurume, Japan in 1873. The brand started by producing Tabi, a Japanese shoe that resembles “five-fingered sock with a rubber sole”. The brand takes its name from the way the shoes are produced. Like pottery, the rubber soles are kiln-fired. Through the Shoes like Pottery website, you can read the step by step process that goes into creating a pair.
Unfortunately, this brand is difficult to find online; Amazon does not carry them. Shoes like Pottery doesn’t sell through their website, but different online stores carry their line. The brand also sells at locations around the world, so if you are interested, be sure to check if stores around you carry Shoes like Pottery.
The Low Canvas Sneaker is great for casual skating or everyday wear. The bottom of them don’t have a typical style tread, so if you do plan on taking these out for a serious skate session, you may not get the best grip.
Pros & Cons
Each pair is handcrafted
Durable, Flexible
Strong toe cap
Expensive
More casual than a skate shoe
The final shoe in our list is the Jameson 2 Eco Skate Shoe from Etnies. There are so many different color options for this shoe, you can pick which you want from a drop-down list. Each color option is practical, with no bright colors or patterns that can clash with anything you are wearing.
With over 500 Amazon reviews, they have 4.1 out of 5 stars. Customers all agree that this is a comfortable and durable pair of shoes. Many reviews state that they are long lasting, being worn for over a year before real signs of wear and tear start to show.
Not only are these vegan, but they also give back to the environment. With every pair of bought, Etnies will plant a tree. So far, over a million trees have been planted, and they are still planting more. In addition to this, the shoe itself is made from recycled material.
Pros & Cons
Padded Collar for comfort and support
Environmentally friendly
High Amazon reviews
Long lasting
Tread not very strong
Not for wide feet
Vegan Skateboarding Shoe FAQ’s
What skate shoes are good for wide feet?
Sometimes it’s hard to find shoes for wide feet, but often times, skate shoes are accommodating. Some brands even offer wide options alongside their normal sizes. Vans are suitable for wide feet, as well as all of the other brands on this list besides Etnies and Shoes like Pottery. Many reviews of Etnies state that they are a little tight on wide feet.
How long do skate shoes last?
It depends on how much you wear your shoes, and what type of activity you do in them. A high quality should last a year or longer. If you do a lot of heavy activity every day, they might not last as long. Make sure to properly take care of them to ensure that they will last a long time. If your shoes get dirty or muddy, clean them right away, and try not to get them that wet.
What skate shoe brands provide vegan options?
The brands listed below all carry vegan options, so if you are unsure where to start, look at the options in the list. It’s sometimes difficult to find out if a shoe is vegan, but words like ‘manmade’ or synthetic indicate that it is. If you are ever skeptical if something is vegan or not, don’t hesitate to google it! Lists like these are meant to help.
What are the best vegan skate shoes?
There are several brands that sell skate shoes, all with different styles. If you are looking for a durable and comfortable pair, try Etnies or eS. These two brands produce several high-quality vegan options that are worth checking out.
Our Verdict
Veganism is hitting the skateboarding community with more and more skaters turning to a plant based diet.We reviewed the top 5 vegan skateboarders who are all very high level.
Producers and customers all around the world know that leather is soon to become a thing of the past. Vegan options are becoming more common, and there is a wide range to choose from.
If you skate, or want to start skating, get yourself a pair of shoes on this list. Not only are they good for skating, but they are also great for every day wear. Many styles are practical and simple enough that you can wear them to work or out to dinner.
Remember it’s important to know how to repair damaged skate shoes as if you are practicing a lot you will eventually need to do some repairs.
Overall, it all comes down to what you want the most. Each style caters to different needs, so don’t settle of a regular sneaker. With the options in this list, you can ride in comfort. Grab yourself a pair of cruelty-free shoes that’s on this list!
By Jacqueline Zalace
Jacqueline loves everything related to vegan food, spending an embarrassing amount of time creating Pinterest recipe boards. She loves writing about vegan products so others can learn more. You can find more about her here.