Eco Friendly Outdoor Shoes: 15 Outdoor Footwear Brands for High Miles & Low Impact
Let’s boot up the discussion on ethical and eco friendly outdoor shoes.
Any regular readers of ours will know we’re big proponents of buying used gear whenever possible. However, footwear is just one of those things that sometimes, you can’t get away with buying used.
And if you’re going to shop for something new, we feel it’s important to know how to shop for something sustainable.
Fortunately, buying sustainable outdoor clothing and the like is easier than ever with more eco friendly outdoor gear brands recognizing that if we want to preserve the outdoors, we need to start protecting it.
Footwear is one of the final frontiers, being notoriously finicky and rife with tons of unsustainable materials. Finding a good pair of lasting sustainable hiking boots simply isn’t as easy as snagging a pair of eco friendly sunglasses. We had to put on a few more research miles to track down these ethical outdoor shoe brands.
What does it mean to be eco friendly footwear for the outdoors?
It can mean a lot of different things and there’s no one formula for the most sustainable outdoor shoe. The best adventure footwear options are those that look at their impact from every angle and try to remedy as many as they can.
This might mean substituting virgin synthetics (polyester and nylon) for recycled ones. Or it could mean using regenerative leather and cruelty-free wool as opposed to traditional ones.
Leather especially needs a good hard look because leather is a dirty dirty material. For one thing, about 1 billion animals are killed for the leather industry each year. Beyond that, leather is incredibly unsustainable usually because it’s the tanning process using a whole gamut of chemicals like arsenic and cyanide that often leaches from tanneries into the surrounding environment.
However, we also recognize that leather is one of the most durable materials out there when it comes to eco friendly hiking shoes. It just lasts longer and handles tougher terrain.
That’s why we sought out brands still using leather but only those using leather sustainably certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG) and leather sourced as a byproduct of the meat industry (rather than an end itself).
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Navigation for Eco Friendly Outdoor Footwear
Sustainable Outdoor Socks & Insoles
Sustainable Outdoor Shoes
Erem
Merrell
KEEN
Saola
Teva
Loom
Adidas Five Ten
Adidas Terrex
Timberland
Salomon
Zamberlan
Sanuk
ECCO
Ethical Outdoor Shoe Brands
Erem
Image credit Erem
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Xerocole® mid-rise hiking boots and Xerocole® Expedition high-top combat boots
Budget: $$$
Eco friendly fabrics: Vegetable-tanned leather upper from LWG "gold-rated" tannery, TENCEL™ Lyocell and organic cotton lining, recycled rubber sole, rescued cork crump footbed, natural latex foam insole, recycled wood fiber shank, brass eyelets, corn-derived PLA midsole, all adhered together with an eco-adhesive.
All materials are Toxnot audited and verified.
Impact management: Each shoe is Biocircular™, meaning all materials are naturally derived and can compost or biodegrade back into nature. The Erem Reboot program offers a full repair service and will take back all boots at the end of their lives to be recycled into new ones.
Erem is also CarbonNeutral® certified.
Other: Erem are members 1% for the Planet and the Conservation Alliance and 1% of every purchase is donated to a desert non-profit.
Through their nonprofit Cactus Coalition, they provided $15k to fund a cactus pear farm and have planted 255 plants—each of which can sequester 400 lbs of CO2 per year.
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Xerocole® Expedition
Personal Review: We were gifted a pair of the Xerocole® Expedition boots to try and test, which we did over two weeks rambling around in the mountains and lakelands of Montana. The first thing to know is that these boots are very sturdy and durable—they call them “tough as a cactus” boots, after all—meaning they take a little time to break in. We do not recommend taking them out on a long backpacking adventure without having first broken them in on shorter adventures.
Once broken in, these boots are truly amazing. The stability provided by the full length shaft makes them great on tough terrain, but the fact that this shank is wood rather than steel means they’re incredibly lightweight for this caliber of boot. The extended boot shaft and full gusset really keep out trail dust and debris. The rubber toecap provides safety and protection without being too bulky.
Our one critique of these sustainable hiking boots is the minimal amount of padding in the heel cup. We needed extra thick socks to prevent rub in this area, though this is at least partially due to the fact that as climbers, we have calcium deposits on our heels from wearing climbing shoes. Still, a little extra padding there would likely provide a great deal more comfort regardless of type of sock worn.
Overall, we’re super happy with the performance and wear of these boots and love the fact that they are fully circular in nature.
*Note: This is an honest review given in exchange for a free sample pair, not a paid, sponsored feature.
Overall sustainability rating: 5/5 (A limited selection at the moment but by far the most sustainable hiking boots currently on the market)
FIND THEM HERE: Erem
MERRELL
Image credit Merrell
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: A small selection of minimalist trail running shoes, sandals, and hiking shoes made of recycled materials; The rest of Merrell’s footwear line still utilized virgin synthetics
Budget: $$
Eco friendly fabrics: Sustainable leather sourced via the Leather Working Group, post-consumer recycled rubber soles, recycled EVA midsoles and insoles from other Merrell shoes, BLOOM midsole made from 10% algae biomass, 100% recycled laces and recycled TPU lace reinforcements, partially recycled lining, and partially recycled mesh upper
Ethical practices: Manufacturing partners comply with their Code of Conduct based on ILO standards
Impact management: Design products to be durable; Employ water conservation production methods; Reduce overall landfill waste by recycling production scraps into new products
Other: Member of The Conservation Alliance and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition; Donate to a range of organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and National Recreation and Park Association; Organize and participate in trail cleanup and maintenance projects
Our eco outdoor shoe picks: Trail Glove/Vapor Glove trail running shoes and Moab Flight eco friendly hiking shoes
Overall sustainability rating: 3/5 (A promising start but we hope to see far more eco friendly footwear options from Merrell in the near future)
Find them here: Merrell / Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
KEEN
“We seek to elevate transparency in our business practices and to innovate within how we manufacture our products. Our goal is to exceed the highest levels of social and environmental standards. While there may not be a clear finish line, we commit ourselves daily to taking steps in the right direction.”
Image credit KEEN
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Hiking shoes, boots, and eco friendly vegan sandals; Insulated ethical winter boots; Workwear and steel-toe boots
Budget: $$
Eco friendly fabrics: Leather sourced via the Leather Working Group, KEEN.WARM recycled PET insulation, recycled PET webbing, recycled polyurethane, and natural rubber; Again, not all eco friendly as they still use a lot of virgin synthetics
Ethical practices: Have three key focus points: “manufacturing integrity, process transparency, and workplace responsibility”; Regularly visit Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers and audit them to their public Code of Conduct; Compliant with both the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657) and UK Modern Slavery Act; “American Built” line is made on Swan Island less than five minutes from KEEN headquarters in downtown Portland; Other manufacturing facilities in Cambodia, China, India, Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Impact management: Suppliers must complete the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Index to rate the sustainability of their practices; One of the first outdoor companies to adopt the Higg Index; Offer a KEEN Effect grant program for environmental cleanup initiatives
Other: Organized a petition-minded road trip in 2015 collecting signatures to protect public lands; Have donated more than $15 million to nonprofit and relief organizations like the ReBuilding Center; Partners with the EOG Sustainability Working Group, OIA Sustainability Working Group, Leave No Trace, Outdoor Alliance, American Whitewater, Forest Park Conservancy, and are a Pinnacle Member of the Conservation Alliance.
Our eco outdoor shoe picks: Revel IV High Polar Boot and Astoria West Sandal
Overall sustainability rating: 3/5
Find them here: KEEN / Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
SAOLA
Image credit Saola
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Ethical knit sneakers and boat shoes and hiking boots; Affordable outdoor footwear that makes for a great eco friendly gift for outdoor lovers
Budget: $$
Eco friendly fabrics: Recycled bottle and PU blended uppers or 100% recycled canvas knit uppers, cork and recycled algae BloomFoam insoles, partially recycled EVA outsoles, and organic cotton laces
Ethical practices: Made in a single factory in southern China where one of the founders is permanently stationed to keep an eye on things
Impact management: Tell you how much air is cleaned per pair by using carbon negative materials like BloomFoam; SOurce most materials from China keeping their suppliers and factory localized to reduce emissions
Other: Named after the Saola (SOW-la) one of the most rare endangered animals on earth (only about 300 remain); Member of 1% for the Planet and donate specifically toward wildlife conservation and biodiversity programs like Kenya’s Mwalua Wildlife Trust
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Semnoz II Sneakers/Hikers
Overall sustainability rating: 5/5
Find them here: Saola / REI
TEVA
Image credit Teva
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Recycled vegan hiking sandals (as well as some non-vegan and non-recycled options); Hiking shoes and boots; Knit running shoes and casual trainers; Indoor/outdoor slippers. Anyone who has read any of our vanlife clothing guides will know we adore their Ember Moc slippers, whck are now being made of recycled materials! Look for the ReEmber line. Plus, they get added sustainability beause of how they’re versatile they are. An absolute vanlife essential.
Budget: $-$$
Eco friendly fabrics: 100% recycled polyester (from plastic bottles) lining; traceable and verifiable REPREVE polyester uppers; robust EVA footbeds; natural rubber outsoles
Ethical practices: Code of Conduct ensures fair wages and prohibits child and forced labor; Claim to have industry-leading human rights practices in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Impact management: Have diverted 40 million plastic bottles since 2020 and are committed to incorporating more recycled materials in their products in the future; Offer mail-in shoe recycling through the TevaForever program
Other: Received a perfect score in the Corporate Equality Index in 2021; Donate huge amounts to nonprofits each year (amounting to $500,000 in 2020 alone)
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Ridgeview Mid Ripstop Hiker, Hurricane Verge Sandals, and ReEmber Moc Slippers
Overall sustainability rating: 3/5
Find them here: Teva / Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
LOOM
Image credit Loom
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Lightweight knit sneakers that are… wait for it…. WATERPROOF!
Budget: $$-$$$
Eco friendly fabrics: Merino wool lining and foot bed sourced from ethical farms; synthetic uppers (doesn’t specify which); Excelcast non-slip sole
Ethical practices: Source their merino wool from “some of the most ethical farms in the world”
Impact management: Don’t make tons of models, so there isn’t nearly as much risk of deadstock waste. Just one shoe for men and women in two simple colors!
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Again, they only make shoe so this one is obvious ;)
Overall sustainability rating: 2/5
Find them here: Loom
ADIDAS FIVE TEN
Image credit Adidas Five Ten
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Vegan rock climbing shoes, mountain biking shoes, and vegan/cruelty-free hiking shoes and approach shoes
Budget: $$-$$$
Eco friendly fabrics: Stealth rubber outsoles, 50% UpCycled material shoe composition made of Primeblue Parley recycled ocean plastic, synthetic vegan leather replacements
Ethical practices: Not super transparent about manufacturing on their website but do publish a full list of suppliers and some factories; Sored a 61-70% in Fashion Revolution’s Fashion Transparency Index (meaning lots of room for improvement!); Have an FLA-based Code of Conduct for which standards they audit most of their supply chain; No evidence they pay all their workers a fair wage though as per the Clean Clothes Campaign Foul Play report.
Impact management: Shifting to using 100% recycled polyester in our products by 2024; Pledged to create 15-20 million pairs of recycled ocean plastic shoes in 2020
Other: Donate to various charities and relief agencies (too many to name given Adidas is the second-largest active footwear company in the world); Partnering with Allbirds (details of partnership yet to be announced)
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Freerider Pro Primeblue Cycling Shoe
Overall sustainability rating: 1/5
Find them here: Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
ADIDAS TERREX
Image credit Adidas Terrex
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Recycled hiking shoes and sustainable trail running shoes (only a few styles at the moment; the rest are still made with virgin synthetics)
Budget: $$-$$$
Eco friendly fabrics: Stealth rubber outsoles, Thermoplastic polyurethane midsoles, UpCycled uppers, Primeblue Parley recycled ocean plastic knit fabric
Ethical practices: See above
Impact management: See above
Other: See above
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Terrex Two Ultra Parley Trail-Running Shoes
Overall sustainability rating: 1/5
Find them here: Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
TIMBERLAND
Image credit Timberland
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Sustainable hiking boots, workwear and steel-toe boots, and sandals
Budget: $$-$$$
Eco friendly fabrics: ReBotl recycled PET, natural rubber outsoles, sugar cane midsoles, regeneratively farmed “better leather”, and sustainably-sourced cotton; 68% of footwear features recycled organic or renewable materials and 97% of PVC-free
Ethical practices: Ultra transparent as you can read every single quarterly report from the last five years (reports include their material usage, factory legers, and more)
Impact management: Published sustainability report; 96% of leather are gold or silver rated by the LWG; Aim to be net positive by 2030
Other: Had planted 10 million treed by the end of 2019 (across mostly North America and Africa) and are aiming for 50 million trees by 2025
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Garrison Trail Waterproof Hiker
Overall sustainability rating: 4/5
Find them here: Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
SALOMON
Image credit Salomon
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Sustainable trail running shoes, road running shoes hiking shoes and boots, water shoes, snow boots, and sandals; Stay tuned for the launch of their most sustainable shoe: the Index.01 Recyclable Running Shoe
Budget: $$$
Eco friendly fabrics: 100% LWG-certified responsible leather; Currently a lot of virgin synthetic materials but hope to improve that; Some recycled knit PET uppers; EVA sock liners; Index.01 will feature TPU bottom, 40% recycled polyester upper, and 100% recycled sock liner
Ethical practices: Have a new state-of-the-art sustainable footwear factory in France just 200km from their headquarters that can make shoes start to finish
Impact management: Via their Play minded program, they are taking steps to improve both socially and environmentally. By 2025: 100% of Salomon products have their environmental performance visible by the consumer, all new products will comply to circular economy principles, recycle 70% of all waste, 100% of suppliers meet or exceed the minimum level of our social compliance standard, carbon emissions reduced by 30%, and more; Aim to be PFC-free in 2023; Read their current sustainability report; Signed the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action; bluesign® system partner and employ the Higg Index
Other: The Salomon foundation helps mountain professionals who are physically disabled as a result of an accident or a disease and helps the families of those lost to the mountains; One of the founding members of the Outdoor Sports Valley (OSV); Promote mountain safety and education through the Salomon Mountain Academy; “Protect the playground” by supporting various organizations like The Conservation Alliance.
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Tech Amphib 4 Water Shoe
Overall sustainability rating: 2/5
Find them here: Salomon / Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
ZAMBERLAN
Image credit Zamberlan
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering boots
Budget:$$$$
Eco friendly fabrics: High-quality Italian leather sourced from trusted sources; Vibram® rubber soles; GORE-TEX® waterproof membranes; PU or EVA midsoles
Ethical practices: Manufactured in Italy by a team of talented and valued shoemakers
Impact management: 95% of their shoes are resoleable to extend their life; Sell replacement parts to encourage repair over replacement
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Vioz GTX Hiking Boots
Overall sustainability rating: 1/5 (Not super sustainable in terms of just materials, but their durability and efforts to extend their boot life makes them still more sustainable than many options)
Find them here: REI
SANUK
“Sustainability is not an easy journey, it is a constantly evolving world but one we find absolutely necessary to protect our people, maintain our purpose, and preserve the environment for future generations to come.”
Image credit Sanuk
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Boat shoes, casual walking shoes, sandals, and flip flops
Budget: $-$$
Eco friendly fabrics: These include recycled yoga mat footbeds and midsoles, hemp, responsibly sourced leather via the LWG, wool, and Better Cotton Index (BCI) certified cotton; Have a Restricted Substances Policy
Ethical practices: “We have a responsibility to protect the skilled workers creating our product” and thus audit all entities to their Code of Conduct written to ILO standards; Recently moved production from China (which uses largely coal energy) to Vietnam (which uses largely hydroelectricity); Publish a whole host of different ethics policies for public viewing
Impact management: Part of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC); Perform Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of all materials down to the packaging to determine their impact; Have more goals to improve their sustainable material content and reduce energy consumption and waste generation; Encourage supply chain partners to reduce their water usage
Other: Partner with the Surfrider Foundation to clean up the ocean and beaches; Also donate to Brown Girl Surf, Outdoor Industry Association Outdoor Foundation, and Camber Outdoors
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Pair O Dice Shoes
Overall sustainability rating: 4/5
Find them here: Sanuk / REI / Moosejaw
ECCO
Image credit ECCO
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Eco friendly sneakers for walking, running, hiking, and playing golf
Budget: $$-$$$
Eco friendly fabrics: Sustainably tanned nubuck leathers, neoprene, TPU inserts, PHORENE™ midsoles, and ECCO FLUIDFORM™ outsole; Winter outdoor shoes feature 100% recycled Primaloft insulation; GORE-TEX® waterproof membranes in some models
Ethical practices: Strict code of conduct
Impact management: Operate their own leather tanneries that utilize water-saving DriTan™ technology; Set out a list of sustainable development goals in 2020 including things like having an energy neutral Denmark HQ by 2024, be totally energy neutral by 2028, and be zero waste by 2030; Also aim to use only bio-based and recycled materials by 2030; Use solar energy and recycle 73% of the waste from their shoe factories; Will achieve carbon neutrality at the Netherlands site this year with more to follow; Have won various green awards
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: ECCO MX hiking shoe (We personally were given a pair of these shoes to try and they’re SUPER comfortable. While not stable enough for really long hikes or those over strenuous terrain, they’re perfect for walkabouts and lighter day hiking)
Overall sustainability rating: 3/5
Find them here: ECCO
Sustainable Outdoor Socks & Insoles
SMARTWOOL
Image credit Smartwool
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Ethical merino wool hiking socks (in low cut or crew cut); Padded shin ski socks
Budget: $
Eco friendly fabrics: Merino wool blended with nylon and spandex in varying percentages but are slowly replacing this nylon with recycled nylon; Are also shifting all wool to ZQRX regenerative merino wool
Ethical practices: Made in the USA
Impact management: Recycle old and worn out socks via their Second Cut™ Project (just print a return receipt on their website); Have a goal to reach full circularity and climate positivity by 2030; Indestructawool™ technology ensures long-lasting socks; Will eliminate polybags by 2022; Check out their whole sustainability road map
Other: Have a nifty sock finder tool on their site to find the perfect socks for you; Work with Protect Our Winters, The Nature Conservancy, and more; Have donated $2.5 million and volunteered over 20,000 hours via their advocacy program
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: PhD® Pro Outdoor Medium Hiking Crew Socks
Overall sustainability rating: 4/5
Find them here: Smartwool / Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
FARM TO FEET
“Celebrating the American manufacturing tradition, Farm to Feet creates the world’s best socks for everyone to follow their own trail.”
Image credit Farm to Feet
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Ethical wool socks for hiking, skiing, running, and more
Budget: $
Eco friendly fabrics: American Merino wool blended with varying percentages of polyester, nylon, or Lycra to help socks stay in place and give some stretch;
Ethical practices: Use an “all-American recipe”: US materials, US manufacturing, and US workers; Source wool from ethical suppliers part of the American Wool Council;
Impact management: bluesign® system partner; Most supply chain steps happen between North and South Carolina for minimal transport; Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper packaging and are phasing out all polybags; Implemented the Brand & Retail Module of the Higg Index to understand their impact; Recycle manufacturing textile waste and returned socks (as part of their lifetime warranty) with Martex Fiber
Other: Partners with the Conservation Alliance, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Pacific Crest Trail Association, and Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Our eco outdoor shoe pick: Damascus 3/4 Crew Sock
Overall sustainability rating: 4/5
Find them here: Farm to Feet / Backcountry / REI
TREAD & BUTTER
Image credit Tread & Butter
Sustainable outdoor shoe range: Cork insoles (naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial) for running, hiking, skiing and cycling
Budget: $$
Eco friendly fabrics: Natural cork instead of petroleum-based plastic or EVA foam; Poron Vive® Cushioning; XSTATIC® silver ion treatment that kills bacteria and odors (bluesign® approved)
Ethical practices: Designed in Bend, OR, and handmade in Portugal (where all the cork is sourced as well)
Impact management: Climate Neutral Certified; Cork oaks are a highly carbon consumptive tree so the cork forests in Portugal (where most of the world’s cork is grown) offset 10 million tons of CO2 annually; Portuguese factory is partially powered by renewable biomass energy from cork dust; Packaged in an organic cloth bag; All packaging is efficient, light, and reusable
Other: Come in full-size runs for women and men (“no silly unisex sizing”);
Our eco outdoor footwear pick: Suntoucher low arch cork insole (for those of us with incredibly flat feet!)
Overall sustainability rating: 5/5
Find them here: Tread & Butter
**This post contains affiliate links to support the continued creation of these van life guides. This just means that if you purchase one of these eco rock climbing ropes from one of the links above, I get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Read more here or reach out with more questions.