14 Best Shoes like Vans: Eco Alternatives to Vans [2024]

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Are you looking for shoes like Vans? We’ve rounded up the best sustainable Vans alternatives from sustainable brands focusing on using eco-friendly materials and ethical production.

Vans shoes have dominated the casual footwear market since the brand entered the scene in 1966. Thanks to their classic skate shoe style, the brand’s popularity grew popular among skaters and BMX riders across California.

Fast forward forty years, and the Vans shoe is still a classic staple in both the skating community and fashion world and today is owned by one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the world VF Corp.

As we look toward a more sustainable future, however, it’s important we support footwear brands using more sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing.

We’ve compiled the best sustainable footwear brands creating high-quality and sustainable shoes that look like Vans.

Shoes Like Vans
Featured brands: Top: Etiko, Middle: Cariuma, Bottom: Cariuma

1. Cariuma

Cariuma Shoes like Vans

Sustainability: Certified B Corporation using sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing. Every pair = two trees planted.

Best for: Skate shoes like Vans, slip on styles

Ships to: Worldwide

Cariuma is the ultimate sustainable Vans alternative. The Brazilian footwear brand focuses on creating its shoes as eco-friendly as possible using sustainable materials, including responsibly sourced leather, suede, and natural fabrics, including organic cotton and bamboo.

The result is a high-performance sneaker that can keep up with everyday wear and the demands of a skateboarding shoe, thanks to its cushioning soles and robust design. In addition, the brand has styles to rival Vans Old Skool, Vans authentic, and Vans slip on styles.

Read our full guide to Cariuma’s sustainability here.

Cariuma Shoes like Vans
Cariuma ProsCariuma Cons
✔ Sustainable brand using high quality materials❌ Not a vegan brand
✔ Great choice of styles and colors❌ Some reviews say they can take a while to break in

2. Allbirds Lounger Slip Ons

Allbirds Tree Loungers slip on shoes like Toms

Sustainability: Sustainable and natural materials, including eucalyptus tree fibers, carbon-negative EVA sole, and recycled plastic laces. Certified B Corp.

Best for: Shoes like Vans slip on

Ships to: Worldwide

Allbirds are one of the most popular sustainable shoe brands right now, thanks to their ultra-comfortable sustainable sneakers.

The brand is a certified B Corp, meaning they meet high ethical and environmental production standards.

We love the Allbirds slip on style as an alternative to the Vans style, as it’s made with natural fibers and features a durable EVA sole made from sugarcane.

However, one drawback of Allbirds is that they don’t offer any vegan styles.

Allbirds slip on style
Allbirds Loungers ProsAllbirds Loungers Cons
✔ Super comfortable and can wear without socks❌ Not a vegan friendly
✔ Sleek and minimalist style❌ Shoes run small & no half sizes available

3. Etiko

Etiko vans alternatives

Sustainability: Vegan sneakers with sustainable materials and ethical production

Best for: Sustainable shoes that look like Converse Chuck Taylor and Vans Old Skool

Ships to: Worldwide

Etiko is perfect if you’re looking for shoes like Vans but with a more sustainable edge.

Etiko is an Australian brand creating shoes that do good for people and the planet. The brand only uses sustainable materials, including hemp and a natural rubber sole, making its shoes in audited ethical factories.

We love the slip on and skate-style shoes which look like Vans but aren’t; they’re much more eco-friendly.

Etiko shoes like Vans
Etiko ProsEtiko Cons
✔ Get great reviews❌ Ships from Australia (long distance shipping = more carbon emissions)
✔ Vegan friendly brand

4. SeaVees

SeaVees shoes like Vans

Sustainability: 1% for the Planet company using natural rubber and recycled materials to craft its footwear

Best for: Slip-on shoes like Vans, high-top shoes similar to vans, flat-sole shoes

Ships to: Worldwide

If you’ve never heard of SeaVees, you need to check this brand out, as they do the perfect Vans dupes but with their own classic twist.

The brand also has a seriously cool story. It was founded in 1964 but closed for over 40 years before being rediscovered in a thrift shop in 2008. Fast forward to today, and SeaVees are making a name for themselves by creating cool sneakers made from a range of natural and sustainable materials.

Plus, the brand gives back to the environment, donating 1% of all profits, and supporting non-profit organizations that help restore our oceans – Now that’s a shoe brand we can get behind!

SeaVees shoes like Vans slip on
SeaVees ProsSeaVees Cons
✔ Affordable (most styles less than $80)❌ Only ships to the US & Canada
✔ Brand supports environmental organizations

4. Ethletic

Ethletic shoes like vans

Sustainability: Fair Trade, PETA-certified vegan sneakers

Best for: Vegan shoes like Vans

Ships to: Worldwide

Ethletic is a stand-out sustainable sneaker brand creating award-winning styles ethically and sustainably. The brand uses eco-friendly and fair-trade materials like organic cotton to create its best-selling shoes.

The brand has styles similar to the Vans authentic and Vans slip-on models in its Fair Skater, Kole, and Hiro styles. In addition, Ethletic also has a range of cool patterns and colors in its collection.

The brand has a fully traceable supply chain so you know exactly where your shoes are made!

Ethletic shoes
Ethletic ProsEthletic Cons
✔ Fair Trade, ethically made, and using sustainable materials!❌ Sizes can run a little big
✔ Comfortable long lasting shoes
✔ Great selection of styles like Vans

5. Rothy’s Slip On Sneaker

Rothy's shoes like Vans

Sustainability: Minimalist shoes made from recycled plastic bottles

Best for: Slip-on and minimalist sneakers

Ships to: Worldwide

If you’re looking for shoes like Vans made from recycled plastic, look no further than Rothy’s, an American shoe brand turning recycled plastic bottles into sustainable shoes.

Like Vans, Rothy’s features a minimal drop sole and a slip-on style. Rothy’s shoes are completely machine washable, making them easy to care for and maintain.

Unfortunately, Rothy’s doesn’t have the same slip-on sneaker styles available in its men’s collection and currently only offers one slip-on style for men.

Rothy's slip on sneaker
Rothy’s ProsRothy’s Cons
✔ Brand using recycled materials❌ Not as much choice in styles as other brand on the list
✔ Sleek design❌ Pricier than other brands

6. Vessi Weekend Sneaker

Vessi alternative to Vans

Sustainability: 100% vegan footwear, made using reduced water and energy usage.

Best for: Waterproof shoes

Ships to: Worldwide

On the hunt for waterproof shoes like Vans, check out Vessi, the Canadian shoe brand standing out from the crowd by creating 100% waterproof knitted sneakers made from 100% vegan materials.

The Weekend Sneaker style is an excellent Vans alternative, as it features a thick flat style sole, similar to Vans. In addition, each of Vessi’s shoes is vegan, waterproof, and machine washable. Plus, the brand has recently released a knitted slip on style.

However, one drawback is the lack of color choice, with the Weekend style only available in five colors.

Vessi waterproof shoes
Vessi ProsVessi Cons
✔ Brand using recycled materials❌ The brand isn’t as transparent about it’s supply chain
✔ Completely waterproof❌ Pricier than other brands

7. Suavs Zilker

SUAVS sneakers

Sustainability: Shoes made from recycled plastic bottles

Best for: Minimalist shoe with minimal drop sole

Ships to: the US & International

SUAVS Zilker shoe is a great alternative to Vans. The model features a minimalist sole with 3-5 mm heel to toe drop and is available in either white or gum sole styles.

SUAVS creates its uppers from 100% post-consumer recycled threads and has diverted almost one hundred thousand plastic bottles away from landfills and into its signature shoes.

SUAVS also makes a slip on shoe that looks like Vans slip on, the Barton; however, the shoe has a limited color choice and is currently only available in black.

Check out our SUAVS vs Allbirds comparison, here.

Suavs sustainable slip on shoes
SUAVS ProsSUAVS Cons
✔ Brand using recycled materials❌ Limited style and color choice compared to some other brands
✔ Lightweight and perfect for travelling

8. Tropicfeel

Tropicfeel shoes like Vans

Sustainability: Certified B Corp, creating travel shoes from recycled materials

Best for: Travel shoes

Ships to: Worldwide

Meet the most funded sneaker ever on Kickstarter, Tropicfeel.

Tropicfeel is a wildcard for the list of shoes like Vans. The brand doesn’t have any styles that match the skate shoe look of Vans. However, they are still a fantastic alternative to Vans.

Tropicfeel shoes are travel-friendly, easily packable, and ultra-comfortable for all-day wear. Plus, the brand uses sustainable materials and ethical production to create its sneakers.

Tropicfeel ProsTropicfeel Cons
✔ Perfect for travelling❌ Not totally waterproof
✔ Lightweight

9. 8000kicks

8000kicks hemp shoes

Sustainability: 100% waterproof sneakers made from hemp

Best for: Waterproof shoes that look like Vans

Ships to: Worldwide

Shoes made from hemp? Yep, you read that correctly.

8000kicks is the revolutionary shoe brand creating waterproof sneakers from the breathable, renewable material hemp.

The brand is launching its new release sneaker, the Seeker, which is perfect if you’re looking for sustainable shoes that look like Vans.

The Seeker features a flat minimalist sole and skate shoe style. Plus, it’s completely vegan and made with no animal materials.

8000kicks waterproof shoes
8000kicks Pros8000kicks Cons
✔ Completely waterproof❌ Limited choice of styles
✔ Made from hemp

10. Allbirds Tree Pipers

Allbirds tree pipers shoes like vans

Sustainability: Sustainable and natural materials, including eucalyptus tree fibers, carbon-negative EVA sole, and recycled plastic laces. Certified B Corp.

Best for: Lace-up minimalist shoe style

Ships to: Worldwide

We’ve included Allbirds on this list with the Allbirds loungers, but we think Allbirds Tree Pipers are also a great option when looking for shoes like Vans.

The Tree piper model is lightweight, features a minimal flat sole, and is available in various colors.

As mentioned previously, Allbirds use sustainable materials and ethical production to create its shoes, making them a great sustainable alternative to Vans.

We’ve tested the shoes personally; you can read our thoughts here.

Allbirds Tree Pipers Review
Allbirds Tree Pipers ProsAllbirds Tree Pipers Cons
✔ Super comfortable and breathable❌ Not waterproof
✔ Sustainable materials❌ Not suitable for Vegans

11. Thousand Fell

Thousand Fell Shoes that look like Vans

Sustainability: Recycled shoes made from recycled materials and plastic bottles

Best for: Stan Smith style shoes, and shoes like Vans Old Skool

Ships to: The US

Thousand Fell is smashing the sustainable shoe market with its minimalist shoes, which rival Vans and Stan Smith styles.

Thousand Fells’s minimalist design features a flat skate-style sole with a 21mm outsole height. The footwear brand creates its shoes from recycled materials, including recycled plastic bottles and natural rubber soles. Plus, Thousand Fell’s shoes are entirely vegan and cruelty-free.

Thousand Fell ProsThousand Fell Cons
✔ Vegan brand❌ Can scuff easily
✔ Completely recyclable shoes❌ No canvas options available

12. Sperry

Sperry shoes like Vans Authentic

Sustainability: SeaCycled™ range includes shoes made from recycled plastic and five recycled plastic bottles per shoe.

Best for: Shoes like Vans authentic

Ships to: the US & International

Sperry’s SeaCycled™ range includes some great shoes that look like Vans Authentic skate shoes.

Made with recycled ocean and land plastics, up to five plastic bottles are used to create each pair of SeaCycled™ shoes.

Unfortunately, a drawback is that Sperry only currently produces this style in its men’s range.

Sperry shoes that look like Vans authentic
Sperry ProsThousand Fell Cons
✔ Canvas can be easily cleaned❌ Limited styles like Vans
✔ Recycled materials

13. Bohempia

Bohempia shoes like Vans

Sustainability: Hemp shoes ethically made in the EU, PETA-Approved Vegan certified

Best for: Shoes like Vans slip-on

Ships to: the EU & International

If you’re looking for an ethical skate shoe like Vans, check out Bohempia, a cool European brand creating hemp skate shoes.

Hemp is a fantastic alternative to cotton as hemp requires less water and can be grown without pesticides – it makes sense to us!

Bohempia creates classic slip on styles with a flatbed sole, barefoot minimalist styles, lace-up high-tops, and low styles like the Vans Authentic style.

Bohempia hemp shoes like vans
Bohempia ProsBohempia Cons
✔ Barefoot Vans alternatives❌ Only available in Europe & UK
✔ Flexible sole

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our recommendations for the best sustainable shoes like Vans.

If you want to check out other sustainable brands, make sure you read our guide on the best sustainable sneakers, knit shoes, and sustainable backpacks.

Enjoyed this Shoes like Vans article? Check out our Toms alternatives, and shoes like Converse!

Bethany
Bethany

Bethany Worthington BSc (Hons) (she/her) is the Sustainable Fashion Editor and Co-founder of Ecothes. She has a passion for the environment, and a long love of all things clothing, and combines those two interests with Ecothes. In her free time she loves dancing, hiking in the countryside, and laughing with friends.

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