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Looking for the perfect lightweight travel shoe but can’t decide between Vessi vs Tropicfeel? We’ve got you covered.
In this article we’ll compare Tropicfeel vs Vessi, to provide all the information for you to decide which travel shoe is right for you.
We’ll cover the pros and cons of Tropicfeel vs Vessi, including what styles both brands offer.
- Tropicfeel vs Vessi
- About Tropicfeel
- About Vessi
- Is Tropicfeel Sustainable?
- Is Vessi Sustainable?
- Key Features of Tropicfeel
- Key Features of Vessi
- Drawbacks of Tropicfeel sneakers
- Drawbacks of Vessi sneakers
- How does Tropicfeel fit?
- How does Vessi fit?
- What Styles do Tropicfeel make?
- What styles do Vessi make?
- Wrapping Up: Tropicfeel vs Vessi
Let’s jump in.
Tropicfeel vs Vessi
| Tropicfeel | Vessi | |
| Brand |  |  |
| What they make | All-terrain travel sneakers | Waterproof sneakers |
| Key Features | •Lightweight •Recycled materials •Machine washable •Slip ons | •Waterproof •Lightweight •Knitted style |
| Drawbacks | •Not all styles suitable in snow and ice | •Feet can get sweaty in hot climates •Lack of color choises |
| Climate Neutral? | ✔ | ❌ |
| Vegan? | ❌ | ✔ |
| Machine Washable? | ✔ | ❌ |
| Waterproof? | ❌ | ✔ |
| Where to buy | Tropicfeel.com | Vessi.com |
About Tropicfeel
Tropicfeel is a Spanish sneaker, and accessory brand focused on creating practical, travel-friendly gear. Founded in 2017, the brand found its inspiration as travel gear wasn’t cutting modern traveler’s needs.
The brand took to Kickstarter to launch its brand and became the most funded shoe ever.
Today Tropicfeel creates a range of versatile travel-friendly gear, from waterproof sneakers to practical backpacks and jackets.
About Vessi
Canadian-based shoe brand Vessi launched in 2018 when three friends who were tired of wet feet in the Vancouver rain joined together to create a breathable and waterproof shoe.
Fast forward four years and the brand has six sneakers, including kids styles.
Vessi’s whole sneaker collection is vegan, as the brand creates its shoes from animal-free materials.
Is Tropicfeel Sustainable?
Tropicfeel is what we would consider a sustainable brand. They are transparent about their materials and where their sneakers are made.
In addition, Tropicfeel uses recycled materials to create its iconic sneakers; this includes recycled nylon, recycled polyester, and recycled EVA for its soles. In 2021, 88% of Tropicfeel’s polyester fabrics were made with recycled polyester, which allowed the brand to reduce CO2 emissions by 14% compared to virgin polyester fabrics.
Tropicfeel is a climate-neutral certified brand, meaning the brand offsets all of the carbon emissions created during the production and shipping of its products.
Is Vessi Sustainable?
Vessi is an entirely vegan brand, and using non-animal materials allows them to reduce carbon emissions.
Vessi states that each pair of sustainable sneakers is made with 30% less water, 600% less energy consumption, and less material trim waste by 97% compared to conventional practices. In addition, Vessi’s packaging is 100% recyclable and plastic-free.
However, Vessi isn’t as transparent about its materials, carbon emissions, or supply chain, which lets the brand down in terms of sustainability.
Key Features of Tropicfeel
The key features of Tropicfeel sneakers are:
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Water-friendly
- Eco-friendly
- Quick-drying
- Good choice of colors and styles
- Machine Washable
Key Features of Vessi
The key features of Vessi sneakers are:
- Waterproof
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Vegan
- Suitable in colder climates
Drawbacks of Tropicfeel sneakers
A couple of reviews pointed out that while Tropicfeel is perfect travel shoes for warmer climates and water-based activities, the majority of it’s shoes aren’t great at keeping feet warm in snow or icy conditions. So if you’re going to travel somewhere cold, they may not be the shoe for you.
On the other hand, Tropicfeel have addressed the issue by releasing a new travel shoe called the Geyser, with recycled wool and a water resistant membrane, making these suitable in colder climates.
If you’re looking for waterproof sneakers, Tropicfeel all-terrain shoes (except the Geyser) aren’t for you, as the rest of the collection of travel sneakers are water-friendly but not waterproof. The mesh on the side of the shoes lets in water, as they are designed to work well in water and dry quickly in warm climates.
We contacted Tropicfeel, who let us know that Tropicfeel sneakers are not 100% vegan because of the glue they use; however, the rest of the materials and the production process are vegan.
Drawbacks of Vessi sneakers
The total opposite of Tropicfeel, some reviewers say that feet can get sweaty in warm climates because of the waterproof nature of Vessi shoes. However, reviews say Vessi shoes do perform well in colder climates.
Vessi, as a brand, isn’t as transparent around carbon emissions or supply chain transparency, which is a drawback for us on the sustainability side.
How does Tropicfeel fit?
Tropicfeel sneakers are lightweight and comfortable, with customers reviewing the brand saying they could wear their sneakers all day.
One point to note, however, is some styles of Tropicfeel sneakers can tend to run small; we recommend checking the sizing chart before buying to make sure you select the correct size.
Overall, the reviews are good, with Tropicfeel’s most popular sneaker, the Canyon, receiving a 4.8 out of 5, with over two thousand reviews.
How does Vessi fit?
The reviews on Vessi’s site say the sneakers fit true to size; however can be on the slightly larger size, so If you’re a half size, Vessi recommends sizing down.
Overall, Vessi gets great reviews with a 4.7 out of 5 with over five thousand reviews.
What Styles do Tropicfeel make?
Since launching the popular Tropicfeel Canyon, the brand has further released another five styles, let’s take a look at them below.
| All-Terrain-Sneaker | Tropicfeel Canyon | Tropicfeel Jungle | Tropicfeel Geyser | Tropicfeel Sunset | Tropicfeel Monsoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style |  |  |  |  |  |
| Material | •80% Recycled polyester Upper •20% Recycled EVA outsole | •80% Recycled polyester Upper •20% Recycled EVA outsole | •Recycled Wool • HD Dry membrane •Recycled EVA outsole | •80% Recycled polyester Upper •20% Recycled EVA outsole | •80% Recycled polyester Upper •20% Recycled EVA outsole |
Water Resistant? | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Machine Washable? | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Where to buy | Shop Tropicfeel Canyon | Shop Tropicfeel Jungle | Shop Tropicfeel Geyser | Shop Tropicfeel Sunset | Shop Tropicfeel Monsoon |
What styles do Vessi make?
| Everyday Waterproof Sneaker | Everyday Waterproof Move | Waterproof Cityscape Sneaker | Waterproof Weekend Sneaker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style |  |  |  |  |
| Material | Vegan, waterproof materials | Vegan, waterproof breathable knit sneakers | Vegan, breathable knit sneakers | Vegan, waterpoof materials |
| Waterproof | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Machine Washable? | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Where To Buy? | Shop Everyday Sneaker | Shop Everyday Move Sneaker | Shop Cityscape Sneaker | Shop Weekend Sneaker |
Wrapping Up: Tropicfeel vs Vessi
There are pros and cons to each brand. However, both Tropicfeel and Vessi are creating lightweight travel shoes suitable for all-day walking around cities or exploring.
If you’re looking for a 100% waterproof sneaker, Vessi would be the better option. However, the new Geyser shoe from Tropicfeel is also an option for a water-resistant shoe.
In terms of sustainability, if you’re looking for a sustainable sneaker, Tropicfeel wins for transparency and sustainability.
If you’re looking for other sustainable shoes like Allbirds, or want to look how Vessi compares to other brands like Allbirds, check out our article here.
If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below!
