Finding leather and synthetic climbing shoes is very easy, but finding purely vegan climbing shoes can be difficult. Although not many, there are quite a few great options available for environment-conscious climbers. 

Importance of Using Vegan Climbing Shoes

Most of the rock climbing shoe brands make their shoes from suede and leather. There are also other ingredients like glue or dye that are obtained from animals. The manufacturing processes used in the making of these shoes are harmful to the environment. 

Due to the reasons mentioned above, a lot of people are turning towards eco-friendly, vegan options in climbing shoes.

Best Vegan Climbing Shoes

Here are some excellent vegan climbing shoes for you to consider.

Evolv Oracle

Oracle is an aggressive-profile lace-up shoe that works well on several terrains. It is made from a vegan-friendly synthetic upper. It has a downturned asymmetric profile. 

It is one of the best beginner vegan climbing shoes. It performs reasonably well all-around while having an affordable price tag. It has some innovative features, too, including the “knuckle box.” It is basically a space for your big toe to rest when your feet are in a downturned position. It adds a lot to the comfort of the shoe. 

It is ideal for bouldering, steep, or sports climbing. For wide-footed climbers, we recommend this vegan-friendly premium climbing shoe. It has received great reviews from a large number of climbers. That’s why we highly recommend it. 

SCARPA Furia Air

SCARPA Furia Air is one of the stickiest climbing shoes ever made. It features the Stealth Mi6 rubber compound, which makes it very sticky. It has no midsole and is excellent for edging in overhanging terrain.

This shoe is also made from vegan-friendly materials, which makes it a popular choice among vegan climbers. It is also a very soft and sensitive shoe. Its softness makes it very comfortable to wear during all-day use. It has a tremendous amount of grip on any kind of surface.

In summary, it is a comfortable and durable shoe with sole stickiness as its main highlight. It is worth considering for both sport climbing and bouldering. 

La Sportiva Oxygym

La Sportiva is one of the best-selling and most popular brands of climbing shoes. Their offering, Oyxgym, is specially designed for indoor climbing, as evident from the name as well as for running. It is very efficient and durable for extended climbing sessions. It is made from a breathable and washable fabric. They are the only washable climbing shoes available on the market. 

It has Airtex silver lining, which helps to reduce the odor. It has a great hook and loop closure system, which allows precise fitting. It is also made from vegan-friendly materials. That is the reason it is prevalent among climbers who are looking for eco-friendly options. According to the opinion of our experts, this shoe also ranks among the best vegan running shoes.

Women’s Oxygym is also available with minimal differences. We highly recommend this shoe for beginners who are starting out with gym climbing. 

Black Diamond Momentum

Momentum is a budget-friendly offering for budding climbers. It is one of the most breathable climbing shoes available. These are, however, moderately comfortable due to the knitted upper. The upper is very durable, though. 

It is also a completely vegan shoe. That is why we recommend it for beginner vegan climbers. Momentum also has a neutral profile. It is a great option for moderate-intensity climbing. These are the best vegan momentum climbing shoes.  

In summary, BD momentum is a value-for-money, entry-level climbing shoe with good overall performance and is among the best momentum vegan climbing shoes. 

FAQs:

Q: Are La Sportiva shoes vegan?

A: Almost all of the LA Sportiva shoes are made from leather or leather-derived materials, so they are not vegan friendly. However, some vegan friendly options are available, such as the Oxygym

Q: Are Scarpa climbing shoes vegan?

A: They do have a few great vegan options, such as the Furia Air, which is dubbed as the lightest climbing shoe ever made.

Q: Are climbing shoes bad for the environment?

A: The shoe manufacturing industry adds a lot of pollution to the environment. CO2 emissions, harmful gasses, and chemical wastes harm the environment. The majority of the climbing shoes are made from leather which comes from animals.

Conclusion:

Vegan shoes are a great place to start for the environment-conscious climbers. There are some impressive vegan climbing shoe options available from a variety of brands; you can pick any from the recommendations given above. However, it would help if you also took better care of your shoes to make them last longer and hence, reduce the impact on the environment. Happy climbing!