Updated: January 2024
Vans is the most purchased shoe in the past decade and one of the most respected brands in the American skateboarding scene. Recent ‘Squid Game’ boosted the success even more.
In a culture full of independent thinkers, it is no surprise that many skaters have come to embrace the vegan lifestyle. With more vegan skaters, can Vans fill the demand for vegan shoes?
Are Vans Shoes Vegan?
Some of Vans’ shoes are vegan but not all of them. Vans offers many vegan-friendly shoes made with cotton canvas and rubber. But some of their shoes still use suede and leather from animals.
When looking for Vans vegan shoes, be careful with pig suede uppers and leather linings, as the company still seems to love them. Luckily, you can choose a canvas option for many of Vans’ bestselling styles such as the Slip-On.
Vans is also using vegan glue made of plant resin. So once you find a shoe made from vegan materials, you can trust that the materials are bonded in a cruelty-free way. As opposed to pig bone glue.
It is also great to know that Vans uses sustainable cotton in its vegan shoes. Since 2014 Vans has been part of the Better Cotton Initiative that works to reduce the environmental impact of cotton production and improve economic development in cotton-producing areas.
Which Vans Shoes are Vegan?
From Vans, you will find terrific options for vegan sneakers. The brand has veganized all of its main styles such as the Classic Authentic, Old Skool, and Slip-On. There is even a vegan option for the top-selling Sk8-Hi shoe.
Full List Of Vans’ Vegan Shoes:
- Classic Authentic (canvas only) – bestseller
- Classic Era (canvas only) – bestseller
- Classic Slip-On (canvas only) – bestseller
- Custom Slip-On, Authentic, and Era (Custom Old Skool is NOT vegan)
- Canvas Old Skool (Black only)
- Canvas Sk8-Hi (True White only)
- UltraRange Gore
- UltraRange Rapidweld
- UltraRange EXO
While Vans has a lot of cruelty-free casual shoes, its pro-skate line is still lacking vegan options – here’s to hoping this will change soon.
Top Vans Vegan Shoes 2024
Here are our top picks for Vans vegan shoes for men and women in the USA.
Vans Classic Authentic – bestseller!
Classic Authentic is the original Vans skate shoe featuring a canvas upper, metal eyelets, and signature rubber waffle outsoles.
Vegan-friendly styles include black, white, red, navy, and golden haze.
Vans Classic Era – bestseller!
The Era is another great low-top skate shoe made with a double-stitched canvas upper, padded tongue, and lining.
Classic Era vegan styles include black, white, and navy.
Vans Classic Slip-On – bestseller!
Great news for Squid Came fans, the Classic version of the Slip-On show is vegan-friendly.
Vans’ iconic Slip-On features a cotton canvas upper with elastic side accents, and the original rubble waffle outsole.
Vegan canvas styles include black, white, gray, navy, charcoal, blushing, birch, and golden haze.
Vans Canvas Sk8-Hi
The legendary Vans Sk8-Hi high top sneaker has now a vegan-friendly canvas version in beautiful, crisp white. Great shoe offering unrivaled support and flexibility!
Vegan version includes ‘True White’ only.
Vans UltraRange Gore
Love this ultra-airy UltraRange Gore shoe made with textile, neoprene, and gore strap uppers. The sock-fit bootie construction provides elevated fit and supreme comfort. 100% vegan-friendly.
Available in black.
Vans UltraRange Rapidweld
UltraRange Rapidweld is the perfect surfers’ shoe. Featuring breathable textile and synthetic suede uppers, this shoe uses water-based inks and glues for maximum durability.
Colour options include mauve, black, and black&white.
Vans UltraRange EXO
The latest member of the UltraRange family is this gorgeous EXO. A breathable Old Skool-inspired vegan shoe made with sturdy textile and synthetic uppers. A great, cruelty-free design.
In addition to this feisty mustard color, the shoe comes in red, black, blue, and pink.
FAQ About Vans
No. Vans still often uses real leather and suede. Always double-check the materials to make sure your Vans shoes have a vegan upper and synthetic linings.
Yes! These days vegan glue is considered superior to animal-based ones. Most big brands like Vans prefer to use synthetic glues.
Vans still relies heavily on animal suede in its shoes. Still, the company has made vegan versions available for most of its bestselling styles.
Old Skool is traditionally not vegan and uses suede. But there is a vegan-friendly canvas option available in black.
Sk8-Hi has currently one vegan option: Canvas Sk8-Hi in True White colorway.
Vans CLASSIC Slip-On is vegan. It uses a canvas upper and plant-based glue. Be careful with other Slip-On styles, some of them use leather and pig suede.
Summary
Vans has great vegan options for its top-selling shoes. We only hope the brand will add more pro-skate vegan shoes soon as more skaters embrace the cruelty-free lifestyle. We will keep you updated with the latest developments!