Traversing mother nature’s backyard is fun, but doing so in sustainable hiking boots takes hitting the best nature walks and trails to a hike-er level.
Americans throw away over 300 million pairs of shoes each year—95% of which end up in landfills, creating a mountain even the most avid of hikers would avoid. If we don’t stop the continued ascent of fast fashion, it’s all downhill for the planet—and unlike the hike out, that’s a bad thing.
That’s why we’ve taken the time to research and test some of the most eco-friendly hiking boots and shoes that are made by brands who not only prioritize responsible materials but also green business practices and transparency.
We’re soon to launch a new Brand Rating System that we’ll use to update this list in the coming months, the system covers a lot more mileage in terms of assessing brands against a range of eco-considerations, like climate impact, chemical use and ethical labor. You can learn more about that here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Gain Serious Eco Elevation With These Ethical Hiking Boots
We can’t wait to bug out in Icebug’s environmentally friendly hiking boots that go above and beyond with sustainable materials, ethical production practices, and replacement services.
Merrell’s hiking shoes rule the trail with recycled materials and performance-led design. We can personally recommend two models that we’ve tested and love for their comfort and support.
Index: Sustainable & Ethical Hiking Boots And Shoes
- Baabuk Jump to brand
- Merrell Jump to brand
- Vivobarefoot Jump to brand
- Thesus Jump to brand
- Icebug Jump to brand
Baabuk
About Baabuk
Price Range: $159
Baabuk has only one option specifically for hikers—the Ice Wooler—its ankle supportive design and sleek, unassuming look makes it a versatile choice for sidewalks and steep slopes alike.
Its wool body is not only naturally antimicrobial, but it’s also machine washable. No more plugging your nose when pulling out your boots for your next backpacking trip!
Baabuk’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
As with Baabuk’s all-wool sustainable slippers, the Ice Wooler features mostly Portuguese mulesing-free wool that’s ethically sourced from well-treated sheep. You’ll find it in the upper, lining, and insole. It’s paired with a rubber sole, cotton laces, and genuine top-grain Nubuck cuff wrap for extra ankle support.
As for chemicals, it’s dyed with REACH-certified non-toxic dyes and given water resistance with an environmentally friendly AQUAGUARD treatment.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The Certified B Corp works with partners in Portugal (where these boots are made) and Nepal due to their “long standing history with wool production”. They have a fully traceable supply chain, ensuring safe working conditions, zero child labor, and 25% above the national average wage.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Baabuk’s ethical hiking shoes are hand-crafted or made with machines over 100 years old. The tradition, knowledge, and skills associated with wool is key to providing local jobs and keeping traceability at the forefront.
In addition to machine washability, a repair kit for $5 to prolong their life. If you’d like to return a product, they encourage gifting it to someone instead and getting 50% off your next order. This “U-Turn” incentive reduces shipping emissions.
Merrell
About Merrell
Price Range: $85–$120
The long-standing footwear manufacturer, Merrell is now in the business of creating more recycled material hiking shoes with varying degrees of ankle support, water resistance, traction features, and widths.
The Trail Glove is their version of an ultra-minimalist hiking shoe made from 100% recycled synthetic materials.
Merrell’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Many of Merrell’s hiking shoes are made from recycled and durable materials, used in the lining, laces, upper, footbed cover, and outsoles. Some styles like this include the Moab Speed, whose recycled synthetic uppers and body and Vibram® recycled rubber soles will help you stick to slick rocks without wasted rubber sticking to landfills.
They’re attempting to replace synthetic foams with better options, like BLOOM™ algae biomass foam or partially recycled EVA foam. Merrell also has a new, limited run (for now) Scrap collection made entirely of production fabric scraps.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Merrell is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and owned by Wolverine Worldwide, and thus their supply chain adheres to its Code of Conduct. Merrell claims their global partners adhere to ethical practices, though we don’t know of any related manufacturing certifications or locations. We’ve reached out and asked, but have yet to hear back.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Merrell has six goals to achieve by 2025, including producing all products from 100% recycled, organic, or renewable materials. Their other goals include reducing shoe apparel samples by 50%, minimizing plastic packaging, reducing water waste, completing 10,000 volunteer hours, and saving 300,000 shoes from ending up in landfills.
My Personal Review of Merrell’s Trail Glove 7 & Speed Eco:
“The Trail Glove is their version of an ultra-minimalist sustainable hiking shoe made from 100% recycled synthetic materials. Despite how slim and light it is, I find it gives just the right amount of support while letting you feel the ground under your feet with the mega-grippy Vibram sole. It’s not my first choice for a multi-day hike where I might need some more support, but it’s perfect for day adventures.
I also checked out the Speed Eco with its removable contoured footbed, foam midsole, grippy outsole, and tough toe cap, it’s perfect for anyone who wants a more traditional supportive shoe. Plus, the way it helps you roll from heel to toe is a game-changer when you’re pushing through those last few miles back to the trailhead.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Vivobarefoot
About Vivobarefoot
Price Range: $180–$280
Though the minimalist, barefoot design of their trail shoes might look skimpy, Vivobarefoot sure doesn’t skimp on any of their guiding principles.
The London-based company is dedicated to creating high-quality footwear with research-based evidence to ensure comfort, mobility, and performance. Watch their documentary Shoespiracy for why you should consider switching to barefoot shoes—and rest assured knowing there’s a 100-day return period if you decide you don’t like them.
The animal-free Primus Trail II is one of their most popular shoes, made from post-consumer plastic waste and insoles made from algae.
Vivobarefoot’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Vivobarefoot uses recycled plastic, bio-based, and natural materials like Australian Woolmark-certified merino wool and hemp. Some styles are leather-free, but others use Wild Hide ethical leather from their two partners in Pittars in Ethiopia and Thailand—each adhering to strict European environmental practice standards.
They also use small percentages of BLOOM algae-based foam blended with EVA, foam, but are working to increase the percentage of this bio-based foam.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Vivobarefoot is a Certified B Corp and uses the Happiness Index—an external, anonymous feedback platform to measure employee engagement and well-being. They publish distribution, suppliers, and manufacturing partners. Many of their partners are in China, Vietnam, Portugal, and other parts of Europe.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Vivobarefoot is dedicated to transforming its environmental impact through its Unfinished Business annual reports—which involve offsetting emissions, reducing water and manufacturing waste, the brand’s ‘fantastic failures’, and more. They’re working with their tanning partners to eliminate the requirement of chemical additives and achieve a 100% natural tanning process.
Inclusivity:
Vivo offers a foot assessment tool to help customers find the best eco hiking boots or shoes for them, whether they need a wider or smaller size.
Thesus
About Thesus
Price Range: $138–$220
For functional and fashionable hiking boots women can rely on in any situation, we have a hypothesis this brand will impress you as much as it has us. Toronto-based brand, Thesus (formerly Alice & Whittles) wears its values on its soles, producing ethical hiking boots.
The Weekend Boot features a seam-sealed water-resistant upper, anti-slip rubber lug sole, and temperature control lining. The Scarlet colorway is our favorite, allowing you to hit the park, trails, or brunch in sustainable style.
Thesus’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Their vegan hiking boots and clogs are made from 95% natural and recycled materials, like recycled PET plastic bottles, recycled ocean plastic, and repurposed natural rubber. Their flagship Weekend Boots are 100% vegan and water-resistant, not waterproof.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Thesus’ sustainable women’s hiking boots are handmade in a family-run factory in Portugal, where all staff are paid a living wage.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Thesus is aligned with the UN’s SDGs to ensure they are at the forefront of essential causes like ocean pollution, climate change, and economic inequalities. They aim to be a Climate Neutral Certified company by implementing strategies to reduce their carbon emissions.
Icebug
About Icebug
Price Range: $139–$239
Icebug’s hiking boots have various performance-specific features such as traction studs (for winter hiking), waterproof protection, BOA dial laces, and ankle support.
We love their high-top Larvik Hemp Biosole, for example, simply because it features 22% recycled materials and 45% bio-based materials, including hemp, wool, leather, algae, and natural rubber.
Icebug’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
For their sustainable running shoes and hiking shoes alike, they utilize algae biomass BLOOM™ foam insoles and midsoles and 23-62 % natural rubber outsoles.
They utilize recycled polyester in upper textiles, lining, webbing, and laces. Some uppers contain Leather Working Group (LWG) gold-rated leather. The wool padding is made of Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certified wool sourced from New Zealand. Any recycled wool comes from the Swedish clothing company Woolpower.
They choose OEKO-TEX-certified and bluesign®-approved materials whenever possible. That said, Icebug still works with GoreTex fabrics for their waterproof boots, which may use hazardous PFCs during production.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Icebug is a Certified B Corp and member of the Fair Wear Foundation and works with four primary assembly factories located in Vietnam and China. They commit to the Fairwear Code of Labour Practice and conduct regular audits to ensure their partners meet their code of conduct.
Thanks to their Follow the Footprints program, customers can scan the QR code on their product tag for complete information on its manufacturing chain, as well as an impact assessment.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
As a part of Icebug’s yearly reporting of climate impact, they measure all transports, including products to warehouses and customers, alongside business travel. The goal is to cut emissions in half by 2030.
Icebug offers customers responsible service options to extend product lifetime with replacement parts like new laces, studs, zippers, and more, making for a more durable hiking shoe.