8 Best Eco-Friendly Running Shoes To Crush Your Next Workout

Allbirds started with the mission of creating shoes that are made out of natural materials. They use materials like ZQ Merino Wool, FSC Certified TENCEL tree fiber, sugarcane, and eucalyptus tree fibers, and more to craft each shoe. If you’re looking for a pair of shoes to comfortably walk in or to go for a jog, try out the Women’s Tree Runners. It’s made with organic eucalyptus tree fibers which make the shoe breathable, feel light and breezy, and conforms to your movements. It’s also machine washable. If you’d like more warmth for the wintertime, go for the Wool Runners which keeps your feet cozy while going on your walk or jog. Allbirds is a great sustainable sneaker for a casual look or for light exercise. Here’s an in-depth article about everything you need to know about these Allbird shoes.

Hoka One One is a sustainable athletic shoe brand that is very well known for its extremely comfortable eco-friendly running shoes. Some key features of the HOKA Clifton 7 are its unique meta-rocker that provides a smooth transition from heel-toe movements, has full-compression EVA which gives the shoe softness and flexibility, and the placement of mesh makes it very breathable. Hoka One One is a part of the United National Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. More specifically, the brand is very conscious about reducing waste, water consumption, and energy usage as well as using sustainably sourced materials, advocating for human rights, and promoting diversity.

If you’re a casual biker, a regular shoe like the Allbirds Tree Runners would work just fine. But if you’re a bit more serious about biking, getting a pair of cycling shoes is a must. Good cycling shoes will have a stiff but walkable sole that can grip onto the pedals. Our favorite is the Pearl iZUMi Quest Road Cycling Shoe. Its key features include 3-bolt cleat compatibility and their signature 1:1 Composite Power Plate which provides durability and has an EVA midsole. Although this shoe itself isn’t made from sustainable materials, the brand has pledged to use at least 90% sustainable content in everything they produce by 2022. What an amazing goal. By supporting them, they will be able to eventually turn more items including this shoe into a sustainable product.

Hiking shoes are absolutely necessary if you plan to walk long distances. The way the shoes are designed will help prevent injury. Our top pick will have to be the Merrel Moab 2 Ventilator hiking shoe. This best-selling shoe has its signature Vibram sole as well as an EVA midsole for added comfort and stability. The shoe also has a 5mm lug depth which is deep enough to help your feet move easily through dirt which gives you good traction. Additionally, Merrel is one of the few hiking shoe brands that focus so much on sustainability. Their shoes are made from recycled materials including recycled polyester and recycled rubber. They also encourage consumers to buy less and use longer which is a huge indicator that they are incredibly mindful about their impact on the environment.

Weightlifting shoes are crucial to invest in if you want to prevent injury and lift effectively. The elevated heel helps maintain proper posture as you lift. Also, the solid base is built to catch weight and provide you with a stable surface. Our top pick is the Inov-8 Fastlift 335 shoe. Some key features include an elevated heel with their POWER-TRUSS technology to give you lateral stability, uses Meta-Flex technology in the forefront for flexibility, and has a velcro strap over the shoe to add a second layer of mid-foot hold. This shoe is vegan and the brand has invested a lot of research into extending the life of their products so consumers can buy less and produce less waste in the environment. They have also significantly reduced their carbon footprint, are using renewable energy, and are donating to environmental charities.

It’s a good idea to have a pair of shoes designated for cross-training because the build of these types of shoes is different than most others. Effective cross-training shoes should have a flatter sole which makes them more flexible. Our top choice is the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite II shoe because it is incredibly lightweight which makes it easier to do cross-training. Also, it has an EVA insole which provides maximum cushion. Furthermore, VivoBareFoot sources its materials responsibly. The brand uses recycled PET (water bottles) and recycled rubber to eliminate the use of virgin materials. They also source materials locally to reduce their carbon footprint.

When it comes to tennis shoes, K-Swiss’s shoes are among the first to be thought of. Started by two avid tennis players, they used functional design concepts from ski boots to create the line of tennis shoes they have now. Among all their tennis shoes, the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express is the best at providing traction to support all movements, has a plush sock liner for maximum comfort, and has a beautiful clean design. Although this particular shoe isn’t made with sustainable materials, the brand has a goal of making half their products made from recycled materials by 2021. Their tennis shoes are ethically made by ensuring that their factories have workers that are working in safe conditions and are paid a fair wage. By supporting them, they will be able to make more of their tennis products from sustainable materials.

Finally, an Adidas shoe that is sustainable! Adidas is one mainstream athletic brand that is making huge strides towards practicing sustainability. In fact, they’ve pledged to replace all virgin polyester with recycled polyester by 2024. The CodeChaos Primeblue Golf Shoe uses Parley Ocean Plastic, a material that is made from recycled waste collected from beaches or coastal communities before it reaches the ocean. What makes this shoe not only sustainable but an effective golf shoe is it has a spikeless outsole which allows you to maintain a very stable grip on any surface. Additionally, its lightweight fitfoam cushioning makes this shoe extremely comfortable to wear. Also, the shoe’s full-length Boost midsole is able to absorb and return the athlete’s kinetic output, giving you more energy return.