Vegan Climbing Shoes: 29 Options for Adults and Kids

Of all the adventure sports out there, climbing is one of the most exhilarating. Whether you’re bouldering in the great outdoors or using an indoor climbing wall, the sport demands endurance. It tests nerves and requires a delicate balance of physical strength and technique.

Vegan climbers have an extra challenge to add to the list; finding well-made and comfortable climbing shoes which aren’t made from suede, leather or other animal derived materials. Fortunately, more options are becoming available each year and many of the best climbing shoe brands are offering vegan-friendly alternatives.

• What are vegan climbing shoes?
• The best vegan climbing shoes in 2019
• Vegan climbing shoes for kids

Summary of vegan climbing shoes

Disclaimer: We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases.

Product	Best for	Closure type	Shoe type
">La Sportiva Oxygym	Indoor climbing	Velcro	Moderate
"> Red Chilli Durango	All-round climbing	Lace-up	Neutral
">So iLL The One	All climbing levels and all-round climbing	Lace-up	Aggressive/moderate
">Evolv Oracle	Advanced climbing	Lace-up	Aggressive
">Evolv Defy	Beginners, all-day climbing, indoor climbing	Velcro	Neutral
">Evolv Elektra	All-round climbing	Velcro	Neutral
">Mad Rock Remora	All-round climbing, beginners, all-day climbing	Slip-on	Moderate
">Ocun Pearl LU	Sport climbing (intermediate/advanced)	Lace-up	Aggressive
">Ocun Strike QC	All-round climbing, long days on the rock	Velcro	Neutral
">Five Ten Anasazi	All-round climbing, edging and crack climbing	Lace-up	Moderate
">Tenaya Tarifa	Technical climbing, vertical climbing	Lace-up	Moderate
">Mad rock Mad Monkey 2.0	All-round beginner climbing	Velcro	Moderate
">Butora Brava	All-round beginner climbing, crag climbing	Velcro	Neutral

What are vegan climbing shoes?

By vegan-friendly we don’t just mean that the main material is made from a synthetic fabric. Vegan climbing shoes should be manufactured without any animal-derived substances. That includes the glues and chemical treatments.

We’ve researched a bunch of climbing shoe brands who create high quality climbing shoes using only vegan-friendly materials. So, if you want to be sure that your new climbing shoes are 100% vegan take a look at our list of the top vegan climbing shoes in 2019.

For more information about the different types of climbing shoes, their features, and what to looking for when choosing climbing shoes, click on the banner below. Note, that the shoes featured in that article are NOT vegan climbing shoes.

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The best vegan climbing shoes in 2019

La Sportiva Oxygym

Best for: Indoor climbing
Closure type: Velcro
Shoe type: Moderate

This is the only vegan climbing shoe in the La Sportiva collection and, as the name suggests, it performs best at indoor climbing gyms although they are also suitable for outdoor climbing. They are constructed with a durable 5mm outer sole and a shock-absorbent EVA heel insert for extra comfort. The grip is not too aggressive and well suited to beginner or intermediate climbing.

The upper fabric is highly breathable and 100% washable. It additionally features an odour-reducing AirTex Silver Liner so you don’t need to worry about smelly shoes after a training session. La Sportiva Oxygym provides a secure fit too. Both the men’s and the women’s version are available in half sizes and come with an adjustable Velcro hook and loop fastening.

The only negative we can find with this set of vegan climbing shoes is that the FriXion rubber sole is less hard wearing than its Vibram competitors, however, the Oxygym climbing shoes can be re-soled.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | REI | Backcountry

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Red Chilli Durango Lace

Best for: All-round climbing
Closure type: Lace-up
Shoe type: Neutral

Red Chilli typically makes their climbing shoes with a leather upper however the Durango Lace is constructed from synthetic fabrics. The result is a super soft shoe which moulds to the foot. The lace up fastening continues almost to the toe providing tons of adjustability. This, coupled with the neutral shape of the shoe, makes it a good fit for most foot shapes and a very comfortable option for entry-level climbers. The shoe is even fitted with a breathable padded tongue which prevents the laces from rubbing but also functions as a sweat absorber.

Find the latest price at:
Red Chilli

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So iLL The One

Best for: All climbing levels and all-round climbing
Closure type: Lace-up
Shoe type: Aggressive/moderate

The One from So iLL is a high-performance climbing shoe which is aimed at all levels of climbers. They are lightweight and constructed with a medium stiffness midsole and an aggressive tension heel. The classic shape makes them suitable for vertical and slab climbing as well as trad and edging. Meanwhile, the dark rubber outer sole offers plenty of traction and the laces allow for a very adjustable fit. The One is among the most comfortable climbing shoes out there. It’s soft inner lining and padded tongue provide extra comfort for climbers but this shoe’s most unique feature is it’s welded ‘NO SEW’ upper.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

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Other So iLL vegan climbing shoes available

At the moment ‘The One’ is the only clearly listed vegan shoe on So iLL’s website however the company has confirmed that all of their synthetic climbing shoes are vegan-friendly.

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  The New Zero

  Best for: Advanced climbing or bouldering
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Aggressive

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  Runner LV

  Best for: Intermediate and advanced climbing or bouldering
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Moderate

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Evolv Oracle

Best for: Advanced climbing
Closure type: Lace-up
Shoe type: Aggressive

The Evolve Oracle is one of the most comfortable high-performance climbing shoes on the market. It’s constructed with a split outer sole which allows for maximum flexibility but your heel is still supported by the high-tension heel. The lace-up design provides a highly adjustable fit and, while most aggressive climbing shoes tend to crush the toes, the Oracle has extra space for your big toe knuckle. This shoe also fills the dead space under your toes with a ‘Love Bump’ for enhanced comfort and edging performance. Evolv has added a heeled midsole which helps with heel hooking but also protects the Calcaneus bone.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | REI | Backcountry

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Evolv Defy

Best for: Beginners, all-day climbing, indoor climbing
Closure type: Velcro
Shoe type: Neutral

The Evolv Defy is an extra comfy climbing shoe for men. It meets the demands of beginner to intermediate climbers and, for a full day on the rocks, the Evolv Defy is our top pick. It’s flat sole and wide toe box, coupled with its moulded VTR outer sole, makes it comfortable to wear for hours.

The split tongue and Velcro fastening allow for maximum support and a flexible fit although you do need to take care when choosing the shoe size. The upper is made from a vegan-friendly Synthratek VX synthetic fabric and an anti-microbial liner which helps prevent bad odours but doesn’t offer too much stretch.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

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Evolv Elektra Women fit

Best for: All-round climbing
Closure type: Velcro
Shoe type: Neutral

The Evolv Elektra is one of the best budget vegan climbing shoes for women. Coming in at under $100 and providing a combination of durability and performance, the Elektra is a comfortable climbing shoe for beginners. The shoe is constructed with a full-length flat outer sole and midsole as well as a split tongue for maximum comfort whilst climbing. Bear in mind that the Synthratek VX synthetic upper does not stretch lengthways and that these shoes have a narrow fit. Women with wider than average feet may prefer the men’s version of these shoes.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon

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Other Evolv vegan climbing shoes

Although the company is not 100% vegan, Evolv offers a wide range of vegan-friendly synthetic shoes, from flip-flops to parkour and climbing shoes. Their vegan climbing shoe range includes neutral, moderate, and aggressive profiles. They even have a model for child climbers.

Eco-conscious: When purchasing from Evolv website the company give you the option to ‘Save a Tree’ and ship the shoes without a box.

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  Evolve Kira

  Best for: All-round climbing
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Moderate

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  Evolve Agro

  Best for: Bouldering
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Aggressive

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  Evolve Venga Kid’s

  Best for: All-round climbing
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Neutral

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Mad Rock Remora

Best for: All-round climbing, beginners, all-day climbing
Closure type: Slip-on
Shoe type: Moderate

The Mad Rock Remora is an all-round vegan climbing shoe with an affordable price tag. Its Syn Flex upper is highly flexible and stretches to match the size of your foot without sacrificing the shape of the shoe. Meanwhile, the slipper closure and wider toe box make it a particularly comfortable fit for climbers with wide feet. Although the Remora is fitted with a soft midsole they still perform well on edging and smearing. The slight downturn makes them suitable for steep and vertical climbs while the Science Friction 2 rubber rand provides enough grip for outdoor and indoor climbing.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

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Other Mad Rock vegan climbing shoes

Mad Rock has been producing award-winning climbing shoes since 2002. They now offer a diverse range of vegan climbing shoes for men and women with Syn Flex Synthetic Uppers.

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  Mad Rock Redline

  Best for: Technical climbing, edging and overhanging
  Closure type: Lace up
  Shoe type: Aggressive

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  Mad Rock Shark 2.0

  Best for: Steep terrain and climbing competitions
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Aggressive

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  Mad Rock Lyra (Women’s)

  Best for: All-round climbing
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Moderate

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Ocun Pearl LU

Best for: Intermediate-advanced sport climbing
Closure type: Lace-up
Shoe type: Aggressive

Worn by two times climbing World Champion, Tomas Mrazek, the Pearl LU from Ocun is a high-performance climbing shoe which provides a balance of sensitivity and firmness. For added comfort, this model has an adjustable lace-up fixture and padded tongue. Its slightly asymmetrical shape, with a raised heel and radical arch, makes it ideal for powerful sport climbs and indoor climbing sessions. The Ocun Pearl LU also features a CAT rubber sole which provides excellent grip on slabs, edges, and pockets.

Find the latest price at:
Ocun | Amazon

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Ocun Strike QC

Best for: All-round climbing, and long days on the rock
Closure type: Velcro
Shoe type: Neutral

The Strike QC is another superb vegan climbing shoe from Ocun. However, it is a very different shoe to the aforementioned Pearl LU and is much more suited to all-day climbing missions, beginner climbers and those spending lots of hours in the gym. This is a highly comfortable shoe that owes its cosiness to a nicely padded tongue, a neutral shape, and super soft microfiber uppers. On the performance front the Strike QC’s also step up to the mark, boasting the same mega sticky CAT Rubber soles as the Pearl LU’s that have plenty of sensitivity for pushing off tiny edges but with more flexibility through the shoe for smearing on slabs.

For more information read our full review of the Ocun Strike QC climbing shoes.

Find the latest price at:
Ocun | Amazon

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Other Ocun vegan climbing shoes

Ocun climbing shoes are typically made with a leather insole. However, the company do offer a handful of ‘whole-vegan models’ which are constructed with micro-fibre instead of leather. Most of their vegan models are aimed at beginner climbers and soft movers.

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  Crest LU

  Best for: Beginners
  Closure type: Lace up
  Shoe type: Neutral

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  Strike LU

  Best for: Long climbing routes
  Closure type: Lace up
  Shoe type: Neutral

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Five Ten Anasazi

Best for: All-round climbing, edging and crack climbing
Closure type: Lace-up
Shoe type: Moderate

The Five Ten Anasazi is a popular choice for beginner to intermediate climbers. The asymmetrical toe box and stiff midsoles mean that you can take on the toughest smallest edges with confidence. Meanwhile, the high-tension heel provides the support you need for longer climbs. The adjustable lace-up fixture makes this a versatile shoe too. The polyester upper doesn’t stretch much but you can tighten for an extra secure fit whilst hooking or loosen the shoe for a more comfortable fit.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | REI | Backcountry

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Other Five Ten vegan climbing shoes

Founded in 1985 in California, Five Ten is a top-quality athletic shoe provider. They specialise in climbing, approach, and mountain biking shoes. Approximately half of their climbing shoe collection is constructed with fully synthetic uppers and most models are available in men’s, women’s, or child sizes.

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  Five Ten Team VXI

  Best for: Overhang climbing
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Moderate

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  Five Ten Team 5.10

  Best for: Indoor climbing and competitions
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Moderate

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  Five Ten Quantum VCS

  Best for: All-round climbing
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Moderate

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Tenaya Tarifa

Best for: Technical climbing, vertical climbing
Closure type: Lace-up
Shoe type: Moderate

For climbers who like to take on a range of terrains, the Tenaya Tarifa is the versatile climbing shoe for you. The sole is slightly thinner than other models, allowing for greater flexibility and sensitivity on the wall. It is, however, still stiff enough to handle challenging edges and vertical climbs. The Tenaya Tarifa also has a more aggressively curved toe than most beginners climbing shoes enabling better precision on overhangs. The upper is made from highly breathable microfiber and the Tarifa’s slim-line profile, internal liner, and speed-lace closure provide a secure glove-like fit.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

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Other Tenaya vegan climbing shoes

Tenaya offers a wide range of high-performance climbing and outdoors shoes, almost all of which are vegan-friendly. The company have stated that:

“All of our models are made with chemical products and synthetic fabrics. The Lati is the only model that combines leather and synthetics.”

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  Tenaya Inti

  Best for: Bouldering, vertical, slight overhanging
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Moderate

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  Tenaya RA

  Best for: Bouldering, vertical, slight overhanging
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Moderate

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  Tenaya Oasi

  Best for: Bouldering, vertical, overhanging
  Closure type: Velcro
  Shoe type: Aggressive

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Vegan climbing shoes for kids

Mad Rock Mad Monkey 2.0

Best for: All-round beginner climbing
Closure type: Velcro
Shoe type: Moderate

The Mad Monkey 2.0 from Mad Rock is an entry level vegan climbing shoe made to fit little monkey feet! It’s not the highest performing shoe on this list, however, these shoes do provide a sufficient balance of stiffness and comfort.
The shoe is easy to put on thanks to the large Velcro top closure. It also features two Velcro tabs on the heel which allow you to adjust the length of the shoe. We like that the Mad Monkey is highly adjustable and stretchy thereby extending the life of the shoe.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

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Butora Brava

Best For: All-round beginner climbing, crag climbing
Closure type: Velcro
Shoe type: Neutral

The Butora Brava climbing shoes offer excellent value for money and are particularly well suited to kids who are new to climbing. This low-profile children’s climbing shoe is constructed with an EVA cushioned midsole and a sock-like microfiber upper which makes them comfortable to wear for a full day climbing. Like the Mad Monkey 2.0, the Butora Brava comes with an adjustable heel tab and Velcro top closure allowing for maximum comfort and a glove-like fit as your child grows.

Find the latest price on:
Amazon | Backcountry

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