Updated on April 24, 2022
Various industries have different safety standards and certifications for the footwear allowed to be worn by employees. However, most safety shoes for men are hardly vegan, as they have leather, nubuck and suede uppers and soles. Here, at Vegan Men Shoes, we have worked hard to put together a list of the current vegan work boots and shoes with industry safety standards and certifications. Below is the list of all the vegan safety shoes and boots with their list of specifications and materials used. Before we start, here is a common list of certifications and industry safety standards for footwear from Canada, but are used in North America and Europe.
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
| Name | Description | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| CSA White Rectangle with orange Greek letter omega (Ω) | Soles provide resistance to electric shock |  |
| CSA Yellow Rectangle with a green “SD” and grounding symbol | Soles are static-dissipative |  |
| CSA Blue Rectangle | Grade 1 protective toecap without sole puncture protection |  |
| CSA Green Triangle | Grade 1 protective toecap with sole puncture protection |  |
| Metatarsal Protection | Protection for the metatarsal region of the foot when working around heavy objects. Always requires toe protection |  |
| Chainsaw Protection | Provides protection when using cutting equipment, such as chainsaws |  |
| Super Static Dissipative | Grade 2 protective toecap with sole puncture protection |  |
Sources: Health and Safety Reports and publications, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
And now, on to the list of vegan work shoes and safety boots. These are in no way separated into categories or arranged in a specific way. The different footwear can be used in multiple industries and types of work. Once again, choose them depending on the requirements of your work and certifications needed. These shoes and boots are, to the best of our knowledge, completely vegan, but make sure to check the companies’ websites for more information about the materials and specifications of every model.
STC FOOTWEAR
STC Footwear is a Canada-based company that provides safety shoes and boots for all kinds of work environments. They have a large selection of man-made, synthetic, and by extension 100% vegan boots due to their composition that foregoes animal materials, such as leather and suede. You can buy them directly on their website at stcfootwear.com or through the individual links below:
Shown here is the Keep, but check out their other vegan models: Drive, Bruce, Beaufort, Moonlight, Trainer, Stacker, Titanium, Cobalt, Geo, Keep, Trump, Larch, Geo-II, Shire, Maska, and Golden.
DR. MARTENS
If you like the iconic look of Doc Martens boots, they also have a small but impressive collection of work boots for you. Made from rubber and mesh, their thermo-resistant safety toe boots will keep you safe from all the elements, literally, as they are water, fire and electricity resistant. Check their models and specifications and make sure they’re certified for the type of work you are doing.
Calamus Safety Toe Boots
- Safety toe cap (minimum 200J impact and 15kN compression force)
- Slip-resistant rubber outsole
- Additional insulation from the ground versus electrical hazard
- Heat resistant outsole for up to 570 Fahrenheit for 60 second
- More info…
- Buy them here
Calamus Safety LO Toe Shoes
- Slip-resistant rubber outsole
- Safety toe cap (minimum 200J impact and 15kN compression forc
- Heat resistant outsole for up to 570 Fahrenheit for 60 second
- Anti-static electrical resistant between 0.1 and 1000M
- Non-metallic, electronically non-conductive
- More info…
- Buy them here
CARHARTT
Established and based in the US, Carhartt is a company that specializes in work attire, including construction boots and safety shoes. They happen to have an excellent model made with vegan ax suede.
Lightweight Steel Toe
- Steel toe and rubber sole
- Slip- and fatigue-resistant
- Comfortable and keeps your feet dry with FastDry Technology
- Secondary protection against electrical circuits of 18,000 volts or less under dry conditions (ASTM 2413-11 EH)
- Oil, chemical, abrasion, and heat resistant
- More info…
- Buy them here
VEGETARIAN SHOES
Vegetarian Shoes has been around for 30 years, and it shows from the quality and sturdiness of their footwear. They have a few models that have a steel toe for all types of work, see them down below.
Airseal 10 Eye Boot Steel Toe
- Steel toe
- Military-style 10-eyelet lacing
- Water-resistant, breathable material
- Made in UK
- More info…
- Buy them here
Airseal Safety Boot MK2 (Black)
- Steel toe
- D-ring type lace fastenings
- Water-resistant, breathable material
- EN ISO 20345 2011 certification (Europe)
- Made in UK
- More info…
- Buy them here
WILL’S VEGAN SHOES
One of our personal favorite brands, Will’s Vegan Shoes has come out with a steel toe model of dock boots made for your protection while you do lightweight construction or industrial work. Make sure they are compliant with the specifications required for your workplace.
Steel Toe Waterproof Dock Boots
- Made by Will’s Vegan Shoes
- Steel toe
- Made from vegan suede
- Water-resistant and breathable material
- Respects Oeko Tex 100 and REACH regulations (Europe)
- More info…
- Buy them here
FUGU
Fugu‘s work boots have a unique design, but rest assured that the quality and the durability of their boots is unparalleled. With nearly a hundred raving reviews for their sa-me model, these lightweight vegan steel-toe workboots will keep your feet safe and dry for all types of works. Prepare to be amazed by how comfortable these cruelty-free boots are. Buy their best-seller model here!
Sa-Me Japanese Vegan Work Boots
- Steel toe capped
- Unique Japanese design
- Extremely lightweight
- Breathable and water-resistant
- Orthopedic sole for comfortable long days
- Buy them here
ETHICAL WARES
Ethical Wares, which was featured in our top vegan footwear brands for men, is one of the few, or possibly the only fully-vegan brand that offers Chainsaw certified non-leather safety boots. They also have a standard model of safety vegan boots for most light construction work. Check them out below or directly on their website!
Vegan Chainsaw Boots
- Steel toe capped
- Possibly the only fully-vegan chainsaw boots on the market
- Made with Lorica uppers and Kevlar anti-cut protection
- Has pierce-resistant midsole
- Complies with UNI EN ISO 17249:2004/A1 STANADARD, CLASS 2
- Buy them here
Vegan Safety Boots
- Steel toe capped
- Lined with cambrelle
- Has pierce-resistant sole
- Complies with European Safety Standard, UNI EN ISO 20345, A-E-P-WRU HRO FO-SRA, CLASS 2
- Buy them here
BIRKENSTOCK
Known for their sandals, Birkenstock also has slip-resistant clogs for our fellow nurses and cooks who are on their feet for long hours and need a good pair to keep them up and running.
Professional Unisex Profi Birki
- Certified anti-slip outsole
- Made from polyurethane
- Can be washed in dishwasher
- Synthetic sole
- More info…
- Buy them here
CROCS
Nothing wrong with wearing your Crocs to work, especially if they’re vegan and are literally made for your work safety! Check out their two models of clogs made for professionals.
On The Clock
- 100% man-made
- Slip-resistant tread
- Enclosed toe and heel
- ASTM F2913-11 tested, CE certified
- EN ISO 20347:2012, OB, SRC
- More info…
- Buy them here
Specialist
- Synthetic
- Lightweight
- Perfect for nurses or chefs
- Easy slip-on wear
- More info…
- Buy them here
Common questions about Vegan Work Boots
Are vegan leather boots durable?
Yes, vegan leather boots can be as durable as leather boots when made from strong materials. The durability of vegan leather boots depends on the materials used and the treatments they have undergone. Vegan work boots are often made with a mix of plastics and natural materials, such as polyurethane, microfiber and rubber. These different materials can be treated with various coatings that make them stronger than leather. For example, STC Footwear uses Chemtech, a synthetic material that is 3 to 4 times more durable than leather.
What steel-toed boots are vegan?
Carhartt, Fugu and Vegetarian Shoes are brands that carry vegan steel-toed boots. To confirm if the boots are vegan, consult the manufacturer’s website and make sure they contain a steel-toe cap and look for materials such as polyurethane, vulcanized rubber and microfiber instead of leather, nubuck and suede.
Are STC boots vegan?
STC Footwear is a Canadian-owned company that sells work shoes and safety boots. While STC Footwear offers leather-free shoes and boots, not all of their products are vegan. You can filter their products by characteristics and include only vegan boots to ensure you are only browsing footwear made from leather alternatives.
Are Dr. Martens good work boots?
While Doc Martens can be used as work boots, you need to choose models that are within the certification requirements of your industry and workplace. Some models, such as the Calamus, have steeltoe caps and meet the ASTM requirements for protective footwear. Look for safety features such as slip-resistance and electrical hazard protection.
Are Dr. Martens waterproof?
Not all Doc Martens boots are waterproof. If you are looking for waterproof Doc Martens, make sure to read the model’s specifications to ensure the boots are not only moisture-wicking, but are fully protected against water penetration.
Does vegan leather crack?
Vegan leather does not crack easily, especially when it’s made from plastic and plant-based materials such as polyurethane, PVC and vulcanized rubber. If you are looking for leather alternatives that don’t crack with normal wear, read the full list of vegan materials often used in footwear production.