I need help with finding good vegan shoes for running. I recently bought a pair of shoes that are nice but the bottoms are elevated almost and I feel like when I wear really thick socks, my feet might slip out of them. I'll try running with them, but just in case it doesnt work out, I'd like some suggestions on shoes I can wear while running

http://www.zappos.com/vegan

saucony has nice affordable vegan running shoes

If you take a look at the running shoes in sports stores, many brands have synthetic models.

Options:
I wear a pair of Earth shoes right now. Got them from Zappos.
I have friends who run and they wear Vibram 5 Fingers. They're vegan so I assume they bought the vegan ones (Vibram makes some shoes out of kangaroo skins! ewww!).
Asics makes or used to make a couple vegan versions.
You can also browse hiking shoes (which strangely seem to often be more vegan-friendly) and look for "trail-runners" that can be used on multiple surfaces for running. That's what I used to do and that's what I'm going to do when these Earth shoes wear out. I like the look of trail shoes.
Take a look at the online vegan stores. They will often have a shoe section.
And if you're not super strict about glue and whatnot (and you're not super picky about your running shoes) then just pick up some synthetic running shoes at a discount store like Target or Walmart or whatever.

My New Balances are vegan.

Most running shoes actually don't contain leather. I don't worry about whether or not the glues might be vegan.

If you're interested, you might read up on "barefoot running." Basically the idea is that most running shoes have a lot of cushion, which actually may not be helping prevent injuries. In some cases, the way traditional running shoes are structured may actually create more injuries (for example, "motion control" shoes). For more info I'd recommend the Runner's World Barefoot forum. The important thing with running barefoot or in minimal shoes is to start with very short distances (1 block) and increase your distance slowly.

Many minimal/barefoot running shoes are vegan--for example, Vibram fivefingers like ElaineV mentioned, but avoid the newer and more expensive kangaroo skin and wool varieties. Or you can actually run in $10-20 water shoes. Some minimal shoes are a little more expensive upfront, but keep in mind that you will only need to replace them when the upper wears out, unlike regular running shoes which need to be replaced every 300-400 miles due to breakdown of the cushioning (or, for me every 6 months as I would get runner's knee if my shoes were getting older even though I never put 300 miles on them). I have heard of people getting 1000 miles or more out of Vibram fivefingers.

I bought those Saucony Originals in black from Zappos a week or so ago and used them for my first run ever and they felt fine.

Careful with those. I wore mine for running for a while, but ended up injured because the heel counter (the part the covers your heel in the back) is too high and rigid and irritated my achilles tendon.

Ew. Well I just started running last week and so far have only run twice for 15 min. each so maybe when I get more advanced I'll look into better shoes.

Not trying to scare you, but for me the pain came on suddenly after I had been running in the shoes for a couple weeks. My achilles tendon area and ankle swelled up, I spent a couple of days hobbling around and had to take a week off running. Everyone is different, but I would seriously look into some different shoes as the heel counter really is unusually high in those Saucony's when you compare them with any other athletic shoes (or even many casual shoes). I just don't want you to get turned off by an injury so early on.

I was going to mention them. New Balance shoes are either all leather or all non-leather, so it's easy to figure out which are vegan.

--Fromper

Merrell pace gloves for me, or asics. But seriously love the pace gloves.

Running sneaker dilemma:
I need new sneakers and I need them to be fitted (where you go to the store, they have you put your wet feet on paper and recommend or make a shoe that fits your arches). I have back issues so I need ones that fit like a glove. I also have 1/4" more length in one leg- weird I know, but it messes me up. I need more support in my one shoe.

My problem is there is only one store here in Buffalo that provides this service and I called, the salesperson says they do not carry vegan shoes- only a handful of brands. thy won't order them in for me either.

Does anybody know of any stores that provide this service in New York, Pennsylvania, or Ohio? (my parents live there I visit them once in a while) Maybe I can shoot somewhere for the day to get me some fitted vegan running shoes?

I have a half marathon in May.

My mother works at Sports Authority, and for Christmas she got me a pair of Nike running shoes that are vegan. She said that they actually have a good variety there of running shoes that don't contain any leather.

Its hard communicating with salespeople over the phone
I called a couple stores in cities outside my area and as soon as you say the word "vegan running shoes" they say "No."

Then I list some of the brands, and then they say- "oh yeah- we have those!"
:/

thanks! I'll check them out!

I've heard that new balance has some veg*n friendly shoes. When I researched it online, I found out they don't combine synthetic materials with leather.

I'm liking this shoe:
http://www.saucony.com/store/SiteCon...uctId=4-107110

Its not on any "vegan friendly sneaker" search that I have done, but I found the material listing ^^
I know this is dumb, but all of these materials are synthetic, right? I was just curious as to why they weren't listed vegan.

I want the Nike LunarGlide+ 3... badly...

They probably forced rats to run in them to test for side effects.

lol!
I bought them and ran twice in them- they are great! I highly recommend these shoes

On another similar thread elsewhere online, posters have taken to writing to shoe companies and inquiring about their shoes - most are good when replying in relation to indicating if glues and other materials are indeed vegan. That being said, the vast majority of shoes are vegan nowadays.


This is probably best in another place but nearly everybody has different length legs and a sketching chiropractor or podiatrist can make it seem like the problem is more pronounced than it really is. People were made to run - shoes aren't going to make any of us more perfect than we already are.

I don't know where you're from, but around here, the majority of shoes are still leather.

--Fromper

Aye, <3 NB but not all their models are vegan, even with synthetic material. I had to call to get answers. OP you should call any company to make sure if you aren't.

It really isn't the majority from what I am finding- it was a very difficult search for vegan shoes for me- in stores. I found many online- but I need to jog around the store in them and see if they feel okay. Maybe its my area- but at every store I was lucky to find 1 or 2 synthetic shoes, not even listed as vegan and had to call/ research to find out.

And while I tend to agree with you that we are built to run, I once was- but suffered pretty big injuries when I ran before and eventually had to give up running when I became pregnant and my back problems got worse. Pregnancy changed me a bit too- my hips and back are definitely not the same they once were. It can't hurt to have a little support in one leg to even things out and prevent injury, right? Why would I risk it- I have kids to raise I can't be laid up with injuries for weeks- I can't afford that.

exactly and I was gonna say New Balance too....I have many pairs and they are a great vegan shoe.

Peace

I understand your perspective but personally am against orthotics unless there was a very serious injury that they were preventing. Most people have one leg longer than the other and having "equal" legs isn't a recipe that will help you avoid injuries any more than learning to work with how your body is currently put together will. I wore orthotics for years - had separate pairs for athletic shoes and work shoes - and though I suppose they did what they were meant to do in the short run, in the long run my feet were never allowed the opportunity to get stronger until I gave them up - which was a long process.

I am tempted to get a pair of these:

http://www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/ladie...adies-13.html/

Investing in expensive new shoes when I'm still injured is probably silly though.

Mollycakes, I've used NewBalance too, and if you have a large New Balance store near you (not just a NB department in some other shop), you might try out their fitting service. It won't be custom made, but you might find something that suits your needs. I'm hoping to get back on the treadmill, post baby and will have an interesting time with shoes. Before the bean came along I had about a year and a half filled with two sprained ankles, then a fracture. I have a tendency in the other foot toward plantar fasciitis, so yeah...I want to be careful. The ankle's all fixed up now I think (after a visit to a private physio who was fab) but I haven't had a good run on it since I was then about 4 mos pregnant. Definitely post if you find custom vegan shoes!

those babies jack up our bodies, don't they

I settled on Saucony Pro Grid Ride 4. They got plenty of positive chatter on various running boards and many said that they are made to prevent injury by providing a good deal of support, while still being very lightweight. I did not get a custom fit, I just jogged around the store in them. Since I bought them I have put about 30 miles on them and no shin splints or knee problems.

I am not positive they are 100% vegan, I posted the list of materials and they appear to be all synthetic, so I just bought them and figured I did my best here.

Good luck with running post baby! It really gives me so much energy to get through the long days and nights. Its a great thing to do for your child!