13 best women’s vegan boots for winter and beyond – from cowboy styles to chelsea boots

Chunky boots have been having a serious moment this year, and these, from cruelty-free label Matt & Nat, are stacked with attitude. Complete with embroidered white Matt & Nat logo on their shiny PU upper, what we really love about them is their utilitarian feel, which is mastered by jagged detailing around the sole, elastic gore panels, and an ankle-hugging fit. Owing to their shin-grazing shaft and chunky lug soles, these boots are just the tonic if you’re looking for bang-on-trend drama that remains entirely wearable for your day-to-day – and they’re incredibly comfortable, too.

As soon as we opened the box, we fell in love with these elegant and timeless chocolate-brown boots. Handmade with a buttery-soft PU faux leather that feels super supple, we were surprised by how comfortable they were, and how easy they were to slip on and off (despite the fact they don’t have any zips). Slim-fitting enough to wear under wide and straight-leg jeans, but especially elegant with midi skirts and maxis, we can’t wait to wear them with sundresses in the summer.

They do have a slim heel, but walking was manageable for everyday wear. We also really like that the soles are made with recycled rubber, as are all the soles on All Kind’s shoes, while the shoebox is made from recycled materials.

These glossy-heeled boots are unusual for a number of reasons – not just their boxy heel and textured side-panel, but their scent, too. True to their name, these Lemon Jelly boots smell like lemons, and we could not stop sniffing them. The autumnal colour scheme looks incredible too – the glossy upper gleams in a way that reminded us of melted chocolate, which perfectly complements the earthy, slightly textured heel. 

Any worries about the stiffness of the upper were quickly put to bed, and our feet felt cocooned in comfort, owing to the spongy ​​microfibre sole, which made the hefty heel feel like nothing. Complete with a Lemon Jelly zipper on the inner side for easy removal, we love that the brand’s Peta-approved boots are made with renewable energy generated from solar panels.

Keep in mind you’ll have to pay for shipping to the UK, as well as customs and import duties.

Reworking the classic chelsea boot with a hefty heel, this pair really is mega. The boots were very easy to slip on, owing to their stretchy side-panels. Once on, we thoroughly enjoyed stomping around with the extra height borrowed from the 2in platform. As for materials, the “vegetan soft grain” faux-leather upper is smooth with a fine-grain finish and soft shine – this is made using a polyester and PU microfibre, which is said to be water resistant and breathable. Complete with the “Vegetarian Shoes” logo across the bootstraps, these were one of the comfiest pairs of boots we tried.

We could walk for miles in these sock boots, they are that comfortable. Their cushioned soles are almost spongy underfoot while the stretchy faux-microsuede upper is smooth on the skin – and slightly square ends meant no wince-worthy toe scrunching. They look really beautiful, too, owing to velvety faux microsuede, stitch detailing, and an elegant, wood-effect block heel. Whether worn with tights and a miniskirt or slouchy suit trousers, we especially love that they’re made from upcycled plastics and faux leather from previous collections. And, like every Collection & Co design, they are Peta-approved.

A brand that needs no introduction, Dr Martens launched its vegan collection more than a decade ago – and this glossy, cherry-red version of its classic 1460 ankle boot is our favourite pair from the range.

Taking the place of leather is a two-tone synthetic material (PVC), but otherwise the pair boasts all the bite of the originals, including yellow stitching, air-cushioned sole, and dramatic Dr Martens silhouette.

If patent-red boots aren’t for you, we also tried a similar version in a non-patent black (£159, Schuh.co.uk) – but we personally prefer the red pair for their deliciously dramatic shine and how they seemed more robust and less prone to creasing than the matt black.

With the flattering lift of a heel that doesn’t feel like a heel, it’s the little black dress of your shoe rotation. Costing £50, they were not just one of the most purse-friendly footwear on the list, but among the most comfortable – which was unexpected given their heel – as the recycled polyester lining was super soft on the skin. The silhouette isn’t dissimilar to a sock boot and fits like a glove (or a sock, whatever), and the inside zip was helpful.

While Monki isn’t a vegan brand, this specific style is made with polyester faux leather and is Peta-approved, with a strikingly similar finish to fine-grain leather. Tapping into the square-toe comeback, too, these relatively affordable boots are bang on trend.

Forward thinkers when it comes to design and mindful materials, Swedish brand Humans Are Vain are all about using sustainable materials that won’t cost the Earth. As a Peta-approved brand, the entire range of footwear and accessories is both vegan and cruelty-free, but the focus falls on eco-conscious and recycled materials, too.

Treading into the chunky shoe trend that has been everywhere this season, we love this contemporary take on the classic chelsea boot. It took a little wiggling to get our feet into them, but the snug fit made this one of the most comfortable pairs we tried.

The upper is made from eco microfibre with a suede-esque finish, and has been certified as unharmful to the environment, securing an Oeko-Tex Standard 100 class 1 seal, while the soles are made mostly from recycled rubber, and the interior from recycled PET bottles and natural corn fibre.

We were seriously impressed with this Peta-approved French shoe brand when we tried a pair of their sandals in our vegan edit (where they earned the top spot), and we’re pleased to report that these motorcycle boots did not dissapoint.

Available in classic black as well as honey (pictured), which we prefer, they have a real vintage feel about them – quality-wise, they look brand new, of course, but the design steps into Seventies flair with a dose of biker attitude.

The western-style detailing, slightly square toe and small block heel are teamed with buttery-soft microfibre faux leather. With the boots reaching our mid-shin, they are the perfect length for pairing with dresses and skirts, while being equally versatile with wide-leg jeans and flares. There’s no questioning the quality here, either.

Keep in mind you’ll have to pay for shipping to the UK, as well as customs and import duties.

British brand Grenson has been making boots since 1866 – when shoemaking was done by hand – but its vegan range debuted in 2020, and now stars these sturdy hiker boots. Admittedly pretty pricey – as you might expect from such an established designer – the quality of materials and level of comfort make a strong case for the investment.

Falling somewhere between hiker and biker style, you can tell these will go the distance – but we found them very lightweight all the same, while the lining is said to be super-absorbent and breathable. The microfibre upper is so similar to cowhide leather that we actually had to do a double take, just to be sure. If the all-black look isn’t your jam, they’re also available with silver eyelets and grey-and-black-patterned laces.

One of the hottest trends this year, western-look cowboy boots were everywhere this summer, and this pair from vegan brand Wills ticks all our boxes. Especially wearable, owing to their understated black colourway, all the western-style markings are there, including slanted heels, pointed toes, and a decorated shaft with intricate stitchwork.

Uncannily similar to genuine leather and also available in chestnut brown, the upper is Italian bio-based vegan leather – this is made with bio oil sourced from organic cereal crops, viscose and polyurethane – which the label says makes the production of this pair carbon neutral (and therefore gets extra points from us). Happily, the relatively stiff shaft doesn’t translate to discomfort either, while the vegan suede lining feels like a treat.

Yes, they’re high and pretty dramatic, but these Barbiecore-esque heels are much easier to walk in than we first anticipated, owing to most of the height coming from the platform rather than the heel itself.

Channelling Seventies flair with a square toe and chunky platform heel, the material is water-based PU faux leather (water-based PU is generally considered more eco-friendly than its oil-based counterpart), which feels super-supple, too – this goes a long way in the comfort department.

We do love them for their pastel-pink hue, but if you can’t see yourself braving Barbiecore just yet, they are also available in both black and mint green.

The environmental credentials of Portuguese footwear brand Nae, which stands for “no animal exploitation”, are commendable – we really rate the use of responsible materials such as plant-based cork, apple skin and pineapple leaf leathers.

Part of the Peta-approved brand’s eco-corn range, these biker boots are made with fibres from fermented corn, with recycled polyester for their upper and lining. The material is non-toxic and hypoallergenic, but we did notice that this “bio eco corn” faux leather isn’t as supple as some other materials. That said, the creasing does mirror real, worn-in leather. Toughened up with an inside zip, silver eyelets and jagged lug sole, they look great layered over mid-calf socks for the winter.