5 Sustainable Kids Shoes & Sneakers (2025 Review)
My daughter is a very physical kid who also happens to have extremely strong opinions about her fashion choices. She has always leaned toward dresses (we suspect due to the increased mobility), and favors sandals, ballet flats, or rain boots for her daily footwear. Once she started school, we began an all-out campaign to get her to love athletic shoes, with fair-to-middling results. While she could tell that she was able to run faster and more safely (less falls, less toe stubs, etc) in sneakers, she wasn’t very impressed with the aesthetics.
So when the opportunity came to try out these five sustainable brands, she and I pored over their inventories together, and she chose the colors and styles she liked best. We opted primarily for closed toes, though I did let her choose some sandals, since those are her preference for the weekends. (Like any mom looking to stretch her budget, I also got all the shoes in a bigger size. So if you notice any gapping, it’s because we sized up in the hopes of getting to wear them for longer!)
When you’ve got an only child who grows through their clothes at the speed of light, it can feel even more important to make sustainable choices: We do a lot of thrifting and trades with friends, but once the kids reach pre-K, shoes can get harder to find. Kids are just hard on shoes. So if we’re going to buy new, we want to be sure the brands we choose are as eco-friendly and ethical as possible.
Check out these five sustainable brands, all kid-tested and approved by one extremely active kid.
1. Ten Little
Our Picks | Splash Sandals 2, Everyday Sandals 2
Materials | Natural rubber, 100% cotton lining, non-toxic EVA, phthalate-free vegan leather
Sizes | 0 months–4Y
Ten Little was founded by two working moms after experiencing first hand how frustrating and time-consuming it could be to find high quality and developmentally appropriate footwear for growing kids. The brand makes a curated collection of podiatrist-backed shoes for infants all the way up to 4Y, with a unique, personalized platform that reminds parents when it might be time to size up — with a text-to-order feature to boot. As if this thoughtful approach to eliminating the mental load wasn’t enough, the shoes themselves are THE. BEST. My daughter started in the Everyday Sneakers when she was just 18-months-old, and for many years they were the only brand I’d buy because they actually fit her little pudding feet. The no-slip rubber sole kept her supported while her balance was still unsteady, and the easy Velcro straps and wide toe-box made it possible for her to learn how to put her shoes on herself almost from day one.
We were so excited to try both styles of sandals, which are each water-friendly and available in her must-have hue of the summer (bet you can’t guess what it is from these photos… 🎀 😊). I love that they are close-toed, eliminating the struggle to get her out the door in school- and camp-friendly shoes that she is also excited to wear. Honestly, you can tell this is a brand run by moms — they just get it.
What my daughter loves | The easy and comfortable fit, and cute colorways in most styles. She loves being able to personalize hers with the sticker packs, so the daisy charms for her Splash Sandals were obviously a huge hit.
Things to keep in mind | Most of the styles come out to about $42 a pair, which is not cheap! You can join their Membership program for discounts, and I also recommend keeping an eye out for sales and buying off-season (the Faux Furry High Tops are a personal favorite!). I also highly recommend using their print out size-finders — which double as coloring sheets!
2. Veja Kids
Our Pick | Esplar Chromefree Leather
Materials | Chromium-free leather, rubber and rice waste, sugar cane, organic cotton, recycled polyester
Sizes | 0 months–4Y
These were without a doubt the fanciest (and priciest!) of the bunch, but my kid took to them instantly. They are comfortable, supportive, and easy for her to take on and off independently. Made from sustainable recycled materials and leather that is tanned in a process free from chromium and other harsh chemicals that are bad for the environment. These are sneaks that go with absolutely everything, and they make my daughter feel extremely *cool* (peep that cool kid squat below!).
Though they are white and therefore became instantly dirty on their inaugural neighborhood walk, they wipe off super easy with a wet cloth. The interior, made from sugar cane and organic cotton, is so soft that my kid skips the socks (her preferred style). With an over $100 price tag, I had extremely high standards for these shoes, but they delivered on all fronts. We love them so much I feel like I need a matching pair…
What my daughter loves | The athletic style is not her usual look, but she is very into the way they feel. On days where running around and hard playing outside or in P.E. are on the schedule, these are the sneaks she’s reaching for every time. Plus, they go with literally every single outfit she wears!
Things to keep in mind | These are not going to be your cheapest buy — not by a long shot. The pair we got is $105, which is steep for a shoe that your child might grow through in less than a year. However, these shoes are extremely well-made, and are ideal for handmedowns. With their unisex style and durable quality, they could easily serve multiple kids over the years.
3. Rothys
Our Pick | The Kids Sneaker
Materials | Knit from Rothy’s signature thread (spun from recycled plastic water bottles)
Sizes | 10T–4Y
Rothys makes all of its shoes from an innovative thread spun from plastic water bottles and marine waste. They prioritize using natural materials as well, like recycled rubber and renewable algae for their footbeds! The ultra-flexible material also makes their shoes washable. Even cooler? Their factory in China is the first to achieve LEED Zero Waste Certification! This means that they’ve reached net zero or net positive status in the categories of carbon, energy, water, or waste.
But my daughter was more interested in the rainbows. The cute terry design offers a fun pop of color and texture to these cute slip-ons. She also discovered that the sturdy toes are good for “practicing ballet,” or giving her mom a heart attack by teetering around on her toes. These are definitely too big for her right now, but I can tell they will be heavy on rotation as soon as she grows into them.
What my daughter loves | The slip-on style is a huge hit with my kid, but honetly the rainbows are probably the real winning feature for her.
Things to keep in mind | Size up! These styles are a bit narrow and run smaller. They are technically machine-washable, but if you go with white and you have a child as dirt-forward as mine, don’t expect them to stay that way.
4. Native Shoes
Our Pick | Frankie Sugarlite and Charley Sugarlite
Materials | Bio-based materials, rubber, EVA
Sizes | C4–J6
While the most popular Native Shoes kids’ collection among my friends is their best-selling Jefferson style, my child just will not try it. (It’s my fault: I picked up a thrifted knock-off version that gave her blisters once.) She was all about the sandals instead, delighted by the color choices, which she declared “So cute and pretty!” With a sugar-derived sole that is perfect for jumping in puddles and splash parks, these cute sandals are lightweight, hand-washable, and odor-resistant. The hook-and-loop straps are toddler-friendly and the color combos are cheery and bright. While the Frankie style fit her well in the size up, the Charley is a bit big — so we basically have a pair for now and another that is perfect for next summer!
What my daughter loves | The colors, and the true-sandal, open-toed style. They don’t get stinky from her sweaty feet!
Things to keep in mind | Open-toed means they are exclusively weekend-shoes: The style is banned from both her school and summer day camps. This does make them more special to her, but it’s a little annoying to have to argue over it when she wants to wear them every morning as I’m trying to get her out the door.
5. Teva
Our Pick | Midform Universal
Materials | REPREVE® polyester yarn, EVA-foam, rubber, recycled plastic
Sizes | 4T–7Y
I have a pair of Tevas that have been with me for nearly twenty years, so I know firsthand how well these shoes withstand the test of hard wear and time. I was so excited to get my daughter some adventure sandals, but she had thoughts of her own! With her preference for clomping around the house in my heels, it was no surprise that my daughter chose the mid-form sandals from Teva. It’s the closest she can get to having her own heels, she tells me. (They are who they are! 🤷🏻♀️)
Made from recycled materials, these cute sandals are cushy yet sturdy, with a flexible adjustable strap that she has delighted in fitting herself. While they aren’t exactly the ideal footwear for her more physical activities, they are a much safer alternative to the aforementioned heels she likes to steal from my closet, which have a tendency to twist her tiny ankles and make her fall. She’s been reaching for these when she wants to feel “fancy but in a cool way.” And honestly, they nail it.
What my daughter loves | The height — the platform style is a great option for heel-interested kiddos who could still use a little time to master walking safely.
Things to keep in mind | There’s a learning curve! She stubbed the front a few times and tripped as she got used to the extra material.
Stephanie H. Fallon is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a writer originally from Houston, Texas and holds an MFA from the Jackson Center of Creative Writing at Hollins University. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where she writes about motherhood, artmaking, and work culture. Since 2022, she has been reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, fact-checking sustainability claims, and bringing her sharp editorial skills to every product review. Say hi on Instagram or on her website.
