Vegan Nike Jordans Flight Flex Trainer
When first launched in 1985, the signature Jordan 1, named after and created together with Michael Jordan, changed the concept of sneakers forever. Even today, more than 30 years later, the shoe is more relevant than ever before.
The original Nike Jordan 1 comes in a range of colors and designs but unfortunately, they are not vegan since most of them feature a mix of synthetic and real leather.
With that said, the more modern version of the Jordan, the Jordan Flight Flex Trainer, is indeed vegan and made out of 100% synthetic materials. Now, this might not be the original Jordan 1 that you’re used to wearing, but the design is rather similar and the comfort has been improved - it even features the Jumpman logo. It really is as close to a pair of vegan nike Jordans 1 as we can get.
- Model: Jordan Flight Flex Trainer
- Material: Synthetic
- Best Feature: A modern version of the most iconic shoe ever made.
Nike Air Max Motion 2
Let’s move on to another vegan Nike classic, the Nike Air Max.
Growing up, the Nike Air Max 90 was the greatest shoe of all time, and before I got my first own pair, I used to envy my friends.
The Air Max 90 was first launched 5 years after the Jordan under the name Air Max III with the concept of creating a timeless model and sort of a “speedier” counterpart to the Jordan. Everything about this shoe screams speed and comfort.
Unfortunately, the Air Max 90 is typical not vegan due to the leather details, although Nike has a great alternative.
Since the first launch, Nike has updated the shoe countless times. In my opinion, one of the best versions is the vegan Air Max Motion 2. It has better Air Max cushioning, enhanced comfort, and its slightly bulky yet streamlined design is just as relevant today as it was in the mid-90s. Just be careful, because while the Air Max Motion 2 is vegan, the Air Max Motion Low Cut is not.
- Model: Air Max Motion 2
- Material: Synthetic
- Best Feature: One of the most comfortable shoes launched in the past 30 years.
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35
Known as one of the greatest running shoes of all time, Nike really outdid themselves when they designed the Air Zoom Pegasus. Over the last few years, the shoe has gone through several updates and re-designs, it has been worn at countless marathons and running competitions, and it keeps getting better and better.
One of the latest versions of this incredible vegan running shoe is the Air Zoom Pegasus 35, and it is just as comfortable as it is stylish and can be worn either on long runs or for optimal comfort during everyday life.
Made entirely out of nylon, plastic, and rubber it also happens to be vegan by default.
Better yet, compared to other running shoes of this caliber, the Pegasus 35 is quite affordable. And if you’re really serious about your distance running, the Nike Zoom Pegasus 35 Turbo with revolutionary responsiveness might be an even better pick for you.
- Model: Air Zoom Pegasus 35
- Material: Nylon
- Best Feature: A top running shoe for all distances.
Nike Free 5.0 Running Shoe
A few years back, Nike was one of the driving forces behind the new concept of “free shoes,” and they really hit the nail on the head with the Free 5.0 running shoe.
Free shoes are characterized by their thin and highly flexible sole as well as light-weight design that’s supposed to mimic the feeling of being barefoot. Experts are still arguing whether it’s beneficial or not to train and run in free shoes, but either way, they remain incredibly comfortable for everyday wear.
Thanks to its stretchy polyester yarn, this vegan Nike sneaker is highly breathable and will keep you cool even during the hottest temperatures. Also, thanks to their lightweight and durable design, they’re perfect for travel.
- Model: Free 5.0 Running Shoes
- Material: Polyester yarn
- Best Feature: Lightweight and airy.
In addition, Nike has launched several vegan limited edition sneakers with celebrities. For example, Kendrick Lamar’s “house shoe” version of the Cortez as well as Sean Wotherspoon, whose shoe was so anticipated that the Virginia store that was in charge of the launch had to close down and call the police after hundreds of customers stormed in.
Conclusion
As you can see, Nike is not a very vegan-friendly company. Not only are their shoes and materials often not vegan, but their customer service has provided us with contradictory and sometimes utterly incorrect information regarding which of their shoes are vegan.
What we do know is that Nike only uses vegan glue, and we have also managed to locate a handful of vegan Nikes including a few classic models. We just hope that the brand soon realizes what they're missing out on and that they try and catch up with the rest of the sneaker industry where major brands are well on their way to veganizing their collections.
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