You can get much more classic than (vegan) Chelsea boots. They’re the kind of shoe that matches just about every outfit – yet finding them without leather isn’t always easy.
When I was growing up, I had so much trouble finding non-leather shoes. As a lifelong vegetarian I eschewed leather from a young age. My dad used to take me shopping and would examine shoes from every angle, scratching and sniffing and doing all sorts of things to try to determine if they were faux leather or animal leather. A few times, I tried asking a salesperson, who looked extremely confused why I’d want shoes that weren’t leather.
Thankfully vegan shoes are easier to find these days, as more and more brands specialise in vegan boots and other shoes, but if you go into a store near you you’ll still probably find it hard to identify which shoes are vegan, which is why buying online is often easier. Hence why I put together this post to help you find the perfect pair of vegan Chelsea boots! I’ve included brands I know and love, plus a few I haven’t tried but which have a good reputation.
The best vegan Chelsea boots:
Will’s Vegan Chelsea boots
Why I love them: they’re the perfect classic look that will never go out of style, plus they’re insulated and waterproof for winter
For the ultimate vegan winter boots that are warm, waterproof AND stylish, check out Will’s Vegan Chelsea boots.
Vegan brand Will’s Vegan Store makes a variety of Chelsea boots, including these winter-proof beauties, which will keep your feet warm down to -22 Celsius / -7.6 Fahrenheit. These are fully waterproof vegan Chelsea boots with a rubber sole, so they’re perfect for puddles, slush and snowfall.
The lining is made with Primaloft insulation made with 90% recycled materials, while the uppers have a special waterproof membrane and are treated PFC free for breathability and waterproof protection. They have elasticated gussets so you can take them on and off easily.
The outer soles of these vegan leather boots are thick rubber with deep treads for traction, while the insoles are built to make these boots comfortable to wear all day long, making them great everyday boots.
Will’s have a number of different style of Chelsea boots, from almond toe Chelsea boots to luxe smart Chelsea boots to pointy toe heeled Chelsea boots and many styles come in both black adn brown.
Will’s started out as a men’s vegan shoe brand so they have a full selection of men’s vegan Chelsea boots as well as women’s boots. They’ve since expanded to add women’s shoes too (as well as bags, coats and more).
Will’s is one of the most popular vegan shoe brands – I find their shoes durable and I like that they make vegan versions of some of the most popular/classic shoe styles. They use vegan bio-based leather for most of their shoes which is made using organic cereal crops. They also have a carbon-neutral supply chain.
NAE Molly Chelsea boots
Why I love them: the sleek upper balances the tread sole perfectly, so they don’t look heavy
NAE is a Portuguese vegan footwear brand, who have a good reputation for quality vegan shoe construction (Portugal in general has a strong reputation for making good quality shoes!).
Their Molly vegan leather Chelsea boots are water resistant and breathable, with a comfortable vegan suede lining. The rubber outsole is slip-resistant, with treads, but I think they’ve done a rare and beautiful thing – balanced the outsole so the boot as a whole don’t look heavy.
V.Gan Russ Chelsea boots
Why I love these: the trendy sole adds a bit of height without too much
V.Gan is, unsuprisingly, a 100% vegan shoe brand. They’re PETA approved vegan and they make their shoes in a vegan factory, which is rare.
Their Chelsea boots are a classic look, but with a slightly chunky lug sole and a pull-on tab.
Minuit sur Terre vegan Chelsea boots
Why I love these: I’m a sucker for sparkle and these have glittery elastic panels! I love them and I think they make these boots unique
In my view, Minuit sur Terre make some of the most stylish vegan shoes at the moment, and when I recently had to get new sandals, I went for this brand. I love all their boots, too.
They have a few different styles of Chelsea boots but my favourite are the Fleeting boots with their glitter elastic panel and taupe – they look different to most Chelsea boots on the market. They’re also made of recycled vegan leather.
Doc Martens are a classic, and they have vegan boots too. The Dr Martens vegan 2976 Chelsea boots is unisex and uses their cushioned sole that are oil resistant and slip resistant.
The vegan Dr Martens Chelsea boots come in two colors, a classic black and cherry red – ideal if you’re looking for a unique color of Chelsea boots!
Find my full guide to vegan Dr Martens Chelsea boots here.
Stella McCartney Trace Chelsea boots
Why I love these: they adapt Chelsea style to Stella McCartney’s signature boots look
If you’re searching for designer vegan Chelsea boots, Stella McCartney has a few options, including these Chelsea boots.
Like all of Stella McCartney’s range, these are free from leather. As a lifelong vegetarian, her entire shoe range is vegan, but beware that not all of the clothes in her range are vegan as some contain wool or silk.
The upper is made from PU, recycled polyester and rubber. The shoes are made in Italy.
Matt and Nat vegan waterproof Chelsea boots
Matt & Nat is an all-vegan company from Canada that started out making bags and now makes shoes, too. I own a Matt & Nat wallet I’ve used and loved for almost 10 years so their products seem really durable!
If you’re looking for basic Chelsea boots that double as stylish vegan rain boots, their Laney boots are a good choice. The elastic side panels make them easy to get on and off.
Vegan Flora Dr Martens
These Doc Martens vegan Chelsea boots are a slightly different style to the 2976. The vegan Flora Chelsea boots have a slimmer profile than the 2976 boots.
These Doc Marten vegan Chelsea boots also have the same cushioned, slip resistant sole. Dr Martens have a range of vegan boots, including different styles like their classic black Felix rub off boots, if you prefer a different style.
Ahimsa Chelsea boots
Ahimsa, a vegan shoe company that has its own all-vegan shoe factory, makes classic black vegan Chelsea boots. The Dylan Chelsea vegan boots are classic in style, and come in black or the dark brown color Espresso.
Vegetarian Shoes Chelsea boots
Vegetarian Shoes is one of the oldest vegan shoemakers, having made their shoes with vegan materials in the UK since 1990. Vegetarian Shoes Airseal Chelsea Boots are a classic Chelsea boot style and come in a wide variety of colors and soles!
From a classic black to white, blue or purple, choose the color that suits you. Most styles come with the town sole, but you can also choose boots with a country sole.
They have a huge range of vegan boots styles, including vegan hiking boots and Doc Martens style boots if you prefer, like their Airseal boulder boots.
FAQ
What are vegan Chelsea boots?
Vegan Chelsea boots are boots that don’t contain any animal products like leather or animal glue. They’re made with vegan alternatives like vegan leather.
Where to buy vegan Chelsea boots?
Although you might be lucky and live in a city that has a vegan shoe store, chances are you won’t. Some department stores have vegan boots, but in my experience few shop assistants know (and while shoe material is labelled, so you can tell what’s leather and what isn’t, glue isn’t labelled).
Thus, buying online is usually easiest, hence this list!
What colour of Chelsea boots go with everything?
This is a matter of opinion. Personally, I prefer black or brown boots, but other neutral tones like taupe or grey work too.
Are Chelsea boots in fashion?
Considering people have been rocking Chelsea boots since the 60s, I’d say they’re pretty firmly in the camp of classic/always in style shoe.
Are Chelsea boots comfortable?
This depends on the shape of your foot and the specific shoe you buy, but generally, yes! I find them very comfortable, particularly if you choose a style of flats with a small heel.
Pin this for later
Looking for more vegan shoe guides? Find my guide to vegan sneakers, vegan Reebok style trainers, vegan sandals, vegan flats, vegan loafers, and my guide to all styles of vegan boots, from vegan cowboy boots to vegan heeled boots.
If you prefer other styles of boots, from vegan apple leather to vegan cactus leather boots, see my guides to vegan ankle boots and vegan knee high boots. I also have guides to vegan winter boots vegan Doc Martens, vegan Timberlands, vegan Uggs, vegan Doc Marten boots, vegan cowboy boots and vegan combat boots.
I also have guides if you’re looking for vegan dress shoes or heels for an event, or vegan designer shoes if you’re looking to turn heads.
Need comfortable shoes for working on your feet? Check out my list of comfortable vegan clogs. I also have a list of the best, comfiest vegan slippers to ease your feet into after a long day.
Trying to find men’s shoes? Check out my guide to vegan mens shoes.
For women’s shoes, see my guide vegan women’s shoes.
Find all my vegan beauty & fashion guides.
2 thoughts on “These are the 24 Best Vegan Chelsea Boots Right Now”
Hi Caitlin! I can’t thank you enough for this compilation of vegan chelsea boots! I couldn’t find anything online when I did a simple search. It was so bizarre. Anyway, this really helped me a lot. I’m so excited to explore more of your website for resources.
Thanks Ashley – so happy to have helped in your hunt for vegan Chelsea boots! :)