The Best Minimalist Shoes for Men for Every Day Wear
Minimal shoes are a staple in a every man's wardrobe as they can be paired with many outfits. Finding shoes that feature minimalist design, are made with sustainable materials, practical, and are comfortable can be difficult.
This guide is a great start to learn what to look for when shopping for shoes and some of the best shoes for men with minimalist style.
What should I look for in minimalist footwear?
Consider a pair of minimalist shoes with neutral colors as this will allow you to match your shoes with more outfits
A true minimalist shoe features timeless styles that will be in for years to come
Pick a versatile shoe that can be used for work, play, and travel to maximize the wear out of your purchase
Invest in quality shoes instead of quantity. By purchasing shoes that are crafted to last for years to come this is a more sustainable choice minimizing the amount of shoes needed in your wardrobe
6 Minimalist Shoe Brands for Men
These shoe companies feature some of the best minimalist shoes made with sustainable materials.
These eco-conscious brands have some great options for men shoe shopping.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer will receive a commission if you decide to purchase, however, at no additional cost to you!
Nisolo's Responsibly Made Leather Shoes
Nisolo is a certified B Corporation crafting high quality, ethically made leather goods using socially responsible practices.
Through their sustainable leather shoes, Nisolo provides steady employment opportunities for shoemakers in Peru & Mexico, allowing artisans to support themselves and their families.
Nisolo uses sustainable practices such as eco-friendly waste disposal systems, leather byproducts from the meat industry, & carbon offsetting to craft leather goods that are meant to last a life time.
Nisolo's men's shoes feature huarache sandals, woven slip ons, low top sneakers, leather minimalist boot, dress shoes, and more.
Their shoes are a great choice when purchasing shoes that are crafted to last for years to come. Their shoes range from $130-$260.
8000Kicks's Hemp Sneakers
8000Kicks is an innovative sustainable shoe brand crafting high quality sneakers from hemp.
These vegan shoes are strong, flexible, light weight, and splash proof.
Along with the sustainable fibers of the shell of the shoe, the insole and outsole are also consciously crafted.
The outsoles are made from recycled algal blooms. By using algal blooms this helps remove harmful algae from waterways and gives the shoe a lightweight feel.
The insoles of 8000Kicks shoes are also made hemp creating a comfortable feel. 8000Kicks lightweight shoe can be found at the $129 price point and feature both neutral and bold colors.
Ethical shoppers can use the discount code HONEST for 10% off.
Allbird's Minimalist Sneakers
Allbirds sneakers are made out of natural materials such as eucalyptus and responsibly sourced wool.
These breathable materials create a flexible shoe that is great for all day wear. Allbirds also uses eco-friendly materials such as recycled plastic water bottles and castor bean oil for shoe laces and various parts of the shoes.
This sustainable brand is a certified B-Corp. Allbirds styles feature everyday sneakers, running shoes with high flexibility, boat shoes, slip ons for a sleek design, and more.
Their styles have a natural feel and feature minimalist designs with a wide range of colors.
A pair of shoes from Allbirds runs from $100-$150.
Deux Mains Men's Affordable Minimalist Sandals
Deux Main's is a social enterprise in Haiti ethically crafting leather shoes and accessories.
Their sandals are handcrafted with a responsibly-sourced leather upper, paired with an extremely resilient repurposed inner tube sole that is guaranteed to take you 50,000 miles.
This brand creates minimalist sandals for men and women with styles featuring a criss cross, flip flops, slide sandals, and more.
I own the Classic Slide Sandals and my husband owns the Men's Flip Flops.
These are incredibly comfortable sandals. I love the tan leather slide style because there is no toe strap and the natural color matches everything.
Deux Main's sandals range from $20 on sale up to $60.
TOMS Affordable Minimalist Men's Shoes
TOMS has expanded way beyond their classic Alpargatas and become more stylish. They now have a better options for minimalist men's shoes including slip on, boots, sneakers, and more.
While Toms started as a one for one shoe company, the social enterprise has shifted their business model to create further impact in developing communities.
Now Toms focuses on providing grants and other community outreach programs.
For every $3 made they give away $1 to focus on physical safety, mental health, and equal opportunity. Toms is a certified B Corporation working to expand their sustainable materials.
Tom's shoes can range from $54-$120 depending on the style.
Rothy's Shoes Made from Recycled Plastic Water Bottles
Rothy’s crafts their shoes from eco-conscious materials such as recycled plastic water bottles, plant based materials, & algae-based foam.
Rothy’s shoes feature a wide variety of casual shoes including loafers, sneakers, sandals, and flip-flops for men and women.
These shoes range from $175-$185. Rothy’s believes “Being sustainable means more than just using recycled materials.
It also means fostering an inclusive, positive work environment for our team members around the globe.
We’re proud to offer exceptional health and wellness perks to all the Rothy’s family in our San Francisco HQ, our China workshop and beyond.” Rothy’s also offsets their carbon footprint through their partnership with Carbonfund.org.
Tips for Shoe Shopping
Arch support and supportive shoes are important for people with pain, so be sure to consider any back, leg, or foot pain when shopping
If you notice your feet sweating through out the day be sure to consider breathable fabric instead of synthetic materials
Choose shoes that will last a long time, so that you don't have to replace them regularly
If you have any foot pain be sure to consider the sole of your shoes and the best way to provide support to your feet
Think about what you'll be doing when you're wearing the shoes...will you be walking around all day? Going for a short run? This will help you make a choice based on practicality
If you're in the running community don't forget to consider which shoes get better traction
Can the shoes be easily cleaned? This is an important factor if you're going on day hikes or muddy trails
What is the perfect fit? Shoe sizes may vary by brand
Hopefully this guide helps your discover a few eco-friendly minimalist shoe brands to explore and tips for finding the best option for the footwear in your closet.
For more ethical & sustainable fashion tips be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, & check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory.