Sustainable running shoes in the test |Runner's World

Running does not require a lot of equipment.Basically, our beloved running shoes are fundamental - and many runners consume quite a few of them.More than 1.2 billion couples were sold worldwide in 2018, 40 percent of which were running shoes.By 2023, it should be 1.37 billion couples annually.This shoe consumption is at the expense of the planet.Today's running shoes contain up to 20 different individual parts, which consist almost completely from non-biodegradable art and foams based on mineral oil, for example thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyester and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).These plastics are inexpensive, can be produced in large quantities and offer the perfect properties for the production of well -fitting upper materials and intermediate soles.

Why are running shoes a problem for the environment?

These materials made from fossil fuels are very problematic for the environment.Eva and TPU can last up to 1,000 years in the soil.In Germany alone, around 360 million pairs of shoes hike into the trash every year.This is a huge amount of plastic in the waste incineration plants that affect our planet.In order to make shoes for jogging more sustainably, there are more and more efforts from different manufacturers.

Sieben Tipps, damit Ihre Laufschuhe länger halten

1. Loin the laces when you take off and take off.Simply stripping the shoes (or worse: to squeeze into them) without opening them up is the safest way to damage the heel of your shoe.

2. Wear long socks.The cuffs of ankle socks can reinforce wear in the heel and collar area of your shoes.

3. Treat your shoes a day off.After a long time, conventional plastic takes time to stretch again.Using shoes alternately between the individual runs with a 48-hour break each, the intermediate soles functionality also increases.

4. Wash your shoes.Small and sand can accelerate wear.But do it by hand, with a brush and a lot of clear water, if possible not in the washing machine and under no circumstances in the tumble dryer.

5. Keep your shoes cool.If you stand next to the ongoing heating for a long time or if you are exposed to direct sunlight, the middle sole suffers and becomes hard.

6. Stuff the shoes.Take out the insole and dry it separately.Then take a crumpled newspaper together to dry the wet inner life of the shoes and help the upper shoe to stay in shape.

7. Avoid keeping shoes in a big bunch.Your favorite shoes may then be at the bottom and lose their shape.

What sustainable alternatives are there?

Running shoes produced in Germany, for example, save transport routes.Other manufacturers, for example, rely on water -based adhesives.They are significantly less harmful to the environment.There are also other alternative materials made made of recycled polyester or natural raw materials.Many sustainably oriented manufacturers have producing abroad, but pay attention to a fair production of running shoes - because this is also an aspect of sustainability.

We have tested some sustainable models and present them here.

Sustainable running shoes in the test

Reebok Floatride Energy Grow

Hersteller

Order here: men's model or women's model

This is already the second "Grow" model from Reebok.And the Floatride Energy Grow shows that Reebok is serious about plant -based running shoes.The focus is on the production with recycled or converted materials - Reebok wants to have completely reduced the use of fresh polyester by 2024.The Floatride Energy Grow is a step there.At least 50% of the materials used are plant-based, Reebok promises: For example, the light castor oil rumbles, heel collar and the hard-wearing rubber outsole, the Bloom algae insole sole or the eucalyptus upper material are, for example.

Reebok's goal was to achieve the same running feeling as the Forever Floatride Energy 3.And the test runners were enthusiastic: "He is going really well, a difference to the sibling model from the floatride family can actually not be felt in the first running impression," says a test runner.Functional losses are hard to fear.On top of that, the shoe has become even more suitable for everyday use compared to its predecessor-and impresses with the best price-performance ratio.The shoe is light, comfortable, very flexible and optically an eye -catcher.It is ideally suited for normal and high running speeds, possibly also competitions up to the half marathon distance.It is suitable for normal footrests and offers a medium -wide fit.Good: the upper material turns out to be extremely cuddly and offers a good temperature expansion;The shoe can also run well in warm conditions.

Weight: 275 grams (men), 230 grams (women) explosion: 9 millimeters RRP: 120 euros

Giesswein Wool Peak

Hersteller

Order here: women's model or men's model

As a manufacturer of leisure and everyday shoes, the Giesswein brand has made a name for itself with its own production in Austria.Merino wool as the upper is the trademark.The Wool Peak has a so-called Woolfinity fabric that Giesswein describes the most hard-wearing woolen fabric in the world from merino wool.The manufacturer produces the fabrics locally in Austria under high ethical and ecological standards.This also includes avoiding fabric waste and using recycled water in the manufacturing process.

The shoe has an energy return sole (10 mm explosion) that visually reminds of a boost sole from Adidas, and in fact the running impression is very similar to that of the ultraboost 19.However, Giesswein emphasizes that the Wool Peak is designed both as a fitness and lifestyle shoe.In this respect: as a leisure model, it has very good running properties;The damping is pleasantly comfortable for heel adders.The heel cap and the wide platform of the shoe ensures stability.The merino upper material offers high comfort - especially in the winter months.The Wool Peak has many running shoes ahead of many running shoes that the merino wool is sustainable, just like the nature built in the sole.

Weight: 300 gram blast: 10 millimeterUVP: 159.95 euros

Icebug OutRun RB9X

Hersteller

Order here: men's model or women's model

It is difficult to find resistant sustainable materials for cross -country shoes.The Outrun has at least in the entire upper material and is one of the most sustainable running shoes.Upper material and feed are completely made of recycled polyesters, as are the removable inner sole made of orthholite hybrid.The polyester is also colored and bluesign certified without water.Our testers attested the shoe to a feeling of running as a result of the rather high weight, but praised the advanced-sustainable concept of the Outrun RB9X."For traillic runs, the Outrun offers a very safe seat and the foot is very well protected, especially on stony trails. The Outrun is more suitable for a quiet pace," says a test runner who also praises: "The protective layer around the soles holds itFoot also on damp meadows and dry in the mud, but no water should penetrate from above, because that cannot escape from the shoe! "

Weight: 300 grams (women, US 7) explosion: 7 millimeters RRP: 139.95 euros

Allbirds Tree Dasher

Hersteller

Order here: men's model or women's model

The upper of the Tree Dasher is made from rapidly growing eucalyptus fiber.The Wool, however, from merino wool.With laces made of recycling plastic and an inner sole made of castor oil, the machine-washed Allbirds Tree is an attempt to produce comfortable and durable shoes using sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials.Our test conclusion: The running properties are absolutely sufficient for average health training;The shoe is not made for marathon, speed training or trailla runner.But with the sustainable material, the high comfort and the appealing design, the Tree is an enrichment in the running market, the range of sustainable shoes is still very thin.»Read detailed test here.

Weight: 310 grams (men, US 11) explosion: 7 millimeters RRP: 110 euros

Joe Nimble NimbleToes Addict

Hersteller

Order here: women's model or men's model

The manufacturer Joe Nimble pursues a consistent sustainability strategy.Due to the high quality of production, the upper survives the use time of the shoe.That is why the manufacturer offers a replacement.

If the addict footbed "tired", it can be replaced by a new one. Whether this is the case after 500km or only after 800km depends on the operational behavior. The addict is equipped with a 10 mm thick sole, but it has zero sprouts. This construction, which is often described as a barefoot principle, takes some getting used to for many runners. A test runner described it as follows: "With the comfortable rolling behavior of the Addict, runners who have so far have no experience with barefoot running shoes or flat soles, who are scared to try it out." A critical tester also argues against the 0 mm explosive shoes : "The concept is obvious for a natural foot function and for training." He pleads: "Anyone who alternately uses the addict to their" standard "running shoes with blasting is probably doing everything right." The bottom line is for the nimble toes addict A wide area of ​​application. In fact, runners with a narrow foot at the Addict also had no problem. "The heel construction is also rather voluminously designed, but I had no slip through the well -sitting upper material," said a test runner.

The nimble toes addict for calm long runs is recommended.Runners, who have previously run with high explosive running shoes, should initially only do shorter training with the shoe - or first use it in their free time, for which he is always good for.So the muscles and the band apparatus get used to the flat foot position, and the foot is spoiled by the wide toe box.The manufacturer follows the functional footwear design concept that offers special toe freedom in the shoe: the additional room for the big toe stabilizes the foot-and the bottom line is to relax the body, says Joe Nimble.

Weight: 250 grams (men/women) explosion: 0 millimeters RRP: 179 euros

Joe Nimble Toes

HerstellerJoe Nimble Toes Jog

Order here: women's model or men's model

Functional Footwear by Joe Nimble Based on Bär: The manufacturer is not just about freedom of play and natural support for the foot.The shoes are produced in the south of India in the manufacturer's own factory.Thus, the company can ensure fair and social production work there, because nothing is given to subcontractors.On the contrary: the manufacturer regularly checks that the social standards in production are actually met.

Weight: 410 grams (men, size 39) explosion: 0 millimeter price: 165 euros

Bär Light Impulsion

Kröger & Gross

The Light impulsion of Bär is produced in Germany.Our test impression: strikingly high processing quality, the wide forefoot construction is typical of the mark."It causes a very own rolling dynamics," said a test runner and added: "At higher speed, the wide shoe occasionally hit my calves." The midsole from two-component PU "offers a surprisingly comfortable damping".The explosion is rather typical of the brand: 10 millimeters.Conclusion: The Light impulsion is recommended as a recreation shoe and for quieter runs.

Weight: 399 grams (men, US 9);359 grams (women, US 7) explosion: 10 millimeter price: 229 euros

Veja Condor 2

Hersteller

Order here: men's model or women's model

The Condor is the first running shoe of the French brand Veja founded in 2004, which is entirely committed to sustainability and fairness. The result is a good running shoe at a surprisingly high level of quality when it comes to running properties. This applies again to the second version, the Condor 2. Above all, the running comfort is noticeably better here, the cushioning now properly in the comfortable area. An additional heel element made of natural latex also contributes to this. In the special model Jolie Foulee, the upper material is 100% made of recycled plastic bottles; The complete model consists of 57% bio-based and recycled components. The shoes in Brazil are manufactured, for transport to overseas, Veja completely waives air freight, all shoes are shipped. »Read the detailed test from Veja Condor here.

Weight: 302 grams (gr. 42) explosion: 10 millimeter price: 144.95 euros

Veja Marlin

Hersteller

Order here: women's model or men's model

The manufacturer Veja intensively pays attention to sustainability, fair production and a green overall balance: What has already been shown in the Condor model (since 2019, second version since 2021) is continued with the Marlin model: 62 percent is sustainable or recycled raw materials,which are used at the Marlin.

The Marlin is quite suitable for a higher running pace without being exaggerated hard."The sole characteristic provides a very pleasant, direct running feeling", described it, a Runner's World test runner and adds, "This is pleasant in itself, but above all a nice alternative to the very soft, maximum steamed running shoes." A different tester describes thisRunning feeling like this: "With the relatively flat sole and the direct contact with the ground, which the midsole conveys, I have a very authentic feeling of running, I feel one with the underground." The Marlin convinces with its running properties and, above allComfort running shoes.Runners who favor a direct running feeling are very well advised with the Marlin.Veja shows in terms of sustainability that most manufacturers are striving for.

Weight: 288 grams of explosion: 6 millimeters RRP: 160 euros

Lunge Neo Run

Hersteller

The lung Neo is the lightest and most flexible running shoe model of the German brand lungs.All shoes from the manufacturer are 100 percent "made in Germany": the company is located near Hamburg, the shoes are produced in a historic building in Mecklenburg - under high work standards.

Visually, the Neo Run comes almost like a sneaker and even when putting on, the first impression is not necessarily typical of running shoes.Nevertheless, the Neo Run offers a stable running feeling and a soft, comfortable damping behavior.The impact and rolling process is pleasantly springy without being spongy.The stable, so-called "feetality" insole sole supports the foot vault easily with a small surge in the front midfoot area.

The shaft is lined with a fine velor on the inside, on the outside the upper of the shoe consists largely of a three -dimensional mesh material, which is very springy due to the structure.Reinforcements are sewn from a kind of synthetic leather around the toes and around the heel box as well as at the lacing.The Lungs Neo Run is a made in Germany shoe that is deceptive with sneaker, but turns out to be a pleasant running shoe-ideal for runners who are looking for a soft, somewhat more stable companion for training.

Weight: 316 grams (men) explosion: 9 millimeters RRP: 160 euros

Dieser Artikel kann Links zu Anbietern enthalten, von denen RUNNER'S WORLD eine Provision erhält. Diese Links sind mit folgendem Icon gekennzeichnet:17.01.2022RedaktionRUNNER'S WORLDZur Startseite