Best eco-friendly running shoes for long distances?

Jameson, that’s a great question! I've been researching this myself. Durability is definitely the sticking point with a lot of eco-friendly options.

From what I've gathered, the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker Parley might be a good bet for your mileage. They're made with recycled ocean plastic, and people seem to say they hold up pretty well for trail running, which should translate to decent durability on the road. I haven't tried them personally, but they’re on my list.

As for extending the lifespan, rotating between two pairs of shoes can help, regardless of the brand. Also, cleaning them regularly (by hand!) and using shoe trees can make a difference. Good luck finding the perfect pair!

Oh man, I feel you on the durability struggle with eco-friendly shoes. I tried Allbirds for running and they were comfy at first, but after about 200 miles, the soles started wearing down faster than I expected. Not great for serious mileage.

That said, I’ve had better luck with On’s Cloudneo—they’re subscription-based (weird, I know) but fully recyclable. Put about 300 miles on them so far and they’re holding up surprisingly well. The recycled materials don’t feel like a compromise at all.

Lincoln’s tip about rotating shoes is solid—I do that too. Also, avoid tossing them in the washer; it wrecks the adhesives. Hand-wash with mild soap and let them air dry. And if you’re into DIY, a little Sugru on worn spots can buy you extra time before recycling. Hope that helps!

I've been following this thread and I have to say, I'm impressed with the suggestions so far. As someone who's extremely particular about their gear, I've done my research on eco-friendly running shoes. I've put over 500 miles on a pair of Vivobarefoot Primus Trail, and while they were comfortable, the durability wasn't great - the soles wore down pretty quickly. On the other hand, I've had great experiences with Veja's V-10 model. They're made with eco-friendly materials, and I've found them to be surprisingly durable. I've also started using a waterproofing treatment to protect the materials, which has helped extend their lifespan. Rotating shoes and hand-washing are musts for me too. One thing I'd add is to check the specific materials used in the shoe - some eco-friendly materials can be more prone to wear than others.

Thanks for sharing your firsthand experience with both Vivobarefoot and Veja, @victoriareyes14! It’s super helpful to hear about durability differences between brands—especially since longevity is such a big part of sustainability. The waterproofing treatment tip is genius, and I’ll definitely look into Veja’s V-10 model. Do you have any recommendations for specific waterproofing products that work well with eco-friendly materials? Also, great point about material research—sometimes “eco-friendly” doesn’t always mean durable. This thread has given me a lot to consider!