8000Kicks
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: Portugal
Quick verdict
Best for eco-conscious consumers seeking durable, vegan, waterproof everyday footwear with a genuinely lower carbon footprint. The brand's innovative use of hemp as a primary material, producing the world's first waterproof hemp shoe, is a real differentiator in the footwear market. The carbon footprint per pair is 4.1 kg CO₂ versus the industry average of 14 kg. Caveats: sizing runs inconsistent (many recommend sizing up), natural dye colors can fade, and the brand lacks major third-party certifications like B Corp or Fair Trade.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Portugal
- Founded
- 2019
- Product categories
- Shoes, Sneakers, Vegan
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- PETA-Certified Vegan, OEKO-TEX (all manufacturing partners)
8000Kicks sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
Industrial hemp uppers are genuinely sustainable (70% less water, 72% less CO₂ than cotton/polyester). Algae Bloom Foam soles repurpose harmful algal blooms. Bio-based wax waterproof coating and cork insoles. Not 100% hemp, includes recycled polyester lining and waterproof membrane.
Discloses wages at final production and reports paying living wages at 100% of final factories (Portugal and China). Code of Conduct doesn't fully address subcontracting risks.
4.1 kg CO₂ per pair vs. industry average of 14 kg. Seeker model is 95% biodegradable. Recycled cardboard and compostable mailers, Ships via sea freight. No formal carbon reduction targets or circularity program yet.
Publishes factory locations, wages, benefits, carbon footprint per pair, and hemp sourcing map. However, only 60% supply chain traceability; no formal sustainability report; no third-party climate verification.
Most sneakers at ~$129 are competitive with Allbirds ($98–$160) and Veja ($120–$200). Trustpilot reviewers (489 reviews, 4.5/5) consistently praise durability, multiple report 2–3 years of heavy use.
What they do well
- Genuine material innovation: created the world's first waterproof hemp shoe using a bio-based wax coating, proving hemp can be a mainstream footwear material
- Dramatically lower carbon footprint: 4.1 kg CO₂ per pair is roughly 70% less than the industry average, with hemp naturally capturing CO₂ during growth
- 100% vegan, PETA-certified: water-based glue, hemp uppers, algae/recycled rubber soles, cork insoles; zero animal products
- Excellent customer service: Trustpilot 4.5/5 from ~489 reviews; CEO Bernardo personally contacts customers for sizing help and issue resolution
- Living wages disclosed at final production: publishes average wages and benefits for all final production factories, reporting above-living-wage compensation
Room for improvement
- No circularity or take-back program. Eco-Stylist specifically flagged this: there's no shoe recycling, resale, or formal end-of-life program. The repair pilot is promising but very small-scale (100+ products). For a brand marketing as "most sustainable shoe," this is a notable gap.
- No evidence the brand ensures living wages beyond final production, including upstream hemp growers and component suppliers. Code of conduct lacks subcontracting protections.
About 8000Kicks
8000Kicks was founded in 2019 by Bernardo Duque Carreira in Portugal, co-created with his grandmother Maria Otilia (77 at the time), who had 50+ years of textile experience. The brand name references 8000 BC, when hemp was first used in textiles. What began as a playful idea ("a shoe you could smoke") became a serious venture after Carreira, a Purdue business graduate, researched hemp's sustainability properties. The brand launched its first waterproof hemp sneaker in 2019 via Kickstarter and has since been featured in GQ, Bloomberg, Hypebeast, and Complex.
Key materials include industrial hemp uppers (naturally antibacterial, temperature-regulating), Bloom Foam algae outsoles (removing harmful algal blooms from waterways), recycled and natural rubber soles, bio-based wax waterproof coating (PFC-free), and cork accents. Manufacturing occurs in Portugal (a small family factory) and China, with hemp sourced globally. The company reports 60% supply chain traceability and is working to increase this.
They ship from warehouses in Portugal and California via sea freight. Free shipping and returns in the US/EU for orders over $90; 60-day return window. Pricing: Explorer V2 and Seeker sneakers at $129, Crossover Chelsea Boots at $199, SunSlide slip-ons at $75, backpacks at $149, Competitive with Allbirds and Veja while offering the unique waterproof hemp proposition.
Product highlights
Explorer V2
The brand's flagship waterproof hemp sneaker
~$129
World's first waterproof hemp shoe; algae Bloom Foam soles, super lightweight (100g/3.5oz); 90% biodegradable
Seeker
Everyday casual sneaker with recycled rubber sole
~$129
Zero-drop design for natural posture; 95% biodegradable, the brand's most earth-friendly model
Crossover Hemp Chelsea Boot
Premium hemp Chelsea boot with waterproof bio-wax coating
~$199
One of the very few vegan, hemp-based boots on the market
Everyday Hemp Rolltop Backpack
Full hemp construction with laptop sleeve
~$149
Highly praised on Trustpilot for build quality; bestselling non-shoe product
