Are microfiber boots as abrasion resistant as leather?

The EN 13634 abrasion test does not care about the material. Microfiber boots that pass with a 2 in the abrasion slot met the same requirement as a leather boot with a 2. Compare codes rather than materials.

Which parts of a synthetic boot can still be leather?

The lining, heel and toe reinforcement panels and the welt. Makers do not always list them, so check photos and ask.

Are motorcycle boots vegan?

Most motorcycle boots are not vegan, because leather is still the default upper material. A growing number use synthetic microfiber uppers instead, and they are tested to the same EN 13634 standard.

Updated November 3, 2026

Why leather is still the default

Boots are the hardest category to buy vegan. Leather uppers are cheap to source, easy to stitch and familiar to the factories that make riding boots, so most catalogs still default to cowhide. The protective parts of a boot were never leather: the toe box, heel cup, ankle cups, shank and sliders are plastic, and the sole is rubber or polyurethane.

That split matters. The question is only ever about the upper, the lining and the small parts, not about the structure that protects your foot.

What replaces leather

Two synthetic microfibers do most of the work. Lorica is a polyurethane coated microfiber made in Italy and used in race and touring boots. Clarino, made by Kuraray, is a similar material found in gloves and boots. Both are lighter than cowhide, dry faster and do not stretch out over time. Abrasion resistance is comparable, which is why boots built from them pass the same tests.

Beyond the upper, look at the lining, which can be a leather sock in otherwise synthetic boots, and at the welt and laces. Glues in boots are almost always synthetic, but makers rarely state it.

Reading the EN 13634 code

Certified boots carry EN 13634:2017 and a code of 4 digits. The first is shoe height: 1 for a boot that covers the ankle, 2 for one that reaches higher up the shin. The next 3 are abrasion resistance, impact cut resistance and transverse rigidity, each scored 1 or 2, with 2 the higher level. A code of 2 2 2 2 is the highest the standard offers.

Optional markings follow the code. IPA and IPS mean impact protection at the ankle and shin was tested, WR means water resistance, and FO means the sole resists fuel and oil. A synthetic boot carries the same code as a leather one, so compare codes, not materials.

What to check before buying

Look for a materials line that names microfiber, polyurethane, textile or synthetic for the upper and the lining. Check product photos for stitched leather panels at the heel and toe, which some makers add to microfiber boots. Ask about the lining if it is not listed.

Everything in our boots category has leather-free uppers and linings, with the EN 13634 code and waterproofing listed on each product.

Common questions

Are microfiber boots as abrasion resistant as leather?: The EN 13634 abrasion test does not care about the material. Microfiber boots that pass with a 2 in the abrasion slot met the same requirement as a leather boot with a 2. Compare codes rather than materials.
What does a 2 2 2 2 code mean?: Height above the ankle, and the higher level in each of abrasion resistance, impact cut resistance and transverse rigidity. It is the top score under EN 13634:2017.
Which parts of a synthetic boot can still be leather?: The lining, heel and toe reinforcement panels and the welt. Makers do not always list them, so check photos and ask.