Vegan Summer Sports Gear

The following article was written by Megan Bedard. 

Sports are the stuff that summer's made of—pick-up soccer matches, baseball games at dusk, and beach volleyball are perfect ways to celebrate the season of sunshine. But there's no reason why sports fun needs to be at the expense of animals.

Animals like to run, roll, and play just as we do. Make sure they can get their summer playtime, too, by opting for sports equipment that doesn't use sheep intestines, pig skins, cow hides, or other animal materials.

Here are a few great animal-friendly options:

Carpenter Trade Baseball Gloves 

"The time for synthetics in professional baseball gloves has come," says Scott Carpenter, founder of Carpenter Trade baseball gloves. Scott produces the only all-synthetic gloves ever to be used in professional baseball, but he's confident that trends are pointing toward non-animal leather. "Completely synthetic gloves will eventually be an industry standard," he says. Carpenter does use wool for the padding in his gloves, but customers can request all-synthetic padding as well.

Vegan Essentials Soccer Ball 

Many soccer balls nowadays are made with synthetic leather, primarily because the material doesn't absorb water like animal skin does. But depending on where in the world you purchase your ball, your soccer ball might still contain animal parts. To ensure that your fútbol is animal-friendly, check out Vegan Essentials' vegan soccer ball. These fair-trade, eco-certified balls are a sure-fire option for consumers looking for humane, responsibly sourced soccer balls.

Vegan Essentials Football 

When the phrase "toss around the old pigskin" hit mainstream speak, we should have learned to evolve the barbaric construction of footballs. Until football fans come to their senses, though, there are vegan options. Try Vegan Essentials' football, which is made of all-synthetic materials and in line with industry standards.

Tachikara Zebra Volleyball 

Foam-backed synthetic materials make this a ball that you can bump, set, and spike with a clear conscience. The zebra stripes on its surface are a fun reminder of the animal lives you're sparing when you purchase vegan sports gear.

Cynthia King Vegan Ballet Slippers 

Skip the silk and leather as you're honing your pirouettes. Cynthia King offers vegan ballet slippers to help you make the graceful leap to animal-friendly feet. "Using cruelty-free ballet slippers directly conserves natural resources and saves lives," King says. We'll dance to that.

Know of other vegan equipment on the market? Share in the comments below!