Photo: 8000Kicks
Weatherproof, woven from hemp — an algae sole and a gusseted tongue, at $129.
Verdict
| What it is | 8000Kicks Explorer V2, Beige & Green — a weatherproof shoe built from industrial hemp, with a hemp insole and an algae EVA sole |
| Price | $129 — 8000Kicks' own store, checked Wed Nov 11, 2026 |
| Availability | All men's sizes listed available at check |
| The angle | A rain shoe whose material story is the construction — hemp above, algae below — in the quiet colourway, with no loud branding |
| Verdict | The hemp is not a garnish. It is the upper, the insole and the point. |
What it is
The Explorer V2 is built from industrial hemp. The upper is weatherproof hemp that repels rain; the insole is hemp; the lining is moisture-wicking; and the sole is made from algae EVA — algae harvested and foamed into the part of the shoe that usually comes straight from petroleum. A gusseted tongue keeps debris out at the laces.
Beige and green is the quiet colourway: woven texture instead of prints, no loud branding anywhere on the shoe. The label is Portuguese — 8000Kicks designs in Portugal — and the maker notes plainly that the shoes run slightly small, which is the sort of sizing honesty worth repeating before anyone orders.
Why it matters
Most "sustainable" shoes swap one panel and keep the rest conventional. Here the material choice runs through the whole build — upper, insole, lining, sole — and it is paired with a genuinely useful weatherproofing brief: a shoe for wet streets that does not look like a hiking boot cosplaying as a sneaker. That is the urban-explorer test: function first, materials with a reason, nothing shouted.
Specs
| Brand | 8000Kicks |
| Model | Explorer V2 — Beige & Green |
| Upper | Weatherproof industrial hemp (per maker) |
| Insole | Hemp (per maker) |
| Lining | Moisture-wicking (per maker, via caption record) |
| Sole | Algae EVA (per maker) |
| Tongue | Gusseted (per maker) |
| Origin | Designed in Portugal (per maker) |
| Weight | Not stated |
What to check before buying
- They run slightly small. The maker's own note — size accordingly, especially between sizes.
- Weatherproof is not waterproof. The upper repels rain; it is not a sealed boot. Buy it for wet streets, not stream crossings.
- Hemp creases and softens. The woven upper will break in and show it — that is the material working as intended.
- All sizes were listed available at check. Stock on a small maker's own store moves; the $129 figure is a snapshot from Nov 11.
Price record
| Price | $129 |
| Source | 8000Kicks' own store (8000kicks.com), checked Wed Nov 11, 2026 — all variants available at check |
| Featured on our Instagram | Wed Nov 11, 2026 — Spotted (daily series, shoe/apparel lane) |
Want one?
- In the shop: browse current stock — one-off pieces, and they turn over fast.
- Hunting one? Join the Want List — tell us the maker and the budget; pieces like this surface in our trawl most weeks.
- This one: at the source — See it at 8000Kicks. Not our listing. See Disclosure.
Related picks
- Xero Mesa Summit WP — Black — a trail shoe that keeps the water out, at $144.99
- Lems Boulder Boot Grip Waterproof — Dakota — a hiking boot shaped like a foot, at $200
- MoonStar 810s ORDLY ET058
Spotted, not sold by us — this piece lives at 8000Kicks' own store. Prices are a snapshot from when we spotted it. Disclosure
Get the Week's Finds every Sunday — the picks, what they went for, and what to check. Sign up in the footer of any page, or on the Newsletter page.
Shop the pick
8000Kicks Explorer V2 — Beige & Green
$129 — 8000Kicks' own store, checked Wed Nov 11, 2026
Affiliate note: some links in this article are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Uncommon Artifact may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
