A running shoe you can take out for a Saturday morning run and wear Saturday afternoon with nylon pants? The Veja Condor 2 Alveomesh Matcha Menthol is one of the few that pulls off that double life without looking off in either. Matcha green as the base, menthol green on the V logo, and a mesh made from recycled bottles: Veja's answer to real running, after more than a decade making street sneakers.
The Veja Condor 2 Alveomesh Matcha Menthol is a neutral, vegan running shoe with an Alveomesh upper in 100% recycled polyester, a cushioned midsole and an Amazonian rubber outsole. It weighs less than the first version of the Condor and combines two shades of green —muted matcha and cool menthol— in a technical silhouette that works for logging miles and for everyday wear.
What is the Veja Condor 2 Alveomesh Matcha Menthol like, inside and out?
What defines this silhouette is the Alveomesh: a technical fabric made exclusively from recycled polyester sourced from plastic bottles. In hand it feels thin, with an open weave that really breathes, and it holds the foot without squeezing the sides. No virgin fiber anywhere up top.
The color blocking is well thought out. The matcha, more muted and earthy, covers the whole base of the upper; the menthol, lighter and cooler, shows up on the side V logo and the overlays. On foot, the effect is a green with depth rather than a flat one, and the light midsole lifts it.
Underneath, a generously thick midsole built for daily miles and an outsole in Amazonian rubber, the material Veja has used across its entire range for years. It's a vegan shoe: zero animal-derived materials.
Real Veja Condor 2 reviews: what runners who've tested it say
Let's be honest here, because the reviews aren't unanimous. What almost all of them agree on: durability is its strong point. Some tests report the midsole showing no creasing or compression after 160 km, and the outsole holding up to around 480 km before showing serious wear.
Grip also does well: several reviewers point out that it doesn't slip on wet pavement or grass. And the most common criticism is the opposite of what many people expect: the midsole is pretty stiff out of the box and needs some break-in to loosen up. It's not a soft, cloud-like shoe; it's firm and responsive.
- Most liked: lightness, Alveomesh breathability, outsole and midsole durability
- Most criticized: firm initial feel, break-in time
- Vs. the original Condor: about 15 grams lighter and a slightly higher share of recycled materials
- Ideal use: daily runs, recovery sessions and mid distances for neutral runners
Veja Condor 2 sizing: true to size, size up or size down?
It's the number one question, so it gets its own section. The general consensus among stores and buyers is that the Condor 2 runs small and it's best to go up one size from your usual, especially if you're between sizes. Some reviews do describe them as true to size, so the practical takeaway is this: if you have wide feet, or you're unsure, size up.
The other recurring note is the tongue, which starts out a bit stiff and softens with wear. Wear mid-crew technical socks for the first few runs and you're set. You can check the available sizes for this model before you decide.
Who are they for, and who aren't they for?
They're for anyone who wants to log miles with an eye on materials and doesn't want a carbon-plated shoe or a super-plush one. They're not the pick for fast intervals or for anyone who needs strong pronation control.
How to style the Veja Condor 2 Alveomesh Matcha Menthol off the run?
The two greens are surprisingly easy to wear. They work with black, heather gray, ecru and khaki, and they really stand out when the rest of the fit is understated and you let the shoe bring the color.
- Technical street look: black drapey nylon pants + windbreaker + white tee
- Weekend casual: straight ecru jeans cuffed at the ankle + gray sweatshirt
- Soft gorpcore: khaki cargo pants + cropped fleece, playing green on green
- Clean athleisure: black ankle joggers + oversize ecru tee
The trick: show some ankle or wear pants that break just above the shoe, so the menthol V logo stands out.
Why buy the Veja Condor 2 Alveomesh Matcha Menthol at Next Step?
Vegan running with 100% recycled mesh is still rare, and this green colorway even more so. At Next Step you get it 100% new and authentic, with 14-day returns (calendar days) from delivery and fast shipping to Spain and all of Europe.
👉 Veja Condor 2 Alveomesh Matcha Menthol — check the available sizes and grab your pair before the green sells out.
