Allbirds Review: Are The World’s Most Comfortable Shoes Worth It?

Allbirds shoes are regarded as some of the comfiest shoes on the planet and have become the face of eco-friendly footwear quickly.

In this Allbirds review, we will go over what exactly gave the company such a reputation, what they stand for, and everything you need to know about their shoes. Let’s start with their history.

Allbirds’ History

Allbirds started in 2016 when the idea guy, Tim Brown, teamed up with an engineer, Joey Zwillinger, to create the first wool sneakers of the modern era.

Brown got the idea from his own experiences growing up in New Zealand with hordes of merino sheep. Together, Brown and Zwillinger have taken steps into a new age of sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly footwear.

Allbirds’ Offerings

Allbirds is a provider of shoes, socks, undergarments, and apparel. While they currently only have three in-person shops worldwide, the online store offers a hassle-free shopping experience.

The customer service is personable and easy to work with. Unlike many other shoe companies, Allbirds offers free online returns on all shoes for up to 30 days after purchase. They encourage customers to try shoes out for a few days before making up their minds about them.

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The Shoes

Now that we’ve looked at the company as a whole, it’s time to examine what makes their shoes so unique:

Materials

Allbirds shoes come in a wide variety of unique materials. While other companies usually offer the same polymer-based shoes, Allbirds makes theirs from natural, sustainable fibers. Allbirds has shoes made from merino wool, tree fibers, Trino, and even sugarcane.

Every part of Allbirds shoes utilizes recycled or sustainable resources. A single plastic water bottle creates one pair of laces, the insoles use castor bean oil, and even the packing uses only recycled cardboard.

Thanks to their incredible breathability, Merino wool shoes are great for temperature regulation, stretch to accommodate different foot shapes, and can be worn without socks. The tree-based shoes use wood fiber from naturally cultivated trees that use 95% less water than cotton. The shoes are breathable and flexible like merino and feel very soft and smooth to the touch.

Trino is an Allbirds original that combines merino wool and eucalyptus fibers at a near-molecular level. It possesses all the properties of wool and plant fiber shoes with the bonus of being odor-reducing.

Lastly, SweetFoam shoe soles are made from sugarcane. They grow quickly and self-sufficiently enough that the process powers itself. The sugar forms a bouncy and light sole that contours to any foot’s shape.

Range

Allbirds sells primarily lace-up shoes, but they have expanded into other styles. As of now, they offer everyday sneakers, high tops, boat shoes, slip-on flats, and weather-repellent shoes.

The sizing is accurate, but the shoes tend to have a slim toe box. For wider feet, order a size up. There are no half sizes, but thanks to the stretch and flexibility of the soft top, most people find they don’t need them.

Comfort

Allbirds are some of the comfiest shoes we’ve ever tried. They are soft, lightweight, and add springiness to each step. We are fans of shoes that feel more solid and structured, but the slipper-like softness and flexibility of Allbirds are to admire.

However, unlike many other soft-top shoes we’ve tried, Allbirds do not feel thin or make our feet feel naked. On the contrary, they feel like slipping into your favorite house socks on a cool morning.

Longevity

Thanks to the natural fibers, Allbirds shoes are long-lasting and easy to maintain. The shoes can be washed and dried without incurring damage, and you can replace the insoles if they ever wear out.

We haven’t found the soles or shoes at large to wear out any faster than any other type of sneaker, so that shouldn’t be a problem. While the shoes stretch and conform to whoever wears them, they do not get a looser or less padded feeling with time.

Best Features

By far, the two best features of Allbirds shoes are their sustainability and comfort. It is comforting for your feet and heart to know you buy shoes that won’t harm the environment.

Many returning customers rave about how comfortable, breathable, flexible, and odor-free Allbirds shoes are. Overall, most customers seem completely satisfied with Allbirds’ product offering.

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Complaints

While most lower-scoring reviews are about personal issues rather than the shoes themselves, a couple of problems have cropped up repeatedly. The biggest issue unhappy customers seem to face is the toe of tree-based shoes developing holes quickly.

While the development of holes heavily relies on factors such as toenail length, toenail angle, the shoes being too small, and what they are being used for, the consistency of this issue is enough to warrant a warning.

Some customers claim the toes developed holes after only two months. While this is not a widespread issue, it does raise some concerns.

The only other problem customers seem to have with Allbirds shoes is that the trend is not deep enough. Some customers, especially ones that bought the shoes to run, would prefer more grip in the treads.

Allbirds’ Vision

Allbirds is a forerunner of eco-industry. The company’s entire philosophy is based on environmentally friendly practices and sustainable resourcing. Having only just started in 2016, Allbirds already plans to cut their carbon footprint in half by 2025 and reduce it to nearly 0 by 2030.

As of now, Allbirds is carbon neutral. They also make a point to encourage other companies to follow their lead into a greener tomorrow. Allbirds uses only sustainably sourced, natural, and recycled materials in all of their products. Even their packaging follows this trend.

This company is completely transparent and provides current carbon footprint readouts for every step of its manufacturing. Everything down to the lighting used on the factory floor is accounted for and showcased publicly.

Unlike many other companies, Allbirds takes steps to give back what they use and positively impact the environment. All agriculture is regenerative, and all practices use green energy. Allbirds is a certified Benefit Corporation.

Final Verdict Of This Allbirds Review

Allbirds provide a sizable variety of comfortable, sustainably sourced, natural shoes. As a company, Allbirds puts the highest priority on maintaining an environmentally positive stance. Their shoes are well-liked and a great option for anyone looking for an eco-friendly alternative.