Allbirds
Updated
Allbirds began as one of the direct-to-consumer market’s most visible success stories.
Founded by New Zealand-native Tim Brown and San Francisco-based engineer and renewables expert Joey Zwillinger, the shoe startup quickly became a certified B corp company. In the ten years since, the company has seen its share of financial hardships — yet its sneakers are a mainstay in most metropolitan areas.
Its Wool Runners first put the company on the map, but it now has well over a dozen styles — including some miraculously lightweight walking shoes called the SuperLight Tree Runners, as well as some of the most comfortable flats we’ve tested.
Since 2016, Insider Reviews has reviewed nearly everything Allbirds makes. Overall, we’ve found each of its minimalist designs to be breathable, lightweight, low-maintenance, and unapologetically comfortable, but there are some noteworthy nuances to each pair.
Some styles have been phased out, but you can check out the brand’s design archive by shopping secondhand via Allbirds ReRun. Below, you’ll find the full range of our Allbirds reviews with firsthand insight on what to expect from each style.
The top 3 Allbirds shoes we tested:
Allbirds Tree Breezers
These pliable flats come in less colors than Rothy’s, but still beat them in terms of comfort. They have sneaker-like support in their footbeds and take zero break-in time.
Allbirds Wool Runners
Allbirds/Facebook
Allbirds’ most famous silhouette and original claim to fame are their Wool Runners ($100). They’re comfortable, lightweight, breathable, and decently supportive. You can wear them with or without socks based on your preference (like all Allbirds shoes), but we’ve found that you may want to wash the insoles frequently if you decide to repeatedly go sockless in the summer. It’s great that they’re machine-washable, too, but we’d recommend investing in a color that will hide some scuffs and dirt (in other words: not white).
Many Insider Reviews members have bought multiple Wool Runners, and we frequently gift them to friends and family. But, some team members would claim the company’s Tree Runners are even better.
Despite recently launching an updated version of this shoe in the form of the Wool Runners Go (more below), Allbirds will continue to offer the original silhouette indefinitely, as it’s still one of its most popular styles.
Read our full Allbirds Wool Runners review.
Allbirds Wool Runner NZ
Allbirds
“Over the years, Allbirds’ constant innovation has led to more advanced footwear and styles for nearly every facet of life. While it’s been great to see the massive expansion in its product line-up, the Wool Runner NZ ($110) is a breath of fresh air for those who fell in love with the brand for its original Wool Runners ($100). The formula is simple — a sleeker wool upper, memory foam insoles, and Allbirds’ proprietary sugarcane-based SweetFoam midsoles — and the results are an incredibly comfortable shoe.
I usually prefer performance-oriented shoes for the design language and added technologies, but once I put my feet in the Wool Runner NZs, I was reminded that everyday comfort can be found in a simple, yet thoughtfully designed shoe. The memory foam insoles make them comfortable straight out of the box, but I’m sure that with a few wears, they’ll feel even better. And since wool is naturally moisture-wicking and odor-resistant, these are shoes you can wear without socks and not feel bad about doing so.” — Amir Ismael, style editor, Insider Reviews
Allbirds Tree Breezers
Allbirds
The Tree Breezers (starting at $80) are, according to our review, “pretty much a dream come true” for lightweight, flexible, breathable flats that you’ll turn to day after day. They’re not as supportive as Allbirds’ sneakers, but they’re more padded than you may expect. They’ve also aged gracefully thanks to the structure of the Tree fabric, which holds its shape better than the wool styles or other flats we’ve tried — precisely why it’s among our guide to the best flats.
Most of us wear them in summer as well as the fall, but one reporter found them to be too warm for the hotter months.
Out of the box, our testers ranged from feeling a slight rubbing on our ankles on day one (and none after) to zero pain or blisters out of the box on a 20-block walk. We all own more stylish pairs of flats, but we agree that we find ourselves favoring these due to their outsized comfort.
Read more in our full Allbirds Tree Breezer flats review and how they compare to Rothy’s in our Allbirds vs Rothy’s flats comparison.
Allbirds Wool Runners Go
Allbirds
In November 2023, Allbirds released an updated version of its incredibly popular Wool Runners. The changes are subtle, but the Wool Runners Go ($120) introduces 15 design tweaks aimed at making the shoe even more comfortable and durable. The biggest difference is the increased height and width of the sole cushioning, which makes for a higher profile and improved comfort.
Insider Reviews deputy editor Lauren Savoie tried the new Wool Runners Go, comparing them directly to the original Wool Runners. She found the new design ultra comfortable, with great cushioning and stability. The new design also eliminates one of the biggest complaints about the original design — toe bagging. It was common for many wearers to see the outline of their big toe while wearing the original Wool Runners. A change to the length and slope of the front of the shoe now fixes the problem in the new design. The Wool Runners Go design also feels more breathable and even easier to slip on.
Allbirds continues to offer both the first Wool Runners and the Wool Runners Go, albeit the latter is only available in men’s.
Read more in our original Allbirds Wool Runners review.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
