Allbirds Review 2024
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Allbirds is 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 startup makes its shoes out of sustainable materials such as merino wool, eucalyptus pulp, and the world's first sugarcane EVA foam. Its original Wool Runners put the company on the map, but it now has more than a dozen styles — from water-resistant sneakers to ballet flats.
Allbirds shoes range from $40-$160 and come in a wide variety of colors. You'll also find many performance-oriented sneakers like the Tree Flyer, Tree Dasher 2, Trail Runner SWT. Looking beyond footwear, Allbirds also makes clothing using an assortment of sustainable materials including repurposed crab shells. Yes, you read that right!
Insider Reviews has been covering the company since 2016, and we've reviewed nearly everything it makes. Overall, its offerings are breathable, lightweight, low-maintenance, and unapologetically comfortable, but there are some noteworthy nuances to each item.
Below, you can find the full range of Allbirds footwear and clothing, plus firsthand insight into what you can expect from each style.
Allbirds Pacer, $110-$135
Inspired by classic tennis and court sneakers, the Pacer is Allbirds' latest lifestyle sneaker. The design includes traditional cut and sewn panels with curved design lines and thick, well-cushioned midsoles.
If you're looking for a new pair of comfortable Allbirds, but want a design that veers away from the look of the original Wool Runners, this is an excellent choice.
The Pacer is available in two materials — Canvas ($110) and a limited-edition 100% recycled vegan Plant Leather ($135).
Allbirds Tree Flyer, $160
As Allbirds' first performance running sneaker created for long-distance running, the Tree Flyer is also Allbirds' most technical design. It features a lightweight and airy upper made from eucalyptus tree fibers and a redesigned midsole using the brand's new SwiftFoam material.
Made from a planet-friendly blend of natural and recycled materials, SwiftFoam is lightweight and bouncy, helping to return energy to the runner and eliminating the repeated harsh impact long-distance runners typically experience.
Despite having substantially more cushioning, the Tree Flyer is nearly 1 ounce lighter than the Tree Dasher 2.
Allbirds Trail Runner SWT, $140
As the name suggests, the Trail Runner SWT is Allbirds' performance sneaker designed for trail running, hiking, and off-road activities. The design features a durable water-repellent upper, a sock-like fit to keep dirt and debris out, and durable outsoles with 4mm multi-directional treads for traction in all conditions.
Although the Trail Runner SWT is rugged and trail-ready, it's still impressively lightweight, which makes it comfortable whether you're using it for its intended purpose or for casual wearing.
In comparison to the Tree Dasher 2, the Trail Runner is only 2 ounces heavier. Overall, it's still much lighter than most dedicated hiking or trail shoes.
Adizero x Allbirds Allbirds 2.94 kg CO2e, $120
Adidas and Allbirds first announced a collaborative partnership back in May 2020. Together, they were able to create a performance running with the lowest carbon footprint of any Adidas or Allbirds sneaker ever made.
After two sold-out launches of the original Futurecraft Footprint, Allbirds launched a new limited edition "Semi Turbo" colorway.
Now simply being called the Adizero x Allbirds 2.94 kg CO2e, the sneaker features multi-color Primegreen stitching accents and gum outsoles.
Allbirds Wool Runners, $110
Allbirds' most famous silhouette is its wool runners. 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 insole 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 your $110 in a color that will hide some scuffs and dirt (read: 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.
Allbirds Wool Piper, $110
One popular critique amongst unconverted shoppers is that the original Runners aren't their style. But, it's hard to take issue with the Wool Piper — an Allbird-ized version of a classic cup sole sneaker.
The shoes are just as comfortable and low-maintenance as other pairs and use Allbirds' typical sustainable materials (merino wool and SweetFoam soles), but the low tops are far more versatile. For this reason, the Wool Pipers may be our favorite pair yet.
In person, they're comfortable out of the box — though one of us experienced some irritation after a full weekend spent in a brand-new pair. Over time, we expect them to loosen into a custom-fit like the Runners.
Allbirds Wool Loungers, $105
The Wool Loungers are soft, breathable, and supportive — like a sturdier version of a house slipper. The body feels like one long, comfortable sock that moves seamlessly when you move, and the sole is sturdy but really lightweight. All in all, we love them for wearing indoors or as regular outdoor shoes.
After two years of wear, some of us ended up replacing worn-down insoles with new ones ($15) and noticed the upper has lost some of its shape as it has molded to our feet, but nothing too noticeable.
Allbirds Dasher, $135
Allbirds first-ever performance shoe, the Dasher, was a welcome surprise for us. It's a great everyday running shoe, though you may wind up committing to a different men's or women's sneaker if you have specific needs or if you prefer a narrower base over stability.
The Dasher leverages all of Allbirds' sustainable materials into one shoe: merino wool, SweetFoam soles, and a knit upper made from eucalyptus pulp. Its base provides better stability than many neutral pairs we've tried, while the knit upper allows the foot to move freely. However, while the knit also facilitates airflow, the Dashers are a smidge hotter than our personal favorite neutral sneakers.
The Dasher's cushioning is perhaps its best feature. It's more noticeable than a minimalist running shoe, but it's not overly bulky or as heavily cushioned as Hoka One One. That combined with a wide platform that gives you solid stability on various terrains, and you've got a comfortable and secure ride almost anywhere.
Allbirds Tree Breezers, $100
The Tree Breezers 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.
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.
Allbirds Long Sleeve Sea Tee, $58
The Long Sleeve Sea Tee, previously known as the TrinoXO Tee is made from Allbirds' TrinoXO material — a blend of Tencel, merino wool, and chitosan that feels super soft against the skin. After trying it, we found that it's opaque enough to wear on its own but light enough to layer under jackets. The fit is slim but doesn't feel restrictive. It's since become one of our favorite long-sleeve tees.