I’ve been curious about the Allbird’s slip on sneakers for a while now, so I decided that now was the perfect time to give them a try! Let’s take a look at the shoe, sizing and how I think they compare to the Rothy’s sneakers.
A Closer Look at the Allbirds Tree Lounger
First up, the Allbirds Tree Lounger is a breathable slip-on shoe that is created from “responsibly sourced eucalyptus tree fibers.” Not only is the shoe made from renewable materials, it is machine washable and the wool insole minimizes odor. To wash the shoes, you put them in a delicates bag and wash them on a gentle cycle with cold water, then let them air dry.
They come in two “classic” colors and currently have six limited edition colors available. I ordered the Kauri Marine Blue with White sole, which is one of their classic colors. They cost $95 and have free shipping. You can find them here: Women’s Allbirds Tree Loungers.
Tree Lounger Sizing
When it comes to sizing, the Tree Lounger is only available in whole sizes. Rather than order one size, try it on and possibly have to send it back to try the other size… I just ordered an 8 and a 9 to try. They have a wonderful return policy, you have 30 days to try and return shoes to them, no questions asked.
My typical shoe size is an 8.5, so I really had no idea which one would fit me best. There was a pretty big difference between the two sizes. While the 8 fit my foot okay, you could see the bumps of my big toes through the fabric. The fabric pushing on my toes was not comfortable (although there was still room at the end), and I was also worried that once I started wearing them my toes rubbing would eventually cause a hole.
The size 9 sneakers were more comfortable with extra room by the toes, which means you didn’t see any toe bumps. However, they had a little too much extra room as the back of my foot slightly slipped up and down when walked. It wasn’t super uncomfortable though, since there is a padded wool area at the back of the shoe, so I stuck with the 9’s and wore them around for a few days.
Let’s talk about the insoles. In my opinion, the insoles were both the best and worst part of the Tree Loungers. The insoles are made from “layered castor bean oil, which emits less carbon than petroleum-based foam, and ZQ Merino wool for a cushiony, moisture wicking, and odor reducing insole.” I found them super, incredibly comfortable. They feel like walking on a cloud!
However, I found that the Merino wool made my feet very, very hot. They say that they are moisture wicking and odor reducing, which may very well be true… but my feet were overheating with the wool! In fact, when testing them around the house, I found myself taking the shoes off after a couple hours because my feet were too hot. With that said, the insoles would be perfect for the winter to add a little extra warmth to your shoes. In fact, I own a pair that I stick in my Rothy’s points and loafers when it’s cold outside!
Allbirds Tree Loungers vs. Rothy’s Sneakers
Both the Allbirds and the Rothy’s are sustainably made shoes. However, the Rothy’s are knit with plastic thread from recycled water bottles… so in my opinion the upper knit area is a tighter knit than the Tree Loungers. A more open knit might have been nicer in the summer, if not for those pesky wool insoles. While they have a similar style, I think that the Rothy’s are more aesthetically pleasing and they certainly come in better colors/patterns. In the Rothy’s sneakers, I wear my typical size of an 8.5 and they fit great. There is a price difference though – the Allbirds Tree Loungers cost $95 and the Rothy’s sneakers cost $125.
Overall Thoughts:
Unfortunately, the Allbirds Tree Loungers are not a winner for me. I like the slip-on woven upper and the lightness of the shoe. However, my feet were in between sizes so I never found a super comfortable fit. Also, the wool insoles were just too warm for me and it’s not even the middle of summer yet. As much as I wanted to love them, I returned both pairs and will be sticking with my Rothy’s sneakers.
Disclaimer: Not sponsored.