In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleAllbirds Women’s Wool PipersWhy I Chose AllbirdsHow Did Allbirds Perform?Allbirds Women’s Tree Dasher 2What Are Allbirds?The Bottom Line
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
Allbirds Women’s Wool Pipers
Why I Chose Allbirds
How Did Allbirds Perform?
Allbirds Women’s Tree Dasher 2
What Are Allbirds?
The Bottom Line
Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage/Getty
By the time we arrived in Brooklyn and I looked down, I realized that my trusty classic Converse Chuck Taylors had worn substantial blisters and cuts into each pinky toe. This was more my fault than the shoes; I was wearing them sans-socks on a sweaty 90-degree day; not a wise idea.
With 2½ more days in the city and zero other pairs of shoes in my suitcase to turn to, my friend and I ordered a Lyft to drop us off at the doorstep of a brand I recalled being an Ina Garten favorite:Allbirds.
Allbirds Women’s Wool PipersPHOTO: Allbirds$110 at Allbirds.com$38 at Dick’s
PHOTO: Allbirds
$110 at Allbirds.com$38 at Dick’s
What I like:The shoe is very lightweight; the interior is soft enough to go sockless; and they’re machine washable.
What to know:The white wool material soaks up dirt and grime very easily so you may want to wash them more often than the brand recommends (once every 6 months).
After trying on some other options (more on that in a minute), I landed on this pair ofNatural White Wool Pipersfor their versatility and similarity in style to my Converse—which meant they’d work well with the wardrobe I’d packed to go with my original pair of shoes.
Of all the footwear options in the area, though, why did I select Allbirds?
That latter detail is why I chose Allbirds. Not only are they Garten’s go-to kitchen kicks (they earned a spot in her 2018 holiday gift guide, and she toldGlamourin 2020, “I think they are just fantastic”), but Allbirds are also marketed as “the world’s most comfortable shoes.” That’s exactly what I needed if I didn’t want to sacrifice the rest of my adventure time in the Big Apple.
The Best Comfortable Sneakers for Everyday Wear
My friend and I arrived at the shop, and the associate helped me select from two walls full of options. The soles of Allbirds sneakers are made from low-density foam, which means they’re extremely lightweight (most models are about 7 to 10 ounces, depending on shoe size), and the interior is so soft you can go sockless. That being said, I definitely snagged some Allbirds no-show socks to don on top of the Band-Aids I’d covered my toes in until they healed.
The Best Shoes for Walking, According to Podiatrists
Allbirds wasn’t kidding with their assertion that they’ll have you walking on cloud nine. I immediately felt better and lighter, and the flexible, breathable upper meant that I didn’t even notice the raw, rubbed corners of my toes.
I wore them for the rest of the weekend, racking up another 27,000 steps or so, and felt like I could easily transition shoes like this to being part of my frequentwalk breaksonce back home. In fact, they struck such a dreamy balance between ample support and a lightweight, bouncy feeling, I considered ordering another pair of the SuperLight Trainers or Tree Flyers to be my sneaker selection for the marathon I plan to walk this fall.
However, there was one major detail I really didn’t dig about my particular pair: the dirt. I should have known based on the white colorway, but even more so than a canvas shoe in the same hue, the white wool Pipers soaked up any hint of grime they came in contact with. True, you can machine-wash them (just don’t dry them in the machine, the Allbirds team warns!). Yet after seeing their state after less than three days of wear while out of the office, I knew I’d be tempted to wash the soiled-looking kicks more than once per week back home in Iowa … which is a far cry from the once every six months the brand recommends. Beyond taking the shoes out of commission for the day, frequent washings would use a lot of extra water and would likely have the Pipers breaking down quicker than I’d like.
So I ended up taking advantage of the 30-day return policy to swap the white wool Pipers for their less dirt-attractive siblings, the Tree Dashers made with eucalyptus tree fiber. Although these clocked in at $25 more, I considered this money well spent to trim down on wash requirements and to inspire my upcomingwalking workouts. (Because yes, ICYMI,walking is a workout!)
Allbirds Women’s Tree Dasher 2PHOTO: Amazon$135 at Amazon$135 at Nordstrom$135 at Nordstrom
PHOTO: Amazon
$135 at Amazon$135 at Nordstrom$135 at Nordstrom
Allbirds' streamlined design was a favorite among Silicon Valley technology pros soon after their debut, which made sense since the startup was based in San Francisco. The footwear brand quickly picked up steam and made waves (and wishlists) globally, especially after celebrities like Garten, Jessica Alba, Blake Lively, Jennifer Garner and more were spotted wearing them.
The Ina Garten-approved Allbirds saved the day that weekend and were extremely comfortable, and they’re made with materials and practices I felt good about supporting with my dollars.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
