From my experience Allbirds aren't the most durable. I bought a pair of wool mizzles in early September last year, and I loved them! I wore them literally every day since I bought them. That was until the bottom of my shoe started to completely fall off at the beginning of March. I was honestly devastated, they were my all-time favorite shoes that I had ever bought (not to mention the most expensive) and they didn't even last me a year. I tried going to a shoe repair place, like you said in the video, they pretty much just laughed at me. Thankfully the story has a sort of happy ending. I emailed Allbirds customer support and pretty much just said "hey this is stupid, I spent a lot of money on these". Miraculously that was enough for them, and in 2 weeks, for no extra charge they sent me a new pair. Maybe they aren't the most durable shoes around, but the customer service is still top notch.
Damn! Thanks for this comment! It's great to hear that they followed through and replaced them but yeah... sad there wasn't an option to repair with them but... can't win all the battles it seems!
If the issue was delamination (the sole coming out in one piece) you can try an adhesive like shoe goo to bind the sole back on. Cobblers can’t do much with sneakers, a couple can be resoled but I believe the company has to do the resoling.
I was a competitive runner for a long time and I can confirm, the dryer will destroy a lot of different types of shoes. This happens mainly because it will start to ruin the adhesive that connnects the sole to the fabric upper. That being said, you can do it and it's not the end of the world. Just try not to do it as often as I did.
I have owned both the tree runners and the wool runners for about 2 years. While I love both, the tree runners are the ones I always suggest people get when they ask me about Allbirds. They are more supportive, more breathable, and honestly I've found that they have lasted alot better. The material holds up better to wear and tear. Also, their flats are highly underrated. When I was looking for a pair of sustainable business shoes, they were by far the best ones I could find. 😊
I’ve had my Allbirds for about 6-8 years; like I bought the Tree Runners on launch. They’ve held up pretty well over the years of every day use, it wasn’t until last year that the left shoe started to get a hole in the side (that has since grown) that I decided to go back and buy a pair of wool loungers (very comfortable sockless to wear around the house and for short errands), Tree Dashers (a good upgrade from the Tree Runners, a bit sleeker, more athletic everyday-sneakers), and Trail Runners (excellent upgrade for hiking with ankle support and improvements for grip and somewhat more waterproof). They’ve been great so far, but I’ve also been using each equally. They’re comfortable and hold up fairly well, just need to replace the insoles every 2-3 years when they’ve flattened out.
Yeah, I can definitely say the quality has changed over the years. I own several pairs(one 15 years, one 10 years and one 5 years ago), and really got the feeling that since the docs got trendy and very popular(at least here in the Netherlands, I believe also in a lot of other countries aswell), the demand for the product skyrocketed. Due to this, the company probably had some production changes to crank up the supply and profitability of their products. It was very noticable to me when I recently tried on a pair and had an older pair to compare them to, but I can imagine people who don't have that and rely solely on the reputation Docs built up over the decades will not notice the current quality of the shoes. Together with the sole that's really harder to fix for most cobblers I'm not sure if it's really worth its money anymore, but this is all my personal opinion with only my own experience as reference. Tangent over, have this cute dinosaur emoji for reading this
The factory that originally produced docs (before they moved their production overseas) still produces great quality shoes, just no longer under the doc marten brand name. Also it's probably different for me here in the UK but you can send your boots back to doc martens for a new sole
the reason the heel wears out is actually because your feet pronate, not because you land on your heel. if you try some arch supports (like the powerstep original) it will reduce your pronation and over probably make your feet and body feel better
If your feet don’t pronate you must be dead. Pronation is a normal part of gait that provides shock absorption and is not something to be avoided. The lateral aspect of the shoe wears because this is the usual place that people heel strike in gait.
@@rebeccamaw3984 Not exactly! Pronation is very common, but not all people over-pronate which causes this type of wear. If you're someone like me who has very high rigid arches, meaning my feet don't flex when I put weight on my feet, then you don't over-pronate. Having an arch support can be very important for people who over-pronate as it supports your foot and can prevents injuries higher up in your body such as knee, hip, and back injuries and pain. Finally, most people don't heel strike and if you do then you're taking too large of steps or strides. This can be easily fixed by taking small faster steps when walking or running.
I grew up in a family where we had to wash all our sneakers by hand every Saturday. we hung them on our fence to dry and some *tips to speed up dry time* are 1. flip the shoes upside down, toes up - the water will drip out of the shoe instead of collecting in the toes 2. after it stops dripping, flip it up (toes still pointing up) - this will prevent a bunch of water collecting in the heel & thus prolonging the dry time 3. bright sunny days directly in the sun & warm air help but you can do it in front of a heater vent or inside by a window during the winter edit: my mom's a bit old school and anti-technology. but my aunt (her sister) was legit shocked to hear we washed by hand. her family just chucks them in the washer & dryer. worked for them but idk how my converse would've held up with that sort of abuse.
I love my tree skippers, they’re fantastic and definitely more breathable. My one regret is that I bought the white ones 🙄 so I’m very familiar with the washing process and they really hold up to washing. However I am going to get some navy tree skippers for this summer so I can wear them as much as my heart desires.
That rip at the ankle - try putting in a blanket stitch starting a little bit before the rip and ending a little bit after the rip. You can do this with just a needle and thread, and use a matching embroidery thread. Or not matching, if visible mending is your thing :) It should help keep it from unraveling more.
Do a review of Adidas and their ongoing collaboration with Parley for the Ocean next! I'd love to learn more about how their recent endeavors into making sneakers w/ recycled ocean plastic are really sustainable!
As I am transitioning into a minimalist lifestyle, I was looking for minimal everyday shoes. I was about the bite the bullet and buy a pair of Oliver Cabells, but I saw this video and ordered the tree runners in white instead. It was cheaper and seems like a much more eco friendly option. Thank you for the great content!
Just want to say I watched your Vessi video and the quick cameo your All Birds made in that video. Thanks for being consistent. Love your stuff. Take care!!
I’ve got a couple pair of Allbirds and love them. I initially got into Allbirds because I wanted a pair of wool shoes if possible. It’s a weird reason, but I got into wool at a young age because of Pendleton wool shirts my dad used. Besides wool being warm, I liked the fact that it’s a higher quality material and tends to last longer if you take care of it (moths are an issue). Really happy with my Allbirds and they’re pretty easy to clean. I usually throw them in the washing machine on a cold cycle and air dry them. I think it’s pretty much how Allbirds says to clean their shoes on their website.
Just bought Tree Flyers! Have owned the exact ones you have plus Tree Runners since 2019. They are soooo good. And an outstanding company. Not much to dislike with them. Although I wish they were more weather resistant. Even the eucalyptus fibre ones don’t fair well in rain.
I have a pair of their Wool Loungers as my indoor slippers. I work from home so I wear them like 18 hours a day everybody. They are still going strong after 2 years, though I did replace the insole with a new pair from Allbirds, as I did destroy one pair just out of use. The shoes themselves are still solid.
The only place I have not been able to figure out how to invisible mend my allbirds is where the uppers connect to the sole. But I have mended the same spot where your pair has wear near the laces. Anyways! I LOVED the format of this video and checking back in on items that you have gotten during the lifetime of your channel. OHHH Allbirds does take back shoes that are still wearable and they donate them, I asked when I had gotten to the end of life on my most recent pair but sadly mine are soooo worn they are of no use to anyone. So I wear them as my trashy slip ons.
Yeah that makes sense. I think it’s better to wear them out in general though. The idea of “donating” shoes is always a little unpredictable because how do we really know where this stuff ends up?
@@LeahandLevi exactly! I figure I’ll wear mine until they are just one big hole 🤣 I think Allbirds has it in them to figure out how to close their loop, I just hope it doesn’t take too much longer.
Both me and my wife have the wool runner mizzles and the tree runners. I think those are the best options for most people. I wear the mizzles every day thought a quite damp, snowy or rainy Prague in the colder half of the year. And the tree runners throughout summer. I think the tree runners are just a bit better than the wool ones. in support, breadability and general resistance to wear and tear. We also walk at least 10000 steps daily clocking in easily over 10 km (6.2 miles) while on vacation. this are the only two shoes that I have worn in the past 2 years (2 years for the tree runner, 8 months now for the mizzles)
I have a great problem with sneakers, I tend to wear them out very quickly because I wear them all the time, I would really appreciate a video about this subject ^^
@Levi Hildebrand i know there are washing machine bags made to prevent microplastics from clothes going into the waters and then the fish we eat. I think some of these are just remarketing of others, and some are the ones to protect delicate clothes that aren't that good at catching microfibers. But it's hard to know what's a scam and what isn't, so a video could help
@@alessiaagazzi8605 interestingly I made a video about the guppy friend on my channel, which is the washing bag you are talking about. I think the only scam is the Coraball.
Levi, I have the tree runners, and I don't think you'll get more stability, the upper is pretty stretchy (and comfy!) and I assume it's similar if not even less stable than a wool upper. Still love 'em!
Dang I really wish companies with ethics like this would make supportive shoes - or better yet, supportive running shoes companies would have better ethics. After I binged a bunch of sustainability videos I felt bad that my every day shoes have been from asics as my podiatrist told me my overpronation is beyond what insoles could counteract. My current pair are falling apart and I wanted to replace them with all birds, but I tried on a pair of bare foot shoes I gave up on before and it basically messed up my joints again. It's a shame really but hopefully these two things will converge at one point and support shoes can be more ethical. At least my stupid joints stop me from buying from fast fashion shoe brands so there is a silver lining there.
I just realized I've been sporting my Tree Runners for over 2.5 years! And they basically look brand new (after I wash them of course) 🤯 I've never had shoes last over a year before (even my Adidas Stan Smith barely made it through a year before getting cracks all over), Allbirds is quality! My only issue is with the Wool Runner-up that I have since last year: they don't resist to water all that well so in the Winter I still need to avoid puddles… but they're comfy and warm!
Just put them in the washer on the wool/hand wash setting at 30ºC (cool setting for Americans) and spin them dry at highest rpm your washer allows. I've cleaned all my cloth shoes like this for years, works every time
The main reason I want them is for walking around town in wet weather and puddles instead of trainers (plus the warmth and comfort). Should I get the plus version instead or something else? I wouldn't use hot water on merino wool by the way.
I have just ordered my all bird wool runner shoes and i hope i will enjoy it. I have been using sketchers shoes for a while and those are also very comfortable but i watched so many videos about all birds, are they more comfortable than sketchers?
Levi, I have tended to take your advice serious when I am in the market for things, which isn’t often. Allbirds have been one you steered me very much in the right direction on. I have had the Allbirds Mizzles high top as sort of a casual shoe for about a year and a half, I would say while not an every day shoe maybe once to twice a week for me and I really like them. The apparel has also become a favorite. I do take things like quality and longevity of a product in strong consideration as well as their environmental impact or “B” corporation status, with the “B” status something i also picked up from you. There is also another factor for me and that being outstanding customer service, which I also receive from Allbirds, just this morning I ran into that. I have totally worn out my work out shoes and will likely replace those this summer and am leaning very heavily on the newer Allbirds Treebirds. Seeing your video today, is ideal timing! So thanks. You mentioned shoe or ankle taps on shoes, do you think they would work on the Treebird Runners? Thanks again.
This is great to hear! I'm so glad that they've worked out for you! Honestly I think the heelguards wouldn't work given the softness of the footbeds on the Allbirds which is a bit of a bummer but as long as you're making the most of the shoes that's what matters!
Came here to comment that i was waffling on deciding to buy a gently used pair of Allbirds on ebay for 40 bucks and I googled reviews and was trying to decide if it was worth it. It wasn't until I watched your video that I decided to try them. I stopped halfway thru watching and clicked buy it now, then came back and finished you video and commented. I feel good knowing I found them 2nd hand but even better they're from a decent company to begin with.
Im currently wearing a pair of Vivobarefoots, and I think this kind if footwear is what Im moving towards. Hard to drestroy cushion if its not there to begin with, all parts of the shoe are made to last. However, barefoot shoes are not for everyone, I know you previously mentioned having flat arches.
Yeah I have wanted to check them out actually! I struggle to buy a bunch of shoes to test out for the channel but if they sent me some I would give them a shot!
I have a pair of allbirds (wool) and while I like them (so comfy!), they're pretty bad in the rain due to the lack of tread. I do wish they had a repairable/swapable tread though.
I agree about the tread. I've had my tree runners over a year and love the comfort, fit, lightness, etc. But the already minimal tread with a year of everyday wear leaves them pretty slick on anything damp or polished. Was considering the tree dasher or dasher relay for the improved tread.
Great! A follow up video is always the best way to do reviews. It seems like there are more sustainable shoes brands around nowadays, I'm thinking of buying the brand Nothing New.
After renting an apartment in Eastern Europe for a few weeks and having only a (tiny) washing machine under the kitchen counter, we got used to using a drying rack for clothes. Being renters that don't have in unit laundry at home, and having to pay to use the dryers in the laundry room, the rack we got paid for itself after a few washes. It's built to last and totally recyclable (aluminum) if it ever somehow got hit by a truck in our 6th floor apartment.
Well, I finally bought some All Birds last year. I bought the Women's Wool Loungers, the black wool runners and the black ballet flats. I rarely wear the flats or the sneakers, but I pretty much wore the Wool Loungers for 8 months straight. All the other shoes in my closet collected dust. But truth be told, I'm back into my 20 year old Naot and Joseph Seibel mules and clogs. Say what you will about leather, but man, my Ugg Brooks boots are nearly 30 years old. My only complaint with All Birds is the white outsoles. In general for many years I have avoided white outsoles. They end up looking filthy, no matter what. I got the dark gray Loungers because dark outsole, the wool runners in black because very dark gray outsole. Black bottoms on those flats. I do love those Wool Loungers though... I thought I'd never take them off!
I've been wearing allbirds for 3 or 4 years. I have the same pair as Leah, plus one in matcha green which I bought for my mom but she didn't want. I wore the grey ones for my 2 week trip to Japan in July 2019 and walked everywhere, 20,000+ steps a day. allbirds dress flats are my work staple. The only drawback in the loafer is under the top part, some piece of fabric got loose so my toes sometimes get stuck in a pocket. Umm should I mention I've never washed them? Maybe I will now.
Shoes are a goto section of all resale shops, you can get great prices and I can immediately get a sense for the pairs that will clean up nicely...only new shoes I buy are running shoes, every 300 miles...
I love my Allbirds, I even find them comfortable for my 8 hr shifts at a coffee shop. However, mine don't seem to clean up as well as yours did Levi. It is probably the color choice... I have white wool runners and peach (tree runners?)
I'd say biodegradable wool wash might be a better bet than dish soap. Its milder and formulated for wool. Anything too harsh and you are decreasing the life of the fibres. If the goal is longevity afterall. Also whilst I don't own all birds yet, I put havaianas and fabric vans type shoes in the wash with woolwash along with workwear cottons frequently. comes up clean everytime.
Very informative. I did wonder how long a pair would last. So they're do offer value for money. The heel guards is a good idea. I didn't know ppl use them like that on casual shoes. Keep up the good work.
Dear Levi, I was looking for nice shoes for Spring for my very picky feet, somehow found about allbirds, searched for them on YT and 2 days later I have binged almost all your videos, I'm superhyped about doing more for the planet, and I love you guys
I loved the allbirds as they are so comfy. I wore them for 3 months. Then I started losing sensation of my big toes. Turns out that the lack of arch support of allbirds ruined the nerves of my big toes. Never never wear allbirds again.
Are they bendable? Or it is stiff? That is very important for me when I buy shoes. For example, I cannot buy Toms, it is too flimsy. So next time, please wring it out to see if it would support my arch. Merci!
I hope that they stand up to the test but Vivos is a barefoot shoe company that is working on a circular system. Where I believe you can send them back at the end of their life and or repare them. If you are interested in a barefoot shoe company, and they make an hiking boot!
I've never heard of this brand - I only started following your page after you did the review of the Fair Phone. I'll need to check out your older video on these. I mainly wear Nike and Vivobarefoots (for running). I would never use the dryer - I don't even own one - but I usually just put my trainers in the washing machine (with a couple of towels for padding) for a 30C (90F ish?) wash and it has never damaged them. On another note, my current Vivobarefoots are made from recycled materials and are fantastic if you're a minimalist shoe fan for running.
@@LeahandLevi cheers for the response and greetings from Scotland. I find them brilliant for running in. For generally walking about in, not so much. They have zero support with zero drop on the heal - basicallythey have a 3mm thick sole across the length of the trainer with no cushioning other than what is provided by the insole. They are really designed such that you land on the fore foot rather than the heal (barefoot style). I land on the fore foot when I run, but my heal when I walk (appreciate that might sound weird lol).
I am so curious. I was hoping allbirds would be the answer to a sustainable workout shoe, but they seem to be for casual wear. Would love to see a video of sustainable, supportive footwear for working out. Birkenstock has sandals, casual sneakers, and great boots haha. I need a workout shoe!
I've had the Tree Toppers for 2 years as well, and I bought mine after watching your video actually! :-) Of course, I'm loving them still, and washing them more often than you I must say haha However, washing shoes (by hand but especially in the laundry machine) too often is also not good, I'd say once a month by hand at most. Also, are you gonna check out 8000Kicks and Tropicfeel? They seem like awesome brands too!
I’ve been thinking of getting a pair of All Birds for an every day fashionable shoe. My biggest complaint with a lot of the footwear available is the cheap soles and the inability to repair them. Often the upper portion is in perfect condition but the soles are worn right through.
Yeah this is the challenge of the sneaker world. I guess if I was truly the most sustainable possible I would own like old leather dress shoes that can be infinitely repaired? 🤷🏻♂️
Yeah a like the north face running shoes, they skimp om the thin outsole, its not even vibrant and at that price point to go that thin on the outsole with that soft a wearing compound they really ruined any hope for longevity with th north face vectiv endures, mine went to hell quickly, feel like I was do a replacement but the company out of Massachusetts I ordered then from hard to communicate
You can check out crownnorthampton sneakers, they are made out of leather and I believe they have a service where they can resole the sneakers for you, but they are quite expensive
I got heel guards years ago. But they kept falling off - even the nailed on kind. The glue on kind was even worse. The foam of sneakers makes it hard to add heel guards, no purchase for nailing it on.
after 2 years of use walking around nyc the soles on my M12 wool "runners" wore down to be nearly smooth such that they're hazardous to wear if there's any slippery surfaces or wet leaves around. I think some of the newer models have enhanced soles around the balls of the feet and the heel. its a pity as the shoe upper is in pristine condition even after the occasional wash. I replaced the insole once so i'll just keep wearing them around the house and for spring and summer short neighborhood walks but its disappointing the sole wasn't very durable. Almost made me feel like they were not designed for a long life. Given the brand's talk about environmental materials and such I'd think they'd have a better impact if the shoe wasn't designed to be replaced after such a short time.
Love the video! I would also love to see a dr. martens one! I feel like they are really popular and they last very long, but I don´t really know how sustainable they are. :)
From my experience Allbirds aren't the most durable. I bought a pair of wool mizzles in early September last year, and I loved them! I wore them literally every day since I bought them. That was until the bottom of my shoe started to completely fall off at the beginning of March. I was honestly devastated, they were my all-time favorite shoes that I had ever bought (not to mention the most expensive) and they didn't even last me a year. I tried going to a shoe repair place, like you said in the video, they pretty much just laughed at me.
Thankfully the story has a sort of happy ending. I emailed Allbirds customer support and pretty much just said "hey this is stupid, I spent a lot of money on these". Miraculously that was enough for them, and in 2 weeks, for no extra charge they sent me a new pair. Maybe they aren't the most durable shoes around, but the customer service is still top notch.
Damn! Thanks for this comment! It's great to hear that they followed through and replaced them but yeah... sad there wasn't an option to repair with them but... can't win all the battles it seems!
What about Atom vs All birds?
If the issue was delamination (the sole coming out in one piece) you can try an adhesive like shoe goo to bind the sole back on. Cobblers can’t do much with sneakers, a couple can be resoled but I believe the company has to do the resoling.
I feel you!! Same happened to me with Kiziks, it’s a marketing gimmick to make shoes that wear fast.. sucks. Makes me trust big shoe brands more.
This is basically a "look, I cleaned my shoes for the first time in 2 years!" video and I loved it 😂
Yes. Except he's already washed them 3-4 times in the two years...
😊😊😊
I was a competitive runner for a long time and I can confirm, the dryer will destroy a lot of different types of shoes. This happens mainly because it will start to ruin the adhesive that connnects the sole to the fabric upper. That being said, you can do it and it's not the end of the world. Just try not to do it as often as I did.
lol why don’t you just let it air dry
3:40 Ooooh the legendary Birkenstocks video! That's how I found your channel in the first place! 😊
Yep that video (weirdly) sort of made my channel blow up haha
@@LeahandLevi Well, people seem to love Birkenstocks so much, they even look them up on UA-cam
@@LeahandLevi I feel like the first video I saw on your channel was about a bicycle. But now I'm not sure.
Being a shoe nut and runner, I am so glad you gave this update. It helps with decision making
Glad it's helpful! Check out their new Mizzles lineup if you need them to be more waterproof!
I have owned both the tree runners and the wool runners for about 2 years. While I love both, the tree runners are the ones I always suggest people get when they ask me about Allbirds. They are more supportive, more breathable, and honestly I've found that they have lasted alot better. The material holds up better to wear and tear. Also, their flats are highly underrated. When I was looking for a pair of sustainable business shoes, they were by far the best ones I could find. 😊
This is a great bit of feedback! I'll have to go for the Tree options next time!
This video makes me want an eco-friendly laundry routine
Leah's surprised face when Levi announces he's gonna clean the shoes LMAO
I like to keep her on her toes. 😜
I was waiting for him to wash hers too 😅
Yes, I got my first first pair 4 years ago and still use it to this day. Definitely worth it!
I’ve had my Allbirds for about 6-8 years; like I bought the Tree Runners on launch. They’ve held up pretty well over the years of every day use, it wasn’t until last year that the left shoe started to get a hole in the side (that has since grown) that I decided to go back and buy a pair of wool loungers (very comfortable sockless to wear around the house and for short errands), Tree Dashers (a good upgrade from the Tree Runners, a bit sleeker, more athletic everyday-sneakers), and Trail Runners (excellent upgrade for hiking with ankle support and improvements for grip and somewhat more waterproof). They’ve been great so far, but I’ve also been using each equally. They’re comfortable and hold up fairly well, just need to replace the insoles every 2-3 years when they’ve flattened out.
My husband and I bought our very own allbirds after your last video and we love them. They're pretty much the only shoes I wear.
That is awesome! Glad you're enjoying them!
Lying on the floor to talk to the camera was a very Peter McKinnon move 😂
I bought my allbirds tree runners with your link about a month ago. I still absolutely love them!
Glad you like them! To many more years with them! 🙋🏻♂️
quality shoes are the best, my docs have been with me for a LOOONG time
Yeah I did a lot of research into the docs too. The welted sole is great but there's been some quality issues over the years it seems?
I believe they've moved most production overseas, and I think that's where the issues are coming from.
Yeah, I can definitely say the quality has changed over the years. I own several pairs(one 15 years, one 10 years and one 5 years ago), and really got the feeling that since the docs got trendy and very popular(at least here in the Netherlands, I believe also in a lot of other countries aswell), the demand for the product skyrocketed. Due to this, the company probably had some production changes to crank up the supply and profitability of their products. It was very noticable to me when I recently tried on a pair and had an older pair to compare them to, but I can imagine people who don't have that and rely solely on the reputation Docs built up over the decades will not notice the current quality of the shoes. Together with the sole that's really harder to fix for most cobblers I'm not sure if it's really worth its money anymore, but this is all my personal opinion with only my own experience as reference.
Tangent over, have this cute dinosaur emoji for reading this
The factory that originally produced docs (before they moved their production overseas) still produces great quality shoes, just no longer under the doc marten brand name. Also it's probably different for me here in the UK but you can send your boots back to doc martens for a new sole
@@bethm7256 Ahh, good to know! I'll have to look into this, thanks!
Love the video on the shoes! Also, glad Leah is back with the middle part in her hair! hahaha!
the reason the heel wears out is actually because your feet pronate, not because you land on your heel. if you try some arch supports (like the powerstep original) it will reduce your pronation and over probably make your feet and body feel better
If your feet don’t pronate you must be dead. Pronation is a normal part of gait that provides shock absorption and is not something to be avoided. The lateral aspect of the shoe wears because this is the usual place that people heel strike in gait.
@@rebeccamaw3984 Not exactly! Pronation is very common, but not all people over-pronate which causes this type of wear. If you're someone like me who has very high rigid arches, meaning my feet don't flex when I put weight on my feet, then you don't over-pronate. Having an arch support can be very important for people who over-pronate as it supports your foot and can prevents injuries higher up in your body such as knee, hip, and back injuries and pain. Finally, most people don't heel strike and if you do then you're taking too large of steps or strides. This can be easily fixed by taking small faster steps when walking or running.
I grew up in a family where we had to wash all our sneakers by hand every Saturday.
we hung them on our fence to dry and some *tips to speed up dry time* are
1. flip the shoes upside down, toes up - the water will drip out of the shoe instead of collecting in the toes
2. after it stops dripping, flip it up (toes still pointing up) - this will prevent a bunch of water collecting in the heel & thus prolonging the dry time
3. bright sunny days directly in the sun & warm air help but you can do it in front of a heater vent or inside by a window during the winter
edit: my mom's a bit old school and anti-technology. but my aunt (her sister) was legit shocked to hear we washed by hand.
her family just chucks them in the washer & dryer. worked for them but idk how my converse would've held up with that sort of abuse.
Best shoes I've ever bought. I've had my pair of Allbirds for about a year and a half and I've walked hundred of miles in them
That's great to hear! When these ones are finally done I want to try the tree runners. 👍🏻
I love my tree skippers, they’re fantastic and definitely more breathable. My one regret is that I bought the white ones 🙄 so I’m very familiar with the washing process and they really hold up to washing. However I am going to get some navy tree skippers for this summer so I can wear them as much as my heart desires.
Yeah I always want white shoes until I wear them lol... So hard to keep clean! 😭
Glad to see this. I've been eyeing them as my next pair of shoes.
That rip at the ankle - try putting in a blanket stitch starting a little bit before the rip and ending a little bit after the rip. You can do this with just a needle and thread, and use a matching embroidery thread. Or not matching, if visible mending is your thing :) It should help keep it from unraveling more.
Do a review of Adidas and their ongoing collaboration with Parley for the Ocean next! I'd love to learn more about how their recent endeavors into making sneakers w/ recycled ocean plastic are really sustainable!
Yeah I've seen/heard of these but if I'm not mistaken... you can't actually buy them yet?
I think they renamed the shoe, but on the Adidas US website they're called the Ultraboost Made to Be Remade?
They're also almost triple the price of the allbirds. :(
At least when converted to CAD
I'm super hyped for the Adidas X allbirds collab
Considering how adidas treats the people who make their shoes, this almost seems like a fake "ethical" publicity stunt.
As I am transitioning into a minimalist lifestyle, I was looking for minimal everyday shoes. I was about the bite the bullet and buy a pair of Oliver Cabells, but I saw this video and ordered the tree runners in white instead. It was cheaper and seems like a much more eco friendly option. Thank you for the great content!
Glad it worked out! Thanks for leaving a comment!
leah looks so good with the middle part omg I'm obsessed
Whenever we do a load of bath mats in our washing machine, I just add my 2 yr old Allbirds Tree Runners and they come out looking brand new.
Just want to say I watched your Vessi video and the quick cameo your All Birds made in that video. Thanks for being consistent. Love your stuff. Take care!!
Because of your first allbird video I bought a pair and I love them. I am glad to see a second video update.
I’ve got a couple pair of Allbirds and love them. I initially got into Allbirds because I wanted a pair of wool shoes if possible. It’s a weird reason, but I got into wool at a young age because of Pendleton wool shirts my dad used. Besides wool being warm, I liked the fact that it’s a higher quality material and tends to last longer if you take care of it (moths are an issue). Really happy with my Allbirds and they’re pretty easy to clean. I usually throw them in the washing machine on a cold cycle and air dry them. I think it’s pretty much how Allbirds says to clean their shoes on their website.
Just bought Tree Flyers! Have owned the exact ones you have plus Tree Runners since 2019. They are soooo good. And an outstanding company. Not much to dislike with them. Although I wish they were more weather resistant. Even the eucalyptus fibre ones don’t fair well in rain.
I have a pair of their Wool Loungers as my indoor slippers. I work from home so I wear them like 18 hours a day everybody. They are still going strong after 2 years, though I did replace the insole with a new pair from Allbirds, as I did destroy one pair just out of use. The shoes themselves are still solid.
They literally look like new. This really makes me want to get my own pair if I have to get a new pair!
Have you ridden your bike with them before? Do they feel ok on a bike?
Yep! I ride with them quite often! I wouldn't do anything too serious but casual commuting they are just fine. 👍🏻🙋🏻♂️
The only place I have not been able to figure out how to invisible mend my allbirds is where the uppers connect to the sole. But I have mended the same spot where your pair has wear near the laces. Anyways! I LOVED the format of this video and checking back in on items that you have gotten during the lifetime of your channel. OHHH Allbirds does take back shoes that are still wearable and they donate them, I asked when I had gotten to the end of life on my most recent pair but sadly mine are soooo worn they are of no use to anyone. So I wear them as my trashy slip ons.
Yeah that makes sense. I think it’s better to wear them out in general though. The idea of “donating” shoes is always a little unpredictable because how do we really know where this stuff ends up?
@@LeahandLevi exactly! I figure I’ll wear mine until they are just one big hole 🤣 I think Allbirds has it in them to figure out how to close their loop, I just hope it doesn’t take too much longer.
Both me and my wife have the wool runner mizzles and the tree runners. I think those are the best options for most people. I wear the mizzles every day thought a quite damp, snowy or rainy Prague in the colder half of the year. And the tree runners throughout summer.
I think the tree runners are just a bit better than the wool ones. in support, breadability and general resistance to wear and tear. We also walk at least 10000 steps daily clocking in easily over 10 km (6.2 miles) while on vacation. this are the only two shoes that I have worn in the past 2 years (2 years for the tree runner, 8 months now for the mizzles)
I have a great problem with sneakers, I tend to wear them out very quickly because I wear them all the time, I would really appreciate a video about this subject ^^
I made a whole video about heelguards which talks about this!
I pitch mine in the washer with other delicates, and air dry. They are awesome!
I like it, to be honest personalized or used shoes looks appealing to me, especially white sneakers
I just throw my shoes in the washing machine, works for me. :)
Yeah this works too! Maybe in a pillow case or something to prevent damage!
@Levi Hildebrand i know there are washing machine bags made to prevent microplastics from clothes going into the waters and then the fish we eat. I think some of these are just remarketing of others, and some are the ones to protect delicate clothes that aren't that good at catching microfibers. But it's hard to know what's a scam and what isn't, so a video could help
@@alessiaagazzi8605 interestingly I made a video about the guppy friend on my channel, which is the washing bag you are talking about. I think the only scam is the Coraball.
@@Zerowasteman thank you! I'll give it a watch
Agreed! I throw mine in the washer every few months and they look good :)
Levi, I have the tree runners, and I don't think you'll get more stability, the upper is pretty stretchy (and comfy!) and I assume it's similar if not even less stable than a wool upper. Still love 'em!
Dang I really wish companies with ethics like this would make supportive shoes - or better yet, supportive running shoes companies would have better ethics. After I binged a bunch of sustainability videos I felt bad that my every day shoes have been from asics as my podiatrist told me my overpronation is beyond what insoles could counteract. My current pair are falling apart and I wanted to replace them with all birds, but I tried on a pair of bare foot shoes I gave up on before and it basically messed up my joints again. It's a shame really but hopefully these two things will converge at one point and support shoes can be more ethical. At least my stupid joints stop me from buying from fast fashion shoe brands so there is a silver lining there.
I just realized I've been sporting my Tree Runners for over 2.5 years! And they basically look brand new (after I wash them of course) 🤯
I've never had shoes last over a year before (even my Adidas Stan Smith barely made it through a year before getting cracks all over), Allbirds is quality!
My only issue is with the Wool Runner-up that I have since last year: they don't resist to water all that well so in the Winter I still need to avoid puddles… but they're comfy and warm!
Oh god yeah they're like wearing a sponge honestly lol. I've heard the mizzles are a good option for water resistance. Might try those next time!
@@LeahandLevi I have the Mizzles, that's the issue! 😂
Love my allbirds wool runner,my comfiest shoes ever,and buying another one for sure!!! And i found allbirds because of you !!! Thanks 👍
Glad you like them! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Love the video, this was great information! What do you use for a running shoe and how often do you replace them?
Yes! Is there a sustainable shoe that’s supportive for working out?
Just put them in the washer on the wool/hand wash setting at 30ºC (cool setting for Americans) and spin them dry at highest rpm your washer allows. I've cleaned all my cloth shoes like this for years, works every time
such a good review i really appreciate the follow up video
The main reason I want them is for walking around town in wet weather and puddles instead of trainers (plus the warmth and comfort). Should I get the plus version instead or something else? I wouldn't use hot water on merino wool by the way.
I have just ordered my all bird wool runner shoes and i hope i will enjoy it. I have been using sketchers shoes for a while and those are also very comfortable but i watched so many videos about all birds, are they more comfortable than sketchers?
Leah's rocking that mid part, she looks sooo cool. Super dope vid btw.
Thanks so much!!
Levi,
I have tended to take your advice serious when I am in the market for things, which isn’t often. Allbirds have been one you steered me very much in the right direction on. I have had the Allbirds Mizzles high top as sort of a casual shoe for about a year and a half, I would say while not an every day shoe maybe once to twice a week for me and I really like them. The apparel has also become a favorite. I do take things like quality and longevity of a product in strong consideration as well as their environmental impact or “B” corporation status, with the “B” status something i also picked up from you. There is also another factor for me and that being outstanding customer service, which I also receive from Allbirds, just this morning I ran into that. I have totally worn out my work out shoes and will likely replace those this summer and am leaning very heavily on the newer Allbirds Treebirds. Seeing your video today, is ideal timing! So thanks. You mentioned shoe or ankle taps on shoes, do you think they would work on the Treebird Runners?
Thanks again.
This is great to hear! I'm so glad that they've worked out for you! Honestly I think the heelguards wouldn't work given the softness of the footbeds on the Allbirds which is a bit of a bummer but as long as you're making the most of the shoes that's what matters!
Been sold on them, thanks to you, and have gotten people to buy them but they don’t have my size 15s. Great video as usual.
Fun fact: your foot is always exactly the same length of your underarm from elbow to wrist 🤓 And I love Allbirds ✌🏻
Came here to comment that i was waffling on deciding to buy a gently used pair of Allbirds on ebay for 40 bucks and I googled reviews and was trying to decide if it was worth it. It wasn't until I watched your video that I decided to try them. I stopped halfway thru watching and clicked buy it now, then came back and finished you video and commented. I feel good knowing I found them 2nd hand but even better they're from a decent company to begin with.
I hope they work out for you! Thanks for leaving a comment 👍🏼
Im currently wearing a pair of Vivobarefoots, and I think this kind if footwear is what Im moving towards. Hard to drestroy cushion if its not there to begin with, all parts of the shoe are made to last. However, barefoot shoes are not for everyone, I know you previously mentioned having flat arches.
Yeah I have wanted to check them out actually! I struggle to buy a bunch of shoes to test out for the channel but if they sent me some I would give them a shot!
I have a pair of allbirds (wool) and while I like them (so comfy!), they're pretty bad in the rain due to the lack of tread.
I do wish they had a repairable/swapable tread though.
I agree about the tread. I've had my tree runners over a year and love the comfort, fit, lightness, etc. But the already minimal tread with a year of everyday wear leaves them pretty slick on anything damp or polished. Was considering the tree dasher or dasher relay for the improved tread.
Great! A follow up video is always the best way to do reviews. It seems like there are more sustainable shoes brands around nowadays, I'm thinking of buying the brand Nothing New.
Awesome! Allbirds have been on my radar for a while now, but holding off until I wear out my current shoes.
yes! So few people understand this principal! Use the heck out of the ones you got and then get the reward of a new pair!
Hiked Volcán Ajusco in Mexico City wearing my Allbirds. Washed them out and they were good as new.
Damn this is a flex! Haha
@@LeahandLevi for the Allbirds, yes. I didn’t quite make it to the top 😅.
After renting an apartment in Eastern Europe for a few weeks and having only a (tiny) washing machine under the kitchen counter, we got used to using a drying rack for clothes. Being renters that don't have in unit laundry at home, and having to pay to use the dryers in the laundry room, the rack we got paid for itself after a few washes. It's built to last and totally recyclable (aluminum) if it ever somehow got hit by a truck in our 6th floor apartment.
Well, I finally bought some All Birds last year. I bought the Women's Wool Loungers, the black wool runners and the black ballet flats. I rarely wear the flats or the sneakers, but I pretty much wore the Wool Loungers for 8 months straight. All the other shoes in my closet collected dust. But truth be told, I'm back into my 20 year old Naot and Joseph Seibel mules and clogs. Say what you will about leather, but man, my Ugg Brooks boots are nearly 30 years old. My only complaint with All Birds is the white outsoles. In general for many years I have avoided white outsoles. They end up looking filthy, no matter what. I got the dark gray Loungers because dark outsole, the wool runners in black because very dark gray outsole. Black bottoms on those flats. I do love those Wool Loungers though... I thought I'd never take them off!
In India our cobblers charge around Rs. 20 to 30 to fix any shoes thats around 40 cents. they even sew the cloth incase its torn etc.
Yes that's amazing!
yeah, I've got old shoes I plan to still use until they're completely done
Nice, I have a pair of all bird wool runners that are about 5 years old. I just put them in the washer and they're good to go.
I've been wearing allbirds for 3 or 4 years. I have the same pair as Leah, plus one in matcha green which I bought for my mom but she didn't want. I wore the grey ones for my 2 week trip to Japan in July 2019 and walked everywhere, 20,000+ steps a day. allbirds dress flats are my work staple. The only drawback in the loafer is under the top part, some piece of fabric got loose so my toes sometimes get stuck in a pocket. Umm should I mention I've never washed them? Maybe I will now.
Shoes are a goto section of all resale shops, you can get great prices and I can immediately get a sense for the pairs that will clean up nicely...only new shoes I buy are running shoes, every 300 miles...
Thanks for the tip! This is SUPER true! I get most of my shoes second hand!
I love my Allbirds, I even find them comfortable for my 8 hr shifts at a coffee shop. However, mine don't seem to clean up as well as yours did Levi. It is probably the color choice... I have white wool runners and peach (tree runners?)
Those look like some well loved shoes.
Loved and (ab)used. 😬
@@LeahandLevi If it can take (ab)use and a spit shine it ain't a shoe worth having.
I'd say biodegradable wool wash might be a better bet than dish soap. Its milder and formulated for wool.
Anything too harsh and you are decreasing the life of the fibres. If the goal is longevity afterall.
Also whilst I don't own all birds yet, I put havaianas and fabric vans type shoes in the wash with woolwash along with workwear cottons frequently. comes up clean everytime.
Ironically I just this morning added cleaning my shoes to my to-do list for the weekend. Great mind think alike! 😂
No way! Have fun!
Leah is the essence of joy 😊
Very informative. I did wonder how long a pair would last. So they're do offer value for money. The heel guards is a good idea. I didn't know ppl use them like that on casual shoes. Keep up the good work.
Wow! Has it already been 2 years since I watched that video! 😳
Yeah isn't that crazy? 😬😳
Dear Levi, I was looking for nice shoes for Spring for my very picky feet, somehow found about allbirds, searched for them on YT and 2 days later I have binged almost all your videos, I'm superhyped about doing more for the planet, and I love you guys
Hey there! Thanks so much for this! I don't think my link works on the EU site sorry! 😭 Thanks for being a part of the team though!
I'm just a little obsessed with your channel 😁 and I feel inspired to clean my shoes lol
Hey that’s awesome! It’s pretty satisfying! 😜🤩
Love this Levi! I recently cleaned up some old shoes and they feel and look brand new 🙌
Love it! Thanks buddy!
Levi on Wednesday? OKAY!
You actually can get a lot of sneakers resoled with a vibram sole they just won't look how they normally do
I loved the allbirds as they are so comfy. I wore them for 3 months. Then I started losing sensation of my big toes. Turns out that the lack of arch support of allbirds ruined the nerves of my big toes. Never never wear allbirds again.
You’re awesome Levi
did you say they are not even waterproof? I wish you elaborated more on that...
Just subscribed loved your video as it helped me alot to take decision and buying all bird shoe.
Would these shoes be good for standing all day? Thinking about getting some for work
Yes, but I would look at the dashers for maximum support, they've got a thicker sole.
@@risamaeve thanks!!
Are they bendable? Or it is stiff? That is very important for me when I buy shoes. For example, I cannot buy Toms, it is too flimsy. So next time, please wring it out to see if it would support my arch. Merci!
I hope that they stand up to the test but Vivos is a barefoot shoe company that is working on a circular system. Where I believe you can send them back at the end of their life and or repare them. If you are interested in a barefoot shoe company, and they make an hiking boot!
Could you compare Allbirds to Rothy's shoes (+ the brand's sustainability efforts overall)??
I've been wearing my allbirds everyday since august and one of them has a hole on the bottom but other than that they are pretty great
I've never heard of this brand - I only started following your page after you did the review of the Fair Phone. I'll need to check out your older video on these.
I mainly wear Nike and Vivobarefoots (for running). I would never use the dryer - I don't even own one - but I usually just put my trainers in the washing machine (with a couple of towels for padding) for a 30C (90F ish?) wash and it has never damaged them.
On another note, my current Vivobarefoots are made from recycled materials and are fantastic if you're a minimalist shoe fan for running.
I've been curious about vivobarefoot for some time actually! Might have to try them out!
@@LeahandLevi cheers for the response and greetings from Scotland.
I find them brilliant for running in. For generally walking about in, not so much. They have zero support with zero drop on the heal - basicallythey have a 3mm thick sole across the length of the trainer with no cushioning other than what is provided by the insole.
They are really designed such that you land on the fore foot rather than the heal (barefoot style). I land on the fore foot when I run, but my heal when I walk (appreciate that might sound weird lol).
I am so curious. I was hoping allbirds would be the answer to a sustainable workout shoe, but they seem to be for casual wear. Would love to see a video of sustainable, supportive footwear for working out. Birkenstock has sandals, casual sneakers, and great boots haha. I need a workout shoe!
Nice, I like things that are easy to clean!
How are your Allbirds at this moment? Still wearing them comfortably? I am thinking of getting them as my new pair of everyday sneakers.
Hey! I don't wear them during the winter as they aren't vey suitable for the rainy/snowy season but they're still being used this summer 👍🏻
@@LeahandLevi thanks a lot Levi and Leah. Great work on the channel, I really enjoy the video's. Greetings from Rotterdam, The Netherlands!
Have you consider diy repairing them with sashiko? I encourage u to look in to that repair process.
I've had the Tree Toppers for 2 years as well, and I bought mine after watching your video actually! :-) Of course, I'm loving them still, and washing them more often than you I must say haha However, washing shoes (by hand but especially in the laundry machine) too often is also not good, I'd say once a month by hand at most.
Also, are you gonna check out 8000Kicks and Tropicfeel? They seem like awesome brands too!
I’ve been thinking of getting a pair of All Birds for an every day fashionable shoe. My biggest complaint with a lot of the footwear available is the cheap soles and the inability to repair them. Often the upper portion is in perfect condition but the soles are worn right through.
Yeah this is the challenge of the sneaker world. I guess if I was truly the most sustainable possible I would own like old leather dress shoes that can be infinitely repaired? 🤷🏻♂️
Yeah a like the north face running shoes, they skimp om the thin outsole, its not even vibrant and at that price point to go that thin on the outsole with that soft a wearing compound they really ruined any hope for longevity with th north face vectiv endures, mine went to hell quickly, feel like I was do a replacement but the company out of Massachusetts I ordered then from hard to communicate
love the update videos!
Glad you like them!
You can check out crownnorthampton sneakers, they are made out of leather and I believe they have a service where they can resole the sneakers for you, but they are quite expensive
Two videos in one week? Lucky us!
u knew about the dryer destroying them. but dont know about wool gentle laundry detergent? probably would help with durability?
Tree Runners have been my favorite
@Levi What do you think of Allbirds’ collaboration with Adidas??
I got heel guards years ago. But they kept falling off - even the nailed on kind. The glue on kind was even worse. The foam of sneakers makes it hard to add heel guards, no purchase for nailing it on.
after 2 years of use walking around nyc the soles on my M12 wool "runners" wore down to be nearly smooth such that they're hazardous to wear if there's any slippery surfaces or wet leaves around. I think some of the newer models have enhanced soles around the balls of the feet and the heel. its a pity as the shoe upper is in pristine condition even after the occasional wash. I replaced the insole once so i'll just keep wearing them around the house and for spring and summer short neighborhood walks but its disappointing the sole wasn't very durable. Almost made me feel like they were not designed for a long life. Given the brand's talk about environmental materials and such I'd think they'd have a better impact if the shoe wasn't designed to be replaced after such a short time.
Vessi is a local brand and are waterproof. Have you looked into them at all?
Yeah I’m not super impressed tbh. They seem to put a lot of emphasis on their waterproof-ness but lack basically everything else 🤷🏻♂️
Love the video! I would also love to see a dr. martens one! I feel like they are really popular and they last very long, but I don´t really know how sustainable they are. :)
Great idea!!