As soon as in a lifetime, a pair of sneakers comes alongside that’s so snug and versatile, it replaces the entire different sneakers in your suitcase: the Chosen Shoe. Within the of case of my husband and I, that shoe is the Allbirds Tree Skippers, and sure, we’re that disgusting married couple that wears matching sneakers. And, sometimes, clothes. I do know, we’re gross.
I’m not going to assert it that Allbirds Tree Skippers will change your life or something (properly, except you spend a big period of time coping with foot ache and/or different shoe-related maladies, then it actually would possibly) BUT … y’all, these sneakers are legitimately definitely worth the hype.
That mentioned, are they excellent? Nicely, there are just a few downsides you’ll need to pay attention to. On this publish, we’ll cowl every little thing you’ll want to know to justify the price of these sneakers – or discuss your self out of shopping for them. Let’s go!
By the way in which: No, this publish was NOT sponsored, and we bought these sneakers ourselves.
In search of extra strategies for versatile journey sneakers and different journey necessities we love? Check out these posts, or begin right here for our high strategies.
How We Evaluated Our Footwear
Jeremy and I don’t simply fall in love with each shoe – or each piece of journey gear we take a look at, for that matter. We’re persnickety. And we have now a set of particular standards we’re searching for in a great journey shoe:
✔ Snug to stroll (and stand) in for at the least 12 hours straight with minimal ache. And which means no ache the following day, both.
✔ Sturdy sufficient to face up to the weather: rain, snow, grime, mud, and so forth. We don’t wish to be worrying about sneakers whereas we’re mid-adventure!
✔ Nicely made, and don’t want changing yearly.
✔ Light-weight and versatile, in order that we will shove them right into a backpack or suitcase with out taking on a ton of area or including a ton of weight.
✔ Appears to be like nice and goes with a number of outfits.
With a purpose to take a look at out our standards, we’ve each put the Allbirds Tree Skippers by means of the wringer. We every received our first pairs of Tree Skippers about 3 years in the past (sure … we personal multiples), and so they’ve include us on nearly each heat climate journey since!
We’ve worn our Allbirds Tree Skippers on the seashore in Costa Rica, pounding the pavement at Disney World, traversing cobblestone streets in Austria, exploring Glacier Nationwide Park in Montana, and mountaineering dusty paths in California (that final one wasn’t intentional – Lia forgot her mountaineering sneakers – but it surely positively nonetheless counts).
And we’ve each discovered that these sneakers are excellent for *virtually* any state of affairs or journey.
However sufficient about our extraordinarily scientific shoe experiments. Let’s get to the good things and dive into what particularly we love about these sneakers.
What We Love In regards to the Allbirds Tree Skippers
Let’s begin with all of the the explanation why we love our Allbirds Tree Skippers.
✔ They’re up for a problem.
We at all times put our journey sneakers to the take a look at earlier than deciding whether or not or to not suggest them, and we began off with a rigorous take a look at: every week in Disney World. We’re excessive about our Disney-ing – I as soon as landed myself in a wheelchair after a full day of strolling/standing/low-key working from trip to trip within the incorrect sneakers.
The decision: the Tree Skippers have been tremendous comfortable, even after 5 straight days of 20k+ steps within the sweltering Florida warmth!
I even as soon as took my attractive vibrant white Allbirds on a dusty hike. I imply, they received filthy and I needed to throw them within the wash as quickly as I received dwelling, however my ft stayed snug the entire time.
That mentioned: I don’t suggest mountaineering in these in the event you will help it. Traction on slippery, dusty slopes was a little bit of a problem, and like .. they’re approach too cute to get that soiled. Don’t be me! However the level is, in a pinch, they’ll deal with it, and that’s fairly wonderful.
✔ They’re the proper metropolis strolling shoe.
Not each pair of sneakers – particularly barefoot model sneakers, which we each choose – are fitted to lengthy walks on exhausting asphalt.
However with the comfortable wool insert, the Tree Skippers present simply sufficient padding in order that even after 8 or 10 miles of pounding stable floor, our ft nonetheless don’t harm!
I’ve taken to carrying these on all of my lengthy every day walks by means of my neighborhood, in addition to on metropolis exploration days whereas touring.
✔ The only real is zero-drop and versatile.
I transformed to barefoot-style sneakers after a nasty bout of Plantar Fasciitis – you possibly can learn extra about that in my ladies’s journey sneakers information – and whereas the Allbirds Tree Skippers are positively not barefoot sneakers, they do have a few of the important qualities that I search for to keep away from foot ache.
Particularly, loads of area for my toes to maneuver (verify) and a very flat sole (verify) that’s versatile sufficient to maneuver with my ft (verify). For my wants, the flat, versatile sole of the Tree Skippers is totally excellent.
That mentioned, in the event you do choose a bit arch assist, the insoles do present a bit. For more room and fewer assist, they’re simple to take away. However lovers of arch assist usually tend to gravitate in the direction of a few of the different Allbirds kinds with thicker soles, such because the Tree Runners, that are created from the identical light-weight, knit higher materials.
✔ They appear nice and go along with every little thing.
Was anyone else obsessive about Soiled Dancing rising up? The Tree Skippers remind me of the shoe Child wears in her little dance observe montage scene up the steps (you already know, this one). I really feel like I’m channeling that film each time I put on these, and it makes me really feel ADORBS.
The purpose is, these cute strolling sneakers go along with every little thing: denims, leggings, shorts, even clothes! I’ve but to search out one thing they don’t look good with, and I’ve been making an attempt.
In the meantime, Jeremy likes that the Tree Skippers are an informal center floor between sneakers, basketball sneakers, and a boat-shoe vibe (besides not douchey). They work with shorts, denims, and every little thing else he’s tried them with.
✔ They’re extremely light-weight.
As a result of the Allbirds are made with light-weight knit cloth and versatile foam soles, they’re extremely light-weight. Which makes them excellent for throwing into your suitcase or backpack!
We frequently put on these sneakers on journey days as a result of they’re so snug, however once we do stick them in our suitcases, they slide simply right into a shoe bag and take up virtually no room. And also you don’t want to fret about compressing them – you received’t harm them by squishing them in there.
✔ They’re excellent for each scorching and funky climate.
The knit cloth is stuffed with tiny, barely-noticeable little eyelets that assist your ft breathe. Plus, the fabric of each the shoe itself (eucalyptus) and the insoles (merino wool) naturally helps regulate each temperature and moisture, so that you don’t find yourself with moist, sweaty ft within the warmth of summer time or freezing chilly ft on a cold fall day.
Nature is fairly freakin’ high-tech.
We personal a pair of Allbirds for each season, from the waterproof Mizzles to the nice and cozy wool slip-on Loungers (sure … we’re main Allbirds followers, are you able to inform?) However the Tree Skippers are the proper 3-season shoe, and our go-to decide for spring, summer time, and fall.
That mentioned, within the spirit of analysis, I’ve worn my Allbirds in chilly, wet climate. And whereas I don’t suggest carrying them within the rain – your ft will certainly get moist – my ft weren’t chilly due to the nice and cozy wool insoles!
✔ They don’t get smelly.
Allbirds insoles are lined with high-performance merino wool, which is of course anti-bacterial and one in every of our absolute favourite journey textiles. The wool lays on high of a sustainable foam created from castor bean oil for a cushiony, moisture wicking, and odor lowering insole.
What which means is that Allbirds sneakers battle that smelly shoe scent even while you don’t put on socks. And you actually don’t should put on socks with the Tree Skippers – they’re THAT comfortable. Plus, they appear approach cuter with out socks.
That mentioned, after just a few months of great put on *ahem* it’s a good suggestion to take out the detachable Merino Wool insoles and provides them, and your sneakers, a pleasant soak. I soak mine in Oxyclean, Woolite and water.
✔ They’re made with sustainable supplies.
Sustainability is extremely necessary to us, particularly since as frequent vacationers, we have to go above and past to offset all of our carbon emissions. And Allbirds shares our dedication to respecting our surroundings: as an organization, Allbirds is dedicated to combating local weather change as a completely carbon-neutral firm from the bottom up.
We LOVE supporting corporations whose values align with ours, and Allbirds is a kind of particular, accountable, moral corporations that we really feel actually, actually good about supporting! (Therefore why we every personal SEVERAL pairs of Allbirds sneakers and are beginning a set of Allbirds clothes, too. Ship assist.)
As for the Tree Skippers sneakers, the snug knit higher cloth is created from ethically grown & harvested eucalyptus pulp. The laces are made with recycled polyester. The insoles are created from merino wool (no sheep are harmed within the making of merino wool) and castor bean foam. And the shoe itself is carbon impartial.
There’s a LOT to like in regards to the Tree Skippers, however within the curiosity of full transparency, there are additionally just a few drawbacks. Right here’s what you’ll want to know.
What We Don’t Love In regards to the Tree Skippers
No one’s excellent, and there are just a few downsides to know in regards to the Tree Skippers earlier than you commit. Right here’s what we don’t love about these sneakers:
✘ These sneakers are finest for carrying on pavement.
I’d love to have the ability to say that the Tree Skippers are versatile sufficient to go from a day of metropolis exploration to a hike, however actually, they’re finest for carrying on pavement.
In my expertise, the traction on slippery, dusty slopes isn’t nice … plus they’re approach too cute to get that soiled.
And whereas I do put on these sneakers to the seashore a lot, I at all times should empty them out afterwards from the sand that is available in by means of the tiny holes within the knit cloth!
That mentioned: women, in the event you’re searching for a warm-weather shoe that’s actually versatile sufficient to put on all day lengthy it doesn’t matter what exercise you’re doing, I extremely suggest my beloved leather-based Teva sandals! These aren’t your mother’s Tevas or those you wore to summer time camp in center faculty – they’re cute AF, nice for pounding pavement, and in addition glorious mountaineering and water sneakers. I’ve received a full writeup about them in my ladies’s journey sneakers information.
✘ The toe field might be wider.
Each Jeremy and I choose a large toebox, so our ft and toes have a full vary of movement (one other crunchy barefoot-style shoe factor). However we have now to confess that tremendous vast sneakers are approach much less cute, so on this case, we’re joyful to sacrifice a little bit of width.
That mentioned, we each discover that the Tree Skippers are stretchy sufficient to permit our toes to maneuver freely, due to the knit cloth higher, which retains our ft snug. However our Editor-in-Chief, Richie, who additionally wears barefoot-style sneakers, sadly discovered that they have been too slim for him to be snug.
Apart from consolation, there’s one other draw back for people with vast ft: in Jeremy’s case, the additional little little bit of stretch has resulted in two tiny holes on the widest a part of his ft.
In fact, it took 3 years of near-daily put on to develop these holes, and so they’re completely fixable with a bit fundamental stitching, but it surely’s undeniably as a result of these sneakers are a contact on the narrower facet.
✘ Not appropriate for chilly or wet climate.
The Tree Skippers are firmly 3-season sneakers, and never the fitting shoe for when it’s wet or very chilly. And in contrast to lots of Allbird’s different kinds, there isn’t a cold-weather possibility created from wool.
✘ Requires semi-frequent cleansing.
All of our Allbirds sneakers are a tad bit excessive upkeep and require semi-regular cleansing, particularly within the lighter colours They do present grime pretty simply, and like several shoe worn with out socks, the odor-repelling insoles will ultimately want some refreshing. (That mentioned, Jeremy’s charcoal and my crimson Tree Skippers don’t want cleansing fairly often).
About 2-3x a yr, we throw all of our Allbirds sneakers and their insoles right into a bucket and fill it with water, Oxyclean, and Woolite. Let it sit for whereas, swish it round a bit, dump the water out, and let the sneakers air dry. Voila, clear as new!
You can additionally throw the sneakers in your washer, however you’d have to first take away the laces and the insoles (don’t wash the insoles in your washer!) However we’re lazy, and we discover the bucket soaking methodology is less complicated.
The underside line: The Tree Skippers are our favourite 3-season shoe, and our go-to decide for metropolis journey and lengthy days of strolling/standing on pavement. That mentioned, we do want they have been a bit wider. Additionally, in the event you don’t wish to have to scrub your sneakers just a few instances a yr, decide a darker shade!
Different Allbirds Footwear We Love
The Tree Skippers have been our first foray into Allbirds fandom, however since then, we’ve every gone full-in and bought a number of pairs of Allbirds sneakers.
We’ve additionally been giving them to relations at Christmas every year for the final a number of years. If there was an Allbirds Cult, we’d positively be card-carrying members.
So, though the Tree Skippers are positively BAE, listed below are the opposite pairs we’re big followers of:
Created from the identical materials because the Tree Skippers, these sneakers are chunkier than the Tree Skippers – and approach trendier. Jeremy has them in grey, and I’ve them in white. I’m solely barely embarrassed to say that I really feel like a cool Gen Z youth after I put on them as a substitute of a quickly ageing Millennial. And the lads’s model appears hella good on Jeremy, too.
That mentioned, we don’t typically take them on journeys as a result of they’re greater and fewer versatile than the Tree Skippers, and I can’t put on them comfortably for as lengthy. However they’re positively a favourite for every of us for carrying at dwelling!
Do you want you might put on cozy slippers in public with out individuals judging you? That’s what these sneakers obtain. They’re tremendous mushy and insanely comfortable! Jeremy has them in yellow, and I’ve them in purple.
These sneakers are excellent for cold days (don’t put on them on scorching days except you actually take pleasure in sweaty ft). And since they’re simple to slide on and good and vast, they’re additionally my go-to being pregnant shoe. At 8 months pregnant, they’re the solely shoe I’m able to placed on myself and put on comfortably all day lengthy.
Nevertheless, the Wool Loungers require extra frequent cleansing than the knit variations, as a result of the wool higher tends to take in and present grime and oil simply – which implies they’re not sturdy or rugged sufficient to be nice journey sneakers. Additionally, though the only real is flat, it’s a bit heavier and thicker than the Tree Skippers sole, and these sneakers take up extra suitcase room.
We usually put on these at dwelling throughout fall and winter, and depart them within the closet when the climate is heat.
Jeremy’s latest addition to his Allbirds assortment are the water-repellant Mizzles. You’re purported to put on them to go working on wet days… however let’s be trustworthy, Jeremy will not be going working in these. Athleisure is a vibe. You don’t really should be athletic to tug it off. Proper?!
He does, nonetheless, put on them on chilly, wet days, and so they’re insanely mushy and comfortable and hold his ft protected against the weather.
He has them in burgundy, which additionally makes them the proper go-to shoe for the vacation season. Festive!
Are you all geared as much as purchase a pair of Allbirds Tree Skippers, or are you continue to on the fence? What different Allbirds or shoe-related questions can we reply for you? Drop us a remark under!
In search of extra strategies for versatile journey sneakers and different journey necessities we love? Check out these posts, or begin right here for our high strategies.
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