I've read posts about the Allbird Merino wool shoes but I haven't seen anything about wearing the Tree Runners for a 2-week trip to Europe. I just got a pair and find them super comfy but they are brand new and haven't been tested "in the field" yet.
Anyone out there have experience with them?
I got a pair for the Greece tour we took last month and they were awesome. Cool and comfortable, they're my new favorite shoes. The only down side is that there's not a lot of traction, so I had to be careful on stone paths and stairs that were slick from centuries of travelers walking on them.
Wore my tree runners every day when visiting Greece for two weeks last year. They were very comfortable when we were walking miles every day. However, I don’t have trouble with my feet (knock-on-wood) and can walk long distances in shoes without any support, so someone who needs more support might have a different experience. Also, upon returning from Greece, I washed them per the directions and they seemed to have slightly shrunk. Not quite as comfortable now when wearing all day as they were while we were in Greece.
I love my tree runners and wear them everywhere. I also have the wool runners, which are also very comfortable, but after a little while they stretch out and look a bit sloppy. (Think of how a wool sweater can get stretched out.)
They are probably better for warm/dry weather. They absorb water pretty easily, from rain or puddles. They do dry quickly, though.
My g/f and friends all got a pair.
They walked around in them, went shopping in them, basically broke them in a few months before our trip. They didn't take them, actually one did, the others left them back home. They said their feet smelled as their feet were sore after a bunch of walking. The wool upper looked nice and packed well but, the lack of underfoot support and the inability of the wool to manage body oder was the crux.
Trip Report: I just returned from 2 weeks in Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris, mainly wearing my Allbirds Tree Runners. They were great. They never got wet so I can't speak to whether they would smell if they got soaked (we lucked out with no rain) and I always wore socks to avoid any smells and they were perfect! I did bring a pair of Ecco leather shoes along in case I needed something with extra support but the Tree Runners were comfy, breathable and light. Will be getting a second pair in another color very soon.
I received an email from Allbirds this past week. It was promoting the new Wool Runner "Mizzle." It's advertised as water repellant. Anyone familiar with this new style?
How are the arch supports? Durability?
My experience was that they were extremely comfortable. I am always on the hunt for comfy walking shoes because I have plantar fasciitis and also tend to get attacks of gout every so often. The Tree Runners gave me all the support I needed and have held up great. We walked on a lot of cobblestone streets in Amsterdam and I had no issues.They are now my go-to shoes when I am not working although I admit that I do not wear them in the rain.
I noticed that they now have a line that claims to be water proof
Janis, I have a pair of the Mizzles and I like them. They are warmer than the regular wool Allbirds, so they won't work for summer, at least for me. I also like them because the sole has better traction than the other styles. I wore regular wool Allbirds to Stockholm last winter and almost wiped out a couple of times.
Kim, thanks for the follow up. Sounds like the Tree Runners for summer temperatures & Mizzles for cool, damp weather! The tread sounds perfect for inclement weather. A necessity for the PNW, etc. We have an Allbird store close by. ;)
Excellent. Not sure waterproof but quick drying since wool is real. Extremely versatile travel style shoe
