Often, this meant the shoes would have to be pretreated with Dr. The fibers have a tendency to absorb dirt, and can leave a faint outline of muddy treks past if the shoes aren’t treated in short order. Stains generally require immediate attention, proving frustrating. On average, the shoe usually called for a wash every one to three months, depending on how much traction was endured and how harsh the environmental conditions were. They were still equally as comfortable, but felt slightly more durable. Recently, at the store, we felt the difference between the original and the version that we owned. These include reinforcing the heel, the mid-to-upper sole, and doubling down on the stitching. However, it is our understanding that in the year that we've owned this, Allbirds have made significant reinforcements and updates to the Tree Runners. It’s not a great look after trekking through mud, snow and even enduring the odd coffee spill (this happens more often than I’d like to admit).įrom other long-term owners, it seems that our evaluations are fairly correct. Perhaps, this is something unique to the lighter-colored shoes (ours came in Stone, a slightly off-white color that has been replaced by the Chalk color), but the Allbirds do pick up a significant amount of dirt. This sort of belies the fact that when it comes to care, the Allbirds Tree Runners are slightly more high-maintenance than anticipated. Other long-term owners we talked to reported pushing the shoes past three years, but according to them, "I was really pushing it." (I'm not a big fan, but 3 replacement pairs at $10 is reasonable.)Īfter a year, it looks like the Allbirds have been around the block some. The shoelaces, on the other hand, have been destroyed for quite some time, with completely frayed tips. The current soles are finally showing signs of wear, butt seem like they might last another year. It’s nice that Allbirds doesn’t charge a fortune for replacing the soles and laces (at $15 and $10, respectively). How that grade fares depends on the culture you were raised in.īetter for city hikes than actual hiking. Basically, if we were to give the shoe a grade for the report card, we’d give this one an A. Thanks to a critical Asian upbringing that shames most Tiger Moms, glossing over the details isn't really in our DNA. The recently released Mizzle collection, which debuted in the past month, is slightly more water-resistant and provides more terrestrial grip, but honestly, we don't really like the look of these!) But if climbing over boulders and stuff like that is involved, it’s time to look at a different shoe for the job. (Though if the hike is more like a “stroll in the park,” that is fine. Its only failing is its inability to hold up in more rugged terrain, for those times that you actually want to embark on an occasional hike. Essentially, they are the perfect casual, comfortable shoe. The Tree Runners retail for $95, making them a worthwhile investment. The Tree Runners are still the best year-round sneakers, faring better in the winter. Updated: May 4, 2021Since publication, Allbirds has since launched the Tree Breezers ( read our take on it), a women's ballet flat we'd recommend for the ladies as a great city shoe alternative.