Allbirds

Love my All Birds- but after 3 months my toes go through- I have 4 pairs and it's the same problem with all of them. It is too bad because they are so comfortable.

While I find these shoes very comfortable. After 6 months of my first pair I bought a second, but was cautious as my first was showing that my big toe pressed into the top material. Well, now 1.5 years of wearing the first pair 3x/wk to work (the soles still show very little wear) they now have a hole starting on each of this first pair. The company has no warranty for this and no ability to fix it. So beware of you have toes that might poke a hole. For the price I'd think the material would be more durable.

When you first receive your allbirds you'll love them, but when you see the holes come through you'll ask yourself if the $130-$160 was worth it for 6 months of light wear. Googled and seems to be a very common problem by internet complaints. Surely the company would have figured a way to solve this design flaw after years of being in business and IPO'ing? Feel very unsustainable - both environmentally and hippocket wise - throwing a perfectly good pair of shoes out but for that one toe hole. Please fix.

After reading a lot about how great Allbirds athletic shoes were, I bought a pair. They looked great and after a bit they broke-in nicely. The problem was the tread. Within six months of walking a few miles a day, the sole on the right sneaker wore through. This is not acceptable. I then went back to my Asics, which had gone through a remarkable makeover while I was away. I could not be happier with the new Ascis. I gave Allbirds a chance and they failed me.

I've ordered two pairs of the Kids Smallbirds Wool Runners for my son. The first one, the laces started falling apart and the top of one of the shoes (above the big toe) started developing a hole. I figured it was a one-off and ordered a new pair when it was time to size up. My son has been wearing the new pair for less than 3 months, and now both shoes are falling apart again (laces are shredding, holes above both big toes). My son is not a typical adventurous boy, so these shoes are receiving light wear and they are absolutely falling apart. Do Not Recommend.

**Also, I have ordered other (adult) products from them in the past, and always received an email with the opportunity to review the product. For both of these purchases for the Kids shoes, I was never sent an email/given an opportunity to review the Kids product(s). Shady, like they know they're not good quality.

They are comfortable but when raining socks still got wet. So while still pretty good they do not stand up to the weather.

I liked the look of the Wool Runners and they are comfortable, and they pack well in a suitcase, but they provide zero support for your feet. They are great if you're walking on carpet; outside on any hard surface, not so much. They work much better as slippers.

I have 3 pair of these and initially loved them. Problem is my Big toe on my left foot wears through within 5 months of wear. I wear these as a casual knock around for shopping or
Light walks. (I wear athletic shoes for running/working out). I really like these and typically wear in the Spring and Fall months with no socks I wish they would somehow re-enforce
The toe box for better wear. Disappointing would like at least 12 months for the Price!

They are comfortable and soft, though the arch support isn't amazing. But they're not as cute as I'd hoped (they have sort of that "giant forehead" look, if that makes sense.) And weirdest of all... whenever I wear them they start to smell like burning hair. Like a chemical-y hair salon smell almost. My socks and feet will reek of it after I take them off. It's never happened with any other shoe in my life so I know it's not just my feet, nor is it the smell of damp wool (I'm a knitter and know that smell very well.) It's definitely like... perm chemicals. I thought it'd wear off over time but it hasn't. They've been relegated to gym shoes because I have to shower after wearing them anyway.

I had a pair of Tree Runners for a couple of years and wore them every day. I have never had such a comfortable shoe. So it was a no-brainer, once they got a bit ratty and holey, that I would get a new pair of the exact same shoe (size 7W).

It only took a couple of days for me to receive them, which was super impressive. But these new size 7's were much larger than my original size 7's that I bought only 1.5yrs earlier. I checked the labelling, and my old and new pair had exactly the same specs. I asked AllBirds if maybe they had changed manufacturer since they went public, but they insisted they hadn't. As a manufacturer of my own brand of products, I understand these things, and I knew that was a possible fib. At the very least, the labelling had to be wrong, which can easily happen during production. Anyhoo...

I returned the size 7's and got a pair in size 6, but once they arrived, they were too tight!

At this point I figured I'd have to suck it up and re-buy the size 7's again, and tie them up extra tight so they won't slip as I walked in them. However, when i got this new pair, they were a perfect fit, just like my original, old worn out ones! I am convinced that the first 7's I bought this time around were labelled wrongly, or they have lost all quality control in manufacturing.

Anyway, I was just happy that I got the right size eventually, and since AllBirds insisted the whole time that there was nothing wrong with the size - despite the fact that there was - I knew the problem wouldn't be looked at, and others would just have to go through the same mess I did.

BUT, it's been a few weeks now, and they are nowhere near as comfy on walks. I always try to walk between ten thousand steps and 10km each day, and never ever felt the ground beneath me with my original AllBirds. I could walk forever, which is why I loved them so much!

However, with my new AllBirds, my feet were hurting from the first walk, but I kept persisting, thinking I just needed to wear them in, even though I never had to before. But several weeks later, it's just getting worse. Not even halfway through my 4km morning walk, and the balls of my feet were killing me. I didn't know how I was going to make it home and was just trying to take each step using different parts of my feet to give relief to the sore parts. As you can see in the pic below, I wore my old pair until they almost fell apart, and not once did my feet hurt in them, ever. And I walk ALOT, and they always felt great - the ground was soft and comfy, like I was walking on air. Not the case with this new pair.

Something is up with AllBirds. I honestly think that since they went public after I bought by very first pair in the pic, they're cutting costs. I used to endorse them to everyone I know, but I think i will have no choice but the try Sketchers (urgh!) since I've heard good things about them. I LOVE the look of AllBirds, as they go great with training gear and jeans alike, so I wore them everywhere before. But I can't now. My feet can't take it!

PS: I forgot to mention that I also never got an email to review my purchase. You also cannot find an option to leave a review on their site.

I have a feeling that if you raise an issue within a certain period of time after purchase, they disable the review request email that you would normally get. As an online store owner of many, many years, I can confirm that review emails are NOT random as someone else in this thread has said as per a conversation they had with AllBirds. Review request emails are normally automatically sent after a period of time ie: 7 days after purchase, then a reminder 14 days later, and a final one after that if a review hasn't been left yet. I told them a few weeks after my purchase that I never got a review request email and they replied with the attached. I still haven't got the email. I am 100% certain that they flagged me not to recieve one as I had the issues mentioned above. This is illegal to do, as they seem to me, to be only sending email requests to those more likely to leave positive reviews, which is deceptive and misleading to potential buyers. You are not legally allowed to manipulate your buyers this way.

It seems that either these shoes are extremely comfortable or the complete opposite!

On the first wear, which was a walk around the neighborhood, I've found rubbing on my heels, causing blisters, which is so painful that no amount of tape and cotton wool can help, so having to wear different shoes until I can walk properly again.

I asked for advice from the help desk on whether the tightness at the front of the shoe will subside, and they suggested that they stretch about a quarter of an inch and recommend wearing socks for the first few weeks. At this stage I am thinking of returning them, which is disappointing as they are great looking shoes!

I generally run true to size with narrow feet, but I would certainly consider sizing up.

I was super excited to purchase these shoes but ended up disappointed. They are not worth the money. I purchased the wool loungers to have some slip on ready to go shoes. Yes, they are comfortable but they state that they are breathable and mine still carry an odor. Also the inside of the shoe is coming unglued and I have only had them a year.

I got my first pair of Allbirds primarily for casual office days and infrequent airport travel, so I was a little dismayed when just after the 30 day warranty a hole developed in the toe of one of my shoes. To the credit of customer service, they allowed a return and advised that I order a size larger than usual to minimize any stress at the front of the shoe. They're a little loose but still comfortable. After three months now the insole is degrading (clumps of wool come out and expose the fibers underneath) and I've noticed that I can no longer boast about the anti-odor properties; they stink. I imagine even if I wash by hand, the odor will quickly return now that the wool layer is fading away. They do sell insole replacements, but after spending 100 bucks on casual loungers I'm not crazy about spending 15 every 3 months to replace the insoles. I otherwise do like the company and the comfort / look of the tree loungers; just concerned about longevity vs cost.

I think for allbirds, it really depends on the product. This review would have been a 5 if they accepted returns on everything in the first 30 days, but they only do it for their shoes. Huge plus that they sell new insoles for $15, though.

The Socks: They run smaller than the website recommends. I should have fit their M based on their size chart, but it turns out I'm a Large. Once you have opened the packaging to find that out, they are non-refundable/non-exchangable. I called to ask since the sizing being wrong is really their fault, and they said no exchanges/returns for socks. Within a month, there were holes and wear marks all over the socks. Wouldn't buy them again, even in the right size.

The everyday sneakers: Weird fitting! I don't have particularly strange feet, but I could see the outlines of my toes very clearly through the shoes. Like the tops don't have enough height on them in the toe box area. They accepted the return with no questions.

The running shoes: REALLY love my running shoes from allbirds, and recommend them to anyone who asks! I'm usually a 9.5/10, and found that I had to exchange the 9.5s for a 10. While they felt right while trying on at first, my toes on my left foot kept falling asleep after a few miles of running (NEVER had that happen before haha but the 10s did not have that problem). They have held up for their first 4 months, with signs that they need to get replaced pretty soon (I run 5 miles 3-4 times a week; 4 months is a pretty regular interval for me).

The flats: LOVE them! I wear them 2-3 times a week and they are holding up great. I will say, they are a great cute shoe for walking around mildly for short periods, but they will cause chaffing on my back ankle if I walk to far in them. Great comfy going out shoes. Also, if you need arch support, these really are NOT the shoes for you.

Bought shoes after friend raved about them and I really wanted wool shoes. They are the lightest shoes I have ever owned and they keep my feet warm. I wear a size 8-8.5 and I had to return the first pair for a size nine. The return process was easy: print a mailing label, take it the post office and as soon as it is in the system they send the new pair of shoes. The size nine is snug heel to toe so these shoes run small. My main issue is I wear Superfeet orthotics and the heel upper is so short my foot slides out when walking - I feel like I will lose my shoe. I wear them but I won't buy another pair.

I like the look of the shoes but the soles are too thick for these to meet my needs for feeling the ground. I think they are marketing them incorrectly, in case that is why you are interested in the brand.