Allbirds Men’s Superlight Wool Runners Casual Sneakers

Good!

Shoes "clicked" with every step. Was super annoying so I returned them. Probably just a defective pair. Never had an issue with All Birds before.

Shoes feel good to wear and the style is nice and simple. Well made and appear that they will last a long time hopefully. Very comfortable for a whole day.

First off: you will be SHOCKED at how light these are when you take them out of the box. But once they’re on your feet, it seems incredibly natural. The wool is very soft and not itchy and - despite what you may think when you hear the word “wool” - my feet stayed dry and comfortable, not sweaty.These do run small. Wearing a 9.5 normally, I sized up a half-size as recommended to a 10 and they are as snug and comfortable as shoes in my normal size. My son wears the same size and wanted to check out the fit, but his rather wide 9.5 foot wasn’t comfortable. Be aware of this detail. I am surprised they don’t do half-sizes in this shoe.The lettering on the heel (4.04 KG CO2E) is… odd? From reading I get that it has to do with the carbon footprint, which makes sense in general given that Allbirds takes pride in being a carbon-neutral company. But it’s not exactly visible from afar, nor is it near an Allbirds logo, so… I guess it’s just reminding me daily? Who knows. It doesn’t bother me, but I’d guess some folks might not dig it.For me: they’re great. Wider feet may not be as lucky.

This shoe surprised me with the wool in that it looked a lot classier than I would have expected. The sole itself was an interesting material, and in comparison to my current shoes and another running shoe I have absorbs shocks WAY better. After wearing them for some time, there doesn't seem to be an noticeable sole wear (in comparison, another shoe recently tested had the traction layer of the sole nearly worn away after a few months!) however I did notice this shoe struggles to maintain traction on a smooth surface when wet - a little obvious since most shoes lose traction, but this one seemed a little more noticeable if that makes sense. The fit of the shoe is definitely snug, I had to wear thinner socks to make it a bit more comfortable to wear and I think this is because of the prominent arch support.Outside of that though, these are one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I have owned in a long time and are *extremely* light. I wear composite toe work boots all day at work, and when putting these on the first time I had to actively control my lifting effort as I was doing high knee steps unintentionally due to their weight! I personally feel these shoes provide a lot of value for the money, and advise if you do order to size them up from your typical size.

These are quite comfortable right out of the box. The sole is some sort of plastic that LOOKS like high-density styrofoam, but it's a lot tougher than than. It feels slightly squishy when you put your full weight on it, meaning it cushions your foot well. The outsole is really NOT grippy; there are a couple of black, grippy traction circles under the ball of the foot and the heel, and these are really your only traction. They're fine for walking on things like concrete or asphalt, but if you hit wet grass or smooth wood and you don't happen to have those traction circles planted, you'll slip a bit. I only encountered this when trying to run, however, and these are marketed as casual shoes, not athletic sneakers, so I think they still fall in acceptable grip standards for the purpose of everyday wear.The sizing was correct, although maybe a bit snug. I usually wear size 11, and these size 11s fit correctly, but if you're between sizes you might want to size up and not down.This is the black colorway I'm wearing.The wool upper is super thin, so the shoes are not hot to wear. They resist splashes but if you step in a deep puddle, you will get your feet soaked.The main thing I noticed was how impossibly light these shoes are - under 6 ounces per shoe!They pair nicely with anything and look good, while being comfortable. I won't be running marathons in these, but that's okay as I don't run well at distance anyway!

Sizing is on the larger end, larger than Nike’s standard. Now I’m off a whole size with the purchases I made.

In the recent trend of hipster coffee shops culture, an unintended consequence is that it brought along new fashion trends. Enter: the Allbirds. In this case, we have the Superlight Wool Runners. If you want to fit right into that scene, then these shoes are for you! The dark Merino wool upper material is sleek, yet noticeable by others, while the inside is lined with a water resistant material that is perfect for fending off coffee spills. The shoe is very light, with a foam based partly on sugarcane which helps to create a nice cushion for your feet which is the primary selling point for this shoe. Regarding the price however is where it becomes a dicier proposition. For $120, you can get either a pair of Nike Dunks or an even a pair of Jordan Highs and still have $20 left.With that in mind, you may want to reconsider your options; it’s got average styling, lightweight comfort (which even a $40 Sketchers might have minus the name cachet) and understated elegance with the wool thing so if the name brand recognition at a more expensive price point is not an issue, give these guys a go on your next coffee shop run.