Rothys vs Allbirds: Style Showdown
Rothys designs fashionable, comfortable and washable shoes for women. Rothys emphasizes sustainability in manufacturing and uses materials such as plastic water bottles, merino wool, eco-friendly outsoles, recycled foam insoles and recyclable packaging.
Allbirds is a shoe and clothing brand for men and women. Mother Nature is their muse as they strive to use materials directly from the earth in their products to reduce their carbon footprint on the world. Allbirds shoes are made from eco-friendly materials such as merino wool, sugar cane, recycled bottles, castor oil and organic tpu.
In this Rothys vs Allbirds shoe review, we’ll see how both brands compare to help you make your buying decision.
Rothys vs Allbirds Flats
Rothys offers two versions of traditional flat shoes: The Flat and The Point. These shoes are very similar in manufacture, with the exception of The Point’s pointed, narrow toe cap. The Flat and The Point are made from recycled disposable water bottles: Each bottle is hot-washed, sterilized and cut into flakes, pressed into pellets, twisted into spools of yarn, then dyed and 3D-knitted into each pair of Rothys shoes. Amazing!
The outsoles of Rothys flats are made from eco-friendly, recycled, carbon-free rubber, while the insoles are made from recycled plastic from water bottles, recyclable foam and bio-based castor oil. Using the 3D knitting method, each shoe is cut and shaped exactly the same every time, which translates into comfort and durability. Rothys shoes have no break-in period and adapt perfectly to the shape of your foot and heel (no slipping).
Rothys offers The Flat in 16 different colors and patterns, while there are 22 options for The Point. The shoes are available in attractive jewel tones, simple blacks and grays, stripes and animal prints. Each pair comes with Rothys’ signature blue halo outlining the heel of the shoe. We’ve saved the best for last: Rothys shoes are easily machine washable!
Allbirds’ version of the flat is the Tree Breezers, which has a rounded toe compared to the Rothys flats. The Tree Breezers are available in 16 different limited edition colors, and unlike the Rothys, there are no prints or patterns to choose from. The insoles of the Tree Breezers are made of merino wool, which is soft, moisture-wicking and odor-resistant. These insoles feel extra cushioning and arch support through the use of castor oil and a wool lining topper. The sole of the Tree Breezers is made from SweetFoam™, which is made from sugar cane. This material provides springy, lightweight comfort.
These shoes take their name from where they come from: trees! Eucalyptus tree fibers are incorporated into the shoe material and ensure a silky-soft feel and a cooling effect so that your feet can breathe and stay comfortable. The collar of the Tree Breezer fits snugly and securely around the foot and prevents the foot from slipping. The ribbed knit structure prevents this and at the same time gives your feet some room to move. The knit pattern of the Tree Breezers is thicker and more pronounced than that of the Rothys Flats, but just like Rothys, the Allbirds are machine washable.
Winner: Rothys
In this round of the Rothys vs Allbirds shoe comparison, it was a close call. Both brands offer a range of options with shoes made from similar eco-friendly materials. With Allbirds shoes, however, you’re limited to single colors. Rothys shoes are perfectly molded to the shape of your feet with their 3D knitting technology, while Allbirds shoes take a few weeks to break in. The look of the shoes from the two brands is very different as they use different knitting techniques. I find that the Rothys knitting method results in a more aesthetically pleasing shoe, but that’s a personal preference.
Rothys vs Allbirds Loafers
Rothys The Loafer is available in 16 styles, including solid colors and patterns such as camo, melange, color grid and animal prints. Like all Rothys shoes, The Loafer is handcrafted from eco-friendly and sustainable materials, such as the plastic water bottles used for the Rothys signature yarn. The outsoles are made from either carbon-free rubber or luxurious vegan leather, while the insoles are made with bio-based castor oil and recycled materials.
The loafer comfortably hugs the contour of your foot thanks to the 3D knitting technique used in every Rothys shoe. The seamless construction means no hard seams or stiff edges to cause discomfort. The vamp, the middle part of the shoe upper, sits higher on the foot than The Flat or The Point. This gives your toes the perfect balance between snugness and freedom of movement. The shoe is ready to wear and does not need to be broken in. However, the yarn will stretch a little over time. The loafers feature Rothys’ signature blue halo, a blue stripe that outlines the heel of the shoe. These shoes are also machine washable.
Allbirds’ interpretation of the loafer resulted in two signature loafer designs: the Wool Loungers and the Tree Loungers. The Wool Loungers are made from the wool of Merino sheep; the wool is washed, brushed and spun into yarn that is used for the shoes. Merino wool has useful moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating and breathable properties without being itchy. The upper material of the Wool Loungers is soft and scratch-free on the inside and robust on the outside, which ensures a firm wearing comfort. The Wool Loungers have a SweetFoam™ outsole that provides lightweight, springy comfort all over the foot. The insoles contain the ingredient castor oil, which provides extra cushioning and noticeable arch support.
The exterior of the Tree Loungers is made from eucalyptus tree fibers. After the tree to thread process, the material is used to knit the shoes. The mesh-based fabric knitted from the tree makes the shoes breathable and soft and ensures good ventilation. The outsoles of the Tree Loungers are made of low-density foam, which is extremely comfortable thanks to its cushioning and friction control. The S-curve profile of the sole is based on the anatomical flexibility of the feet and ensures even weight distribution. The SweetFoam™ outsole makes every step light and springy.
The Allbirds Wool Loungers are available in five colors, four of which are grey. Depending on the color chosen, the outsole is white, black or grey. The Tree Loungers are much more colorful and come in maroon, grey, green and blue tones, with most of them having a white outsole. Both loungers are machine washable.
Winner: Allbirds
When it comes to brands that make shoes this similar, details matter. A review of Rothys vs Allbirds shoes found that both brands use recycled materials, but the latter uses more ingredients for function. Both brands claim to make comfortable shoes with good cushioning, but Allbirds lists more materials to back this up. Unlike the Rothys shoes, the Allbirds have a lightweight quality that is also appealing. Although the Rothys loafer comes in a wider variety of colors and patterns, Allbirds wins this round because of its attention to the specific functional benefits of its shoes.
Rothys vs Allbirds Sneakers
Rothys The sneaker is more of a slip-on shoe than a traditional sneaker, as it has no laces. The sneaker has high sidewalls and a thick, raised white sole. The shoe is available in 12 styles, including stripe, melange, camouflage and animal print patterns. The characteristic blue halo can also be found on the heel of these shoes. Rothy’s 3D knitting process ensures a precise shape and cut every time, so that the shoe fits the contour of the foot perfectly. The 3D knitting process also ensures maximum comfort thanks to the seamless construction.
The sneaker is made from environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. In particular, the combination of bio-based castor oil and recycled foam in the insole provides a soft and comfortable surface for your feet. There is no break-in period for these shoes, and although they do not stretch, the thread will give a little over time. As Rothys strives to be sustainable, these shoes are durable and machine washable.
Unlike Rothys, the Allbirds Tree Skippers actually have laces. The upper of these Tree Skippers is made from eucalyptus trees used as thread and sewn into a mesh knit pattern. The material is smooth, lightweight and offers breathability with a cooling effect throughout the shoe. A combination of castor oil and merino wool provides arch support, cushioning, moisture wicking and odor control.
The comfort doesn’t stop there! The soles of the Tree Skippers are made of low-density foam and have a unique S-curve profile that provides friction control and even weight distribution. The Tree Skippers have only two eyelets for the laces on each side, so they don’t feel tight on your feet like traditional sneakers. The Tree Skippers come in half the variety offered by Rothys, and depending on your color choice, you can get white, navy blue or charcoal grey soles. The insole is always in the classic grey color of merino wool. These shoes can be washed in the washing machine, but you should not put them in the dryer.
Winner: Allbirds
Overall, the sneakers from Allbirds offer customers more than those from Rothys. The outsole of the Tree Skippers offers anatomical flexibility, even weight distribution and arch support, which the Rothys version lacks. The insoles of the Rothys sneakers are said to offer a soft and comfortable surface, while the insoles of Allbirds have moisture-wicking and odor-inhibiting elements.
A review of Rothys and Allbirds shoes found that the Allbirds design was better for function, despite the break-in period and fewer colors available. The Tree Skippers also more closely resemble sneakers, although the Rothys design is still aesthetically pleasing.
Quality
It takes a lot of thought, effort and trial and error to perfect a design that makes your product stand out. In this report on Rothys and Allbirds footwear, we take a look at the materials and processes used to make the shoes.
Rothys
From materials to production to the treatment of workers, Rothys is committed to sustainability. With this in mind, they use environmentally friendly materials:
Plastic water bottles: One million water bottles are sold every minute worldwide. Since 91% of the world’s plastic is not recycled, Rothys decided to knit water bottles into the uppers of their shoes to keep waste out of landfills. To date, they have turned over 47 million single-use plastic bottles into yarn.
Merino wool: Rothys’ merino wool is sourced from an Australian sheep farm and is processed into Rothys’ signature yarn. Merino wool is a naturally renewable raw material that is then processed in a sustainable Italian mill in the Alps, which is powered by solar cells and water turbines. The water used to make the shoes is taken from the Alps, purified and then recycled.
In addition to using environmentally friendly materials, Rothys uses an innovative 3D knitting technology for every pair of shoes. This method knits the shoes into shape and reduces the amount of fabric used. The company’s commitment to environmental protection also extends to shipping, where the shoes are sent directly from the boxes. Rothys aims to be carbon neutral through a program called Carbonfree®, which helps them exchange their production for offset credits that benefit rainforests and reduce pollution and biofuels in the US.
The design process for Rothys shoes begins in San Francisco, where the product team and creative director select the styles, colors and patterns. The design instructions are sent to the production facility in Dongguan, China. Only Rothys employees touch the shoes during production, which utilizes a mix of manual labor and machine assembly.
Allbirds
Allbirds only uses materials that come directly from the earth. Their aim is to design shoes that are simple, without logos, without pointless details, simply natural and practically made. Some of the most important materials used in Allbirds shoes:
- Merino wool: New Zealand has six times more sheep than people, and all this wool is processed using the Allbirds process, which uses 60% less energy than synthetic materials. The sheep are well cared for, which is ensured by a leading organization called ZQ Merino.
- Trees: Allbirds’ TENCEL™ tree fiber uses 95% less water than conventional materials, halving the brand’s carbon footprint. The South African farms on which the trees are grown rely on rainfall rather than irrigation. Allbirds is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council®, which means that the materials are produced according to strict standards for animals, forests and people.
- Sugar cane: The SugarForm™ shoe sole from Allbirds is made from sugar cane from southern Brazil. Sugar cane is a fast-growing, renewable resource that removes carbon from the atmosphere. An organization called Proforest ensures that the sugar cane is sourced to the highest standards.
- Super yarn: Allbirds has developed its own super yarn made from eucalyptus tree fibers and merino wool, called Trino™.
- Recycled bottles: A pair of Allbirds laces is made from a plastic water bottle.
- Castor oil: Used to increase the natural content in Allbirds shoes.
- Recycled cardboard: Allbirds packaging is made from 90% recycled cardboard.
Allbirds is a certified B Corporation, which means they are recognized for balancing purpose and profit. An organization called Soles4Souls® also takes gently used Allbirds and finds new homes for communities in need.
Since 2019, Allbirds has been carbon neutral throughout its supply chain. For every ton of carbon they emit, they pay to remove one ton of the substance from the atmosphere. By purchasing credits from verified third-party emission reduction projects, trees that sequester and store carbon are protected, wind energy is built and harmful greenhouse gases are prevented from entering the atmosphere. Allbirds sources low-carbon materials that are transported by sea rather than air, which increases energy efficiency.
The fabric used for the Allbirds merino collections was produced in a textile factory near Milan, Italy. This factory is the only one certified by the European Commission for environmental sustainability. Once the textiles have been produced, they are assembled by hand in the factory in South Korea. The fibers used for the Tree collections come from Lenzing, an Austrian manufacturer that has been awarded the European Award for Sustainable Production by the EU. Knitting and assembly then take place in the factory in China.
Winner: Allbirds
In this round of the Rothys vs Allbirds shoe comparison, the latter is the clear winner. While Rothys certainly invests in sustainability, Allbirds goes above and beyond to become completely carbon neutral. Allbirds is recognized as a certified B-Corporation and uses fibers produced by an Austrian manufacturer that has been recognized by the EU for sustainability. Both brands certainly have good intentions, but Allbirds is fully committed to the environment.
Customer Ratings
In this Rothys vs Allbirds shoes review, it’s important to know customer feedback to get a complete picture of both brands. This is what verified paying customers have to say:
Rothys
There are 34 reviews of Rothys on Trustpilot with a rating of 2/5 stars. One customer commented: “Honestly there are no words for the customer service, which is a shame because the shoes are really great.” From the reviews I read, it appears that customers had minor shipping errors or delivery issues. Virtually no customers had problems with the shoes themselves.
In writing this review of Rothys vs Allbirds shoes, I found common observations on the Rothys website:
- Not for wide feet
- Painful, leaves cuts and blisters
- Washed and air-dried like a dream
- Too small, so go up a size (which the website recommends)
- Super comfortable
- People love their shoes and own many pairs
Allbirds
On sitejabber, Allbirds has 3.5/5 stars out of 74 reviews. One customer said, “The shoes themselves are really nice and obviously well made. Unfortunately they don’t quite fit my feet, but they were super helpful about returns – they even accept them if you’ve worn them. I have to give them 5 stars because their customer service is absolutely great. Companies like this deserve to be good. They make quality products with honest service.”
On the Allbirds website, common comments included in this Rothys vs Allbirds shoes review:
- Fits true to size
- Comfortable
- Exactly as advertised
- Love the way they feel
- Can wear right out of the box, didn’t have to break them in
- Even larger sizes are too tight
Winner: Allbirds
No shoe brand is perfect, and of course there are negative reviews for each one. However, Allbirds had the better reviews outside of their own website. While Rothys customers had issues with customer service, Allbirds scored better in this area. Some customers stated that the Rothys were painful, although this could be related to choosing the wrong size. Either way, in a Rothys vs Allbirds shoe review, Allbirds had consistently positive comments.
Shipping & Returns
For all orders, shipping, inquiries, fees and processes may vary depending on location and value of orders requested. For your convenience, this Rothys vs Allbirds shoes review provides a breakdown of the steps you can expect.
Rothys
Shipping:
- Free shipping on all orders
- U.S. shipping takes 5-9 business days
- UPS Expedited costs $25 and takes 2-3 business days
- UPS Rush costs $35 and takes 1-2 business days
- International orders may take 5-10 business days.
- Exact shipping times will be displayed at checkout.
- International expedited shipping is not offered
- Shipping only to the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, UK, Australia and Italy
Returns:
- Free returns on all orders
- You have 30 days to return and exchange unworn items.
- Visit the returns center to make a return.
- It will take 10-14 days for your refund to appear in your account.
Allbirds
Shipping:
- Free standard shipping on all orders over $50
- Orders under $50 will be charged a $5 shipping fee.
- Standard shipping takes 5-7 business days from the time the order is placed
- Expedited shipping costs $12 and takes 2 business days
- 1-day express shipping costs $20+
- Expedited shipping is only available in the US and UK.
- Shipping to the USA, Canada, New Zealand, China, the UK and the EU
Returns:
- Allbirds offers a 30-day trial period
- Returns and exchanges are free of charge, even if they have been worn.
- All other accessories are final sale and cannot be returned.
- To start a return, go to the Returns and Exchanges page
Winner: Allbirds
A comparison of Rothys and Allbirds shoes revealed that both brands have similar delivery times. Rothys doesn’t charge shipping fees, Allbirds does, but Allbirds delivers to more countries. What really helped Allbirds win was the return policy. You can try Allbirds shoes wherever you want as they accept worn items, whereas Rothy is less flexible with returns.
Price & Value
This Rothys vs Allbirds shoes review compares the prices of each product we’ve reviewed to help you make a decision:
Rothys
- Lace: $136-$236
- The Flat: $169-$209
- The Loafer: $223-$263
- The sneaker: $169-$209
Allbirds
- Tree Breezers: $95
- Tree Loungers: $95
- Wool Lounger: $95
- Tree Skipper: $95
Winner: Allbirds
In this Rothys vs Allbirds shoe comparison, it’s clear that the value lies with Allbirds. Not only are they more affordable, but they’re also better for the environment since Allbirds doesn’t create a carbon footprint. Both brands produce well-made shoes that are designed for comfort, but they are cheaper at Allbirds.
We Choose: Allbirds
To recap this Rothys vs Allbirds shoe test, let’s see how each brand stands against the other:
A Rothys vs Allbirds shoe test revealed that both brands have incredible intentions when it comes to saving the environment. Allbirds simply operates at a higher level in terms of sustainability. Allbirds is consistently popular according to reviews, while some customers expressed issues with Rothys, whether it be fit or problems with shipping and delivery.
What makes Allbirds so popular is the fact that they offer a genuine 30-day trial period, so you can actually test the shoes in different environments. With Allbirds you get more for your money – you pay a fair price for high quality, sustainable and stylish products while reducing your own carbon footprint on the world. Well done, Allbirds!
Read our detailed reviews of Rothys and Allbirds.
