Allbirds wool runners
Buy now £95, Allbirds.co.uk
Humour me for a moment, and imagine slipping your feet into a springy, supportive cloud. A stylish cloud, no less, and one that will hold you up through any number of miles around the block or stomps through rolling fields. That’s what wearing a pair of Allbirds wool runners is like, and it’s the primary reason why I’ve barely taken mine off for over a year.
These lightweight wool runners are the original Allbird, if you will – somewhat confusingly, the brand’s wool dashers are its running shoe offering, and it’s also launched everything from high tops to boat shoes in recent years, so you can (almost) build your entire footwear wardrobe from the line.
But my question is thus: why improve on perfection? Because these first generation shoes really do live up to the oft-spouted Allbirds hype of “the world’s most comfortable shoe”. Now whenever I dare to slip on any other trainers for variety, all I do is wish is that I was back in these ones again.
Believe me when I say I don’t make the comfort claim lightly – I have plantar fasciitis (a by-product of running on hard pavements rather than a springy treadmill during lockdown), and at times in the past 12 months it’s been so bad these are the only shoes I can bring myself to wear. Taking tentative steps in my Allbirds has been intrinsic to my recovery during these periods – the soft, slightly stretchy wool exterior and plump cushioned sole provide the support my sore feet need, allowing me to still take a shot at my 10,000 steps per day even when running is out of the question due to the strain.
In short, they do good for the planet, feel good on your feet, and for vanity’s sake, I think they look good too – you can’t go wrong with a basic sneaker, and I appreciate the lack of heavy branding and absence of logos, which give them a more neutral finish.
In terms of care, you can even chuck them in the washing machine, and the clever removable insoles go through separately, so they don’t even take that long to dry. However, I’d avoid wearing them in heavy rain or snow, as the nature of the wool means they’re not entirely waterproof, and you may end up with soggy toes.
My only other gripe is that the white colourway – the one that conveniently goes with everything – never quite returns to its former bright white glory, no matter how many stain removal sprays or loads of laundry I add it to. For my next pair, I’ll buy a darker hue, but to be honest, I’m so invested in the fit and style of these shoes, I’m also tempted to get another set of white ones to turn grey with excess wear all over again too.