Allbirds vs Rothys: The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Shoe Showdown

Sustainable fashion is having a major moment, with more and more shoppers seeking out eco-conscious footwear brands. Two of the most buzzed-about names in the green shoe space are Allbirds and Rothys. Both brands have amassed a cult-like following for their stylish, comfortable shoes made from innovative Earth-friendly materials.

But with loyal fans on each side adamantly defending their favorite, it begs the question – which brand reigns supreme? As an avid sustainable fashion enthusiast who has personally put shoes from both brands through their paces, I‘m diving deep to compare Allbirds and Rothys on all the key factors to crown an eco-footwear winner once and for all.

The Brands Behind the Buzz

Before we jump into the head-to-head comparisons, let‘s take a step back and get to know the ethos behind these two sustainable shoe superstars.

Allbirds

Founded in 2016 by New Zealand native Tim Brown and renewable materials expert Joey Zwillinger, Allbirds set out on a mission to create "the world‘s most comfortable shoe" without harming the planet. Their signature sneaker, the Wool Runner, is crafted from ZQ-certified merino wool and features a unique sugarcane-based SweetFoam sole.

Over the past 5 years, Allbirds has expanded beyond wool to innovate shoes made from trees and even crab shells! A certified B-Corp, the brand is fully carbon-neutral, invests in high-impact carbon projects, and aims to cut their footprint in half by 2025. Celebrities like Mila Kunis and Jennifer Garner are often spotted rocking Allbirds around town.

Rothys

Rothy‘s burst onto the scene a year earlier than Allbirds in 2015. Founded by Stephen Hawthornthwaite and Roth Martin, the brand first made waves with their signature pointy-toed flat made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles.

Since then, Rothy‘s has expanded into sneakers, loafers, and even handbags, all made using their 3D-knitting technology that minimizes fabric waste. As of 2021, Rothy‘s has repurposed over 100 tons of plastic and 63 tons of ocean-bound marine plastic into stylish, machine-washable shoes. The brand even has a loyal royal following, with both Meghan Markle and Princess Beatrice spotted in Rothy‘s.

Putting Them to the Test

Now that you‘ve gotten acquainted with each brand‘s origin story and sustainability street cred, let‘s dive into the nitty gritty details. As someone who has owned multiple pairs of shoes from both brands, I‘ll be sharing my honest thoughts on all the key factors, from comfort to durability to style.

Comfort and Fit

Right out of the box, there‘s no denying that both Allbirds and Rothy‘s excel in comfort. The unique materials and knit construction make both brands‘ shoes incredibly lightweight, breathable, and flexible.

I find Allbirds wool styles, like the Wool Runners and Loungers, to have a bit more cushion and plushness, almost like wrapping your feet in fluffy clouds. The Tree styles, such as Tree Breezers, have a bit more structure while still maintaining that signature Allbirds comfort. Across the board, Allbirds shoes fit true to size and have a more relaxed, foot-hugging feel.

Rothy‘s, on the other hand, have a more structured, supportive fit. Their insoles are removable and feature extra cushioning at the heel and arch. The knit uppers have a smooth, almost silky feel against the foot and mold perfectly after a few wears. I find Rothy‘s pointy-toed flats do require some break-in time, while their loafers and sneakers are comfortable out of the gate. Rothy‘s also fit true to size for me, but their site recommends sizing up in some styles if you‘re between sizes.

Overall, I give a slight edge to Allbirds in the comfort department for their superior cushioning and plush feel, while Rothy‘s take the point for a more supportive, foot-hugging fit. It‘s like choosing between walking on clouds (Allbirds) or having a custom orthotic hug your foot (Rothy‘s) – both are lovely.

Materials and Sustainability

At their core, both brands were founded on finding sustainable solutions to footwear. But each takes a slightly different approach to eco-conscious materials.

Allbirds has a more diverse palette of sustainable fabrics in their repertoire. Their signature merino wool is ZQ-certified, meaning it meets stringent standards for animal welfare and environmental care. The sugarcane in their SweetFoam soles is sourced from renewable crops. Other materials include FSC-certified TENCEL lyocell from eucalyptus trees, recycled plastic bottles, castor bean oil, and even crab shells! Allbirds also has a ReRun program where they resell gently used shoes at a discount, and they‘ll take back old pairs to recycle them into new products.

Rothy‘s approach revolves around two key sustainable materials – recycled plastic water bottles and algae-based strobel boards. Their uppers are 3D-knitted from plastic bottles, which they report has kept over 100 tons of plastic out of landfills. They also use algae, a renewable resource, to make the strobel boards and outsoles of their shoes. Like Allbirds, Rothy‘s encourages customers to send back old pairs for recycling through their ShowLove program.

While both brands go above and beyond your average shoe company when it comes to sustainable innovation, I have to give props to Allbirds for the sheer breadth of Earth-friendly materials they‘ve managed to spin into footwear. From a purely numbers standpoint, Rothy‘s reliance on recycled plastic is impressive, but Allbirds‘ experimentation with everything from tree fibers to crab shells feels like the future of sustainable fashion.

Durability

When you‘re shelling out $100+ for a pair of shoes, you want them to last. I‘ve had pairs from both brands for 2+ years now, and I‘m happy to report both Allbirds and Rothy‘s hold up exceptionally well to regular wear.

I find the merino wool and tree materials of Allbirds to be slightly more delicate, with a bit of pilling after extended wear. But throwing them in the wash always restores them to like-new condition. I will note the lighter colors, particularly the undyed "natural white" in wool styles, are prone to staining, so I tend to reserve those for drier days. The soles have maintained their cushion and tread after miles of walking.

Rothy‘s knit uppers are workhorses – I‘ve spilled coffee on my loafers, trekked through rain and mud in the sneakers, and even worn a pair of points to a wedding that turned into a dance party. After a spin through the washing machine, they look good as new every time. I will say the lighter colors can also show dirt/stains more easily, but the forgiving knit and ability to wash is clutch. The outsoles do show wear a bit faster than Allbirds in my experience, particularly at the toe, but after 100+ wears, it‘s to be expected.

If you‘re hard on your shoes and prioritize durability above all, Rothy‘s plastics have a slight edge over Allbirds‘ natural materials. But with proper care (i.e. don‘t wear your wool sneakers in a downpour), both will hold up for the long haul.

Style and Versatility

Comfort and sustainability are great, but if the shoes are fugly, what‘s the point? Luckily, both brands hit the style mark, though they cater to slightly different aesthetics.

Allbirds has a more relaxed, sporty vibe. Their simple, logo-free designs pair perfectly with jeans and t-shirts for casual, cool looks. They‘re the ultimate travel shoe and an easy choice for long walks and errand runs. The neutral color palette (lots of white, gray, and charcoal) is timeless, but they have started introducing more fashion-forward limited edition colors and even metallic hues. Still, these aren‘t going to be your statement-making kicks.

Rothy‘s, on the other hand, makes a style statement. From leopard print loafers to colorblock sneakers to their signature pointy-toed flats, these shoes can dress up or down. As someone whose wardrobe skews a bit preppy, I love that I can pair Rothy‘s with skirts and dresses for work and play. Plus the color and print options are unmatched – there‘s always a new hue to obsess over each season. That said, Rothy‘s are a bit dressier than Allbirds, so not always my first choice for sinking into the couch on a lazy day.

Customer Reviews and Reception

I‘m just one sustainable shoe fanatic – to see if my experience matches the masses, I scoured reviews for both brands.

Allbirds‘ cult following can‘t stop gushing about how comfortable the shoes are. Words like "walking on a cloud" and "most comfortable shoes I‘ve ever owned" are common. Reviewers love the simple, logo-free look and appreciate the brand‘s transparent sustainability efforts. Negative reviews are few and far between, but some people didn‘t like the relaxed fit (they do offer a "high top" Dasher style for those who want more ankle support).

Rothy‘s reviews are similarly enthusiastic, with the words "stylish" and "comfortable" coming up constantly. Fans rave about being able to wear them all day with no pain. Like Allbirds, the ability to throw them in the wash is a huge plus. Criticisms noted the pointy toe flats can take some getting used to, and some people wished for more arch support. But once broken in, Rothy‘s loyal followers can‘t get enough.

All things considered, both brands have garnered a devoted, almost evangelical fan base who preach the gospel of comfy, sustainable shoes to all who will listen.

Giving Back and Doing Good

Allbirds and Rothy‘s both build giving back into their brand ethos.

Allbirds partners with Soles4Souls to donate gently used and returned shoes to people in need. They also donate all shoes that don‘t meet quality standards and irregulars that can‘t be sold. During the pandemic, Allbirds launched a "buy-one-give-one" program with their Wool Mask where they donated a mask for each one sold.

Rothy‘s also works with nonprofit partners to donate lightly used shoes to communities that need them most. During the pandemic, they donated 100,000 non-medical masks to essential workers. Rothy‘s also donates sample shoes and factory seconds to their nonprofit partners.

Both brands give back to environmental nonprofits as well – Allbirds works with Fridays for Future and the National Audubon Society, while Rothy‘s has partnered with the Enviromental Defense Fund and Enviromental Advocates NY in the past.

From a community impact perspective, both get high marks for putting their money where their mouth is.

Final Verdict

After wearing, washing, and obsessing over both brands, I hate to say it, but it‘s hard to crown just one eco-friendly shoe supreme. Both Allbirds and Rothy‘s deliver on their promise of crazy comfortable, sustainable stylish footwear. At the end of the day, which brand you reach for really comes down to personal preference.

If your idea of the perfect shoe is breathable, lightweight, and feels like slippers, go for Allbirds. You can‘t beat the cozy comfort and the SweetFoam soles have major bounce. I reach for my Allbirds when traveling, running errands, or anytime I know I‘ll be on my feet all day. The simple styling is also great for minimalist capsule wardrobes.

If you‘re looking for a shoe that can take you from the boardroom to brunch while still feeling like it was made for you, Rothy‘s is your gal. The structured silhouettes have enough personality to be a focal point of your look. I love that I can pair my pointy flats with a dress for a summer wedding or dress down my loafers with jeans. And no other shoe compares when it comes to color and print options to keep your wardrobe fresh.

But whichever way your eco-friendly heart leans, you can feel good knowing your hard-earned dollars are supporting brands that put the planet first. By choosing shoes made with sustainable materials, you‘re taking a major step (pun intended) to minimize your carbon footprint. And with both brands continuing to innovate new Earth-friendly fabrics and production processes all the time, the future of footwear is looking mighty green.