Allbirds is a 2 year old San Francisco based startup company who markets their merino wool runner as the worlds most comfortable shoe. In the fall of 2017 they launched Smallbirds, a toddler version of their flagship shoe. Allbirds offers a 30-day trial return period, so I was eager to give the Smallbirds shoes a try and ordered a pair the day they were available.
Unlike other wool sneakers, Allbirds are not 100% merino wool. They are a woven, not felted, with a very small amount (less than 10%) of a synthetic added for durability. ZQ certified New Zealand merino wool is used, which guarantees that it is sourced using sustainable farming practices and ethical treatment of the sheep. Their merino fabric is crafted in Italy and the shoes are hand assembled in South Korea. Allbirds is a certified B Corporation and meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
FIT: Smallbirds are a medium width fit, however the merino fabric may stretch to accommodate a wider foot. They were fairly easy to put on my sons foot but the heel tab is flexible and did go inside as I slipped his foot in. Once his foot was in the shoe I had to adjust the heel tab and pull the tongue out as that bunched up slightly as well. It did not take long to get them corrected but they did require more adjusting than other footwear my son has worn.
COMFORT: This is where the Smallbirds truly shine! My son has very rarely worn shoes without socks but was eager to wear his wool shoes without socks. He kept telling me ‘they are so soft!’ and it was obvious that they were very comfortable for him to wear with or without socks. The inside has a flannel-like feel and are very soft to the touch.
DURABILITY: I had read reviews of others having issues with the toe area of their Allbirds and I was curious as to how the Smallbirds would perform with toddler wear and tear. My son wore these on a hike in the woods and for general wear. They were not his play shoes for outside and he did not wear them while riding his balance bike where he could drag his feet, etc. On the Allbirds website they are shown being worn by children outside climbing on rocks, which gives the impression that they are durable enough for rougher outdoor play. If you look VERY closely at the material of the shoe you can see that it is a fine knit, like a sweater. After a month or two I noticed one shoe near the toe area had a pull in the fabric. After more wear the other shoe started getting fuzzy in the toe area near the sole and upon closer inspection I saw that the knit fabric had torn in a couple areas. It was not torn enough so that it was a complete hole to the inside but I suspect with continued wear it could have become that.
I was beyond the 30-day return window but I contacted Allbirds customer service to see if they had similar feedback from other parents. I was told that the wool is more delicate than a normal synthetic shoe and that they have not seen this type of wear unless the shoe has truly been worn down to the ground. For such casual use as what my son used them for they should not be wearing holes so quickly. And even though I was outside the return period by a few months, they graciously allowed me to return them for a refund.
EASE OF CARE: Smallbirds can be machine washed on the wool or gentle cycle and air dried. I did not wash ours as they did not get dirty enough to need it.
CONCLUSION: Smallbirds are a comfortable, sustainable shoe option for toddlers manufactured by an ethically responsible company. My son had no complaints wearing them, unfortunately, unless the design is modified we will not be buying another pair. Spending $55 for a pair of shoes that get holes with such minimal, casual use, even if they are wool, is hard to justify. However, because of Allbirds superb customer service, if they modify the design or come out with other products, I would certainly be willing to try them.
Smallbirds can be purchased from the Allbirds website.
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