Allbirds Couriers Review – Old School Vibes and a Modern Twist

Old-School Vibes with a Modern, Sustainable Twist 

Devan Michael

Allbirds Couriers Review

 

With Labor Day behind us & the dog days of summer are beginning to bleed into the beloved autumn days, which means Pumpkin Patches, Football, Apple Orchards and the need for cute, on-the-go outfits are in high demand. So if you are looking for a go-to pair of casual wear-anywhere sneakers that bring a new take on old-school style with classic comfort – look no further than the Allbirds Couriers!

This month I have been lucky enough to test out the Allbirds Couriers, the newest shoe added to the Allbirds Collection (check out the associated press-release here). And I will say, these have come in clutch with airport travel nearly every weekend & no slow down in sight for the next month. You’ll see below me rocking the Women’s Couriers, in Medium Gray (with natural white soles), in a Women’s 9. Although I typically wear a Women’s 8.5, most Allbirds styles come in whole sizes, so I would recommend sizing up. There is wiggle room in the toes, a wide toe box, and a sole that is sturdy, yet flexible, supporting you making strides through the airport, the brewery patios, and apple orchards. Built for comfort, versatility, and style, this is a new twist on old-school trainers with added flare, comfort and sustainability. 

 

Best used for casual, on-the-go, everyday use (and impromptu AOTDs), the Courier comes in (5) different colorways, each with a multi-material, layered design featuring intricate stitching & overlays, including a subtle scoop detail on the midsole. And then if you wanted an even more fun fact, Allbirds shares the carbon footprint of each specific style & design as part of their carbon neutral business that balances their emissions by funding high impact carbon projects. So the Couriers have a carbon footprint of 5.51kg CO2e (compared to a standard sneaker which is ~14kg CO2e).

 

And not only is their design crazy comfortable, super cute, and very versatile, the mission behind Allbirds is one I want to shout about from the mountains!

 

Allbirds have Mother Nature in mind. Created in New Zealand, where sheep outpopulate humans 5:1, the founders began to wonder why such a remarkable, sustainable resource was virtually absent in the footwear industry. And with that spirit of wonder, the Allbirds journey began as a revolutionary wool fabric inspired by natural materials paved its way into the footwear industry, powered by an ongoing mantra to create better things in a better way.

 

Fun fact – your Allbirds are made out of Wool, Tree, Trino ® and Sugar. You read that right – Sugar! I don’t know about you but these are not materials I have heard in the ingredients for the shoes that cover our feet. But there is a bigger game at play with using these resources. 

Through Allbirds Flight Plan, which started in 2021, they plan to cut their carbon footprint in half by the end of 2025, then reducing it to the near zero by 2030. Only two years in, they are more than halfway to their goals, and will stop at nothing to get to nothing (as in no carbon footprint)!

 

Allbirds plans to reverse climate change through better business, and by showing others hopping on the sustainability bandwagon should not take 30 years to get to carbon neutral, but could happen today. Through Measuring, Reducing and Offsetting, Allbirds is trying to do its part (and then some) to save our planet that allows us to adventure & witness the wonders of the world. I would highly recommend checking out more of their initiatives if you are passionate about the story that brings your clothes & gear to life.

 

With the mission-driven mindset top of mind, let’s get back to the review. Here were some things that stuck out most to me about the Allbirds Couriers:

 

1. 1. Durable Sole to Carry You Through the Day – Made with Allbird’s SweetFoam™(which is made from sugarcane-derived Green EVA, unlike typical fully-plastic petroleum-based midsole foams often used in footwear), the midsole delivers a cushioned, forgiving ride for long days on your feet, helping your feet feel supported and wrapped in comfort. Not to mention you will also be helping to reduce your own carbon footprint on Mother Earth. The Couriers feature a smooth wave pattern for functional traction, and uses natural rubber obtained from the latex vessels of rubber-producing plants, with a strategically-placed outsole made from natural rubber for the perfect combination of flexibility & durability! 

• Old-School Style, New School Build – The Courier model comes in (5) different colorways, each with a multi-material, layered design featuring intricate stitching & overlays, including a subtle scoop detail on the midsole. They have a design that can go with any of your casual outfits & I personally love the Medium Gray design as it disguises marks that may come from being caught in a sporadic rainstorm, taking the off-the-beaten-trail dirt paths, or chasing your dog around in the yard! *Note: I purposely got a non-white color after lessons were learned from my white All-Bird Tree Runners, which unfortunately got a stubborn stain on them that is slowly coming out. 

• Sweet on the Planet – As mentioned above, these Couriers should be named “Care for Others” as the organic cotton canvas is grown without chemicals or pesticides, creating a healthier working environment for farmers & their lands! 

 

Pro Tip: The only recommendation I have for you as you break these shoes in, is make sure to wear higher rise socks that cover your heel, specifically for the first few wears. I tried to break them in on a four-mile walk, and they did well until the last mile, when my heel started to rub against the back of the shoe, leading to a single blister. However, after a few wears & switching to higher rise socks (vs. the no-show ones I originally had on) I have been fine ever since.

 

In short, the All Birds Women’s Couriers have my approval and will be elevating my travel & fall wardrobe – especially with upcoming weekend trips to the mountains, apple orchards and pumpkin patches (since fall really is my favorite season)! Interested in getting a free pair of socks with any purchase? Use this link & have the offer automatically applied at checkout!

Devan Michael

Growing up in Massachusetts, Devan has been an athlete all her life. Starting at the age of 4 as a competitive gymnast, she learned quickly the joy that comes from hard work, determination, and a jammed packed schedule. Eventually, gymnastics led to competitive lacrosse, which resulted in her growing some wings and going to the PNW to pursue a DI College Lacrosse opportunity at the University of Oregon. 

 

On the single off-day each week, she quickly learned to see Mother Earth as her playground and wanted to use every second of free time to find chase AOTDs (Adventures of the Days). These AOTDs were the inspiration for her blog Dabbling in Traveling & youtube channel. 

 

From waterfalls, to snow covered mountains, to sand dune hikes – one thing was certain, something always went awry on these AOTDs. But hey, memories were always made! Not only was UO an incredible college experience, Oregon sparked her love for the outdoors & traveling across the country for games helped introduce her to Colorado in 2014. Staring up at the Flatirons on CU Boulder’s campus, she knew one day she would call Colorado home! 

 

After returning to the east coast upon graduation, Devan’s heart never stopped longing to live in Colorado one day. But luckily the pandemic brought a newfound acceptance for remote work and in Nov. 2021 her dream came true!

 

By day, Devan is a Product Manager at Capital One. By afternoon, she is a personal trainer, coaching group Crossfit classes at Axistence Athletics (the best Adventure gym you will ever find!). By evening, she pours her heart into nonprofit work, specifically focused on driving sustainable change in Haiti through the Brace for Impact 46 organization (Fun fact – she has been traveling to Haiti since 2015, accumulating 7 trips and 7 months of living down there!). 

 

Brace for Impact works in Northern Haiti to provide sustainable, multifaceted approaches to support child development, education, medical care, job development, and implementation of clean water & sanitation across the community, which touches 40,000 people each day! (Want to learn more? Check out their website www.braceforimpact46.com )

 

As her friends would tell you (despite trying) Devan does not slow down and is always trying to fit AOTDs into each open moment. Whether it be hiking, paddleboarding, road-biking, running, Crossfitting, weight-lifting, snowboarding or simply exploring different parts of CO with her favorite furry friend Bailey, it’s safe to say Devan has found her “Home” here in Colorado!

 

Fun fact – Devan had reconstructive hip surgery in 2016 (actually called a Periacetabular Osteotomy… but that’s a tongue twister), where doctors said she may never run or walk again. After a 22 month recovery period, she proved doctors wrong and uses that motivation to encourage everyone she interacts with to truly treat movement as a gift and to never take it for granted. With that being said, to keep her body active, she needs to make sure her gear can support her so she can remain #PAOStrong! 

 

Devan is excited to join the Engearment team!