Allbirds Tree Runners – Super Comfortable and Eco-Friendly Sneakers

Devan Michael

 

Warmer months are upon us, and Memorial Day is behind us, so that means summer adventures, white clothing and outfits that should be suitable for your mountain AOTDs and evenings in the town. So if you are looking for a go-to pair of casual wear-anywhere sneakers – look no further than the Allbirds Tree Runners!

 

This month I have been lucky enough to test out the Allbirds Tree Runners, which could not have come at a better time. And I will say – I am OBSESSED! You’ll see below me rocking the Women’s Tree Runners, in Kaikoura White (with 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 feels like you are walking on clouds. Best used for walking, warmer weather, and everyday use, the Versatile Materials & Thermoregulating materials leave you feeling cool while looking hot! 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 Tree Runners have a carbon footprint of 4.99kg 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 (or in the picture below – the Lost Creek Wilderness of CO).

 

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 reduce 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 (linked here) 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. There were some things that stuck out most to me about the Allbirds Women’s Tree Runners:

 

1. 1. Lightweight, Breathable, Versatile – Made from eucalyptus fiber, these Tree Runners are a new level of comfort. Made of wool, you can ditch the socks without the yucky smell that typically comes with shoeless sneakers. And then if you are like me and worried about whether you can preserve the beautiful Kaikoura White color, simply remove the insole, toss them into your machine of choice, and just like that they are back to new.

• Cloud-like Cushioned Support – Contoured & delightfully bouncy, the Brazilian sugarcane midsole is called SweetFoam ® as it is made with the world’s first carbon-negative green EVA. Plus, these were like soft hugs to my feet, throwing them on after hiking through the CO Backcountry. They also proved to be chic as well as I rocked them during my #CampDev Bachelorette weekend in Breckenridge this past weekend! They are mountain town approved!

• Sweet on the Planet – As mentioned above, these Tree Runners should be named “Tree Huggers” as the materials come from the land and are sustainable, renewable resources! Additionally, their laces are made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester, as Allbirds transforms one old plastic bottle into one pair of shoelaces. Talk about Loop & Swoop! 

 

In short, the AllBirds Women’s Tree Runners have my approval and will be staples in my wardrobe – from the mountains to the town to the beach and everything in between – moving forward! Interested in getting a free pair of socks with any purchase? Use this link & have the offer automatically applied at checkout!

 

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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!