Allbirds Made Wool Shoes a Thing. Now It’s Making Trainers from Trees

Welcome to Talking Points, a series that looks at what makes certain products worth talking about, brought to you by Gear Patrol Studios.

Over the last few decades, performance footwear has gotten better in just about every way imaginable. That’s thanks in large part to the development of technical materials — more breathable waterproof membranes, cushier foams, grippier rubber compounds.

The only problem? Most of the techy ingredients used by big brands come from fossil fuels.

That’s where Allbirds — the brand that popularized the use of natural materials in performance footwear — is different. And it’s latest silhouette, the Tree Glider, is a perfect example of how the brand achieves modern performance with natural materials.

Allbirds

Made from nature since day one

Merino wool has long been viewed as one of the most technical natural fibers in the world. It’s been a mainstay in baselayers and sweaters since well before “being outdoorsy” was even a thing. But in shoes? Not so much.

That is, until Allbirds came along and proved that wool shoes weren’t just comparable to those made with petroleum-based textiles, they were better. Wool is soft, breathable and odor-resistant, meaning Allbirds can even be worn without socks, gasp!

Since its inception in 2016, Allbirds has been crafting simply designed, exceptionally comfortable kicks with innovative, naturally derived materials like its sugarcane-based midsole technology SweetFoam.

Designed for a life in motion

With the Tree Glider, Allbirds wanted to create a performance shoe that could handle workouts and hangouts with equal aplomb.

The resulting style is unmistakably Allbirds — soft lines, elevated curves, subtle knit detailing and a lightweight construction telegraph that this shoe is up for just about anything.

To solve for the performance side of the equation, Allbirds developed a one-piece knit upper made with a combination of TENCEL Lyocell fibers (derived from trees) and recycled polyester that delivers a sock-like feel and maximizes airflow while reducing carbon emissions and water consumption.

Sporting a SuperLight midsole, Allbirds’s lightest and lowest-carbon foam, the Tree Glider offers a plush, bouncy feeling underfoot. Speaking of underfoot, the Tree Glider’s carbon footprint is less than one-third of what a standard sneaker produces.

All Allbirds, all the time

Most brands may never release a truly convention-breaking product. And those that do tend to have difficulty doing it more than once.

Allbirds is clearly not one of those brands, and the Tree Glider embodies the brand’s commitment to constant innovation.

So if you’re looking for a mold-busting shoe built for all aspects of an active lifestyle, look to the Tree Glider. The silhouette is available now in four colorways.

Price: $135