Lately, while still WFH, I’ve started “commuting” in the mornings with a 2 mile walk around the neighborhood. With that, my Rothy’s and Vejas have been getting quite the wear – so I started looking for another pair of comfortable sneakers to add to the mix.
Enter Allbirds Wool Pipers, a classic sneaker silhouette reimagined with a wool exterior. They caught my eye when first released,, but didn’t have a good reason to own additional casual sneakers until now. I decided to order two sizes in Natural White to try out.
Partnership Disclosure: This blog post was not sponsored by any of the brands listed above. As always, all opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, in which I earn a commission on purchases.
Like most Allbirds styles, the Wool Pipers come in both men’s and women’s versions at a $98 pricepoint. The exterior and insole is made with merino wool and is machine washable.
Fit
These only come in whole sizes, so I ordered both a size 7 and 8 to find the best fit. I’m typically a size 7.5 or 38 EU, and found that I had to size up in this style. I was surprised, as their Tree Loungers (reviewed here) fit me perfectly in Size 7. The toebox of the Wool Piper is rather flat in profile, which made the 7 a tight squeeze.
As expected, the sole is very comfortable. They feel exactly the same as my old pair, which by far has been one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own!
Style
Keep in mind, this is an Allbirds-esque take on a classic silhouette, so it is not a 1:1 match. You can see compared to my Rothy’s, that the Allbirds are flatter in profile. They also look a bit wider, given the width of the tongue & lacing. This isn’t a bad thing per se, just something to consider based on your preferences. Overall, though, it does achieve more of the casual-but-polished look that their very casual original Wool Runners do not.
Functionality
The wool material is not nearly as stretchy as Rothy’s, so the only downside is that I do have to un-lace and re-lace every time I put them on. Which is really a non-problem, so overall the functionality is great.
Verdict
If you are looking for a very comfortable, washable pair of classic sneakers for less than $100, the Allbirds Wool Pipers are a great option. Additionally, you are doing good by supporting a 100% carbon neutral brand (highly recommend this HBR podcast if you want to learn more).
On that note – Allbirds just launched its new Rerun program, where lightly used returns are recirculated at a discounted price. Wool Pipers are $30 – $40 off, which is quite a good deal!
