TL;DR: My favorite Allbirds alternative is the Baabuk Classic Wooler. It’s the closest match to what Allbirds used to be. It’s a B Corp wool sneaker made in Portugal that’s higher quality than Allbirds and backed by a year-long warranty.
For years, Allbirds were some of my favorite travel shoes. They were light, they packed flat, I could wear them sockless when the mood struck, and I recommended them to anyone who asked. So when I tell you it’s time to look elsewhere, it’s not coming from someone who never liked the brand. I was a true fan at one point.
A few things changed my mind, from how the shoes wore over time to a recent move by the company that’s hard to overlook if you bought into what Allbirds said it stood for.
The good news is that the sustainable shoe space has grown a lot since Allbirds first showed up, so you have quality options now for Allbirds alternatives across wool, hemp, and other recycled materials. Below, I’ll walk through why I stopped wearing my Allbirds, then share the six alternatives I’d actually recommend instead.
Short on time? Here’s a quick look at my recommendations
- Baabuk Classic Wooler – Most Similar to Allbirds (But Higher Quality)
- Giesswein Merino Wool Knit Sneakers – Most Breathable Alternative
- 8000 Kicks Explorer V2 – Best Waterproof Hemp Alternative
- Icebug Eide ReWool Biosole – Most Sustainable Alternative
- EMU Barkley – Best Budget Alternative
- LeMouton Classic 2 – Best No-Frills Alternative
Why I No Longer Recommend Allbirds
The first thing that changed my mind about Allbirds was the shoe quality. After enough wear, mine started breaking down in ways my other travel shoes didn’t. The mesh stained easily, the material lost its shape quickly, and the cushioning flattened faster than I expected for the price. None of that’s surprising in hindsight, since durability was a factor in the brand losing ground to competitors like On and HOKA.
Then came the part that’s harder to ignore. After years of losses, Allbirds sold off its footwear brand to a licensing firm, and the original company pivoted to become an AI business. You could not pick a worse direction for a company built on being good for the planet, since the data centers behind AI are enormously energy- and water-hungry.
To make their priorities official, the company stripped its environmental commitments and public benefit corporation status straight out of its corporate charter.
The whole reason a lot of us bought Allbirds, even through the questionable durability, was that ethos. Watching them delete their values so easily to make a quick buck makes their original mission feel empty, like sustainability was a trend they rode to sell shoes rather than something they believed.
On top of that, the Allbirds lineup is shrinking, and a lot of sizes are out of stock now, so I have no idea how long they’ll be around in the future. They’re a hot mess of a company at this point, and it’s never been a better time to stop buying Allbirds shoes and start looking somewhere else.
#1 Baabuk Classic Wooler
Most Similar to Allbirds (But Higher Quality)
If you want the shoe that comes closest to Allbirds in look and feel, Baabuk is the one I’d start with. Like Allbirds once was, Baabuk is a certified B Corp, and the two brands have long been named together as the benchmark for sustainable wool sneakers. The difference is that Baabuk has stayed committed to its values and still creates high-quality shoes.
The Classic Wooler is Baabuk’s most affordable sneaker, with a clean, simple design. The wool comes from sheep raised without mulesing, a harsh practice that much of the industry still uses, so it’s a humane choice as well as a comfortable one. The shoes are designed in Switzerland, made in Portugal, and leather-free, with stretchy laces you can pull on easily.
The wool does the same job here that it does in Allbirds shoes. It keeps your feet warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s warm, fights odor so you can skip socks if you want, and washes clean when they get grubby.
Where Baabuk really pulls ahead is how it stands behind its shoes. Every pair comes with a full year warranty, and if something wears out, you can buy a repair kit or fresh insoles and laces instead of replacing the whole pair. If you’d rather go for a higher-top style, their bestselling Sky Wooler is worth a look too.
#2 Giesswein Merino Wool Knit Women
Most Breathable Alternative
Giesswein is an Austrian brand that’s been working with wool far longer than most of the newer sustainable names, and the Merino Wool Knit shoe is their everyday wool sneaker.
It’s wrapped in an open linen stitch that lets air move through the shoe, so your feet stay cool and dry even on warm days or long stretches of walking. If hot, sweaty feet are your issue, this is the one to look at.
The merino 3D stretch fabric moves with your foot, and the breathable knit pairs with wool’s natural moisture-wicking to keep things fresh, so they’re comfortable without socks, the way Allbirds are. The interchangeable footbed lets you swap in your own orthotics, and the shoes are washable and quick to air dry.
If you want more cushioning and a sportier feel, look at the Merino Jump, which uses Giesswein’s Alpha Anti-Shock sole and a Super Critical Foam midsole that’s lighter than standard EVA. It’s the more athletic sibling to the simpler Wool Knit.
#3 8000 Kicks Explorer V2
Best Waterproof Hemp Alternative
The 8000 Kicks Explorer V2 is made from hemp, and it solves the one thing Allbirds never did very well, which is staying dry. If you live somewhere wet or you want one travel shoe that can handle a surprise downpour, this is the best option.
Hemp is a fast-growing, renewable fiber that’s breathable, temperature-regulating, and odor-resistant, so it shares a lot of merino wool’s benefits.
The Explorer V2 adds a water-repellent coating and an inner waterproof membrane, so rain and puddles roll right off. Water can still sneak in around the ankle and laces in a heavy downpour, so it’s more weather-resistant for daily life but not a rain boot.
The sole foam is made partly from algae pulled from waterways, where overgrown blooms choke out aquatic life, and the whole shoe is vegan and remarkably light.
The trade-off is that it isn’t 100% hemp. There’s a recycled polyester lining and a waterproof membrane in the mix. But for a sustainable shoe that actually keeps your feet dry, it’s hard to beat, and the simple look works in the city or on a trail.
#4 Icebug Eide ReWool Biosole
Most Sustainable Alternative
The Icebug Eide ReWool Biosole is the pick for anyone whose biggest frustration with Allbirds is watching the brand walk away from sustainability. Icebug is a Swedish B Corp that’s done the opposite, leaning further in, and the Eide is one of the most sustainably recycled shoes you can buy.
The upper is a single layer of felted wool, made from 50% recycled wool upcycled from scraps at Sweden’s Woolpower factory. Sticking to one layer of one material keeps glue and mixed components to a minimum, which makes the shoe easier to recycle down the line.
The rest of the shoe has recycled components as well, with plastic waste and old fishing nets in the heel and toe, and an outsole that swaps oil-based rubber for natural rubber sourced from responsibly managed forests.
And none of that comes at the cost of comfort. The wool naturally regulates temperature and resists odor, the midsole is cushioned and springy, and the grip holds on wet and dry ground.
If you want even more cushioning, the Aura ReWool steps up to a plusher midsole, the same one in Icebug’s running shoes, in a similar recycled wool build.
#5 EMU Barkley
Best Budget Alternative
If price is your main reason for skipping Allbirds, the EMU Australia Barkly 2.0 is the easiest win on this list. At under $100, it’s the most affordable pair here by a clear margin. EMU is an Australian brand that’s been making footwear since 1948, and the Barkly is their wool sneaker built to wear year-round.
The 2.0 uses a soft Australian merino wool blend upper with a contoured memory foam footbed, so you get cushioned support without much weight. The wool is breathable and odor-resistant, the footbed is removable, and the whole shoe is machine washable. EMU keeps the design subtle, so these pair easily with everything from leggings to jeans without looking overly athletic.
One note worth knowing. The original Barkly was 100% merino wool, while the 2.0 is a wool blend, so it’s slightly different from the version you might find on older lists. However, for the price, it’s a comfortable and low-cost entry into wool sneakers.
#6 LeMouton Classic 2
Best No-Frills Alternative
The LeMouton Classic 2 closes out the list as the simplest, most pared-back option. No waterproofing, no special grip system, no flashy features, just a clean wool sneaker that nails the everyday basics. If you want something understated that goes with everything, this is it.
What it does have going for it is weight, or rather the lack of it. The Classic 2 is about half the weight of a standard sneaker, light enough that you mostly forget it’s on your foot. Underneath there’s a double layer of cushioning and a wool-padded OrthoLite insole, so the soft, airy feel holds up through a full day of walking.
The knitted merino upper gives you the usual wool perks of breathability, temperature regulation, and the freedom to skip socks, and the toe box runs roomy. It comes in versatile neutrals like black, grey, and navy.
LeMouton is a small Korean brand built around natural fibers like merino wool, bamboo, and hemp, with nice touches like recycled-bottle laces. On price, it lands in Allbirds territory, so this isn’t the budget choice, but among people who’ve worn it next to Allbirds, it tends to win.
Final Thoughts On the Best Allbirds Alternatives
Leaving a brand you used to love isn’t fun, especially one you recommended to friends for years. But the Allbirds that earned that loyalty isn’t really the company selling shoes today, and the wool sneakers I wear now hold up better and come from brands that still believe in what they’re selling. That’s the part that matters most to me.
Whichever of these you land on, you’ll be getting a comfortable, sustainably made shoe from a company that hasn’t traded its values for a trend. Your feet, and the planet, come out ahead either way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mimi McFadden
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
Mimi McFadden started The Atlas Heart in 2013 to write about her travels abroad. After spending 15 years visiting 45+ countries, she realized she’d accidentally become a packing expert in the process. Now, The Atlas Heart is all about helping women figure out what to pack, what to wear, and what gear is actually worth it. When she’s not deep in a packing list or testing out new travel shoes, you can find her hiking with her son, reading in her chaise lounge, winning 3-point contests against her husband, and playing board games with friends.
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