Last month, I walked 34 miles, 40,000 steps, and 10 hours from the top of Manhattan to the top of the mountain. I hadn’t gone that far in years – maybe ever – and what I thought would be a long, leisurely stroll visiting my hometown turned out to be a test of endurance. My whole body aches, except my feet, and that’s all thanks to my plush Allbirds Tree Gliders ($135).
Tree Gliders are one of the latest launches from the sustainable footwear company. According to the brand, they’re equally suitable for “working out” and “running errands,” and in my experience, they’re suitable for walking distances of 30+ miles. The shoes are reminiscent of the stacked walking shoes that have become synonymous with hottie walking and, at first glance, seem to say: I can walk a long way. After my trip through Manhattan, I can confirm they can.
Allbirds Tree Glider — $135.00
- Cushioned midsole provides all-day comfort
- Breathable knit upper maximizes airflow
- Excellent support for a variety of surfaces
- Made from sustainable materials
- Machine washable
- Limited color choices
- May not fit wide feet
- Unpadded collar prevents ankle rubbing and abrasions
I walked around Manhattan with the Allbirds tree glider
My first brave hike in my Tree Glider started at the 215th Street station in Inwood (for the non-city dwellers in me, this is the northernmost point of Manhattan). The cloud-like cushioning underfoot was impressive from the start – even better, perhaps, for traversing pavement, grass and gravel.
The thick sole is not only comfortable but also supportive. Several of the stops I made on my way to Harlem—Metropolitan Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park, the Little Red Lighthouse—involved a route that sloped and descended on both paved and uneven surfaces, and if I took the wrong turn If you hit the road, you may sprain your ankle.
Luckily, these shoes provided me with some insurance, keeping me on my feet on the slopes and on the greenways that wind along the Hudson River. After a long trek from Central Park to Washington Square Park, their strong underfoot support combined with their light weight was a relief. My feet are fine, great even, but my partner who was kind enough to accompany me on the trip was wearing a trusty pair of Adidas Samba shoes that made his feet hurt (three toenails were also dead) .
Like my partner, I never choose shoes based on foot health or orthopedic features because neither of us has to fuss with our shoes. We are “casual walkers”; if we walk around in terrible shoes – to the subway, the supermarket or a friend’s apartment – we never wear them long enough to notice.
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It’s only when you’ve walked more than 30 miles in a pair that you realize your shoes Do Make a difference. The experience of crossing Manhattan has proven that the tree glider is up to the toughest missions.
As the name suggests, the Allbirds Tree Glider makes walking feel like gliding. They managed to take me through the last stretch of Fifth Avenue and the busy streets of the Financial District to the edge of Battery Park, where I caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. Except for the slight friction at the ankle (I real Should have worn longer socks), I barely thought about this shoe. If you can walk as far as I can without thinking about your feet, that’s the highest praise you can pay for a shoe.
Is the Allbirds Tree Glider Worth It?
Tree gliders aren’t cheap, but their versatility makes them well worth it. While they aren’t marketed as running shoes, I’m sure you’ll get plenty of miles walking in them. Thanks to their ultra-comfortable construction, they’ll stay in great shape whether it’s a long walk, a day of errands, or a brief day outdoors.
I’d say the Allbirds tree glider is great for people who want comfort – I mean, incredibly Comfort – a pair of sneakers. In addition to being comfortable, the front of the shoe is also quite roomy, with the knitted upper allowing for some wiggle room (I wouldn’t call them wide, though – you might want to keep that in mind).
I’m also a big fan of their simple yet stylish designs. I’m not someone who likes to wear brightly colored sneakers; While fun, they made me feel like I was playing a Capital R runner, which is far from my reality. Tree Gliders eschew bright hues and instead stick to earthy neutrals, which further enhances their versatility. You can call me boring, but that’s what I like. So, yes, if you like stuffed animals in pretty, versatile colors, then they’re worth the triple-digit price tag.
final thoughts
I don’t know when I’ll next be walking for longer than 10 hours, but it won’t be the last time my tree glider gets any action. They’ve become my new go-to shoe when I know I’ll be on my feet for long periods of time and surpass my other sneakers in terms of comfort. I trust them to get me from point A to point B smoothly.
Besides the fact that they are similar to marshmallows in terms of comfort, I also love how sustainable they are. Like all Allbirds shoes, the Tree Glider is made from eco-friendly materials so you can real It feels good to wear. The knitted upper is woven with Tencel Lyocell, a proprietary fabric made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood pulp. Below, the SweetFoam midsole uses sugar cane instead of traditional plastic. Even the laces are made from recycled polyester.
Tl;dr: Allbirds are versatile, comfortable, and Easier for Mother Earth. If you’re brave enough to stand on your feet for 10 to 12 hours at a time, trust me, these shoes can and will hold up.
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