In short: The best way to break in Allbirds shoes is to wear them around the house with socks (in 10-minute intervals). They should break in after 1 or 2 weeks. Shoe stretchers also help.
Allbirds shoes are known for being comfortable. However, their shoes may require some breaking in, otherwise, you may experience blisters all over. Let’s explore how to do it.
How to break in Allbirds shoes
While Allbirds shoes are effective at repelling water, there are mixed responses. Some people describe the shoes to be uncomfortable due to the bulky opening rubbing against their ankles.
Some customers also found the Allbirds shoes to be a bit tight in the vamp, throat, and toe cap, although adjusting the laces and breaking them in did create a bit more room. Here’s how:
1. Wear them with socks around the house
Most Allbirds shoes are comfortable straight out of the box. While the Tree Runners will likely retain their shape, the Wool Runners stretch about a quarter inch after a few weeks of wear.
The best thing you can do to break in Allbirds shoes is to wear them around your house as often as possible. This allows the material to stretch before you wear them regularly.
Trying them with socks can also help the shoes break in more easily! Socks make your feet slightly bigger and wider, allowing the material to loosen to the contours of your feet.
Once you’ve received your new Allbirds shoes, wear them around the house for 10 minutes at a time. If you start to feel tired, take the shoes off and give yourself some rest.
The goal of wearing your shoes inside the house is to let the material mold to the shape of your foot and allow the shoes to adjust to your feet in motion. This speeds up the breaking-in period.
2. Insert shoe stretchers
Have you ever heard of shoe stretchers? They literally do what their name suggests. These contraptions will stretch your Allbirds shoes two ways — length and widthwise.
There are usually 2 forms of stretchers, plastic, and wood. Unlike wooden shoe stretchers, plastic shoe expanders are lighter, cheaper, and more durable.
It is a good idea to insert the shoe stretchers and leave them for at least 24 hours. After one day, your new Allbirds shoes should be more comfortable because the material has softened.
Unlike other shoes, there is no need to blast them with a hairdryer. Allbirds shoes are soft and comfortable enough, which means you don’t need drastic measures to break them in.
FAQ on breaking in Allbirds shoes
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about breaking in Allbirds shoes. Keep in mind that Allbirds has 2 popular types of shoes, the Wool Runners and Tree Runners.
1. How long does it take to break in Allbirds?
It takes 1 to 2 weeks to break in Allbirds shoes. Their Wool Runners stretch about a quarter inch after a few weeks of wear, while Tree Runners will likely retain their original shape.
2. Are Allbirds supposed to be snug?
The Allbirds Wool Runners are supposed to be snug because the material conforms to fit the contours of your foot. The Tree Runners are form-fitting, hugging your feet in all the right places.
3. Will Allbirds shoes stretch out?
The Allbirds Wool Runner shoes stretch about a quarter inch after a few weeks of wear, while the Allbirds Tree Runner shoes use less stretchy material and will likely retain their original shape.
Key takeaways
Now you know how to break into Allbirds shoes. You can wear them around the house with socks as often as possible to speed up the breaking-in process. Shoe stretchers can help too!
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