When Allbirds came out with a new and improved Wool Runner 2 last month, an upgrade from the brand’s cult-favorite sneakers of the same name released seven years ago, I was like, “Wait, weren’t the original Wool Runners already perfect?”
Forever keeping us on our literal toes, the brand managed to make some ever-necessary upgrades to the sneaker we never realized we needed. Chief among them, a far more comfortable footbed featuring 14% more plant-based foam, an anatomical heel for that perfectly cradled feeling with each step, a concave tongue to support the instep and so much more. We put the new sneakers to the test to determine if they might be a worthy addition to your sneaker wardrobe.
Like its predecessor, the Wool Runner 2 is a casual yet elevated everyday sneaker made with thermoregulating and ethically sourced merino wool. It’s machine-washable and features a cushioned midsole ideal for long walks, busy days and speeding through the airport to get to your gate on time. Women’s sizing spans 5 to 11.
The Wool Runner 2 adheres to the brand’s reduced carbon footprint mission by including shoelaces made with recycled bottles, plant-based foam midsoles and ethical regenerative wool fabric with temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking properties. Men’s sizes range from 8 to 14.
What we liked about them
The lightweight feel of the Wool Runner 2 is pure sorcery. I typically expect shoes designed for walking or commuting to look and feel clunky and heavy, but at around 220 grams per shoe (just under half a pound), these feel eerily close to a barefoot shoe without featuring those distracting (and unattractive) toe indentations. This makes them a super-practical travel option for packing in your carry-on or suitcase when you’re worried about surpassing an airline weight limit or breaking your back over a bulky overnight bag. Even with a wider toe box and a slightly chunkier look (which I require for my swollen foot era during pregnancy), these remain so minimalist and lightweight I can wear them for hours on end without feeling like I’m wearing anything at all.
Their versatility is unmatched, successfully toeing the line between casual and effortless and sophisticated and elevated. Whether you opt for the dark gray or crisp white colorway, I can see them dressing down a dress or adding structure to a matching sweatsuit. The options are limitless.
I’m forever in search of that perfect shoe-to-sock ratio, often settling on the sockless look for a cleaner aesthetic. Thanks to their moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating merino wool fabric, I can easily wear them without socks paired with flared ankle jeans or leggings, or wear them with thin on-trend quarter-crew socks and some yoga pants or a skort.
While I wanted to avoid ruining their gorgeous cozy fabric, it was important to see how they fared in less-than-favorable weather conditions. On a walk in light rain and several jaunts through the mud, they kept my feet nice and dry. Cleanup was a breeze, requiring only a damp cloth and some dish soap to revert them back to brand-new conditions. It certainly helped that the heathered colorway I received disguised lots of debris.
As a certified personal trainer who strength trains and power walks daily, I need my shoes to feel supportive to, from and during a workout. In a cardio barre session, I found the Wool Runner 2s offered a solid amount of traction that allowed me to feel stabilized in movements like single-leg dead lifts, mountain climbers and side lunges without offering so much foam and cushion it threw me off-balance like a standard running shoe would. The best part? I performed the whole session sockless to really test the merino wool waters, and post-workout, there was not a drop of sweat or hint of smell to report.
What we didn’t like about them
I’m a bit of a sneakerhead in that I tend to gravitate toward ’90s-inspired Dad shoes or resurgences of retro collections. Though I have to squint really hard to style these shoes to fit my personal aesthetic, taste is so subjective. I know several friends and family members who would pick these out of a lineup whether they were selecting an office-appropriate footwear option or going out for casual dinner and drinks.
While this is a small quip, the name Wool Runner is quite misleading. As a fashion-first sneaker, these aren’t designed for running since they lack certain elements that make it safer for high impact and high speeds like a thicker foam footbed, a J-frame outsole for quicker foot turnover and improved foot alignment, mesh panels for extra ventilation and even reflective details runners rely on in low-light conditions. For more active pursuits, I’d definitely point anyone toward the brand’s recently released Vista Racer that provides the cushion and bounce many athletes look for in a running shoe.
How they compare
At $110 for the new rendition versus $98 for the original, the additional $12 investment might be worth every penny. With the Wool Runner 2s, you get an even foamier footbed for all-day wearability, a better fit courtesy of a wider toe box, a concave tongue, added half sizes to accommodate even more foot types and a more durable merino wool material for structure that prevents your toes from getting crushed — just to name a few. They’re currently available in women’s sizes 5 to 11 and men’s sizes 8 to 14 in five versatile colorways at launch: Dark Grey, Medium Grey, Rich Earth, Hazy Indigo, Natural White with a blue trim and Natural Black with a red trim.
Bottom line
Despite my very minor issues with the Wool Runner 2 sneakers, they are undoubtedly the perfect shoe for someone who isn’t quite sure what to throw on in the morning before work, to meet a friend, to run errands or to catch a flight. They’re versatile enough to take you from day to night and everything in between while, most importantly, keeping your feet more comfortable than you ever thought possible.