Allbirds Dasher Review – Can Allbirds make a running shoe?

We’ve been testing the new Allbirds Tree Dasher and are ready to give you our honest Allbirds Dasher Review. If you follow We Tried It at all, you know that we love Allbirds (read our Allbirds Review, Allbirds Tree Runner Review and our Allbirds Mizzle Review. Do the new Allbirds dashers running shoes stand up to the test? Read on for our Allbirds Dasher Review.

This review is for the original Tree Dashers. Please read our updated review here: Allbirds Tree Dasher 2 Review.

But wait – there’s even more Allbirds Dashers available now!

Meet the Allbirds Dashers

Allbirds Dasher Review: What we love and don’t love

👍🏻What We Love	👎🏻What We Don’t Love
– High performance version of Allbirds! – Can still be worn without socks. – Fun, new colors. – Comfortable. – More environmentally version of a running shoe. – Incredibly lightweight. – Machine washable.	– Can still wear with socks, but should probably wear on serious runs. – Some of the styles (like the Wool Dasher Mid), are a bit out there.

Allbirds Dasher Review: What’s the big idea?

The big idea here is that Allbirds is trying to create a running shoe made out of natural materials, with next to no carbon footprint (they call it “Tred Lighter”). They’ve “broken the rules” of traditional manufacturing to create the new line of Dashers.

Many people have said that traditional Allbirds don’t have the support needed for running or the stability for more vigorous activities.

What’s the truth? Keep reading for our honest first impressions and Allbirds Dasher Review.

Dashers Review: What’s the same?

The Dasher line of shoes feature many of the same benefits that all the Allbirds shoes have:

• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Machine Washable
• Sustainable – made from sustainable materials and manufacturing processes

Dasher Review: What’s different?

These Allbirds look different at first look. They are “busier” than other Allbirds, but there is also a lot going on. But that’s because there is a lot more going on here.

The Allbirds Dasher is designed for a much higher level of performance than the other Allbirds Styles.

A couple of different features that make the Dashers different:

The soles

One of the the first things you’ll notice about the Dasher line is the unique soles. Each one is a little different, let’s dive in.

Allbirds Tree Dashers Sole

The Sole of the Allbirds Tree Dasher is the first big difference that you’ll notice.

The sole is very different than other Allbirds you’ve seen. The “responsive, dual-density sugarcane midsole” provides better performance than other Allbirds.

The other thing you’ll notice about the Allbirds Sole is the thickness. The shoe soles are VERY thick.

I actually felt a little bit taller wearing these shoes – I mostly only wear Allbirds (mostly the Tree Runners) or flip flops around the house, so these felt a little taller.

The shoe also felt more cushioned on the sole.

Wool Dasher Sole

The Wool Dasher ups the ante a bit on the sole game – they added extra grip on top of the support found on the Tree Dasher. The Wool Dasher features FSC® Certified natural rubber treads for extra traction in wet conditions.

That makes sense – if you want a water-resistant shoe, you probably also want something that has extra grip.

Tree Dasher – What is the upper made from?

One other unique thing about the Allbirds Running shoe is that the upper is all one piece. There is no “tongue” on the shoe. The Tree Dashers are also created from eucalyptus trees.

How comfortable are these? Super! They blend the eucalyptus trees with the merino wool for awesome comfort!

I didn’t notice this on the Allbirds website before ordering and once I recieved the new running shoes, I thought that it would be more difficult to put on the shoes. But it didn’t. The Tree Material is very flexible.

Allbirds claims the seamless upper delivers a lasting fit that moves with your moves. Allbirds says that the seamless upper makes it more durable.

Tree Dasher Relay – Slip on Design

The Tree Dasher Relay takes this a step farther (no pun intended) and removes the laces all together. This is a unique design, but we’re not sure we love it.

Wool Dasher Mizzle – Upper Design

The Wool Dasher and Wool Dasher Mid are both designed with Puddle Guard® – a reinforced upper. This wool upper provides water resistance at the exchange of weight and a little bit of comfort.

We’d hate to run in the rain, so we haven’t personally tried these. However, we have tried the Allbirds Mizzle (see our full Mizzle Review) and have an idea on what these are like.

Wool Dasher Mizzle Mid – Upper Design

If you are serious about running in the rain (and like we mentioned, we are NOT), check out the Wool Dasher Mizzle Mid.

This takes the Wool Dasher Mizzle and adds a “half sock” if you will to the top. This stops rain from running down your leg.

There’s another way to do this: don’t run in the rain. 😂 😂 😂

Dasher Review: Inside the shoe

This is where the Allbirds Tree Dasher is the most different. Most insides of Allbirds are one solid material. However, the Tree Dasher is a bit different.

There is some of the merino wool that made Allbirds famous inside these shoes, but not in 100% of the inside. Allbirds says, about the Tree Dasher, “Our contoured castor bean sockliner and merino wool lined heel pad cushion your heel and lock it in place, providing breathable, anatomical support in every stride.”

The insole is also not wool, like previous versions of Allbirds. It is actually made from Castor Bean. Here’s what Allbirds has to say:

Our removable castor bean sockliner emits less carbon than petroleum-based foam and is contoured to provide flexible, anatomical support.

We love products that are not only comfort but sustainable!

Can you wear the Allbirds Running Shoe without socks?

Our favorite thing about Allbirds is the ability to wear without socks. As we mentioned above: the Allbirds aren’t designed with the same wool inside the shoes as the other Allbirds, but the Allbirds Tree Dasher can be worn without socks, too.

Allbirds even confirmed on Instagram this when they released the new shoe:

However, if you are a serious runner, we’d recommend that you wear socks with the Allbirds Tree Dasher, Tree Dasher Relay or Wool Dasher Mizzles.

However, the built-in sock in the Wool Dasher Mizzle Mids, you really can not wear a sock with.

Nope, those aren’t socks – they are actually built into to the shoe.

What socks to wear?

The inside being made of different materials is fine for most walks and even lifting weights. However, if you are running, you will probably get some rubbing on the feet with the different materials. Allbirds even created the new Trino™ Sprinters Socks just for the new Tree Dasher Shoes.

We also recommend Bombas Socks (read our full Bombas Sock Review and our best Wool Socks roundup).

Allbirds Running Shoes: The fit

The Allbirds fit very true to Allbirds size. We’d recommend ordering the size that you normally wear in Allbirds. They do no offer half sizes.

I like my shoes a little looser, so I order a half size up to a “perfect” fit. You might not want to do this if you are running in these shoes, since you don’t want them loose when you are running.

Allbirds Dasher Review: The final verdict

So far, we really like the Tree Dasher. It’s a higher-performance version of the original Allbirds (and the Allbirds Tree Runner). It’s $30 more than the Wool Runners and Tree Runners, but you can tell there is a lot more that goes into this shoe. They’ve reinvented their already innovative shoe from the sole to the shoelace eyelets.

They should hold up better over time and we’ll be sure to update this review as we wear the Allbirds Tree Dasher and even after we wash the Tree Dasher.

How do decide between the Dashers?

This is pretty simple: if you aren’t going to run outside in the rain: get the Allbirds Tree Dasher.

If you want something for running outside, then check out the Wool Dasher. If you are really crazy and run so much outside that you think you might get water inside your shoe, then get the Allbirds Wool Dasher Mid.

We really don’t like the design of the Tree Dasher Relay, but if you do – go for it! It’s made from the same material as the Tree Dasher, but comes in an easy-to-use slip-on design.

To be honest, we rarely un-tie any of our Allbirds Shoes, so we don’t really get the slip-on design. But if that’s your style – then great!

If you are at all interested in the new Allbirds Tree Dasher, you should buy now, as some sizes are already selling out. Check out Allbirds Tree Dasher Availability.

We’ll wait to give the Allbirds Tree Dasher the We Tried It Seal of Approval until we have the chance to test them further. Right now, we love the Tree Dasher, but want to make sure it holds up over time and can be washed!