If you're already familiar with Allbirds, you know the brand got its start making sneakers with sustainable materials. But did you know they also make sandals in the summertime?
Allbirds recently released an ultra-squishy pair of slides that look extremely similar to the viral "pillow slides" that TikTok went nuts for a while back. In fact, after buying myself a pair of those pillow slides and writing a popular review about them, I knew I had to see how the Allbirds pair stacked up.
The main difference between the pairs is that the Allbirds have an adjustable strap.
I don't love the look of the strap personally, but it does make the shoe more versatile.
Sally Kaplan/Insider
Not gonna lie, I think the strap makes them kind of ugly. I prefer the look of the pillow slides to the Allbirds. It's nice that these are adjustable, but they're definitely less sleek.
The other obvious difference is that Allbirds' pair is way more sustainable than the foam ones I bought on Amazon.
The slides are just so cushy.
Sally Kaplan/Insider
True to its brand ethos, Allbirds uses its signature SweetFoam material, which is sustainably made from sugar cane. The straps are made with recycled polyester and renewable materials.
The Allbirds are unisex, come in whole sizes, and have three colors to choose from vs. the pillow slides from Amazon which come in a bunch more colors.
I prefer neutrals, but you can get both of these pairs in various colors, from pastels to richer hues.
Sally Kaplan/Insider
I got the "blizzard" color, but they're also available in black and bright orange. The Amazon ones come in about 15 colors. Both pairs fit true-to-size, and I'd size up if you're usually a half size.
Overall, the Allbirds pair are now my favorite shoes to wear after the gym, on quick errands, and around the house. The Allbirds pair is $50 vs the 'Pillow Slides' which are $20, but the Allbirds pair is way more comfortable — and worth the extra cost.
Amazon "pillow slides" on the left, Allbirds slides on the right.
Sally Kaplan/Insider
The comfort is honestly unbeatable, and I can forgive the weird strap for how cloud-like they are to walk on — especially after a long workout or a day spent on my feet. They really feel like walking on gummy bears in the best way possible, and the insole is extremely bouncy, flexible, and cushy.
Obviously, the price difference is pretty significant, but if that doesn't bother you and you're just after the most comfortable pair, the Allbirds win hands-down.
Sally Kaplan is the Executive Editor for Insider Reviews, a wing of Insider's service journalism team. She manages growth for all areas of editorial coverage, with a particular focus on developing tools for editorial decision-making, strategic content planning, and upholding strong journalistic standards for the Reviews team.Sally started working at Insider in 2018 as an editor and has since held the role of senior editor and deputy editor on the Reviews team. She has interviewed startup CEOs and brand founders, reported on the rebirth of a fashion company that narrowly escaped bankruptcy, written guides to wardrobe staples like the best loafers, developed testing methodology for hundreds of stories, and edited countless reviews, buying guides, deal articles, and gift guides. She has over six years' experience covering major deal holidays like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day, and has also helped pioneer the team's e-learning and personal development coverage amid a rapidly shifting education landscape. Prior to joining Insider Inc., she was the lifestyle editor at Hearst's BestProducts.com, where she wrote product reviews and gift guides, and developed the site's coverage of big deal days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Previously, she helped to shape BuzzFeed's early shopping coverage, which included introducing its popular "What's trending on Amazon?" series.Before she transitioned to a career in digital media, Sally worked as a program director for a non-profit in Washington, DC. Her areas of focus included dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline and supporting community-based alternatives to youth incarceration. She graduated from The George Washington University in 2013 with a degree in political science and a minor in queer studies. Say hi to Sally at skaplan@insider.com, give her a shout on Instagram @saltykaplan, or follow her on Twitter.Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.
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