If you’re like me, then you likely got your introduction to Allbirds with a pair of Wool Runners for daily wear. The Allbirds Wool Runners was one of my favorite shoes for community and daily wear to the office. When the Allbird Tree Dashers came out I was super excited to give them a try as I loved my previous pair of Allbirds.
Personally, what wins me over with Allbirds is their environmentally-conscious mindset to product and their overall comfort. As a whole, I’ve enjoyed wearing my Allbirds Tree Dashers, but there are a couple of key areas where I think they fall short for both running performance and general wear.
In this Allbirds Tree Dashers review, I’m going to cover the key details that you should know before investing in a pair of Tree Dashers.
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Who Should Invest In the Allbirds Tree Dashers?
The Allbirds Tree Dashers are a good running shoe for the casual and recreational runner that also wants a pair of shoes made with eco-friendly materials. This shoe is comfortable overall and their construction contains multiple environmentally-conscious materials. For shorter and mid-range runs, this shoe excels the most and should work well for many.
In addition to tackling more recreational running, this shoe also works really well for daily wear and travel. If you need a pair of shoes for walking all day, commuting, or wearing for long travel days, then this is definitely a good model to look into. The upper breaths well and the midsole provides a nice and comfortable ride.
Allbirds Tree Dashers
$125
Best For
- Shorter Runs
- Mid-Range Runs
- Daily Wear
Falls Short
- For Longer Runs
- For Lifting, HIIT, and Athletic Training
Allbirds Tree Dashers Pros
The Allbirds Tree Dashers have a few key details really going for them in regard to their performance and construction. Below are my three favorite pros of the Tree Dashers.
- Awesome Daily Driver and Travel Shoe
- Environmentally-Conscious Construction and Details
- Good Comfortable Casual Running Shoe for Shorter Runs
The first aspect to like about the Allbirds Tree Dashers is their ability to work super well as a daily driver. Whether you want a shoe for running errands, traveling, or wearing a show to work, I really like this model. They’re easy to slip if you leave them lightly tied so if you’re like me and you can be lazy with your daily wear shoes, then you’ll also enjoy this aspect.
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Overall, you get a nice level of cushion and comfort from this shoe’s midsole and outsole construction. Plus, they look clean and simplistic in nature which is also why I think many of us enjoy the Allbirds Wool Runners for daily wear. If you’re someone that wants a shoe for traveling and daily wear with some casual running, then this shoe fills that niche well.
Another pro that comes with the Tree Dashers is their environmentally-conscious construction. Every material used in this shoe is designed to be more eco-friendly than other materials popularly used in other running shoes. For example, the upper in this shoe is a knit material made from FSC® Certified Eucalyptus Trees.’
The midsole is a dual-density SweetFoam midsole which is the “world’s first carbon-negative green EVA” per Allbirds’ site. The eyelets, heel counter, and outsole all consist of other environmentally-conscious materials well. For anyone looking for an eco-friendly running shoe, it’s hard to fault the Allbirds Tree Dashers.
The final aspect to like about this model is its performance for shorter and more casual runs. If you want this model for logging a few miles each week in addition to your daily wear, then I think you’ll enjoy the Tree Dashers as a whole. The SweetFoam midsole used in this model is responsive and provides a light level of stability.
Additionally, the upper is form-fitting and provides a fairly secure fit on the foot. The neutral build of this shoe allows it to work for a variety of foot anatomies.
Allbirds Tree Dashers Cons
Throughout all of my running, walking, and daily wear, I’ve enjoyed my Tree Dashers, but there are two cons that I could see others running into with these shoes.
- Break-In Period Can Be Rough
- Not a Great Shoe for Speed Work and Race-Focused Training
The first con that I have with the Allbirds Tree Dashers is that their break-in period can be pretty rough on the ankles, and more specifically, the Achilles. It took me a good two weeks to break in my shoes, but by this time, I had already had my Achilles get fairly cut up by this shoe’s heel counter.
I personally don’t mind blisters here and there since I review so many shoes, but what bummed me out is that the material stained with my blood and there’s still a slight stain on them a year later. My advice is with the Tree Dashers is to break them in with long socks and take your time. Don’t do what I did and go no-show socks for your first all-day wear.
The second drawback to this shoe is that they’re not going to be your best bet for speed work and race-focused training. This model runs fairly heavy compared to other niche running shoes and overall they’re best served with more casual running. I think if you’re looking for a super lightweight model, then you may want to explore other running shoes.
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In addition, the upper construction in this model may lack security for some especially those that are really digging into sprint work. Since there are only five eyelets and bootie construction, some may find this shoe to feel a tad loose especially considering the weight of this model.
Performance
To discuss the performance in the Allbirds Tree Dashers, I’m going to talk more specifically about how these work in different running settings and for daily wear.
Shorter Runs and Speed Work
For short runs, the Tree Dashers work really well and they’re a really good casual model for tackling runs here and there. Their midsole and 7mm heel-to-toe drop provide a pretty comfortable ride and their overall outsole provides adequate traction for both concrete and treadmill-focused runs.
For speed work and sprints, I’m not the biggest fan of the Tree Dashers. Their overall construction is fairly heavy and their upper, while providing adequate security for casual sessions, falls short for workouts where you’ll be doing more ballistic and high-velocity movements. I think for many this shoe will a bit too clunky for this style of running and training.
Mid-Range Runs
For tackling mid-range runs, I like this model and think it will work best for those working at a slower and more conservative pace. The width of this sole provides light stability and if you want a shoe with a slightly wider base, then I think you’ll like this model’s fit and feel when running.
The dual-density SweetFoam Midsole has a nice bounce to it and it does a good job at providing enough cushion when tackling more mileage. This model’s overall stack height and heel-to-toe drop feel solid for mid-foot striking as well, so if your running mechanics are a bit more biased towards a midfoot and forefoot strike, then I think this shoe will feed well into your needs.
Long Distance Runs, Walks, and Daily Wear
I think the Tree Dashers will work for longer runs, but I do worry about this shoe’s upper construction and weight for those putting in serious mileage. To be honest, this shoe is not my top pick for longer runs as I think if you are hitting a ton of mileage on a weekly basis and working at tougher paces, then you’ll need something a bit more specific.
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For anyone walking and wanting this model for daily wear, I think this shoe is a hit. It feels super comfortable and the width of the sole and SweetFoam midsole provide a nice stable and light-cushioned ride. Since this shoe has a neutral build to it, it should work for a vast majority of folks wanting a model for casual wear.
Allbirds Tree Dashers Sizing
For most runners and athletes, you should be safe going true-to-size in the Allbirds Tree Dashers. The length of this shoe fits true and this shoe has a neutral width so narrow and neutral footed runners will fit in this shoe best.
If you use your inserts or insoles, then you may want to go up a .5 size because the overall volume of this shoe is fairly snug through the toe box and midfoot.
If you have additional questions about Allbirds Tree Dashers sizing, drop a comment below and I can help you out accordingly.
Price Breakdown
For the Allbirds Tree Dashers, you can expect to pay $125 USD. Personally, I think this price is fair especially if you’re a recreational runner and comparing this shoe to other running shoes on the market. For casual runners and those that want a day-to-day shoe, then this price point is on the money.
The one caveat is that for serious runners, you’ll likely want to explore different running shoes as this model does fall short for longer runs and more serious speed work.
Allbirds Tree Dashers
$125
Best For
- Shorter Runs
- Mid-Range Runs
- Daily Wear
Falls Short
- For Longer Runs
- For Lifting, HIIT, and Athletic Training
Construction Details
One of the aspects that makes the Allbirds Tree Dashers so great is their construction especially when it comes to the materials used in this shoe. Like most Allbirds shoes, this model contains multiple environmentally-conscious materials.
Below, I’ve provided some of the key construction details that come along with the Allbirds Tree Dashers.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7mm
- Weight: 10.6 oz (for my size 10 model)
- Removable Insole: Yes
- Upper Knit Made With FSC® Certified Eucalyptus Trees
- Dual-Density SweetFoam® Midsole
- SweetFoam® and Natural Rubber Traction Outsole
- Castor Bean Sockliner
- ZQ Merino Wool Heel Counter
If you have additional questions about the Allbirds Tree Dashers’ construction, drop a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:Are Allbirds Tree Dashers good for walking?
Q:Can I wear Allbirds Tree Dashers without socks?
Q:Can you wash Tree Dashers?
Takeaway Thoughts
Overall, I enjoy the Allbirds Tree Dashers for what they’re worth. I think if you go into this model understanding that they may not be the best option for serious and race-focused running and training, then you’ll enjoy this model more.
After the initial break-in period, I think the Tree Dashers are a solid casual running shoe and daily wear model.
If you have additional questions about the Allbirds Tree Dashers, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly).
I buy and test the products featured on That Fit Friend using a regimen of training tests that I’ve developed over years of testing training shoes and gear. I may earn commissions on sales made through the links on my site.
