Best Wool Travel Shoe for Walking (Allbirds vs Giesswein vs Vessi)

Is it possible to find one travel shoe to rule with them all? Or even something you’d use 80% of the time while traveling? If you’re a minimalist and do not have space in your bag to bring multiple pairs of shoes, it’s hard to find the perfect multi-functional, multi-seasonal shoes for traveling.

During one of our Europe trips, we planned to do a lot of walking and exploring in cool to cold weather. Some rain was also likely to be in the forecast. So we needed to find good light-weight, all-weather, walking shoes for our trip.

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We started searching online for things like, “travel shoes for winter” and “best walking shoes for Europe in Fall and Winter.” The results were slim.

Updated: Summer 2023. Originally published: September 2019.

We were not looking for boots, which we both feel are not comfortable walking in for long periods of time (not to mention they are bulky).

When we removed the word “winter” from the search, there were more options, but nothing that would keep us dry in a downpour, or warm in cold climates.

But there seemed to be a fair amount of travelers referring people to merino wool shoes and specifically a company called Allbirds. This company started a new trend in the shoe industry using a natural fabric normally associated with clothing.

And so began our quest to find the best travel shoes for Europe in winter.

We ordered 7 pairs of shoes and compared 3 of the most popular travel shoe companies on the market: Allbirds, Giesswein, and Vessi Footwear.

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The shoe review carnage!

In this post we will cover:

– What to look for in the perfect winter travel shoe
– Why merino wool?
– A review and comparison of Allbirds vs. Giesswein vs. Vessi wool shoes
– Updates on new Allbirds shoes 
    – Allbirds Mizzles: Runners vs. Dasher vs. Trail Runners SWT vs. Wool Flyer
– Our final shoe choice recommendation for men and women
– Other options like Columbia waterpoof travel shoes
– FAQs to know about wool shoes and wool sneakers

Allbirds vs. Giesswein vs. Vessi Comparison Chart

The Case For The Perfect Travel Shoes

Similar to other gear guides we’ve posted, we’re strong believers that everyone should find the travel gear that best fits their own preferences, needs, and style. What works for us may not work for you, and it’s best to do some research for your needs.

When it comes to travel shoes, here are important considerations for us:

– Durability: We walk a lot of miles in our travel shoes and we believe they should hold together for at least a year-and-a-half.
– Stylish for different kinds of situations: We want shoes that look good and fit scenarios from casual to business casual.
– Weather-resistant: Rain is common where we live. And some of our travel destinations may be cool or rainy on occasion. We don’t need the shoe to be waterproof, but some water resistance is ideal.
– Comfortable: We want to be able to wear the shoes all day without our feet hurting.

This doesn’t seem like an unreasonable list, right?

It should also be noted that, obviously, not everyone’s feet are the same. Here’s a little background about our feet, to help you compare our results with your own needs.

– Michelle has narrow feet and high arches. Shoes that are stiff, especially above the heel, cause blisters easily. She typically wears a half size up for her Asics running shoes.

– I (Jedd) have a very wide toe box, low arches, and a small heel. Often times I’ll go half-size to full-size up to compensate for the width of my feet. Most shoes feel too narrow in the toe box. My favorite brands are Olukai (casual) and Columbia Montrail (running).

Note: None of the companies listed above make shoes that meet all our requirements for the best winter travel shoe.
 

Wool runners: Water-resistant Walking Shoes for Travel

Nature knows best.

When I used to work at REI, my colleagues raved about merino wool. It’s a natural product that comes from sheep. It wicks away moisture to help keep you dry. Its insulation keeps you warm.

This makes sense. When we were on the south island of New Zealand last year, we encountered thousands and thousands of sheep who can weather (pun intended) everything from snow and sleet, to bright, hot sunny days.

But only recently has this amazing fabric become more common in shoes. It’s still an uncommon choice, but we have a feeling that will change.

Thanks to advances in technology, wool can be tightly woven and combined with other materials and manufacturing techniques to better repel water.

It’s no wonder that this category of urban styled walking shoes made with merino wool is growing. Let’s look at the two major players first: Allbirds and Giesswien.

Allbirds Shoes for Travel

I’d be shocked if you haven’t seen some sort of advertisement for Allbirds. When you search for terms like, “comfortable stylish walking shoes,” these often come up. They’ve been really good about getting their products to influencers and advertising on social media.

Do Allbirds live up to the hype? We can see the appeal.

The Test

We both ordered Allbirds Wool Runners for our initial test. This is their original style but they now have more shoe options – see our update below.

We went with the Wool Runners because they met our needs for our upcoming trip to Europe in the Fall.

What We Liked About Allbirds Wool Runners

Out of the box, this was the most comfortable of the three that we tried.

Both Michelle and I couldn’t believe how pillowy the shoes felt with our first steps. It felt like wearing a cozy sock.

The material did not itch or feel irritating against our skin. It was also shocking how light the shoes are.

We like the overall look of the runners, too. The branding is minimal (on the heel), and we both felt it met our goals to be both stylish and casual. The overall construction of the shoe was pretty good, especially for this price point.

At $95, Allbirds were the most affordable of all the shoes we tried on. And they had the most lenient return policy. They are so confident in their product that you can wear and test them in real-life situations for 30 days and still return them for a full refund, no questions asked.

What We Didn’t Like About Allbirds Wool Runners

There is no structure in the wool shoe top, meaning you feel like your foot slides around a little bit. I think the overall design lends itself to be very comfortable when not moving, but we didn’t feel as confident walking around.

Both of us worried that we might roll our ankles on the cobblestones of European streets. 

Allbirds sizing was also difficult for me. I followed their instructions to size up for half sizes and initially ordered a size 10. But the toe box was way too narrow for me and surprisingly not that long. (I’m probably a 9.5 W.) But thanks to their return policy, I easily ordered size 11 and found it was a better fit.

–> Check out Women’s Allbirds Wool Runners here
–> Check out Men’s Allbirds Wool Runners here

Update: Allbirds “rain-ready” Wool Mizzles Shoes

The Allbirds Mizzles line are certainly a step up from the originals for cold, wet weather.

• For one, they feel sturdier, which was our main concern in our initial test.
• The wool is thicker and treated with an ECO PASSPORT Certified fluorine-free water repellent coating.
• And finally, the treads have better traction than the original Allbirds wool shoes.

Clearly, this makes the Mizzles even better for winter travel!

We decided to do a second round of testing to try out three different variations of Allbirds Mizzle: Runners, Runners Up (a high top version), and Dashers.

As of 2023, there are now Trail Runner SWT Mizzles and Wool Flyer Mizzles, made for hiking and long distance running in wet weather.

The Wool Runner Mizzles are very similar to the original Wool Runners in look. However, they are more water repellent, warmer, sturdier, and have more grip on the soles.

-> Check out Women’s Wool Runner Mizzle here
-> Check out Men’s Wool Runner Mizzle here

The Wool Runner-up Mizzles come up higher on the ankle. This could potentially provide a little more support for walking.

While still soft and cozy on the feet, you can feel a bit more stiffness back behind the heel and ankle. Personally, it’s not my favorite fit. All the other features of this shoe are the same as the Mizzles Runners.

-> Check out Women’s Wool Runner-up Mizzle here
-> Check out Men’s Wool Runner-up Mizzle here

Allbirds Wool Dasher Mizzles seem designed to be running shoes even more than the “Runners.” They have the same water repellency and grippy soles. The biggest style difference is the flexible top and reflective highlights for road safety. 

-> Check out Women’s Wool Dasher Mizzle here
-> Check out Men’s Wool Dasher Mizzle here

P.S. If you’re wondering about the new Allbirds tree runners vs wool runners, the biggest difference is material. For summer travel, definitely consider the Allbirds Tree line. They’re made from a lighter eucalyptus material. 

Update: Allbirds Trail Runners SWT

When comparing Allbirds wool runners vs. trail runners, there are some key differences. The new trail running shoe has a similar style on top to the wool dasher mizzles. The shoe can be slipped on and off even when the laces are tied, though it’s secure and stable while being worn.

The soles of the trail runners have the best traction of Allbirds shoes, however, they also seem bulkier than necessary. Behind the heel is especially thick, and I think the toebox appears wider from above than it actually is.

While the website description for Allbirds Trail Runners says: “Durable, water-repellent finish helps keeps shoes from getting soggy”, the fabric section on top is not waterproof.

In my test, water did bead up on the top of the shoe at first. But it didn’t take long it to soak through to my socks. Running through long grass with dew, for example, could lead to wet socks with these shoes.

Personally, I would need this bulky of a shoe to be more water resistant in order to justify packing it for travel. But I like the look!

-> Check out Women’s Allbirds Trail Runners here
-> Check out Men’s Trail Runners here

Giesswein Shoes for Travel

Whereas Allbirds lead the pack in the wool casual shoes category, Giesswein is the best alternative.

This Austrian company creates merino wool shoes in a wider variety of styles. They also come with two pairs of laces, which we thought was a nice touch. (Michelle is displaying both laces below.)

The Test

For the purpose of our Giesswein shoes review, we both chose Giesswein’s Merino Wool Runners.

What We Liked About Giesswein Merino Runners

Where the original Allbirds shoes lacked form and structure, Giesswien made it up for it. The shoe felt solid enough to hold your foot in place when you walked while still maintaining some of that glove-like comfort.

We also liked the color options. As you can see in the photos, I actually tried the baby blue version and really liked how it looked. Overall, the construction of the shoe felt nice and comfortable.

What We Didn’t Like Giesswein Merino Runners

First, we didn’t like the branding stamped on the side of the shoe. Nothing against their logo, but it’s very prominent on the shoe. It’s our personal preference to avoid big brand labels and symbols.

The logo also puts the shoe more firmly in the casual category and we’d like shoes that can feel more dressy if needed.

As for comfort? Michelle liked her fit. I was very uncomfortable in these shoes because of how wide my feet are.

You can actually see in the pictures above where my feet wanted to bust out on the side of the shoes (the middle section). My feet felt cramped and this time I didn’t feel that ordering a size up would have helped.

The Giesswein runners are the most expensive of our test shoes, at $129. The return policy was also the least lenient. They allow returns within 14 days, only worn indoors, so you can’t try them on in real-life situations.

–> Check out Giesswein Women’s Merino Wool Runners here
–> Check out Giesswein Men’s Merino Wool Runners here

Allbirds vs Giesswein Wool Runners

When it comes to the best travel shoe for walking between these two contenders, it’s really personal preference.

All in all, we both had very positive feelings about Allbird Wool Runners. Though I personally wish the toebox was a little wider, and Michelle wanted more support, they were very comfortable.

Michelle actually preferred the structure of the Giesswein Wool Runners to the Allbirds. I might have too if the toebox and soles were larger. It should be noted that all of these shoes are shockingly lightweight in general but the Allbirds felt the lightest.

We both agreed which shoe won regarding price and value — the Allbirds is the clear choice here.

Since it’s virtually impossible to find these shoes in the store, we appreciated Allbirds return/refund policy to give us time and a real-world opportunity to try their shoes. We recognize that this is pretty unconventional (as no one wants to buy and wear used shoes) but it really helps to give shoes a proper trial run.

Vessi Eco-Friendly Waterproof Sneakers

But wait, there’s more! During our research, we came across Vessi Footwear, which Kickstarted their way to producing waterproof, breathable shoes.

Though not using merino wool, we were definitely intrigued as they met all of the needs we had for the best travel shoe for walking.

The Test

We ordered the Vessi Men’s Cityscape Sneaker and the Vessi Women’s Everyday Sneaker. Would these be the best waterproof shoes for travel?

What We Liked About Vessi Footwear

First off, the shoes are modern and stylish. They have a glove-like fit, with comfortable material. The sole seemed big enough to be very supportive. A major bonus is their claim to be waterproof and breathable though we weren’t able to fully test this, due to their return policy to be in new condition.

The return policy is a generous 60 days but you can’t test them in real-world situations, only indoors.

What We Didn’t Like About Vessi Footwear

Though the shoes seemed stylish, we didn’t feel it was the right kind of style for us. We want our shoes to look nice but not stand out.

Out of the three shoe companies, we felt the most discomfort when we tried on the Vessis. We both knew immediately these weren’t the shoes for us by the fit. For one, the arch placement wasn’t quite right.

The foot hole on top of the shoe, like aquasocks or water shoes, is designed to seal against the ankle and keep out water. This actually made it a challenge to slip our feet in and out. And the seam dug into Michelle’s ankles when walking. When comparing Vessi vs Allbirds or Giesswein, Vessi comes in last place for us.

Granted, just because these shoes didn’t feel right for our feet doesn’t mean it won’t for yours.

Vessi has a lot of positive reviews. In fact, they had so much demand, Vessi actually paused new orders shortly after we tried them so they could catch back up with production.

–> Check out Vessi Footwear – Womens’s CityScape Shoes (Waterproof) here

–> Check out Vessi Footwear – Men’s CityScape Shoes (Waterproof) here

Our Top Choice Fall Travel Shoes for Europe

Michelle’s pick: Giesswein Wool Runners
For Michelle, having some structure and stability to the shoe while still being soft and comfy made Giesswein the winning water resistant shoes for women. She also liked that the shoe came in all-black, which makes the logo less prominent and a better style for Europe.

Update: Now that Allbirds has sturdier, water repellent options, the Mizzles Runners and Mizzles Dashers have risen to the top for Michelle!

Jedd’s pick: Allbirds Wool Runners
I really liked how cushiony and light the Allbirds feel when walking. I love the overall feel of the materials against my skin. I was a little shocked that the size 11 fit my feet the best (I expected a smaller size).

I wish the toe box and the sole were larger but it’s a pretty minor complaint. I also liked the way the shoes looked compared to the others and the price was great as well.

Update: Our Top Choice Waterproof Running Shoes for Europe

Columbia Waterproof Shoes

Our wool walking shoes served us well for casual wear in Europe. Despite being fairly easy to clean, we felt we shouldn’t wear them on muddy hikes because we wanted to keep them nice. And since we like to stay active–with hikes, work outs, and really long walks–we found we really needed an additional pair of shoes for our Fall Europe travels.

We both ended up with waterproof running shoes (or trail shoes) from Columbia.

Columbia bought Montrail, which specializes in sturdy shoes for outdoor activities. They’re perfect for running or walking in the rain. They have good traction for slippery surfaces. And they keep your feet dry while at the same time providing breathability.

The down side of these waterproof shoes is they’re more bulky and somewhat stiff, especially compared to our comfy and light-weight wool runners. That being said, a traditional waterproof hiking shoe would be even more bulky and heavy. Not to mention those big hiking shoes seem out of place for most situations, like you should be on a safari. For this reason, the waterproof running shoe is a good compromise between a casual walking shoe and a sturdy hiking shoe.

To be honest, we ended up wearing the Columbia waterproof running shoes more than our wool sneakers on our Europe trip. Which would I rather lounge in on the airplane? Definitely the wool sneakers. But if we could only take one pair of shoes to Europe in Autumn, it would probably be the running shoes.

Montrail/Columbia comes out with new waterproof shoes each season. Michelle found her black pair on close out sale, so the specific shoe is no longer available. However, we highly recommend browsing the latest footwear at Columbia.

>> Check out men’s and women’s Columbia Waterproof Shoes here

What to know about wool shoes and sneakers

The choice to buy wool shoes is more than a question of Vessi vs. Allbirds, Merino shoes, or other alternatives. Are wool shoes really right for you? These FAQs can help you decide.

Can wool shoes get wet? Yes, wool is fine getting wet. Water naturally beads on wool. It also helps regulate the temperature around your feet if water were to get inside the shoe. That said, they’re not technically “waterproof.”

Should you wear socks with wool shoes? It’s up to you! We wear ours with socks for extra warmth and comfort. But they’re also soft enough to go without socks.

Do Allbirds wear out quickly? One trade-off to the easy comfort of these shoes is they are not as sturdy as other great walking shoes. Results vary but you may want to consider a sturdier wool shoe if you plan to wear them heavily or on more rugged terrain.

How to clean Allbirds/merino wool: To keep wool shoes clean and smelling fresh, first read the label, as some shoes must be hand washed. Remove insoles and laces and brush off any dirt. If machine-washable, you can wash the shoes using a mild detergent (no bleach) in a linen bag with cold water, on the delicate cycle. Hand wash the soles and laces. Air dry everything.

Final Thoughts

When considering what travel shoes to wear in winter, we can see why merino wool runners are so popular. We can also see why companies like Vessi are on the rise, taking water resistant walking shoes to a new level by adding waterproofing and breathability to modern, urban styles.

Still, with Allbirds pricing and excellent return policy, it’s no wonder they lead the market in this category.

We wish more shoe companies would offer this kind of functionality to their casual designs. Stylish, casual shoes are rarely weather-resistant nor comfortable enough for long walks.

Do you have a shoe that might fit our needs? We’d love to know what your favorite travel walking shoe is. Especially if it can handle fall/winter travel. Let us know in the comments below.

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