The Allbirds Tree Toppers are a remix on the classic high-top shoe — this time with a comfy, sustainable foam sole

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Allbirds combined a trinity of their famously sustainable materials for their first high-top sneaker, and as you'll see in this Allbirds Tree Topper review, all three work tremendously well together. 

If someone described their shoes — let's say, from across a dinner table — as "the most comfortable pair they've ever worn," you'd probably conjure up a homely but dependable pair of clogs hidden underneath the tablecloth. There's nothing wrong with them; they do one job, and they do it so well they can't do anything else — like look decent.

And yet, the Merino wool sneakers that claimed the colloquial title of "the world's most comfortable shoes" also managed to be stylish. Where ergonomic clogs failed in Silicon Valley and New York City, Allbirds Tree Runners ($110) flourished with ease.

The San Francisco-based startup knows how to make comfortable shoes that look good. And they opt to do so out of smart, eco-friendly materials: Wool Pipers made from super-soft, Merino wool, Tree Skippers made from eucalyptus pulp, and Sugar Sliders made from sugarcane foam. 

The classic high-tops have a sugarcane EVA foam for the sole, super-soft Merino wool on the inside, and eucalyptus tree fiber on the outside. The Allbirds Tree Toppers originally retailed for a limited time at $115, but since being out of circulation have become available (in excellent condition) via Allbirds resale program "ReRun."

Allbirds is a particularly good place to invest sneaker money if you're willing to buy fewer but better shoes. They're some of the most comfortable, low-maintenance pairs we've ever found, and you'll find at least one of our product viewers — people with more granular knowledge of products than is probably healthy — opting to wear one of its styles around the office every day. They travel well, feel good, and a purchase of one Allbirds pair also happens to support better, more sustainable business practices — as recently seen in the company's decision not to patent the world's first carbon-negative EVA foam so other companies could use it. It's also a bonus that you can throw them in the washing machine and they look like new again 30 minutes later.

We reviewed the Allbirds Tree Toppers ahead of their official launch, and we found them to be a great high-top sneaker overall. The tree fiber is breathable and flexible, the sugarcane foam responsive and plush, and the super-soft Merino wool is warm and comfortable for the interior. All in all, it's a great shoe — if you like the look, you won't be disappointed by the feel. 

Find our reviews for both men's and women's Allbirds Tree Toppers below:

Mara Leighton, Insider Reviews reporter:

Allbirds' Tree Toppers are probably the most comfortable pair of Allbirds I've reviewed — probably because they're essentially flexible, secure gloves made from all the materials that have made Allbirds famous.

I was concerned the high-top style may feel stiff or unnaturally thick, but the tree fiber is responsive and flexible throughout — fitting close around my ankle without any of the chafing that you might expect from wearing ankle socks with high-tops for the first time. It feels effortless. The Tree fiber is as breathable as it was in the Tree Runners, the interior Merino wool is still surprisingly soft, and the carbon-negative foam soles as sturdy and bouncy as any other. It's a good mix of the warm and cozy properties of the wool shoe and the light breeziness of the Tree collection. All in all, I love them. I'll probably wear them frequently into work, on the weekends, and for traveling. 

David Slotnick, Insider Reviews senior reporter: 

I've been an Allbirds fan for a year or so. My Tree Runners were a summer staple, and I wear my Wool Runners pretty much any time I travel — they're breathable but warm and comfy, and they're just as well suited to a day walking around a city as they are to spending 10 hours in the air in an economy seat. They're not the best rain shoe, but they compare reasonably well to any other pair of sneakers.

The Tree Toppers feel like a comfortable middle ground, with the light airiness of the Tree Runners, but insulated enough to wear around on a drizzly day in New York City. The high-top style lends well to jeans or even chinos, and they feel snug and supportive without sacrificing comfort. After reviewing the Allbirds Tree Toppers, I suspect these will become my next staple.