There are multiple comfortable shoe brands available, with Allbirds and Tieks being two of the most popular.
Both companies offer stylish footwear that will complement any outfit but you should also know that their shoes aren’t cheap.
So, it’s important to learn the features offered by both brands and pick the pair that best fits your needs and lifestyle. Now, how does someone know which brand is better?
We have investigated their features and will share our findings with you in this article. Hopefully, this will assist you in choosing the “perfect match” for you.
Comparison Table Between Tieks And Allbirds
| Tieks | Allbirds |
|---|---|
| Founded in 2008 | Founded in 2016 |
| Ballet Flats | Flats, sneakers, runners, Dashers, Mizzles |
| Huge range of colors and pattern | Fewer colors options |
| A variety of vegan collection | Sustainable collection |
| More expensive | Relatively Affordable |
| Foldable and compact | Stretchable |
| For women and Little girls | For men, women, and kids |
| Not washable | Machine washable |
| Many styles of ballet flats | Only one style of ballet flat |
| Full sizes only | Many models have half sizes options |
| Not water friendly | Water- Resistant options |
Overview of Tieks:
With a focus on flexibility, longevity, comfort, and fashion, the brand Tieks made ballet flats that are intended to be worn all day.
Kfir and his siblings established the company in 2008, and their shoe collection was released in 2010.
Each pair of Tieks is handcrafted from high-quality Italian leather and comes in a wide range of colors, prints, and patterns to complement a variety of looks and personalities.
The brand offers more than sixty unique styles of ballet flats divided across four categories including Classics, Prints, Patents, and Vegan that offers something to suit every type, event, and wardrobe.
The “Tieks classic series” includes flats in a variety of solid colors, and “Matte Black” is one of their best-sellers.
You can wear this color every day, so these shoes are a better deal and give you value for your money.
Moreover, the brand has a non-profit organization, “Gavrieli Foundation” which has donated more than $10,000,000 to over 55,000 female entrepreneurs across the globe. Also, the brand has an active presence on all social media platforms, and its advertising is generally basic but impressively creative.
Overview of Allbirds:
Allbirds makes eco-friendly shoes for both men and women from sustainable materials. The company’s purpose is to reduce its impact on the environment by using sustainable production methods.
Tim Brown, a native of New Zealand, and Joey Zwillinger, an engineer and renewables expert based in San Francisco, founded the company in 2016.
The high-quality merino wool used in Allbirds shoes is sourced from New Zealand, processed in an Italian textile facility, and then manufactured in China.
Overall, its products are breathable, light, simple to maintain, and undeniably comfortable, also each one has some unique features.
Allbirds Wool Runners, for both men and women, made from high-quality materials, giving them a luxuriously soft texture, are their best sellers with so many positive reviews on the website.
Allbirds has developed a massive fan following due to its eco-friendly business strategy and reasonable return policy. The brand allows customers to try its shoes for up to 30 days; if they’re not satisfied, they can return them for a full refund.
In my experience, this is uncommon in the market, as shoe companies rarely accept returns on already-worn shoes.
Major Differences between the Brands:
In this section, I will walk you through the different aspects of Tieks and Allbirds so let’s see which performs better than the other.
1) Comfort:
Comfort is a crucial feature of shoes, you must consider this before making a purchase.
Tieks claims that nearly 150 steps are involved in producing a pair of their flats as a result you will get exceptional comfort.
Flexible outsoles, midsole, insoles, and uppers work together to conform to the contour of your foot, delivering a uniquely comfortable fit.
Also, heel comfort is so important and each pair of Tieks features a cushioned back instead of elastic for optimal heel comfort.
Cushioning at the back of the shoe makes Tieks a perfect fit without ever becoming unpleasant around the heel. It is advised to get the right size of these flats because wearing the wrong size may hurt your feet.
However, it’s worth mentioning, there are chances that the shape of your foot doesn’t work well enough with Tieks if you have any foot-related issues, whereas most people can wear Tieks comfortably with a little break-in period.
On the other side, Allbirds shoes are indeed super comfortable right out of the box and don’t need much maintenance because they are made with merino wool and have SweetFoam insoles, which are their signature sustainable materials.
No matter the weather, you can wear your Allbirds all day, with or without socks, because they keep your feet cool and relaxed. So, if you have a hard time finding shoes that feel good on your feet, you should give these a try.
In short, if you want the “most comfortable shoes in the world,” then you should consider Allbirds.
2) Popularity:
Tieks are a popular choice among frequent travelers or women who are constantly on the move and prefer a pair of flats. The convenience of folding and packing them in a handbag makes them ideal for travel freaks.
In addition, Forbes ranked Tieks one of the 25 Most Innovative Consumer Brands in 2013, and the company was also on “Inc.’s 30 Under 30 list” Top 30 Startups “To Watch list by Entrepreneurs,” and Oprah’s O List.
Alternatively, Allbirds rapidly gained a lot of fame among Silicon Valley professionals, including legends such as Google co-founder Larry Page.
It didn’t take long for celebrities to follow the trend of Allbirds, and now even environmentalists like Leonardo DiCaprio are customers.
Today, Allbirds are well known among people who are on their feet extensively, from students to parents, dancers, nurses, and others in the medical profession.
3) Target Market:
Tieks flats are unisex but intended for women in search of a sophisticated substitute for heels.
The target age of their clientele is approximately 25 to 45, these shoes are particularly for ladies who have a busy lifestyle like travelers, moms, and professionals.
Besides that, Allbirds might target a demography of millennials and Gen Z and a psychographic of those who enjoy being in nature.
The brand’s customers are Men and Women in their 20s-30s with a desire to travel and live in urban cities.
4) Price:
Allbirds and Tieks shoes cost more than most shoes you’d find in a store, but they’re also of much higher quality and look far better.
Allbirds charges between $50 to around $160, while Tieks’ shoe price range starts at $175 and goes as high as over $300.
So, Allbirds is the clear winner when it comes to price since they make excellent shoes but come at a relatively lower cost.
5) Design:
Comparatively, Allbirds offers a wider variety of shoe designs than Tieks.
Since its beginning, Allbirds has been known for its minimalist aesthetic and high-quality comfort.
There will be no fancy logos or unnecessary details on their shoes. In fact, they are easily recognizable due to their distinct appearance and broad variety of styles.
Their versatility as both athletic shoes and everyday footwear has benefitted them to emerge into the mainstream fashion industry.
Most of their shoe models are coated with a fluorine-free water-repellent shield that will keep your toes from getting wet and keep them dry. Also, these shoes are designed for people who spend most of their time on their feet, are built to last, and serve a practical purpose for your active lifestyle.
Conversely, Tieks offer fashionable flats that are sturdy and made of Italian leather, their distinctive blue soles make them stand out from the crowd and they are known as “reinvented ballet flats.”
The signature split rubber outsole patches, featured on every pair of Tieks, allow your feet to move without any restriction, so your natural gait does not alter.
The thick, non-slip rubber is durable enough to protect your feet from the ground while remaining bouncy and keeping you on your toes regardless of the surface.
Furthermore, these flats are different from others because they are designed to bend with your natural movement and conform to the shape of your feet from the bottom up so they can resist the wear and tear of daily life.
Conclusion: Which Is Better For You?
Now that you are aware of the basic differences between both brands, so which company produces the superior pair of shoes? Well, choosing one is difficult because it depends on what you’re looking for.
Both brands are comparable in terms of comfort but you need time to break in Tieks whereas Allbirds are more immediately comfortable.
In my opinion, the materials used in Allbirds are highly breathable and lightweight than the leather used in Tieks, but this is likely more of a matter of personal choice.
Overall, Allbirds are a great option if you want to show your support for a sustainable company while also getting an affordable pair of shoes that can be used for different types of everyday activities.
Consider Tieks if you want fashionable ballerina flats that are stylish, foldable, and easy to carry while traveling.
With that, this exciting brand comparison comes to an end. What are your thoughts on both brands? Share with us in the comments section below.