As a frequent traveler, one of my must-haves for any type of trip is a pair of dependable, comfortable walking shoes. One of the best shoe brands on the market today is Allbirds.
This brand is completely disrupting the game with their insanely comfortable shoes that are perfect for not only traveling, but for everyday life too!
Having said that, I totally understand that a pair of Allbirds doesn’t come cheap. Each pair will run you almost $100. The first thing that most of us budget-mindful people would do? Scour the web for discount deals on Allbirds!
While Allbirds typically does not offer discounts online, I recently discovered a little-known fact that might be a huge win for all you deal lovers out there!
There is actually an Allbirds Outlet store at the San Francisco Premium Outlets in Livermore, California. Here, you’ll find most of the items sold in the store priced at 20-30% off!
Yes, you read that right! If you thought buying Allbirds online at full price was your only option, you’d be wrong! Continue reading to learn all about the Allbirds Outlet store.
*Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful content. Thanks!
ALLBIRDS: AN OVERVIEW
Allbirds is a New Zealand-American company, based in San Francisco, that sells footwear and apparel. Allbirds’ first shoe was the Wool Runner, which is made from New Zealand superfine merino wool.
Allbirds shoes are available in two main styles: merino wool or tree fabric. Their iconic merino wool shoes keep your feet warm and cozy in the cold, while their tree fabric shoes are known for their lightness and breathability, perfect for warmer seasons.
On top of that, Allbirds shoes are made from materials that hold up well against sweat and bacteria which help to minimize long-term odor. That means they are pretty much meant to be worn sockless (though wearing socks with them are totally okay too).
But if you did want to clean your shoes, you’ll be happy to know that every Allbirds shoe is machine washable. That’s right, they can be tossed in the washing machine whenever they get dirty or smelly. No extra treatment is needed.
ALBBIRDS: THE MISSION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Allbirds takes pride in being a 100% carbon-neutral company.
As such, their long-term goal is to emit no carbon and to create a sustainable future. And of course, this noble mission is reflected in their products. Every Allbirds product is environmentally friendly and made from ethically-sourced materials.
The shoes’ uppers are made from New Zealand merino wool, laces are made from recycled bottles, and some of their midsoles are made from a new material called SweetFoam, derived from Brazilian sugarcane, the world’s first carbon-negative EVA polymer. How cool is that?
And not only are their shoes planet-friendly, but so is their packaging.
Since they typically sell directly to consumers via their website, they actually designed a shoebox, a shopping bag, and a mailer–all in one! Additionally, the packaging is FSC Recycled Certified to be 100% recycled content and all packaging is recyclable.
And it doesn’t just stop there–they even have a plan in place for unwanted, used, or worn Allbirds. When a customer returns a pair of lightly worn Allbirds that are unable to be sold, they’ll donate them to their partner organization Soles4Souls who distributes to those in need.
As you can see, Allbirds is an honorable company with a profound mission to do good in the world. Good choice on your part for supporting this brand!
ALLBIRDS OUTLET STORE: OVERVIEW
Location: Currently, there is just one Allbirds Outlet store. This store is located at the San Francisco Premium Outlets in Livermore, California.
Discount: Most of the items in the store are priced at 20-30% off.
What they carry: The outlet store’s selection includes collections from current and past seasons. The store carries overstock products as well as older, discontinued styles at a discounted price. They also carry their timeless/classic colors and models at full-price.
Allbirds Outlet Address: SF Premium Outlets, 3228 Livermore Outlets Drive, Suite 675, Livermore, CA 94551
Store Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-7pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-8pm, Sunday 10am-7pm
Phone: (925) 800-3331
Don’t live near the store? For the best deals online, don’t miss their sale section!
You can sometimes also find discounted Allbirds on the REI site too.
ALLBIRDS OUTLET STORE: WHAT TO EXPECT
So I’m sure the first thing you’re wondering is–what exactly does the Allbirds Outlet carry? Well, let’s get right into it!
When you first walk into the store, you’ll notice that it’s super bright and spacious. The moment you step into this inviting space, you’ll be compelled to explore every inch of this place.
Towards the front of the store are racks of clothing as well as shelves of other wool products such as face masks, underwear and more. I was actually surprised by the sight of this since I had thought Allbirds was exclusively a shoe brand.
Upon examining the clothes, I could immediately tell everything was made of high-quality merino wool. Everything was so light, airy, soft, and well-constructed.
There were also lots of TRINO wool socks for sale. During my visit, the Allbirds Outlet store was actually having a pretty sweet sale on their “imperfect” socks. Each pair was a whopping 40% off!
Instead of the full $16 for one pair, they were going for $9.60. This was a really good deal because during my first visit ever (a few months prior to this one), the sock discount was just 20% off.
While I don’t exactly know what was imperfect about these, I had purchased ‘imperfect’ clothing before (such as at the Patagonia Outlet) and whatever categorizes them as imperfect is hardly ever noticable.
Towards the middle and back of the room were a whole lot of shoes. The women’s shoes were located on the left side of the store, while the men’s shoes were located on the right side of the store.
What you’ll find is that pretty much everything is 20% off. You might find a pair here and there in your size offering 30% off, but these are less common than the 20% off options. The 30% off shoes were marked with a purple sticker, while the 20% off shoes were marked with a green sticker.
At the time of writing, the 30% off shoes were primarily the less common sizes, such as Women’s size 5 and Men’s size 14.
There is also a very small section in the back of the store where the regular-priced items are. Regular-priced items are denoted with a blue sticker. So if you’re looking for a classic or iconic color, you’ll likely still have to pay full price.
Prices are going to be clearly marked on the majority of the boxes, and unless otherwise specified with a blue sticker (as being excluded as part of the sale / full price) or a purple sticker (indicating that it’s 30% off), you could assume you’ll get 20% off the shoe.
Some shoes will not have stickers at all, yet they are still 20% off.
The Allbirds outlet carries Tree Runners, Tree Dashers, Tree Skippers (classic boat shoes), Tree Pipers (low top sneakers), Tree Loungers (casual slip-ons), Tree Breezers (women’s flats), Wool Runner-ups, Wool Pipers, Wool Runners, and pretty much any other shoe line Allbirds offer.
As you walk through the store’s perimeter, you’ll find that each featured shoe comes in a variety of sizes and that these shelves are super organized–with larger sizes up top and smaller sizes down below.
Again, the men’s section is located on one side while the women’s section is located on the other. The boxes are also marked with an ‘M’ for men and ‘W’ for women.
If you’re not digging the options on the wall, head for the center of the store!
As you walk through the store’s different aisles, this is where you’ll find a lot more colors and styles. While the aisles carry a bunch of styles and colors that you’ll have to sort through and open the box to see, the sections are organized by shoe size.
It’s very hard to get lost in the store, especially when you’re looking for just one size.
Again, this self-service store is so very organized and I love how easy they make it to find what you need!
As I was browsing, a few different employees asked me if I was doing okay. If I said no, they’d leave me alone. If I had a question, they were super knowledgeable and helpful.
All that is to say, if you need help, you’re going to be helped by people who really know what they’re talking about. If you don’t need help or want to shop in peace, there is no pushiness sales tactics going on in here.
I ended up really liking a pair of Women’s Wool Pipers in a white color, but sadly my size was not in stock. I asked an associate if there were more sizes available, and she immediately checked her tablet and informed me that my size was available to be ordered in-store and shipped directly to me.
The best part? I was still able to get the outlet price! So instead of paying the full $98, I was able to get them for $78.40. That’s $20 off a shoe that never really goes on sale.
So, that’s exactly what I did! As I was checking out, she also let me know that Full Price and Excess styles can be returned within 30 days, even after wearing them, no questions asked. The same goes for Accessories that are unworn and in their original packaging.
I was blown away that they’d let you try them on and return them if you didn’t like them! That return policy is so rare when it comes to shoes, which proves Allbirds is more about a happy customer than simply turning a profit.
And as I write this, I am impatiently awaiting my new pair of Allbirds Wool Pipers to arrive in the mail (and hoping that they arrive before my upcoming trips to Disneyland, Las Vegas, and Mexico).
BOTTOM LINE: IS THE ALLBIRDS OUTLET WORTH THE VISIT?
Overall, the Allbirds Outlet store is great. Not only is getting a discount on high-quality shoes great, but the entire shopping experience here is outstanding.
If you’re looking for a new pair of Allbirds in a color or style that just hit the market, the Allbirds Outlet may not carry it yet. You may need to wait a couple of months until it becomes considered ‘last season’.
If you’re looking for a pair of Allbirds in a color that was discontinued or sold out in your size online, the Allbirds Outlet could be your solution! I’ve been to this store twice thus far and have noticed that the colors and styles are ever-changing and always rotating.
That means if you live in the Greater Bay Area, you could stop by every few months and find something new that wasn’t offered in the store before.
For example, the first time I visited, I was looking to buy a pair of Tree Skippers for the summer. I couldn’t find a single pair as this model was probably too new at the time to end up at the outlet store. But guess what? I found them during my second visit a few months later!
And while the savings of $20 for 1 pair of shoes was pretty cool, if you were shopping for your entire family, you’d really be able to multiply your savings!
Don’t live near the Allbirds Outlet store? Other options for you include buying directly from their website online or finding a used pair on used-fashion sites like Poshmark. [For a limited time, use my code ELBUNZ to save $10 on your Poshmark purchase.]
For the best deals online, don’t miss their sale section!
You can sometimes also find discounted Allbirds on the REI site too.
ALLBIRDS OUTLET: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE ALLBIRDS OUTLET RETURN POLICY?
Full Price and Excess styles can be returned within 30 days, no questions asked. The same goes for Accessories that are unworn and in their original packaging.
Returns can be made at our Outlet Locations only.
DOES ALLBIRDS OFFER DISCOUNT CODES OR COUPONS?
Per their website, at this time the answer is no. They sell very high-quality products directly to consumers at an already low cost.
There are currently no military, first responder, nurse, teacher, or student discounts available.
ARE ALLBIRDS WASHABLE?
If your shoes start to feel a little less than fresh, you can easily throw them in the washing machine on the wool or gentle cycle. For the best results, use a gentle detergent and a delicates bag. Be sure to remove the insoles and laces.
To dry, simply air dry your shoes. You’ll want to avoid the dryer and bleach at all costs.
ARE ALLBIRDS GOOD FOR FLAT FEET?
Allbirds feature a padded insole made from a castor bean oil blend with a wool lining topper. This cushioned insert has very noticeable arch support compared to minimalist shoes. I have relatively flat feet and even my feet felt completely comfortable with just the inserts that came included with the shoes.
Even customers who typically need orthotics or custom inserts found that they do not need to use their own given the level of cushion built into Allbirds. However, if you do want to swap them out, the insole is easily removable so you can replace them and go!
And that concludes this post! I hope I’ve inspired you to make the drive out to the outlet yourself, or at the very least, shop for ultra-comfortable shoes with Allbirds online!
Looking for more rare lifestyle/shopping deals? You might like:
Patagonia Outlet: Everything You Need To Know About The Shopping Experience
The Nike Employee Store: How To Get In and What To Expect (Beaverton, Oregon)
My Mind-Blowing Experience At The West Elm Outlet: Everything You Need To Know