The Vessi Weekend Sneaker vs the Allbirds Mizzles: Clash of the weather-repellant runners titans! Which weather-resistant kicks should you choose?
Allbirds Mizzles, Runner Up Mizzles, and Vessi Weekend Sneakers
Hi friends! I can’t believe 2020 is coming to an end soon. The weather has gotten colder and rainier in the pacific northwest. If you’re looking for the right pair of kicks to keep your feet warm, dry and cozy during entire seasons of crappy weather, you’re at the right place.
Vessi Footwear has recently released a fully waterproof and machine-washable sneaker: the Vessi Weekend. It is a throwback to 90s style kicks, such as canvas sneakers and skate shoes from Vans. Retro is in, retro is cool. I thought it would be helpful to update our Vessi vs Allbirds comparison sheet, to aid you, the savvy consumer, in finding the right weather-proof/resistant sneakers. Let’s kick it off with a cost comparison. :)
Pricing
The Vessi Everyday sneaker costs $135 USD, while the Allbirds Runner Mizzles cost $115 USD and the Runner-up Mizzles cost $135 USD. The new Vessi Weekend Sneaker costs $155 (USD).
Aesthetics
This one is tough! Do you like runner style or a more retro style? I personally find both the Vessi Weekend and the Allbirds Mizzles adorable. I love how all the shoes are minimally-branded, and the color selections are great!
My husband prefers the look of the Allbirds Mizzles (not the Runner Up Mizzles). He likes the runner look and the minimalism. As Allbirds continues to improve their shoes, the dread toe humps are harder and harder to see.
Sizing
It’s recommended to size up with Allbirds, and stay true to size with Vessis. You won’t find wide sizes with these shoes. Allbirds go up to size 14 for men, and size 11 for women. Vessis go up to size 13 for men and size 11 for women. The Allbirds Mizzles and the Vessi Weekend don’t come in half sizes. I usually wear a women’s 8 or 8.5, and I would go for an 8 for both brands.
Waterproof properties
The Vessi Weekend sneaker is waterproof, thanks to its uncoated patented knit, versus the ECO PASSPORT Certified (by OEKO-TEX®) fluorine-free water repellent coating on the Allbirds Mizzles and Runner-up Mizzles.
Wash and Care
The Vessi Weekend sneaker is the first of the Vessi Footwear lines to be fully machine-washable (air dry only). All of Allbirds’ shoes are machine-washable, and air dry only. You can use a dampened cloth to wipe your kicks between machine washes. I recommend putting your kicks into a laundry bag before machine-washing them. Always remove the shoelaces and the in soles (they are all washable too). To be more environmentally friendly, don’t wash your sneakers/shoes in the washing machine very often. Air them out if they stink, or add in some baking soda.
Materials
Vessi shoes are made from 100% vegan materials, some plastics, and latex. Allbirds Runner and Runner-up Mizzles are made from sustainably-sourced materials, plant-based materials, and an animal byproduct: merino wool. Allbirds also recycles plastic water bottles and turn them into shoe laces.
Sustainability
According to Allbirds, “our Wool Runner Mizzle is carbon neutral thanks to sustainable practices, like using natural materials and buying offsets. But before we balance the emissions, its footprint starts at 9.4 kg CO2e. Think of this measurement like a nutrition label for your closet.”
According to Vessi Footwear, “Faster doesn’t always mean better, but in this case it does. Through tinkering and tweaking, we’ve somehow managed to cut traditional machine knit times from 45 mins to 7 mins, reducing each pairs carbon footprint by over 600%.”
Waterproof Properties
Vessi Weekend sneakers are 100% waterproof. Allbirds Mizzles are water-resistant. Neither the Vessi Weekend Sneaker nor the Allbirds Mizzles are meant to be worn when you’re swimming. If you run tap water over the Vessi Weekend Sneaker or the Allbirds Mizzles and Runner-up Mizzles, the water would bead/slide off. In a submersion test, the Vessi Weekend sneakers might do better. If you’re walking around in the rain, and jumping into shallow puddles, all these shoes are capable of keeping your feet dry.
Ankle Support
Allbirds Runner Up Mizzles would provide the best ankle support, as they are taller and hug the ankles snugly.
Flat Feet and Arch Support
The Vessi Weekend Sneaker and the Allbirds Mizzles and Runner Up Mizzles all provide minimal arch support, and should be OK for people with flat feet (like me), who tend to over-pronate or in-toe. All these kicks come with removable insoles, so you could replace them with custom orthotics or inserts.
Comfort
In my honest opinion, the Vessi Weekend is more comfortable than the other Vessi Footwear lines. It is my favorite Vessi shoe line. The Vessi Weekend is easy to slip on, and while it is still snug, it wraps the foot less tightly than the Vessi Cityscape and Vessi Everyday sneakers. The outer soles are flexible and soft, the newly improved insoles provide adequate cushioning, and overall, it is a comfortable pair of sneakers. I hate wearing socks, so I wear my Vessi Weekend sneakers quite often, sans socks. My feet do, however, feel a little hot in them with prolonged wearing. I prefer wearing socks when I wear my Vessis.
The Allbirds Mizzles and Runner-Up Mizzles are also very comfortable sneakers. Recently, my husband purchased a pair of Allbirds Mizzles. He felt that they would do better during the wintertime in terms of providing warmth, and I agreed. I like wearing my Allbirds without socks. He does not believe in throwing shoes into the washing machine, so he will always wear socks with his shoes. Not sure why he is so lucky— his feet never stink while mine become odiferous quickly.
Slip resistance
All these water-resistant and water-proof runners and sneakers mentioned in this article are slip-resistant. Allbirds Mizzles and Runner Up Mizzles have “no-slip natural rubber grippy” soles. Vessi Weekend Sneakers are made with 4-way traction. Please do not run or be careless when walking over oily, icy, or slippery surfaces, however. Slip-resistance does not equate to slip-proof.
Durability
According to my techie husband, the Vessi Weekend looks like “an indestructible shoe made with plastic material.” He worries his Allbirds Mizzles will tear or lose their shape if he throws them into the washing machine (and he won’t like I mentioned previously). Made with wool, it is possible for the Allbirds Mizzles to tear. Allbirds’ customer service is excellent though.
Return and Exchange Policies
Allbirds: “30 days, no questions asked. Not bad, huh? If you’re not walking on clouds by day 30, you can return/exchange your shoes for free, even if you've worn them out in the wild!
Couple of things: Our Trino ™ socks and undies, the packaging has to be unopened, but you still have 30 days to mull it over. Accessories cannot be returned/exchanged. And returns/exchanges can only be done in the country of purchase. We all need a little fencing here and there.”
Vessi: “We've extended our return and exchange policy to *90 days* for purchases made from March 1st, 2020 onwards to give you more time during our current global situation. Your Vessis must be unworn, unwashed, unaltered and in its original packaging to be returned or exchanged. A couple of things to note, items purchased with our promotional sales are non-refundable and only valid for size EXCHANGES. Accessories and gift cards are final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged.”
Giving Back
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Allbirds has gifted over 50,000 pairs of shoes to healthcare professionals. When you return lightly-worn Allbirds shoes, they are donated. Vessi Footwear has donated over 420,000 face masks and over 5000 pairs of shoes, funded over 100 projects, and donated over half a million dollars. Both companies give back to the community, so kudos!
Made in
Vessis are made in Taiwan and Allbirds Mizzles are made in Korea.
The shoe(s) we chose
I love the style of the high-top Allbirds Runner-Up Mizzles, so that would be the shoe for me during the wintertime. My husband chose the Allbirds Mizzles. Recently, for every day wear during cool (but not cold) and rainy weather, I find myself choosing my Vessi Weekend Sneakers. They are easy to slip on, completely waterproof, and the 90s style is super chic. They are easy to care for, and look great with a pair of jeans or sweatpants.
For you, my friends, it all depends on your budget and what you’re looking for. If you have a smaller budget, choose Allbirds Mizzles.
Will you be dunking your feet into shallow puddles often? Will your submerge your feet often, up to mid-ankles? If yes, choose Vessi Weekend.
Are you looking for shoes that will keep your feet warm and toasty? If yes, choose Allbirds Mizzles.
Do you only wear vegan clothing and shoes? If yes, choose Vessi Weekend.
Are you looking for a fully water-proof sneaker? If yes, choose the Vessi Weekend.
Are you looking for a running/jogging sneaker? The Allbirds Mizzles might be better for light running and jogging, since they are runner style sneakers.
Once again, I find it so hard to compare Vessis to Allbirds, as there’s a lot to consider! Hope I’ve helped, and not confused you further. The sneaker world is expanding, and more and more shoes out there are waterproof. I’d personally love to see a fully waterproof sneaker or runner that requires you to wear socks, and doesn’t contain any plastics and/or animal products, so there’s our challenge to you, Vessi and Allbirds!
Happy walking, friends! Let us know what you think about all these shoes? Do you agree with our review/comparisons?
Disclosure: While we have received sneakers and shoes from Vessi and Allbirds in the past, we purchased our own pairs of Vessi Weekend, Allbirds Mizzles, and Allbirds Runner-Up Mizzles to complete this review. This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.