Rothy's Review (Don't Buy Their Shoes Until You Read This...)Guest post by Katie Grant. May contain affiliate links.
I can’t believe I waited so long to buy my first pair of Rothy’s. I kept seeing their ads all over Instagram and Facebook, but I was skeptical. Everyone seemed to be hyping them up a little too much. People were raving about how they were the most comfortable shoes ever. Honestly, it seemed too good to be true. That’s why I stayed on the sidelines for a little bit. Yet, when I finally checked out their website, I fell in love with the fact that they’re made out of recycled water bottles, which means they’re environmentally-friendly and sustainable. Plus, they’re machine-washable. Yes, that means you can throw them in the wash and wear them again and again. Now, I’m kicking myself for spending the first 24 years of my life buying low-quality flats. Unfortunately, that’s the route most women take. They wear a pair of uncomfortable flats that give them blisters and stink to high heaven after a few weeks. Rothy’s solves both of those problems. Which is why I’m now a believer… and I’m telling you… if you haven’t tried on a pair of Rothy’s, you haven’t truly lived. By the way, if you use this affiliate link (or any of the links in this article), you’ll get $20 off your order - Rothy’s | Washable, Woven Flats & Shoes Made From Recycled Plastic So, how did I find out about these incredible shoes? Well… My Best Friend Wouldn't Stop Talking About Them...Becky, my best friend, is a teacher. Which means she’s on her feet all day. And while teachers aren’t exactly known for being fashionistas, she wanted to wear something that would at least look cute.
So, in the fall and spring, she would wear flats to work. There was only one problem… They weren’t comfortable. In fact, they destroyed her feet… almost to the point that she couldn’t do anything but veg out on the couch when she got home. Then, one day she got a pair of Rothy’s… the Maritime Navy point, to be exact. The reason I remember the exact name is because after she wore them, she wouldn’t stop talking about them. She told me how great they were. She said they were the first pair of shoes she ever owned that were comfortable straight out of the box without needing to be broken in. Plus, since her feet weren’t killing her, she was able to become more active. She’s tracking her steps and getting 15K-20K with no problem. (As a result, she’s even losing some weight. I’m so jealous.) Anyway, she let me check them out but I couldn’t try them on because she’s a size 7 and I’m a 10. Which means I had no choice but to order a pair for myself. They offer free shipping and free returns, so I had nothing to lose. So, I ordered, and let me tell you… I Was Blown Away...The hype is real, y’all. Let’s get into this Rothy’s review...
The specific pair I got was the one you see above.
The first thing I noticed was that they’re stretchy and really comfortable. They honestly feel like walking around in socks. They’re definitely lacking in support (as are most flats) but you can add a custom insert or something if that’s important to you. I wear them for approximately ten hours per day, five days per week (at work) and haven’t had any problems yet. Oh, and here’s a little pro tip: put the socks on the insert rather than on your feet, so they don’t get sweaty. You’re welcome. :-) The first day I wore them to work, I got three compliments on them, including a compliment from someone who had seen the Rothy’s ads all over Instagram too. She told me she was hesitant because of their price tag. I told her to go ahead and get them. I understand that at $100+, this is a lot of money to pay up-front for some flats. However, you have to focus on value instead of price. Because Rothy’s are so durable, they’ll last longer than other flats. I probably would’ve bought 4 or 5 other pairs of “cheap” flats and actually spent more money. So, if you focus on value instead of price, you’ll realize that Rothy’s can actually SAVE you money. If you’re able to shell out the money up front, Rothy’s will pay for themselves. I’ve washed mine weekly for six months so far and they still look brand new. Plus, if you ever want to get rid of them, you can sell your used pairs on eBay for about half the price, which means they retain their value pretty well. As for me, they have not once rubbed, scrunched, or given me blisters. This is a big deal for me as nearly every other pair of shoes I wear (especially flats) hurt my feet at some point or give me blisters at the back of my ankle.
How Do They Fit?I originally ordered a 10 but sent them back (yay, free returns!) for a 10.5. I would’ve been happy with a 10 but I wanted something just a little bit bigger. That’s my own personal preference. Otherwise, they run true to size.
The insole comes out, which takes some getting used to at first because it can fold up when you take your foot out. Otherwise, I’m glad to have removable insoles because I can put socks on them instead of my feet. :-) The fabric is soft and stretchy, yet still sturdy. In fact, I didn’t expect them to be so soft since they’re made out of plastic bottles. I also love the pointed toes. The Rothy’s toes seem more durable than others because the fabric is woven. I’ve “broken” the point on some of my other flats by kneeling down or putting my feet behind me while sitting. That hasn’t been an issue with my Rothy’s so far. What I Don't Like...There’s not much I genuinely dislike about these shoes… they’re awesome.
However, I will say that they take a long time to dry. This isn’t Rothy’s fault but it’s something I wish I knew earlier. I’ve also heard horror stories of people putting their shoes in the dryer (not just Rothy’s but Adidas, Converses, etc.) and shrinking them. Do not… I repeat… do NOT put your shoes in the dryer. Instead, do this:
After a few hours, your shoes should be good to go again. And it turns out that newspapers are great at absorbing moisture and odors. Which means drying your shoes this way can aid in reducing their smelliness. How to Wash Your Rothy's...Perhaps the biggest selling point for Rothy’s is that they’re machine-washable. The fact that you can toss them in the washing machine after a day on the go is an incredible feature.
And while some people prefer to wash by hand, Rothy’s are designed to be thrown into the washing machine. Here’s how to do it… First, remove the insoles and put them in the washing machine along with your shoes. Then, wash on a cold, delicate setting with mild detergent. Any heat will cause Rothy’s to shrink and lose shape, so do not wash with warm (or worse, hot) water. After washing, leave them out to air dry overnight (and/or use the newspaper trick described above) so they’ll be ready to wear again. How's Rothy's Customer Support?I haven’t really had to contact them with any issues but from what I’ve heard from friends, support is amazing. My friend Becky had to contact customer support because they accidentally sent her two of the same pair. They got back to her rather quickly and let her keep the additional pair, free of charge.
The only time I contacted them was to return my original size 10 in exchange for a 10.5. Return shipping was free, fast, and easy. If you have any specific questions, they have live chat on their site, which is super helpful. You could literally hop over to their site and get an answer in five minutes. What's Rothy's Return Policy?Rothy’s return policy, directly from their website, is:
“Returns and exchanges are accepted on all unworn shoes for a full refund within 30 days of receipt with free return shipping We know you need to try them on for fit and comfort, but make sure to only wear them on clean floors inside (and never outside, if you plan to return them). We cannot accept any shoes that have been worn, washed or altered in any way.” Pretty standard stuff. The fact that they offer free shipping AND free returns is awesome. And since they have such a generous return policy, you really have nothing to lose by giving them a try. The good news is that since Rothy’s don’t need to be broken in, what you feel when you first try them on is what you’re going to get. They’ll fit and feel the same way a year later as they did on day one. So, if you don’t absolutely love them right away, you can return them promptly with no hassles. How Much Do They Cost?The pair I got was $145. I realize that’s pricey for flats but like I explained earlier, you should be focused on value instead of price. Figuring they are more comfortable and more durable than other shoes, they’ll easily pay for themselves.
At the time of this writing, they also have sneakers for $125 and loafers for $165 - you can explore all of the options on their website, as prices may change in the future. However, by using any of these links in this article, you can get $20 off your Rothy’s order. Rothy’s | Washable, Woven Flats & Shoes Made From Recycled Plastic The Bottom LineTo summarize my Rothy’s review…
My friend wouldn’t stop talking about these shoes called Rothy’s. I was skeptical, but I checked out her pair, loved them and ordered some for myself. They’re extremely comfortable and durable. Plus, you can throw them in the washing machine to clean them. I wash mine every week and they’re still as good as new. I get loads of compliments on them and plan on ordering more in the future. Plus, if you use this affiliate link (or any of the links in this article), you’ll get $20 off your order. Try your first pair, risk-free, here: Rothy’s | Washable, Woven Flats & Shoes Made From Recycled Plastic |