Are Rothy’s Worth It? + Discount Code

Considering a pair of Rothy’s Shoes? Today I’m sharing all the details about the #1 question I get: Are Rothy’s worth it?

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the brand Rothy’s and if you haven’t let me formally introduce you: MEET ROTHY’S SHOES. Rothy’s is a sustainable brand that makes washable, woven shoes that are made from recycled water bottles. Yes, you read correctly…water bottles. Amazing, right? Well, take a look at the price tag and you might wonder…Are Rothy’s worth the price?

Are Rothy’s Worth It?

I was first introduced to the brand by my friend Kavita who lives in Seattle. She raved about the shoes and said they were perfect for her travels, particularly when she goes to India and walks thousands of steps per day. They were comfortable, offered great support, and she could just throw them into the washing machine when she got home. Like getting a brand new pair of shoes! I was sold. 

The concept reminded me of my Native Sneakers in the sense that they could be cleaned and held up from a quality perspective. What intrigued me about Rothy’s was that they came in multiple styles and colors, everything from flats to sneakers, and booties for cooler temps. Plus, unlike my Native Sneakers, they didn’t have holes in them, so I could wear them in all seasons, or even dress them up a bit. 

Rothys Sneaker Review

After doing a bit of research into the styles and fit, I ordered my normal size (8.5) in the Camo Cat Sneaker.

At $125, they certainly are a bit spendy, but I felt confident in my investment for several reasons.

1. I love supporting sustainable brands. I don’t mind investing a little extra for a company that is “doing good” in the community.

2. After hearing Kavita’s review, paired with a couple suggestions from friends, I felt confident in the quality. These shoes weren’t going to fall apart after a season.

3. I knew that I would be able to get the most wear from slip-on sneakers, as opposed to flats (even though they are SO cute, especially the flats with the bow) or sandals. It was the practical choice for me.

Are Rothy’s Comfortable?

One issue I’ve had with slip-on sneakers in the past is that they rubbed my ankles in such a way that left huge blisters, then scabs, and finally – 0 desire to ever wear the shoe again, because my ankles were RAW.

I will say, the first time I wore my Rothy’s I did get a rub on my ankle, but it was minimal and I have never had it since, so maybe wear them around your house for a little bit before taking them out on a full day of walking like me. I attributed this to the sort-of harder ankle piece where the signature blue lining is on the ankle. It’s not “hard” like plastic, just a little more sturdy for support.

Rothys Shoes

I will also say that I get this small ankle rub with any closed-toe shoe I wear on the first go-around, and I fully attribute that to living in Hawaii and going barefoot nearly year round whenever possible. My feet aren’t used to being caged, I guess 😉

Rothy’s sneakers feel very supportive and the cushioning in the footbed feels like you’re walking on clouds. They have a removable insert that pops out to be cleaned, too, which means they don’t get stinky like other slip-ons that you likely aren’t wearing socks with, which I really love. Anyone who has ever worn no-sock shoes knows what I mean!

One of the main selling points of Rothy’s is that they are machine washable. The brand touts this in a big way and they had me, because who doesn’t love the idea of brand new sneakers? But I’ve had my fair share of running shoe washing machine disasters.

I was skeptical about tossing these woven sneakers into the washing machine. What if the woven cloth part snagged in the machine? The woven fabric on the top of my sneakers is REALLY soft and I am always paranoid about snags in leggings, tops, etc., so this was a concern to me. Silly as it may sound it feels valid when you’ve spent $100+ on sneakers, right?

How To Wash Rothy’s

Anyway, I am happy to report that my concerns were unfounded! After a couple wears, it was time to test out the washable factor. I took out the insoles and removed the midsoles (the blue part you see above) and put all four parts (two sneakers and two insoles) in the washing machine on a cold water, delicate cycle. The website doesn’t recommend washing the midsoles, so I wiped them down with a disinfectant wipe which was my own cleaning mechanism, not something the website recommended.

For my washing machine the delicate cycle is a quick cycle, and when I took my Rothy’s out, I let them air dry. NO DRYER! And they look brand freaking new! 

Final Thoughts: Are Rothy’s Worth The Price Tag?

 I would say yes. I’ve washed these sneakers twice now and they’ve held up through both washes, look/feel brand new, and are broken in so well that I feel like I’m wearing an old pair of slippers. I know these are reliable sneakers that I’ll wear for years to come, so the investment was worth it to me, and though I haven’t been able to wear them to travel yet (!), I know they will be my go-to.

Rothy’s Discount Code

Convinced to try them for yourself? Here’s a discount code for $20 off your first pair! 

Stay tuned for a post on all my favorite ways to wear my Rothy’s!