Are Rothy’s worth it? A Rothy’s shoes review, tested on cobbles, gravel and in the wash

Planning to buy a pair of Rothy’s shoes? Read this in-depth review before you do: how my pair held up on the road and in the washing machine, what the current styles cost in the US and UK, how the sizing works and the catches to know about.

As a traveller, I’m super picky about my shoes, and for that reason I research reviews like CRAZY before I make a purchase. When I was searching for a new pair of travel-friendly flats, Rothy’s shoes kept coming up over and over. Every Rothy’s review I read was glowing… but I didn’t know if they would hold up for a frequent traveller like me.

But wait, let’s back up. When I first heard about Rothy’s, I was instantly intrigued. Cute, sustainable, machine washable shoes made of recycled plastic? You’ve got my attention. The more I learned about Rothy’s shoes, the more in line I felt like they were with my values and personal style.

Finally, despite the initial sticker shock of the $145 price tag, I decided to take the plunge and order myself a pair of Rothy’s to try out on the road.

A ton of my friends saw me wandering around in my Rothy’s and asked me time and time again what I thought about them. In fact, if you’ve landed on this page, you’ve probably thought about buying a pair yourself.

I put together this review to help you work out whether Rothy’s are worth the price, and if they’re really durable enough to use as a travel shoe. I used my last pair of flats on easy day hikes and for walking miles and miles in new cities, and I decided to test my Rothy’s in the exact same way.

Note: I paid full price for my Rothy’s Flats and did not receive any kind of compensation for writing this Rothy’s review. Therefore, I’ve decided to be as brutally honest as I can here to help YOU make informed buying decisions. You’re welcome! 🙂

Quick verdict

Rothy’s are lightweight, breathable knit flats that you can throw in the washing machine, and my pair took virtually no time to break in, even on gravel, cobbles and a festival dance floor. They suit travellers who walk a lot in cities and want one smart, packable flat that can be cleaned on the go. They’re not cheap, they won’t keep your feet warm in winter, and the fit varies between styles, so they’re not for you if you need a warm, supportive or bargain shoe.

My rating: 5/5

Sure, they’re pricey, but given how much I plan to wear them, I fully believe Rothy’s are worth the price.

Rothy’s at a glance

• What they are: knit shoes and bags made with thread spun from recycled plastic bottles, designed in San Francisco. Flats came first; there are now loafers, sneakers, Mary Janes, clogs and a men’s and kids’ range too.
• The pair I tested: The Point (the pointed-toe flat) in Chili Red, size 6. The original Point has since been replaced by The Point II and The Point III, and Chili Red is no longer sold.
• Prices now: The Point II is $125 in the US (often on sale) and £150 on the UK site; The Point III is $165 in the US and £160 in the UK. UK prices include VAT and import duties.
• Shipping: free in the US; free to the UK on orders over £175.
• Sizing: US sizes 5 to 13, including half sizes, with wide widths on some styles (online only). Rothy’s says most styles fit true to size, but it varies by style.
• Care: take out the insoles, machine wash cold, air dry, no heat.
• Returns: 30 days from delivery, unworn and unwashed. Sale items marked final sale can’t be returned.
• Recycling: take worn-out pairs to one of the brand’s US stores for a $20 discount code per pair.

What are Rothy’s shoes?

If you haven’t heard, Rothy’s is a brand of shoes, flats first and foremost, made largely from recycled materials. Every shoe is knit from thread spun from recycled plastic bottles (about 10 bottles per pair for the Point), and the range now runs from flats and loafers to sneakers, Mary Janes and bags.

Needless to say, being sustainable, recycled, comfortable and travel-friendly, Rothy’s caught my eye immediately.

When I bought mine, Rothy’s About page said that “comfort and versatility coexist in the first sustainable shoe as stylish as it is comfortable.” The website also stated, “Women needed a stylish, comfortable, sustainable shoe they could wear all day every day, no matter where their busy lives took them.” Preach, sister!

But would Rothy’s shoes actually live up to this very lofty description?

While I did read a few Rothy’s reviews here and there before buying, none of the ones I found were by travellers, or people who seemed to wear out shoes at lightning speed like I do.

Since I travel frequently, I am ROUGH AF with my shoes. A list of tips from a fashion blogger on how to buy cute Rothy’s shoes really doesn’t cut it for me when my plan is to wear them around the world on gravel roads, cobblestone streets, while sprinting between gates in airports, and gallivanting on city sidewalks for miles and miles.

So, for all of you ladies out there looking for an honest, to-the-point review from a frequent traveller, buckle up because I’m about to give you ALL of my no-BS opinions.

The Rothy’s buying process

Let me just set this straight: Rothy’s are not cheap. At $145 a pair when I bought them, they’re one of the most expensive pairs of shoes I own. But, given the amount of time I spent in my last pair of travel flats (RIP, $16 beige Target flats), I knew that this would be a purchase that would pay itself off after hundreds of hours of use.

When I bought my pair, there were four kinds of styles that Rothy’s shoes came in:

• The Flat: ballet flat-style shoes that have a rounded toe. The Flat is still sold, alongside a newer Ballet Flat and Daily Flat.
• The Point: flats with a pointed toe. Today’s versions are The Point II and The Point III.
• The Loafer: loafer-style shoes that you can slip on. The closest styles now are The Daily Loafer and The Penny Loafer.
• The Sneaker: slip-on sneakers that look somewhat like Vans or Keds. It’s now called The Original Slip On Sneaker.

Because I was spending a LOT more on these shoes than I’m used to, I knew I wanted to order a bright and bold pair. I settled on a pair of Rothy’s Chili Red Points in size 6, which is my normal shoe size. Chili Red has since been retired; the nearest shades now are Lollipop Red on The Point II and Cherry on The Point III.

Although I had read that Rothy’s Points run small, I wanted to first order my typical size to see if that advice was true (for the sake of this investigative Rothy’s review, of course!). After picking out my style, I ordered my Rothy’s online and got free shipping with my order.

Unboxing my Rothy’s shoes: first impressions

After about five business days, my Rothy’s arrived in the mail in a small cardboard mailer. Upon opening them, I was so excited to see the exact bold, crimson red that I had ordered, basically “on point” (haha, get it?) with what I expected from the photos online. Basically, they are beautiful and from the moment I opened the box, I loved how they looked.

Size-wise, my size 6 purchase fit perfectly. I didn’t find them to be too small or crunch my toes (unlike many, many pairs of pointed flats I’ve tried on!). I’ve read several reviews saying that Rothy’s Points do run small, but I didn’t find that in my own experience.

I slipped them onto my feet and walked a few steps around my apartment. At first, I was sceptical about the plastic material, but after the first few steps, I loved how breathable and soft it felt on my feet. The material is cool and light, and supports my foot in a way that’s not overbearing or suffocating. The soles are quite flexible and bend with my foot, which I appreciate over rigid, tough shoes.

During the rest of the week, I wore my Rothy’s walking to and from work in a Chicago summer, and I continued to love how flexible, comfortable and light they felt on my feet.

Rothy’s on the road: how do they work as a travel shoe?

I knew that the contained environments of my apartment and the ten-minute walk to work aren’t really representative of a real travel situation, so I took my Rothy’s for a spin on a trip to Winnipeg. Throughout the trip, I’d be walking on a variety of terrain, as well as driving quite a bit, which felt like a great opportunity to truly test out my flats and make this review as accurate as possible.

During my trip, I walked on all kinds of gravel pathways, cobblestone streets, sidewalks and rocky waterfronts. I spent two days wandering and biking around the city, two days dancing at a music festival, and another day driving and exploring the rocky lakeside.

Through it all, my Rothy’s held up perfectly fine! Moreover, I didn’t get a single blister or callus from my Rothy’s, even though they were new. They took virtually zero time to break in!

On the hot days, I was so thankful that the material was breathable and light. The plastic also didn’t hold onto unsavoury foot smells like flats can often tend to do.

When I arrived back home from my trip, I threw my Rothy’s into the washing machine. (Yes, the website does claim they are machine washable, so I had to test that too!) Yup, I simply removed the insoles and placed them in my machine, on a delicate cycle in tap cold water.

They came out looking exactly like they did when I took them out of the original packaging. After washing, I set them on the balcony to dry for a few hours, and they were ready to wear around town once again.

So, are Rothy’s worth it for travellers?

If you’re wondering at this point whether I recommend Rothy’s as a travel shoe, I’d say 100% yes. Sure, they’re pricey, but given how much I plan to wear them, I fully believe Rothy’s are worth the price.

Rothy’s are everything I have ever wanted in a travel flat. They feel lightweight, comfortable and durable, three characteristics I look for in any pair of shoes, travel or not. They’re easy to pack and you can wash them in a machine without worrying about whether they’ll fall apart. Also, they’re super cute and come in lots of fun colours!

On top of being a functional and fashionable travel shoe, Rothy’s are also sustainably produced and made largely out of recycled plastic bottles. My knit Points are 100% vegan (in case that’s important to you), though a few styles now use merino wool, so check the materials if that matters to you.

Honestly, I had trouble finding anything wrong with my Rothy’s (although I’ve got a few cons listed later in this post!). I’m extremely happy with my purchase, and this is coming from someone whose last travel flats cost $16 and were made out of faux leather.

What I loved

• No break-in: not a single blister or callus, even on day one of a trip.
• Breathable on hot days: cool, light and soft, and they didn’t hold onto smells.
• Flexible soles that bend with your foot and held up through two days of dancing at a music festival.
• Machine washable for real: mine came out of a cold, delicate wash looking brand new.
• Easy to pack, and super cute: the bold red was exactly the colour I’d seen in the photos online.

My rating: 5/5

Click here to view all styles and buy your perfect pair of Rothy’s

Rothy’s shoes: your questions answered

How do you take care of Rothy’s? Can you really wash Rothy’s?

Rothy’s were actually made to be machine washable, and this marketing is no lie. I tossed these babies into the washing machine in tap cold water on a gentle cycle and they came out as good as new. Rothy’s website even has a full care guide on how to wash and maintain your Rothy’s, and from personal experience, it’s all true!

The brand’s own instructions for flats and sneakers are simple: take out the insoles (and any laces), wash the shoes and insoles in cold water, and air dry them with no heat. Styles with merino wool and a water-resistant finish are the exception: the finish fades with each wash, so spot clean those instead.

One thing to note: be sure to wash your Rothy’s in cold water and leave them in a sunny spot to air-dry when they’re done. Do not dry them in the dryer or expose them to high heat of any kind; this can cause your Rothy’s to get damaged or lose their shape.

What are the cons of Rothy’s?

While Rothy’s are a fantastic travel shoe that I’d recommend to basically all of you, they’re not perfect. Here are a few things I’d throw out there as cons about Rothy’s:

• They’re REALLY expensive. I had to close my eyes while I clicked “purchase” because I was so scared about the price, and back then these shoes didn’t go on sale often. There are regular sales these days, but discounted pairs are often final sale, so you can’t return them if the fit is wrong. However, even though Rothy’s are pricey, I do think they’re worth saving up for.
• You can machine wash them, but you can’t machine dry them. Because the dryer uses high heat, your Rothy’s can get damaged if you put them in there. For the same reason, you need to only wash your Rothy’s in cold water!
• Like most flats, they won’t keep your feet warm. (I live in Chicago, so I certainly won’t be wearing mine in the winter!)
• Some reports say that Rothy’s tend to run small, especially if you’re planning on buying the Points. You can return or exchange unworn, unwashed pairs within 30 days (free exchanges by mail in the US; a £8 return fee from the UK), so try them on indoors first and keep the tags on until you’re sure.
• The plastic material may take some getting used to! I like how it feels on my feet but it’s definitely different from leather or canvas flats.

Do Rothy’s run small?

My size 6 Points fitted perfectly in my usual size, and the brand says The Point II, The Point III and The Flat all fit true to size. Plenty of reviewers disagree, though, especially with pointed styles: some size up half a size, and a few find the heel rubs at first. If you’re between sizes or have wide feet, go half a size up or choose the wide width (online only, on styles such as The Point II).

Every version of the website uses US sizes, including the UK one, so convert before you order: a UK 4 is usually a US 6. Fit varies between styles too, so check the fit note on each product page. Some loafers run big and the Court Sneaker runs small.

Can you buy Rothy’s in the UK?

Yes, but only online. The UK site sells in pounds with VAT and import duties included, so there’s nothing extra to pay on delivery, and shipping is free on orders over £175. There are no stores in the UK, so you can’t try them on before you buy. Returns from the UK cost £8, taken off your refund.

Is the pair I bought still made?

Not exactly. My Chili Red Points were the original Point, which has since been replaced. The Point II added elastic so the shoe stretches and recovers with your foot, a cushioned In Love insole and a sculpted outsole; The Point III, the newest version, has a roomier toe box and extra arch support. If you want the closest thing to my pair, look at The Point II in Lollipop Red or The Point III in Cherry.

Can you recycle old Rothy’s?

Yes. When a pair is no longer wearable, take it to any of the brand’s stores and the staff will send it off to be taken apart and recycled. You get a $20 discount code for each pair of shoes or bag you hand in (up to five a day, valid until the end of that calendar year). The scheme runs through the stores, which are all in the US, so there’s no UK drop-off. If your pair is still in good shape, reselling or donating it is the better option.

Where can I buy Rothy’s?

Unlike some of their competitors, Rothy’s shoes are available in a few different websites and stores. Here are just a few of the ways you can get your hands on a pair:

• On the Rothy’s website: the best and easiest way to buy Rothy’s is online. Their online store is the only place you can get a referral discount and has the largest variety of styles, colours and sizes, including wide widths.
• At their stores: the first store, in the brand’s hometown of San Francisco, is still at 2448 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115 (open Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm, Sunday 11am to 6pm). There are now stores in a dozen or so US cities, including New York, Washington DC, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle; use the store finder on the Rothy’s website for the nearest one.
• Nordstrom: Nordstrom’s stores and online shop also carry a selection of Rothy’s styles.
• Amazon: the brand has also sold through Amazon Fashion in the US since 2024.
• Secondhand: if you want to save some money on your Rothy’s, you can buy used Rothy’s on websites like Poshmark, ThredUp or eBay. Note that when you buy used shoes online, you always run the risk of getting a damaged or fake pair. Buy at your own risk.

What are some alternative brands to Rothy’s to compare?

This wouldn’t be an honest review if I told you that Rothy’s are the only travel flat you should consider. There are a handful of other brands that make comparable shoes, and if you aren’t 100% sold on Rothy’s shoes, I’d recommend checking out some of these other options:

• Tieks by Gavrieli: if you’re looking for another durable travel shoe, Tieks are the closest alternative to Rothy’s. Made of fine Italian leather, travellers love these flats because they don’t wear out easily. They really only come in one style, but there are tons of classic and seasonal colours and patterns you can choose from. Click here to learn more or purchase Tieks by Gavrieli.
• Allbirds: with a slogan like “the world’s most comfortable shoe,” who wouldn’t want to try on a pair? Allbirds come in a few different styles and have wool and vegan varieties. Travellers love Allbirds and swear by them… I even have a few friends who travel ONLY with Allbirds in tow! Allbirds closed its full-price US stores in early 2026, so buy online. Click here to learn more or purchase Allbirds. There’s a full Allbirds Tree Runners review on the site too.
• Will’s Vegan Store: if you’re a vegan or prefer to avoid animal products in your clothing, Will’s is an excellent choice. They have beautiful, durable shoes for men and women in all kinds of different styles, and they’re all 100% vegan! They have a cute baby blue loafer style shoe and some adorable Chelsea boots that I’m totally getting next.

I hope this Rothy’s review was helpful, and that you found yourself the perfect pair of Rothy’s for your future travels.

Read next

• The best travel gear for your next trip
• The best travel shoes for women: tried and tested
• Allbirds Tree Runners review: are they worth the hype?
• Tropicfeel Geyser review: putting Tropicfeel’s waterproof shoes to the test
• 12 essential items to help you travel more sustainably
• Chester Minima review: a sleek, sophisticated carry-on suitcase
• Encircled Chrysalis Cardi review: the most versatile women’s garment for travel

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