Everlane just dropped its first sneaker for $98 - it's carbon neutral, unisex, and incredibly comfortable. Here's what they're like to wear

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Everlane just dropped its first sneaker for $98 - it's carbon neutral, unisex, and incredibly comfortable. Here's what they're like to wear

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Everlane

  • Everlane just launched a new sneaker brand called Tread by Everlane, and its inaugural product is a unisex leather sneaker called The Trainer ($98).
  • The Trainer comes in seven colors and in men's sizes 7-13 or women's sizes 5-12.
  • The launch reflects Everlane's attempt, two years in the making, to make the world's lowest-impact sneakers. The Trainer's anatomy breaks down to a 94.2% virgin-plastic-free sole, leather from the world's cleanest tannery, and renewed laces and lining.
  • Four reporters tested The Trainer in their everyday lives ahead of the launch. Find our thoughts on comfort, fit, and style below.

After a brief teasing period, Everlane just launched a new sneaker brand called Tread by Everlane, along with its inaugural product: a unisex leather sneaker called The Trainer ($98).

As of now, you can pick up The Trainer ($98) in seven colors and in men's sizes 7-13 or women's sizes 5-12. Colors range from off-white to black to pale pink.

According to an April 2019 press release, The Trainer is Everlane's response to the question "When are you going to launch a sneaker?" so often posed by its customers, and an answer to the enormous waste of the sneaker industry. Ruled by hype, flash, and $900+ ugly unicorns, they've become the ultimate trend piece. Add to that a lifespan that's closer to six months than a few years, and you've got one of the industry's worst footprints.

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The Trainer is supposed to be different. Engineered with sustainable, durable materials and manifested in a versatile design, it's supposed to be the world's lowest impact sneaker.

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Everlane

The sole is 94.2% free of virgin plastic. Instead, Everlane uses recycled and natural rubber - preventing an estimated 18,000 pounds of rubber from making its way into landfills and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 54%. Everlane has pledged to nix virgin plastic entirely from its supply chain by 2021.

The full-grain leather is produced at Saigon TanTec, "The world's cleanest tannery." The Gold-certified tannery uses natural lighting and solar energy, and, according to Everlane, 42% less electricity and 56% less fresh water than those already considered the best in the industry. Altogether, the tannery emits 20% less greenhouse gas than conventional leather finishing.

Even The Trainer's laces and lining emit 18% less carbon than average. Altogether, the recycled plastic in each pair renews 9.5 discarded bottles.

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Everlane

To further reduce their impact, Tread by Everlane said it is offsetting 100% of the carbon emissions from its sneaker production. First, the brand had a third-party firm calculate the full carbon footprint of the trainer, which tallied up to 51.5 kg CO2e (which includes the impact of raising cattle) for the shoe's life cycle. Then, Tread partnered with NativeEnergy - a leading carbon offset provider - to support projects that reduce greenhouse gases. Right now, that means working with ranchers to improve cattle-grazing practices on American grasslands, begetting better soil health, cleaner waterways, and more carbon sequestration since healthy grasslands pull an enormous amount of carbon from the air. Beyond that, the company says it plans to keep getting better. As alternate materials and more efficient processes become available, the brand will respond in kind.

Before the launch of Tread, four Insider Picks reporters tested Everlane's Trainer to give you an idea of what they're like in person. Find our thoughts and takeaways below.

Four reporters tried the new Tread Trainer ($98) ahead of the April 25 launch. Find their personal experiences below:

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Everlane just dropped its first sneaker for $98 - it's carbon neutral, unisex, and incredibly comfortable. Here's what they're like to wear
The Trainer, $98 [available in seven colors]

I'm all for brands using more environmentally-friendly materials and production methods to make sneakers, but it usually shows in the product itself. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's sometimes nice to have a more timeless sneaker that doesn't boast obvious branding or scream "recycled" — and that's exactly why I like the Everlane Trainer.

It has all the style elements that make up a good trainer: a low-top silhouette, a sharp sloping shape, and lots of overlapping stitched panels with contrast in materials and patterns. The overall design isn't groundbreaking, but what makes them feel special is Everlane's ability to strip away wasteful materials while maintaining such a classic look. — Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter

Everlane just dropped its first sneaker for $98 - it's carbon neutral, unisex, and incredibly comfortable. Here's what they're like to wear
The Trainer, $98 [available in seven colors]

As someone who lives a 20-minute power walk away from the nearest subway entrance, I prioritize comfort in my shoes. They need to look good, but I won't make excuses for a cute pair that covers me in blisters.

My first impression of The Trainer was its comfort. I pulled them on and walked 40 blocks comfortably on cushiony soles with zero break-in time. The chunky shape comes off compact (my size 9 feet looked unexpectedly small) and contained rather than costumey. In terms of style and performance, I'd wear them everywhere from errands to airports and dressed up with blazers at our casual office (thank you, leather) or with sundresses on the weekend.

I got my typical size 9 and found them to be true-to-size. As the leather breaks in, hopefully, fit and comfort will only improve. If you think you'd wear them enough to justify spending $98, you should be happy with looks, style, and comfort. Plus, supporting sustainable innovation certainly doesn't hurt. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

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Everlane just dropped its first sneaker for $98 - it's carbon neutral, unisex, and incredibly comfortable. Here's what they're like to wear
The Trainer, $98 [available in seven colors]

Normcore is in right now. Or that's what I hear (and see). These sneakers...well, they're definitely normcore.

With style writers in an endless existential debate over the meaning of Allbirds for the world of fashion, the hype surrounding Everlane's Tread must surely sound like a death knell. But even as someone who hasn't quite fully embraced the dad-chic aesthetic (though full disclosure, I'm an unabashed fan of Allbirds), I found that the Tread sneakers were an easy fit in my footwear rotation.

They're simple and chunky, but they actually looked great — if I do say so myself — with a pair of slim tapered jeans. I had the black pair with white soles, for what it's worth, and liked the contrast offered by the soles. Anyone who's seen the rebirth of those plain white chunky Reeboks and Adidas sneakers will find that these fit right in, with a slightly more contemporary profile.

They were also quite comfortable, and seem to run true-to-size, if not a tad snug, so if you're usually between sizes I might suggest going up. I have medium-to-high arches, and found that I could stand for at least an hour without any discomfort. The soles are thick enough that peddling a bike was easy, and, although I've only had them for a few days, they seem like they'll hold up as well as any comparable, less sustainably produced shoe.

At $98, they're a bit pricey for a plain shoe, but considering their comfort and minimal environmental impact, I'd recommend these. — David Slotnick, Insider Picks senior reporter

Everlane just dropped its first sneaker for $98 - it's carbon neutral, unisex, and incredibly comfortable. Here's what they're like to wear
The Trainer, $98 [available in seven colors]

Sneakers, especially of the athleisure sort, can get a bad rap — they're not formal enough, they're not functional enough, they're unnecessarily flashy. Yet, a sneaker is one of the most enduring styles, and understandably so.

Everlane seemed to be a member of the anti-sneaker camp for a while, until they launched Tread — and my feet are pretty glad they did. From the outside, the Tread sneakers look similar to most of what's on the market right now — think simple, unisex, monochromatic (barring a black and white pair), chunky enough to be considered part of the "dad sneaker" trend. On the inside, they're pretty comfortable. I found the footbed particularly cushy, and the chunky sole — whether you think it's trendy or not — makes walking long distances a lot more pleasant. The sneakers, with their stylish combination of leather and suede, fit right in with my simple uniform of ripped jeans and a white T-shirt.

The coolest part about these shoes, in my opinion, is their minimal environmental impact, which Everlane is still working to improve. While the style and comfort hold their own, I think their sustainability is what sets these sneakers apart and makes them well-worth the $98. — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter

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