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Are Rothy’s worth it? I hope this review will help you decide for yourself.

There’s a lot of hype around these ubiquitous flats. Do you sometimes wonder – are Rothy’s worth it? I first reviewed their two classic styles back in 2017 (updated in 2019) here, and wrote about the differences between their original knit versus their seasonal merino wool blend. I’ve worn Rothy’s for more than three years and at one point owned five pairs, so I consider myself somewhat of a Rothy’s expert.

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After many, many wears, here is an honest review of the three ways Rothy’s fall short, and three reasons I really do love them (which explains why I have so many). In short, everything you need to decide for yourself – are Rothy’s worth it? Let’s start with the cons.

Wearing Rothy’s The Point in Ecru

Rothy’s cons

They’re not waterproof

The first time I wore my Rothy’s on a rainy day, I was extremely disappointed to learn how quickly they become soaked through. That flexible plastic weave isn’t exactly waterproof, and the material absorbs liquid pretty efficiently. I stepped in a few shallow puddles only to have my shoes soak up the mucky water, ugh. I ended up walking around D.C. in what felt like wet socks for most of a Saturday afternoon, and the lesson was learned. Take notes: these are fair-weather flats.

There’s no arch support

For anyone who needs a significant amount of arch support for their feet, these may not be the best shoe. While the sole has a lot of give, it isn’t molded to ergonomically fit the foot. I think most people will find these flats pretty comfortable to walk around in all day (I do), but if you require more support, I recommend sizing up half a size and purchasing separate insoles.

They do…eventually accumulate odor

Two months into wearing my first pair of Rothy’s, I came home from work and kicked back on the couch, ready to unwind with my husband like any other day – until he physically recoiled and told me to go wash my feet. Ew, right? Despite a fairly open weave these shoes are made of plastic, which means they don’t breathe as well as natural materials (update: see what I think of the Rothy’s merino wool blend here). I found that after couple months (in the middle of summer) they start to get a bit stinky. This could have been a dealbreaker except for the fact that . . .

Styled with the DeMellier Nano Montreal bag.

Ok, now onto the pros

They’re washable

I was nervous doing this the first time because I didn’t want to run my new favorite pair of flats, but they did smell so I kind of had no choice! The good news is, you really can just toss them in the washing machine – either with other machine-washable shoes, or with your regular load of laundry. Use a gentle cycle and cold water (never hot) to make sure your shoes don’t lose their shape. If you’re running any cycle above gentle, you might want to put your shoes in a protective mesh bag just in case. I ran a small load of three pairs of Rothy’s with detergent and a half cup of baking soda for a deep clean. They came out looking great! I let them air dry for about 48 hours and voila, as good as new.

They’re light as air

In this respect, Rothy’s absolutely exceed expectations. The plastic knit is made from 100% recycled water bottles in a seamless design that weighs practically nothing. It feels like wearing hotel-room slippers, if those slippers fit perfectly. The soles of the Rothy’s flats are made from a thin, flexible rubber that is also super light and flexible. (The shoes flatten out and take up nearly zero space, while retaining their shape). This means it’s easy to pack an extra pair of flats in your bag while traveling, or to change into after the gym. Very handy!

They’re sustainable

Rothy’s was founded on a commitment to turning single-use plastic water bottles into beautifully-designed shoes. To-date, the company has given new life to more than 20 million water bottles with virtually no waste along the way, thanks to a 3D knitting process. The company also aims to carry very little physical inventory at any one time, avoiding overproduction, and encourages women to keep their shoes longer by making them machine washable. Good for your look and good for the planet? Win-win.

So – are Rothy’s worth it? I hope my honest review helps you decide whether or not to try their shoes yourself. If you’re curious about style and fit, check out my review of their two classic styles, The Flat and The Point, here.

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Looking for more?

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Plus follow me on Instagram @theprimpysheep for more style inspiration, and product reviews!