Rothy's Review: Are the Washable Flats Still Worth It in 2026?
Rothy’s has quietly replaced its famous original flat with a new Daily Flat and grown into clogs, loafers and bags, so we reread the range, the fine print and the complaints.
The short version
- The Daily Flat at $100 is the best entry point, with half sizes from 5 to 13 and a new arch-shaped insole.
- Most of the range now sits between $125 and $185, which is a lot to ask for a knit shoe whose durability draws real complaints.
- Returns run 30 days from delivery on unworn pairs, and mailing a return for a refund costs $7.99 unless you use Happy Returns or a store.
- Support is better staffed than most direct-to-consumer brands, with chat, text and phone hours running seven days a week.
- The public review record is rough: Rothy’s scores poorly on Trustpilot, where holes and unraveling knit are the recurring theme.
How Rothy's scored
Comfortable, easy-care shoes with good support hours, held back by premium pricing, a refund fee and a pile of durability complaints.
- Product18/25
- Value15/25
- Service18/25
- Trust16/25
The picks
The Daily Flat $100
The cheapest adult shoe in the core range and the one most people come for.
This is the successor to the round-toe flat that made the brand. The product page describes a knit upper with a sleeker toe, an Arch Effect insole meant to be cushier and more supportive than the old flat bed, and a rubber outsole with small pegs for grip. It comes in half sizes from 5 to 13 and in more than a dozen colors. Owners of earlier Rothy’s flats have long said they offer little arch support, so the new insole is the change to watch.
- Best for
- Commuting, travel days and anyone who wants washable flats
- Weak spot
- Knit flats wear through at the toe on heavy use
The Point III $165
The dressier pointed flat, now with a roomier toe box than earlier versions.
The third version of the pointed flat keeps the sweetheart topline and sharp toe but, according to the listing, gives you more room up front so toes scrunch less, plus a cushioned insole with added arch support. It is the shoe for offices where a round toe reads too casual. At $165 it costs well over half again as much as the Daily Flat, and pointed knit shoes are where long-time owners most often report pinching in the first week.
- Best for
- Office wear and dressier days on your feet
- Weak spot
- Steep premium over the Daily Flat
The Daily Loafer $135
A plain knit loafer with the same new insole and outsole as the Daily Flat.
If you like the Daily Flat but want more coverage over the top of the foot, this is the obvious step. It shares the Arch Effect insole and pegged rubber outsole, and the loafer shape looks tidier with cropped trousers than a ballet flat does. Rothy’s care guide says to pull the insole and wash the shoe in cold water, then air dry. The loafers are also where a recent Trustpilot reviewer reported fabric breaking down after two years of light wear.
- Best for
- Business-casual wardrobes and cooler days
- Weak spot
- Knit can fray at stress points over time
The Men’s Driver $150
The most practical men’s shoe in a range that is still mostly built for women.
The men’s range is short: sneakers, clogs, a couple of loafers, an Oxford and this driver. The Driver uses a knit upper, the Arch Effect insole and a rubber outsole with pegs for grip, and like nearly everything here it goes in the washing machine. It suits warm-weather travel and casual summer dressing better than a leather driver because you can clean it. The catch is price: a knit driver at $150 asks you to value washability over leather’s longevity.
- Best for
- Summer travel and casual warm-weather outfits
- Weak spot
- Pricier than many leather drivers on sale
The Casual Clog $160
The brand’s take on the clog trend, with a merino-blend knit upper and a contoured footbed.
Clogs now have their own shop on the site, and this is the plainest of them: a V-shaped topline, a knit upper with merino wool, the EverDreamy footbed with added arch support and a ribbed outsole. It suits people who live in slip-ons around town. Note the care guide’s caveat for wool styles: no heat, air dry, and a shoe tree helps keep the shape. One of the more specific Trustpilot complaints describes a clog unraveling near the top after about a year and a half.
- Best for
- Errands, fall weekends and slip-on fans
- Weak spot
- Wool styles need gentler washing than the flats
Skip these
The Classic Boot
At $275 this is one of the most expensive shoes Rothy’s sells, and it is a water-resistant stretch boot with a short block heel. The care guide warns that water-resistant treatments fade with each wash, which undercuts the main reason to buy Rothy’s. With returns limited to unworn pairs, you cannot learn how it wears before you are committed.
The Weekender
The Weekender is a handsome basketweave travel bag, but it lists at $400 and weighs 4.4 pounds empty by the brand’s own measurements. That is heavier than many nylon duffels that cost far less. Unless you specifically want a bag you can put through the wash, the money buys more elsewhere.
Rothy's against the field
Two brands a shopper is likely to be weighing at the same time. Words only; the numbers change too often to print.
| Row | Rothy's | Allbirds | Birdies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range | Knit flats, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, kids’ shoes and a large bag line | Wool and tree-fiber sneakers, slip-ons, a few sandals and socks | Dressy women’s flats, slippers and loafers with a cushioned, padded feel |
| Price position | Premium, with most adult shoes well above the cost of a basic sneaker | Mid-market, clustered around the cost of a mainstream sneaker | Similar premium territory, pitched as a dressy comfort flat |
| Returns | Thirty days from delivery on unworn pairs, with a fee for mail-in refunds | Thirty days from delivery on unworn pairs, return label paid unless prepaid | Advertises a thirty-day fit guarantee on its own site |
| Standout | Nearly every shoe and bag can go in the washing machine | Natural-fiber uppers that breathe and suit sockless wear | A softer, more padded feel than knit flats |
Buying from Rothy's
Each line below was read on Rothy's's own site in October 2026. Policies move; if one has, tell us.
Who it's for, who should pass
Buy if you are
- Commuters who want flats they can throw in the washing machine
- Travelers who want one shoe that packs flat and cleans easily
- Shoppers who value recycled-material knit and a large color range
Pass if you are
- Anyone who needs firm arch support for long days on hard floors
- Buyers who expect a shoe at this price to last several years of daily wear
- Shoppers who want free, no-fee refunds by mail
Questions readers ask
Is The Daily Flat the same as the original Rothy’s flat?
No. The Daily Flat is the current round-toe flat on the site, and its product page describes a sleeker toe, a new Arch Effect insole and a pegged rubber outsole. It also sits at $100, which is lower than much of the rest of the range. If you loved the old flat, compare the toe shape before reordering your usual size.
Can you really put Rothy’s in the washing machine?
Yes, for most styles. The care guide says to remove the insoles, wash shoes and insoles in cold water and air dry with no heat. Hemp styles may fade with each wash, and the water-resistant treatment on some wool styles wears off, so the brand suggests spot cleaning those instead.
Does Rothy’s charge for returns?
Sometimes. Exchanges by mail are free, and so are returns dropped at a Happy Returns location or a Rothy’s store. A mail-in return for a refund carries a $7.99 fee. Either way the pair must be unworn with tags attached, within 30 days of delivery.
Do Rothy’s shoes get holes?
It is the most common complaint we read. Trustpilot reviewers describe holes at the toe or topline and knit unraveling after one to two years, and several say support treated it as normal wear. Owners who rotate pairs report better results than those who wear one pair daily, though that is anecdotal.
The bottom line
Rothy’s still makes the easiest-care flat in the US market, and the new Daily Flat at $100 is the most sensible way in. Beyond that, prices climb quickly for a knit shoe that a vocal group of owners say wears through. Support hours are generous, but the $7.99 refund fee and unworn-only returns mean you should know your size before ordering.
See it at Rothy'sWhat we read
This is desk research: the brand's own pages plus published customer reviews, read in October 2026. Nothing was sent to us and nothing was tried in person.
- Rothy’s women’s, men’s, bags, flats, loafers and best-seller collections, plus individual product pages for listed prices
- Rothy’s Returns & Exchanges page, shipping page and care guide
- Rothy’s sustainability page describing its knit-to-shape process and factory certifications
- Trustpilot reviews of rothys.com, read with the one-star and most recent filters
- SmartCustomer (formerly Sitejabber) listing for Rothy’s, which held only a handful of reviews