Skip to main content

We jumped feet first (and sockless) into Giesswein’s versatile Merino Runners

While a company like Adidas continues to incorporate ideas such as 3D-printing or salvaged ocean garbage into its running shoes, an Austrian-based footwear company named Giesswein decided to turn to tried-and-true Merino wool to bring unique innovation to the industry. Known primarily for its high-quality line of slippers, Giesswein took to the popular crowdfunding site Kickstarter to gauge interest in its first foray into running footwear. The result? A campaign that raised just shy of $85,000. In other words, its Merino Runners were a hit.

According to Giesswein, the small chambers relative to Merino wool provide ample temperature regulation in the shoe, allowing wearers to enjoy going on a run no matter the temperature outside. In theory, the wool helps cool feet down during hot summer days while warming them up as temperatures drop in the winter. The fact that they’re made from Merino wool lets runners sport the shoes with or without socks, with Giesswein promising no sweaty feet and zero smell. A tall task, no doubt.

Recommended Videos

To see just how well these Merino Runners hold up to everyday use — while also seeing if they live up to the no sweat, no smell claim — we took them for a spin around our hometown of Portland, Oregon, for a few weeks.

Lightweight and comfortable

Upon first trying them on (with socks, mind you), what was immediately clear was just how comfortable the shoes actually are. Not only are they relatively light in weight due to their mostly Merino build, but the footbed and surrounding wool hugged our feet pleasantly. Built with 3D Stretch wool — a fabric unique to Giesswein — the shoe stretched and tightened perfectly with our every step. While this makes even the simple act of walking a positive experience, running with them proved even more enjoyable (more on that below).

If there’s any knock on what it feels like to wear them, it’s perhaps the fact that the laces don’t ever feel truly tight. Apart from lacing them so tight our feet would barely be able to move, we experienced the hassle of retying the shoes more often than we liked. A different shoelace may remedy this issue, but during our time with them, the shoes would often feel a bit loose on our feet. Not a dealbreaker, though it would be a true nuisance for someone wanting to run long distances in them.

Lest we forget, we did, in fact, give the shoes a go without socks. To be fair, running without socks (to us, at least) always seems a touch strange — call us sock sympathizers if you will, we just prefer the comfort. However, Giesswein’s Merino Runners squashed this admittedly biased stance of ours, providing sockless comfort that had us wondering why we’d even tried them with socks on in the first place. This added versatility is more than a gimmick, as it seemed to help keep our feet cooler. Granted, the temperature didn’t get much higher than about 50 degrees (it’s spring in Oregon, after all) but our feet did stay cool, even in a gym setting.

Performance

Over the course of the few weeks, our Merino Runners proved to be a more than capable running shoe. As we spent time running outdoors, on treadmills, around a weight room, and simply commuting to and from work, there never appeared to be an instance in which the shoes weren’t a viable footwear option. Giesswein even refers to the shoes as a “stylish sneaker,” so they’re also a great fit for anyone looking to wear them as part of their casual attire — instead of pounding the pavement in them.

The loose laces problem popped up from time to time, though it never completely brought a training or running session to a complete halt.

The loose laces problem popped up from time to time, though it never completely brought a training or running session to a complete halt. If we were doing agility work in which we planted and changed directions quickly, stopping to tighten them up would have certainly been paramount — nobody likes a rolled ankle. Considering we simply ran on a treadmill and down a few Portland city blocks, the shoe feeling a bit looser didn’t do much to change our running style, even if it was a little annoying.

And what about Geisswein’s claims about being impervious to odor and sweat? Though a few weeks hardly comprise the life span of such a running shoe, our Merino Runners remained free of any funky smells (even after sockless sessions) post-run but we did still manage to produce a bit of sweat. It was never like we were sloshing in sweat but there was still a relatively normal amount present — more so when we wore socks with the runners.

Though it didn’t affect the performance of the shoe, the toecap started to separate from the wool after a few uses. It’s certainly something that’s easily fixable with super glue or the like — and somewhat expected considering it’s hard to affix rubber to wool — but worth mentioning, nonetheless.

Wool for the win?

As most athletic footwear brands look to the future to bring innovation to the industry, Giesswein’s preference for using Merino wool appears to have a measurable positive impact. Though its Merino Runners may not boast a 3D-printed sole capable of literally catapulting a runner through each step, they do provide a level of comfort and versatility that give them their own platform to stand on. Giesswein’s unique 3D Stretch wool allows the shoe to literally hug a wearer’s foot while simultaneously stretching and tightening with each step. This allows the shoe’s movements to feel natural while still providing the type of support native to quality running shoes.

Giesswein Merino Runners
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Priced at roughly $105, Giesswein’s Merino Runners carry a relatively average price tag for running shoes. Considering most Merino products (socks, sweaters, etc.) tend to cost a bit more anyway, the price likely won’t scare potential buyers away. The overall comfort coupled with the fact that the shoes just looked good on our feet had us enjoying our time with Giesswein’s Merino Runners. It may not necessarily appeal to hardcore runners but for anyone looking for a versatile pair of athletic shoes at a reasonable price, these are as good a choice as any.

Highs:

  • Incredibly comfortable
  • The 3D Stretch Merino wool stretches and tightens smoothly with each step
  • Versatile for any activity

Lows:

  • Laces didn’t always stay tied
Rick Stella
Former Associate Editor, Outdoor
Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…
GlassesUSA Black Friday Sale: Get 30% off prescription glasses
GlassesUSA frames close up with multiple styles.

Need a new pair of glasses? Want to stock up for your holiday trips before you head to meet up with your relatives? Typically, you'd have to wait until the official Black Friday event, the day after Thanksgiving, or maybe even Cyber Monday, but that's not the case this year. Alongside a variety of the best online glasses deals, GlassesUSA is hosting a huge Black Friday sale early, allowing you to save big on prescription glasses and frames with no waiting necessary. Of course, we always recommend browsing the sale of your own accord to see what's discounted because we couldn't possibly cover everything, nor could we know precisely what you're looking for. That said, we've called out quite a few of the best deals below.

What to shop in the early GlassesUSA Black Friday sale
Rightfully dubbed the Black Friday Early Bird sale, now's an excellent time to save up to 30% on prescription glasses. Moreover, GlassesUSA is truly dedicated to helping you find the perfect pair. Not only are there a ton of brands and styles to choose from, but you'll benefit from free shipping and returns and a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied. You can even take to find the correct pair for your face. Ray-Ban, Oakley, DKNY, Prada, Ottoto, Muse, they are all here and available to shop, most discounted even. Men's and Women's eyewear are on sale, too, so there's something for everyone.

Read more
The best DNA testing kit Black Friday deals you can shop now
Daughter gifting Ancestry Gift Membership to family

DNA tests are awesome holiday gifts for your family. Together you can all build your family tree and discover your genetic makeup. Unfortunately the tests are pretty expensive, but at least you only need to test once. There are some nice Black Friday deals going on today that will save you a significant amount of money on single tests or bundles. Check out our favorite below, then more more deals worth checking out under that.
The best DNA testing kit Black Friday deal
AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit -- $59, was $99

The single person AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit is our pick for the best Black Friday deal already available. The kit normally costs $99, but right now it's down to just $59. That's a nice discount of $30 on one of the best DNA tests available. We're not sure how long this deal will last, so you should grab it soon.

Read more
The 5 best DNA test kits for 2024
We spit in a ton of test tubes to find the best and most unique DNA tests
A 23andme DNA kit.

Despite the fact that tons of competitors have sprung up in recent years, 23AndMe still makes the best DNA test on the market. It's the quickest, it's very comprehensive, and the way the company presents your genetic data is simple and easy to digest. However, depending on what kind of information you're looking for, there are other, more specialized DNA tests that might be better suited for you. Whether it's ancestry, fitness, disease risk, or something else entirely, there's likely a DNA kit that'll uncover that data.

With the rising popularity of these tests, we decided to take a closer look and see which ones are worth the investment. To do this, we secured a mail-in kit from as many DNA testing services as we could find, then shipped them a spit tube full of our precious genetic code for analysis. After looking through all the data and personally trying all of these services, there were a few that stood out from the pack. Here are our favorites:
The best DNA test kit in 2024

Read more