We tried Rothy's new 'Chelsea boots' made from recycled water bottles - they're comfortable and machine-washable, though they look and feel more like high-top sneakers
Chelsea, $145
Overall, these are comfortable, breathable, low-maintenance knit shoes that you can wear seamlessly for most — if not all — of your weekly events. They're sleek enough for the office on days when your soul shrivels up at the prospect of something more stuffy, and cool enough for high-waisted jeans and a T-shirt on weeknights or ambling Saturday mornings. Thanks to the flexible upper and pull-tabs, I found myself throwing these on frequently for errands, though they don't have the arch support for a demanding day on your feet.
As Sally mentioned, they're really more of a high-top sneaker than a Chelsea boot, but that doesn't matter much if you like the look of them. My main piece of advice is to order a half-size up (I wore a 9.5 rather than my standard 9) — especially if you plan to wear them with thick socks in the fall. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter
We tried Rothy's new 'Chelsea boots' made from recycled water bottles - they're comfortable and machine-washable, though they look and feel more like high-top sneakers
Chelsea, $145
I'd never tried Rothy's shoes before this, but I'd often heard the praises of these cool work flats made from recycled plastic. When I was told I'd get to try their new boots, I was very excited. Ultimately, I was surprised to find these really looked more like slip-on high-tops than Chelsea boots, but I wasn't disappointed.
These are super comfortable with a soft upper and supportive insole. The cheetah print is fun, but the colors are still neutral enough that you can easily wear these all the time. If you're not a huge pattern person, these are a good entry into the trend.
I usually am a 7, but I sized up to a 7.5 and am very happy about it. They have enough space to fit a thick sock which I know I'll appreciate when it gets cold out, but not too much that my foot is swimming in space. If you want a classic Chelsea boot, I'd say look elsewhere, but if you want a cool, comfortable high-top sneaker, definitely check these out. — Remi Rosmarin, Insider Picks reporter
We tried Rothy's new 'Chelsea boots' made from recycled water bottles - they're comfortable and machine-washable, though they look and feel more like high-top sneakers
Chelsea, $145
For some reason, I had never heard of Rothy's before, so when I looked up the company up and realized they recycle plastic water bottles and other post-consumer materials to make shoes, not only did I think that was a genius idea, but it also accounted for their plastic-like feel. I have horrible bunions, so finding shoes that don't suffocate my feet is always a challenge, but these shoes were flexible and didn't hurt the second I put them on like most shoes do.
I definitely was expecting these Chelsea boots to look more like classic Chelsea boots, but instead they looked more like high-top, slip on Vans in my opinion. At first I wasn't sure if I liked the color, but the mauve grew on me. My shoe size ranges from a 5.5 to 6 and I got these in a size 6 which was perfect.
While these shoes are fairly comfortable, it's really hard for me to find shoes that will be comfortable enough for my weird feet shape. I personally didn't love the material of these shoes, so at the end of the day, I probably wouldn't do any extensive walking in these. — Ciannah Gin, Insider Picks editorial fellow