Roots Review: Is Roots a Good Brand, and Is It Expensive?

Most people who look up Roots want to know three things: whether it is a good brand, whether it is expensive and where it sits between fast fashion and luxury. This review answers each one from what Roots publishes on its own site, with prices checked on 14 October 2026.

What is Roots?

Roots is a Canadian brand that sells sweats, outerwear, leather bags and accessories for women, men and kids. Its founders, Michael Budman and Don Green, met at a summer camp in Canada's Algonquin Park in the 1960s and started Roots in 1973.

Their first product was a shoe. The "negative heel" Sport Root Shoe went on sale on 15 August 1973 and, by Roots' account, sold out by the end of that month. The beaver in the logo has been there since the beginning.

Roots in numbers, from its Our Story page (14 October 2026)

Founded1973One store on Yonge Street in Toronto.

Stores in Canada115With over 2,000 Canadian employees.

Stores abroad100+More than 100 outside Canada.

Ships to70+Countries served by its online store.

Is Roots a good brand?

By the things you can check, yes. Roots has traded for more than 50 years, runs 115 stores in Canada and more than 100 in other countries, and still makes part of its range itself.

• The sweats. Salt & Pepper sweats are the brand's signature. Roots describes them as a special knit of ultra-soft premium fleece.
• The leather. Roots says its leather bags, jackets and select accessories are designed and made in Canada, handcrafted at its Toronto Leather Factory. Its Varsity Jacket, first launched in 1979, is still made there.
• The company. It is based at 1400 Castlefield Avenue in Toronto and employs over 2,000 people in Canada.

Is Roots expensive?

It sits in the middle of the market. These were the prices on roots.com, in Canadian dollars, on 14 October 2026.

What Roots costs, in Canadian dollars (roots.com, 14 October 2026)

Organic Original Sweatpant$84

Cloud One Fit Hoodie$98

Riley Crossbody, leather$198

Riverside Crossbody, leather$278

Small Banff Bag, leather$498

Large Banff Bag, leather$598

Shipping in Canada is free on orders over $70, so a single pair of sweatpants qualifies.

Is Roots fast fashion?

No, and Roots says so itself. Its sustainability page asks customers to shop mindfully "as we navigate the age of fast fashion" and calls high-quality apparel "an investment worth making".

The same page gives the details:

• Its main sweats collections are made with a blend of organic cotton and recycled polyester.
• Over 90% of its activewear is made from organic and recycled materials.
• It lists the Fair Labor Association, the Leather Working Group and Textile Exchange among the organizations it works with.
• In 2024 it began a multi-year partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Is Roots a luxury brand?

No. Its prices are not luxury prices: sweatpants are $84 to $88 and its largest leather Banff bag is $598. It is better described as a premium everyday brand.

Is Roots really Canadian?

Yes. It was founded in Toronto in 1973, its head office and leather factory are in Toronto, and its own tagline is "Proudly Canadian for over 50 years".

Who is Roots a good fit for?

Is Roots a fit for you?

A good fit if you want

• Everyday sweats made with organic cotton.
• Leather bags and jackets made in Canada.
• A brand with stores you can walk into.

Look elsewhere if you want

• The lowest price for basics.
• Technical gear for serious outdoor use.
• Designer or runway fashion.

What are the alternatives to Roots?

• Patagonia: Higher price point, more technical gear, similar focus on environmental ethics.
• L.L. Bean: classic American outdoor style, similar heritage feel, but less focus on "streetwear" fleece.
• Aritzia (TNA/Super World): A direct competitor for the "cozy fleece" market, often targeting a younger, more trend-focused demographic.

Is Roots worth it?

If you want everyday sweats or a leather bag from a brand that has made them for decades, Roots is a safe choice. If the lowest price matters most, it is not the cheapest option.

Sources, all read on 14 October 2026: the Roots home page, Our Story, Sustainability and leather pages.

From Building a Brand to Protecting It

Roots didn't become a global icon by accident. Michael Budman and Don Green understood that trust is the currency of retail. Customers buy Roots because they trust the quality.

If you are an e-commerce founder building your own brand, whether it's fashion, SaaS, or digital goods, you know that maintaining that trust is expensive. But losing revenue to fraud is even more costly.

For a growing online store, chargebacks and card testing attacks can drain your bank account faster than you can ship orders.

1Capture: The "Leather Tough" Protection for Your Revenue

Just as Roots uses premium leather to ensure durability, you need premium protection for your payment stack.

Why E-Commerce Brands Need 1Capture:

• Smart Charge Technology: 1Capture's pre-auth system verifies funds before the transaction clears, reducing failed payments.
• 5-Minute Setup: It integrates instantly with Stripe, meaning you don't need a dev team to start protecting your cash flow.

You wouldn't wear cheap boots on a hike, so don't run your business with cheap security. Fortify your e-commerce store with 1Capture today. Learn more at the 1Capture Blog.