Please tell me Birkenstocks get more comfortable?£

[Thedarksideofthemoon30]

I have plantar fasciitis and I am sick of wearing flat ballet pumps so I treated myself to some Birks for summer. Wore them yesterday and this morning and they hurt! The arch of my foot feels like I’m walking on a stone!

Please tell me they get more comfortable as I bloody love them 😩

I love mine. Comfiest sandals ever. Are they the sandal ones though or the slider type? I've only ever worn the proper sandal ones with all the straps. The other type do look uncomfortable to me.

The thing is I find that if the shaped arch isn't the same as your arch then it never gets comfy

I had plantar fasciitis and never got on with Birks I'm afraid. You need something in which your heel is a bit higher than the ball of your foot. Fitflops are so much better, but you'd need them with a backstrap so that the sandal doesn't flip about on your foot.

Mine took a few days to wear in, but then they became really comfortable! I have the gizeh ones.

What type of sole do they have? I have PF and find the soft footbed type are comfortable out of the box, the normal footbed took longer to wear in. I don’t find fitflops supportive enough for my feet.

Birkenstock’s aren’t great for plantar fasciitis, I’m afraid. Fit flops are much better suited - in my experience (I had chronic severe PF for five plus years) they were the only thing that really worked. Although I did find Skechers go walks, I think they were called? quite good too, but they just don’t look all that nice.

It depends on the style of fitflops - the older ones with the higher arch were better.

Yes they do get more comfy. Just wear them round the house for a bit.

But actually what would be best would be to get moulded insoles - I had footbalance ones (the original and best, and patented) and they were an absolute game Changer! Obviously they don’t work for open sandals but any shoe that you can slip them into they will make a huge difference to your comfort. And then when you need or want to wear sandals your feet will probably feel better for longer.

They’re expensive (they started at £25 back in the day, I think) but well worth it.

They also help to actually alleviate PF - they’re not just a comfort aid, so I do very highly recommend you see if you can have some fitted if/when the shops are open again.

Birkenstocks actually gave me plantar fasciitis years ago. They have no cushioning whatsoever from what I remember. The arch support may also be inadequate.

They do take a bit of getting used to but once you are used to them they are so comfy IME. At the height of my PF pain I could only wear trainers with orthotic inserts but once it started to ease I went back to my old Birkies and found them once again very comfy, if I feel a flare starting my Birkies are the go-to for warding it off.

Skechers Go Walks and other soft soles were a disaster for me, in fact my podiatrist specifically advised against them.

Also please don’t wear flat ballerinas for PF! That’s definitely going to make it much worse.

Yes should have said go walks are definitely not suitable for hours of walking but can give some relief for short periods.

I think either you have Birkenstock-compatible feet or you don’t. Mine are bliss the second I put them on, DH gave up because they hurt his feet.

I think it’s also going to depend on your particular feet and what’s caused the PF in the first place - that won’t be exactly the same for each person, and the specifics of each individual’s case will likely determine what works and what doesn’t. Collapsed arches/high arches/tight calves/higher or lower weight/etc.

I love birkenstock but they don't like my heels. They dry them out dreadfully and they crack/bleed if I over wear them.

I really hate to say it, but Crocs are fabulous for PF, at least if it's not too severe (going by my own experience). I have a (fake) pair I wear in the house now. They cup your heel quite nicely and have a bit of bounce.

I don't get on so well with Birkenstocks either, they're just not shaped right for me. They're ok, but not great.

Youngsters are apparently wearing white crocs now with style so you might be on the front edge of a trend if you hurry

Crocs are so comfortable for pf. and yes, maybe back in fashion! www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9447701/Crocs-fashion-Aussie-celebrities-revive-early-2000s-trend.html

Yes they absolutely need breaking in.
Mine took about a week.
I also had plantar fasciitis, had it for nearly two years!
However thanks to Birkenstock's and randomly finding out that doing 'downward dog pose' almost every day, it's almost gone.
It apparently is due to tight calf and achilles muscles. I had it in both feet, from running. My consultant advised me to do the stretches and they've worked.

I've had my birkenstocks two years and they hurt me every time I wear them , I only persist because I spent so much on them 😂😂

I wore Birkenstock's on a holiday for 5 days straight, ended up in so much pain- I went to the drs and she said it was PF. She then asked me if I was wearing the Birkenstock's and said that would be why! I still wear them, but not when I'm doing too much walking.

Love my Birkenstocks. Must have a dozen pairs at least. They saved me from 'flat foot' pain with the arch support they have.

They are so comfy though! They do give and mould to your foot after a while. Damn PF.

Dreadfully uncomfortable.