AIBU to think birkenstocks could be damaging my feet?

[NickECave]

Well not this summer as I'm still in my boots but in a normal summer I'd be mostly wearing birkenstock type sandals from May onwards. However, last summer I started noticing that the tendons in my arches and top of my feet start aching after a while. Now a friend of mine who's from New Zealand told me that her mum and aunt both have arthritis in the balls of their feet after many years of wearing this type of sandal. Does anyone else find their feet get sore after a day walking around in this type of sandal and anyone developed longer term foot problems?

Mumsnetter's Eye

Not had a whisper from mine since this time last year, a long as I keep doing the stretches.

I've been running quite a bit this year and it seems to have gone away of its own accord. Thank goodness. I was walking like an 80 yo when I got up in the mornings

Yesss! So it's not just me then. They are really uncomfotable,. My foot slides about on the footbed and the raised part makes my foot ache.

Join the band of drumees not

Love mine as I have a stupidly high instep,but I can't wear anything without a ankle strap to keep them on, that includes shoes of any style.my birkies are the thong with an ankle strap,blinking comfortable.

I love my Birkenstocks, but my best friend is a podiatrist and reckons that wearing them the entire time I was pregnant contributed to the fact I now have arthritis in both my big toes at 29 yrs old! Apparently they are notorious for it!

I still love them though.........

There is an argument that Plantar Fasciitis is actually caused by weak feet brought on by too much arch support.

If you support an arch from underneath it doesn't work properly and is prone to collapse.

If you massively support the foot muscles will waste and foot will become weak (like when you have a limb in a cast for any length of time).

The best thing for feet is bare feet. If this not practicable then as close as you can get to bare foot - thin flat soles, no arch support.

Disclaimer : I am a weirdo minimalist runner, and my views are niche.

Yep, another one who has been told by a podiatrist that Birkies are good for Plantar Fasciitis - which is funny cause I've always worn a similar type of sandal. Apparently, even with them I still have to wear my special insoles. 5 months in - coming out the other side now hopefully

Just got some Fitflops and bloody hell they are comfortable seem to support the foot all the way around - just wish we had the weather to wear them ... getting fed up of walking boots/trainers

I love my Birkies in the summer, but notice a big difference in walking comfort when I wear my pair with two straps as opposed to the ones with a single strap and toe post.

Having said that, for more significant walking I have an excellent pair of Teva walking sandals which I've found incredibly comfortable when trotting around (did some serious walking in them on a holiday to Italy last year with no I'll effects). My one complaint is that being a completely rubber sole (albeit shaped etc) they are a bit more sweaty than Birkies, but over a distance they win by a mile.

I've tried them on so many times but they are completely the wrong shape for my feet. Can't wear flip flops of any description because they hurt like hell. Josef Siebel mule sandals are heaven for me - like walking on air. Might try the fit flop mules without the thong that have come out this year though - not tried on any yet.

I have many pairs of the ones thisisyesterday linked to!
I love them as I can't get my fat wide feet into girly sandals :(
The flip flop Birkis are no good though, all that pinching my toes to keep them on make them ache!!

coco UGLY?!! !!

:o

I had to give up my Birkenstocks due to plantar fasciitis. I lived in Fitflop boots and clogs all winter. Ten sessions of osteopathy and acupuncture later I am in a range of other shoes (yay!!). Osteopath reckons my PF is due to hypermobility in my foot, I don't care as long as he stops it hurting!

I had a years maternity leave and lived in wore my birkies a lot. But did then develop old lady legs - apparently called plantar fascitis (every day a school day on MN) - and when I tried to wear another type of shoe couldn't!

However...... they were so easy to wear in the lovely warm summer weather I vaguely remember, that I will no doubt wear them again and then complain like heck when I can't walk for the first 10 minutes every morning

Another one with plantar fasciitis who has to wear Birkenstocks, anything else and I can't walk the following morning
BUT, I only wear either proper Birkenstock boots, shoes or clogs or sandals with at least 2 straps, usually 3. I find these "stay put" better than the single strap styles.
I buy mine online from Germany, I'm an acknowledged addict

Birkies are great for my plantar fasciitis, every Summer when I put them on for the first time its like I've forgotten exactly how comfy they are.

Even better are some cheapo proper plastic flip flops with gel in the heel that I got in a Spanish supermarket for 3 Euros on holiday 2 years ago. Never been able to find anything like them since. They helped me so much I got two pairs - I will cry so much if I ever lose them

Oh yes, coco there is the ugly thing too, you're right

Islagiatt Plantar fasciitis isn't old lady legs, it's a fasciitis foot condition

sorry, link didn't work. Try this