Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Birkenstock agony

71 replies

Ohohohwhereyougoing · 09/05/2020 20:41

I've lived in birkenstocks for the last 8 years. Immense comfort.

I'm a chubby girl, but put on even more weight last year. Maybe an extra stone.

I bought 2 pairs last summer and breaking them in was a level of hell I've never experienced before. Full blown blisters, the bed felt like concrete. Bare in mind I buy 1-2 pairs every year, it wasn't exactly my first rodeo.

I couldn't work out if my feet had got fat(er) and so that explained the rub, but maybe they'd changed the design or something for the extra hard footbed.

Anyways, persevered I did, and slightly traumatised over the experience I didn't buy new this year, hoping that having already been broken in, I'd spent the year in blissful comfort again.

I cannot wear them on a walk for more than 20m.

Today we went out for an hour and my feet are ripped to absolute shreds. I had to walk barefoot back to the car it was such torture!

Wtaf has happened? And what do I wear now?.I don't want to live in trainers.

I'm short and fat. Trainees look weird on me at best of times.

I'm so sad!

OP posts:
Giganticshark · 09/05/2020 20:44

I bought wide fit birks. They cost a lot. Then I bought two pairs of similar ones in France, a different brand, and they were HEAVEN on my feet. I didn't find birkenstocks comfy enough to spend the money again. Try another brand :)

JessicaDay · 09/05/2020 22:04

Try the soft footbed ones maybe?

Deux · 09/05/2020 22:09

You haven’t accidentally bought the narrow fit ones? Clutching at straws I know.

CodenameVillanelle · 09/05/2020 22:11

Weird! I have the vegan ones - are you buying leather? Maybe try the fake leather next time. It's super soft. Did rub the first time I walked but once that was over they have always been lovely

Notredamn · 09/05/2020 22:15

Depends where you bought them from, could they be fakes?

Justajot · 09/05/2020 22:17

It sounds like last year you broke your feet in, not the shoes.

Original poster
Ohohohwhereyougoing · 09/05/2020 22:31

Definitely not narrow, I'd never get my feet anywhere near a narrow pair!

One pair was from JL, the other from the local (legit) shoe store in the village.
I wouldn't usually buy two but I literally wear them till they are falling apart hence yearly buys, so I thought if I bought 2, they'd be alternated and I'd last longer... not sure my thought process makes sense but that was my justification for splurging on two pairs.

Jessica- there is specific soft footbed!?

The pairs are one silver pair toe thong and one bronze pair of like the two thick straps. Can't recall real names now sorry.

More annoyingly, the dog ate the toe thongs which are usually my standard birk design choice.

But other pairs were rubbing and making sore my actual foot pads, aswell as leaving me two flipping HUGE blisters on the inside of my foot.

I am honestly gutted. I just want to wear my beloved birks painfree! I'm now completely understanding all the awful reviews of painful 'breaking in' i read and could never resonate with.

I mean... literally 8 years! I once wore a pair on a 4mile coastal walk in cornwall (poor choice of footwear admittedly, but they were comfortable the whole way round!!) How I can i not even potter to the local park with the dog for half hour without crying!?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohohohwhereyougoing · 09/05/2020 22:34

Oh and the other thing, I'm highly annoyed to find that they are 'splitting' where the strap has bent with wear. They're only one summer old! But i usually wear a different style so maybe this is a fault of the design..

Birkenstock agony
OP posts:
SkinRash · 09/05/2020 22:37

Email them and let them know, they may send you a replacement.

On a comfort note though, I've found that nothing can beat Skechers. I'm someone that doesn't care for fashion much, foot comfort is everything.

TrickyKid · 09/05/2020 22:40

Birkenstock Eva are really comfortable and require no breaking in. Depends if you like the way they look but i live in mine.

Hoggleludo · 09/05/2020 22:53

Sketchers!!!

Like walking on clouds.

Anotherdayanothernight · 09/05/2020 22:59

Are the double straps the Arizona style? I've got a pair of them and they make the top of my feet bleed if I walk more than 4 miles, very disappointing as I've had Birkenstock for over 10 years. I did recently buy a pair of Madrid big buckle and so far so good.

GrimDamnFanjo · 10/05/2020 01:14

Have you tried Compeed blisterstick? It's like a lip balm for your feet's and should stop the friction.

VanGoghsDog · 10/05/2020 01:18

I have a pair I have had for about seven years that are like walking on air. Can walk miles in them.

Bought a second pair last year - can barely walk down the road in them. Very disappointed.

I do also have Birkie slippers which I love.

JessicaDay · 10/05/2020 03:50

Yup, they have a extra layer of foam in the footbed. They are really comfy.

I can’t wear normal Birkenstocks but love the soft footbed ones.

Lots of the styles have soft footbed options. If you go to the Birkenstock website, pick the strap style you want and then look down the side search bar to find the “model” section. There will be a boxes which mention a name of a style e.g. Arizona, but also ones which say e.g. Arizona Soft Footbed.

Usually get regular fit rather than narrow too (regular fit is actually wide fit and narrow fit is regular), and the one time I didn’t I ended up with blistered toes. So I only go for styles that come in regular width and soft footbed now.

JessicaDay · 10/05/2020 03:52

Here’s some Gizeh Soft Footbeds

AndMyHairWillShineLikeTheSea · 10/05/2020 07:09

I've got 2 pairs of Birkenstock's and I've never found that they rub or fall apart. I wear them a lot too.

mrsnec · 10/05/2020 07:18

Have you tried Moshulus. They say they have thicker and softer footbeds than Birkies. I live in mine. They do really nice colours and if you're in the South West you should be able to buy locally.

totallyyesno · 10/05/2020 07:20

Sounds like the style is not good for you. Toe joints can change over time - bunions! So maybe you need a style that doesn't touch that part of your foot.

Original poster
Ohohohwhereyougoing · 10/05/2020 07:41

Thanks Jessica!

Have they always done sizing like this? I'm sure I've always bought a size 6 not a 5.5/6? Seems odd it then jumps to 7. Confused

OP posts:
BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney · 10/05/2020 07:44

This is so weird I've always found Birkenstock Arizona's (that's the style with two straps) comfortable from day one. And I have feet which get torn to shreds by almost any new shoes! Have you got the buckles done too tight maybe?

Original poster
Ohohohwhereyougoing · 10/05/2020 07:45

Totally- maybe? The blisters are where I'm pointing, aren't bunions usually further up? (I don't know anything about them so not sure!)

Hoggle, any particular type of sketchers?

Will also look at moshulus. Am in the midlands, so I'll google!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohohohwhereyougoing · 10/05/2020 07:46

Oops. Meant to attach!

Socks worn so that you aren't all traumatised by my huge and gross blister!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohohohwhereyougoing · 10/05/2020 07:47

Ffs!

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/05/2020 07:50

It took me a good year to break in my Arizonas which are now super comfy. It was worth the effort as every year I can get them out and they are ready to go but I don't wear them all the time, mainly on holiday.