Birkenstock agony

[Ohohohwhereyougoing]

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!

Autocorrect in Italian just got both of my You're and changed them into your 😭😭

I had a similar experience with them. I bought a similar style pair from Joules last year and they are much comfier than original Birkenstock. Not sure if they still sell them but worth a look. Good luck- I have really weird feet & finding shoes is a nightmare/ I feel your pain! X

I live in birkies too, I am now worried that I will come up against this issue if they have changed something

I wish id found this 2 weeks ago. I bought a pair of the large buckle monaco. They are ROCK hard. I cannot imagine they will ever soften, particularly the leather. Its really stiff.

Goddamit Cult, why have my feet gotta be such dicks!

Could the achilles thing be linked to arthtris?

I don't think so, do you have arthritis?

Achilles will be possibly from wearing too flat shoes.. have you got crocs? Wear them

Fit flops are way more comfortable imo.

I get blisters on exactly the same part of my foot in 99% of trainers when running. I over pronates big time. I went to see a podiatrist last summer who said he’d never seen anyone with such a severe level of overpronation. For £120 I had made to measure orthotic insoles made which push my feet into a more neutral position. Over time my muscles, etc will tighten and I won’t need the orthotics.

I’m just wondering if you’ve had a gradual over pronation come on. Obvious you can’t wear orthotics in a Birkenstock but maybe see a podiatrist to see if there’s a structural issue?

Andy btw, it was pain in the back of my ankle which made me go and see a podiatrist.

I can't remember the specifics but I believe Birkenstock brought legal action against Amazon and now they don't sell there, so whatever is on Amazon is likely to be fake. I'll see if I can find the email.
OP I have a pair of old Superstars that gave me a blister under one arch out of the blue, then a few years later I got plantar fasciitis so I suspect fallen arches (was going to see someone about it just before lockdown). It might be an arch issue. It's a pain in the arse because the skin there is so tender.
I have a pair of shearling Birks which are soft and comfy but not really good in warm weather!

Yes I have rheumatoid arthritis. Early stages.

Are birks considered flat shoes? As in, could my constant wearing of them have caused this fallen arch?

Jacob I'll invest in someone to look at them and figure out whats wrong with my trotters.

The Achilles pain tends to only come on when i wear my nikes. Not sure if thats relevant.

Flat shoes can't cause fallen arches. But they can cause Achilles pain.

Maybe your arches have fallen, can totally change your foot shape and I know I have flat feet and cannot wear them anymore. I think they can fall as a result of being overweight.
I swear by fitflops. Massive sale n right now, so good time to try!
I wear them April -October, and as slippers. Go for it, give them a go!

Oh no! So its is because I'm fat.

Shit... off to the weight loss board I go then.

Buying fit flops and sketchers right now.

@Lionsleepstonight I got a pair of big buckle Arizona a few weeks ago and wore them for an hour a day every day for two weeks and now the are just as comfy as my 8 year old ones! Persevere

If you have fallen arches, losing weight won't reinstate them.

I have very flat feet and Birkie structured soles were recommended by my podiatrist.

The fallen arches mean that the footbed is elongated, which pulls on and strains the Achilles tendon. So the arch needs support. It also puts strain on the big toe joint.

The Birkies help a bit but nothing really makes any difference. I've had all sorts of interventions, including special padding put in to correct my gait.

I too am a Birkenstocks all summer, DMs or Superstars all winter girl.

I wear Arizonas - I'm obsessed with them. I live in short shorts and my various Arizonas all summer. I also have the slippers. I can't wear standard flip flops (too flat, they kill my feet) and my mum and mil wear FitFlops, so that's a big no.

I have no advice as I find Birkenstocks obscenely comfortable. I haven't bought any for at least a year - I hope they haven't changed something.

I think my feet change in winter so when it’s time for summer sandals again it’s like my feet need to adapt again! Doesn’t take as long as breaking the sandals in in the first place but definitely a thing. This year I took out my last years sandals and my toe was bleeding for the first 3 wears. All of a sudden they are fine again.

Struggling to find fitflops that don't look like my mums shoes.

Well well... looks like it is linked to the arthritis. Grand.

Get the wide fit ones op.

I think birkies are pretty shit these days. I bought some last year as my friend raves about hers which she’s had for years and years. I got them wet and the top layer of the footbed came off. Replaced them and the leather is split on the top part now and I can see the soles will pull away some point soon. They must have changed them but I’m so disappointed. Why is EVERYTHiNG made so badly these days?