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Original poster

Birkenstocks

24 replies

clippety clop · 26/04/2022 06:27

Tell me about them.

I put a pair of my friends on last week and they felt very comfortable.

However before I invest I'm wondering if they are suitable for me as I have an arthritic big toe and the bone can get a bit sore. Are they supportive and comfortable.

I'm looking at a pair of sandals, fit flop type.

Before anyone asks my friend is 20 years younger and yet to be blighted by arthritic toes so she can't advise!

OP posts:
Sweetpea1532 · 26/04/2022 06:40

Hi

I'm old and have been wearing birkenstocks since 1996...they are supportive but if you are worried about them not being comfy for your toes, and you have Amazon prime, some styles have free returns for 30 days and some have " try before you buy"
I have about a zillion pairs in a vast assortment of colours. The style that fits me best is the "Florida' . It's not as bulky as the 'Arizona'. I go down one size from my regular shoes. Hope they work for you...my 91 year old mum keeps putting mine on when she needs to put on shoes quicklyHmm😂

JustJam4Tea · 26/04/2022 06:41

If flip flops are usually ok with your toe then yes I think you’ll find them very comfortable. They come in wide and narrow…I’ve got awful feet, flat footed, plantar fasciitis and a dodgy toe and I live in my flip flop type Birkenstocks all summer.

Original poster
clippety clop · 26/04/2022 06:41

Thanks @Sweetpea1532 I'm very tempted and I have prime so I'll have a look now Smile

OP posts:
ICannotRememberAThing · 26/04/2022 06:47

My 76 year old Mum lives in her Birkenstock’s as do I.

They are great for wide feet (they do a narrow fitting too).
They are definitely supportive.
They sell a soft bed version which are even more comfortable and I would definitely go for these ones if I had arthritic toes.

Sweetpea1532 · 26/04/2022 06:51

That's great news! They have some fun colours available.
As @JustJam4Tea has said they are the only thing that helped me cure plantar fasciitis...I wore then any time I wasn't in bed and I was cured in no time flat. They are kind of stiff when you first get them but will get more flexible as you wear them and mold to your feet. I even got my size 46 shoe DH to wear them and he is REAL old Grin He wears a narrow.

ICannotRememberAThing · 26/04/2022 06:53

If you are buying on Amazon make sure you check what width they are (standard or narrow) - I have been caught out before.

Also look at who is selling them. Are they from Amazon or a smaller shop that might not have a great return policy.

I always buy directly from Birkenstock.
You can try them on and return if unsuitable.
Their website gives a lot of info. re. Different fits/ styles etc.

ICannotRememberAThing · 26/04/2022 06:58

Here are the ‘soft bed’ ones:

www.birkenstock.com/gb/search?q=Soft%20bed&sz=48

Lots of colours and styles x

Original poster
clippety clop · 26/04/2022 07:07

I have just placed my first try before you buy order! I'll also have a look at the soft bed, thanks.

OP posts:
Sweetpea1532 · 26/04/2022 17:32

What colour did you order@clippety clop ?
I meant to tell you that I also really like Mephisto sandals...they are a bit more expensive but have more support...If the birkenstocks don't work out. As you can see, I've worn mine to death 😂

Birkenstocks
GettingStuffed · 26/04/2022 19:42

Tissue would probably be good for you as they don't enclose the toes, don't worry about the toe post as they're seamless and very soft

GettingStuffed · 26/04/2022 19:42

Tissue = Gizeh

Original poster
clippety clop · 26/04/2022 19:51

@Sweetpea1532 pink ones! I like the look of those too Smile

OP posts:
LunaTheCat · 26/04/2022 20:01

I have an arthritic big toe too - they are the most comfortable shoes to wear. I dread winter when I cannot wear them!

orchidsunrise · 26/04/2022 20:48

I would try the wide and narrow fittings because I saw plenty of reviews saying the narrow one would fit most womens feet and I don't think that's true.

Sweetpea1532 · 27/04/2022 01:28

Yay@clippety clop ...PINK!
Can't wait to see them...
You'll have fun clippety clopping
along!

midsomermurderess · 27/04/2022 01:51

I have found the standard to be very wide. I wish I had chosen narrow, which doesn't seem to be narrow at all.

Sweetpea1532 · 27/04/2022 04:22

@midsomermurderess
You are right! I just looked at mine and they are narrow! I started out with the regular width years ago and realised they were too wide, so I've gotten the narrow width ever since.

SmiledWtherisingsun · 27/04/2022 04:26

I love them. I wear them all summer.
Super comfy & supportive. I find the Gizeh thong style to be most comfy.

StageRage · 27/04/2022 05:38

I am counting the days until I can ditch ‘proper’ shoes and move into my birkies until late September.

I have an arthritic toe now and can no longer wear the Madrid style as it takes slight toe gripping to hold them on. I have swapped to Mayari and love them.

Sooverthemill · 27/04/2022 06:58

They are very comfortable but not all feet like them. I'm old and have been wearing them in and off since the 80s. Currently have 7 pairs and I agree soft footbed ones extra comfortable

PawPrintsInMyPansies · 27/04/2022 07:04

I love my Birks. I wear regular width as have wide feet (wider since the pandemic and I’ve been living in trainers). I also suffer from plantar fasciitis and these are the only shoes that have helped.
i have Arizona Shearling as slippers, Nirmal
Arizonas as shoes and a lovely pair of Gizehs. These def are narrower even in the regular width. Tbh, they prob are a bit narrow for me, but they look amazing and are incredibly comfortable

Alwayscheerful · 27/04/2022 07:40

F

VaVaVoombangabang · 27/04/2022 07:45

I have worn Birkenstocks for over 30 years now, had every colour stlye going, love them can walk for miles and so on but.....

Bought a pair (silver Arizona) which started to split where the strap is glued to the footbed after 3 weeks of light wear. Customer service in the UK were abysmal. So I ended up complaining to customer service in Germany forwarding all pics of receipts damage etc. After 3 months they sent a replacement pair. In the meantime I had bought another pair in a different colour.

Forward now to both pairs split after a total of 3 months wear (not everyday as I rotate) looking at the workmanship of them now they glue covering is messy and even ones I still have from over 10 years ago and still going strong are in far better condition.

So alas my love affair with them is well and truly over, like another poster I have Mephisto sandals and they are much better than the new birkies. Also a Spanish brand, Bonover are in excellent condition well made compared to Birkenstock and I have had them longer.

So no matter how comfortable they are I am not prepared to buy any more sub standard Birkenstocks sadly......sorry for that rant!

Oh and I thought Amazon were not selling any more Birkenstocks due to to many fakes?

robocracker · 27/04/2022 07:45

I struggle with the footbed aspect as I have a bunion and my other foot used to have a bunion that I had operated. If your arthritic feet are in anyway not foot shaped it could be a problem. I have had birkies and eventually they reform to the shape of my feet but can be uncomfy at first.

I def don't recommend getting any look alikes as they don't bend to shape as well generally.

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