Talk to me about Birkenstocks

[hamustro]

The Arizona style, specifically.

I'm going on holiday and need some sandals that are comfy for walking in. Not hiking or anything, but maybe a few hours walking around a city. I don't know if I have particularly knobbly feet but for some reason I'm quite blister-prone, so the backless style of the Arizonas appeals to me.

I've heard a lot of people say they're comfy but is that just for pottering about the garden? As they're backless do they flap around on your feet and cause achey muscles after a while from trying to keep them on, like flip flops?

I wear black mayaris as soon as I'm out of boots/trainers. Have just noticed that I'm getting really dodgy tanlines already so may need to get a straight pair as well 😂

I have some gorgeous Kyoto nubuck ones from last year - very comfy if you're used to Arizona and Boston

Thanks everyone!

After reading your replies, I've decided against the Birkenstocks as a holiday purchase. I might find somewhere to try them on and then maybe buy a pair for general wear and use them for following holidays if I get on with them. I don't want to risk not breaking them in properly or not getting on with them on holiday!

I've decided to buy some comfortable trainers from Rocket Dog which are probably not going to win any awards for style but I've had a similar pair before and they're one of the only shoes that have never rubbed, even in the beginning. I will attempt to buy something slightly more stylish for days when I'm not doing much walking.

I wear them all summer and they’re very comfortable. They are good for city walking for a few hours but I did find that they rubbed after a while when I wore them at Disney but that was 8+ hours of walking.

Birkenstocks are like torture devices on me. I have no clue how people find them comfy. I've tried a bunch of different ones and 5 minutes just walking to the postbox and back was like walking on a bed of nails. I can't even comprehend how I would manage to wear them long enough to break them in. No thanks !!!

Birkenstocks have a good returns policy too, if you order online to try them

I love my Arizona but can’t walk long distances if it’s very hot. They rub at the top of the strap nearest my ankle. I can wear them all day pottering, or in less hot days.
madrids rub even for short walks.

I can only walk long distances in Tevas. I have nice brown leather teva in the traditional style and also the traditional fabric —ugly— ones

The most comfortable sandals I have ever worn are Naot. They used to be really hard to find, but now Amazon stock them.

I love them and have several pairs but not for walking any distance.

I love mine. I have a few pairs.
But you must break them in.
It takes about 2 weeks for me to break in a pair.

The 2 weeks of pain is worth it as they are suddenly very comfortable.
I walk miles in mine.

I have Arizonas and Mayari. Mayari stay on my feet better for longer walks.

Could be without my Birkenstocks now - have fallen arches and get terrible pain in my knees if I don't have decent arch support.

i wear them all summer. Only just got 1 pair of eva and another pair, making 4. Going to Nyc end of summer and by then my feet will be used to them because otherwise I’ll get blisters at the bottom of the feet. They’re good. Jusr need your foot getting used to them

Quick Birkenstock breaking in tip - vaseline under the strap.

Saltwater sandals are better IMO.

ooo no - I had saltwater - ended up selling them - too flat and no shock absorption and soles too rigid. I know they have some with a different sole but I'm not keen to try given how much they are (and I can t say I don't have enough sandals)

Never had to break mine in. I absolutely love them. Comfiest shoes ever

I tried on Arizonas the other day, but the ridge under the toes annoyed me.

Does that ridge disappear or wear down into shape during the breaking in process?

You know you can get the soles replaced?

I bought some Lazy Dogz last year. They're half the price of Birkenstocks and super comfortable.

I got mine at the local garden centre in the clothing section reduced to £25 too!

I bought Arizonas on vinted so the straps are pre-broken and sanded the footbed to fresh suede (sounds mad but it was the recommended way to refurbish them!). Only pottered round the garden so far as the farting noise if I don’t have socks on drives me mad.

I love the Arizonas, I have one pair, in black. If you have average width feet I recommend trying them in 'Narrow', as well as Regular, I'm average size 5 and I found the narrow ones so much more comfortable, and they broke in faster too.
Interesting point: Narrow is actually designed to be 'average for women, while the Regular is average for men (but suits a lot of women too). The narrow doesn't mean your feet are tiny!

I want them in another colour now like gold, and also I like the look of the Birkenstock Kumbas, but they only seem to come in black or brown.

You adapt to the toe ridge over time. I do get harder skin under my toes when I wear them a lot in summer.

I agree with this. Have to break in many shoes, but not these! I wouldn't have been interested in them probably if I didn't need the arch support so badly.

Although my Arizonas are always comfy from the off they really are so much more comfy after having been worn in

I'm wearing in a new pair now (DDs pair she's not been wearing) and they're definitely nowhere near as comfy as my well worn in ones

I am experiencing the odd 'fart' with hers but maybe it's because they're a 6 and mine are a 7 although they both fit me.

What I absolutely can say is always size up if you're not sure.