Birkenstock Arizona

[Orangewall]

Please talk to me about Birkenstocks, specifically Arizona’s! I am not typically a big spender on shoes/clothes, I adore vinted but have a slight mental block on buying second hand shoes that have been worn. Are they quite true to size or would I have to try first? Are they really as comfy as advertised? Do they have a long life expectancy? I tend to find something I love and then wear it to death!

Should also add that I have fairly narrow, flat feet. Will I look like a hobbit?

I tend to size down for birkenstocks. Am a 6 in other shoes but a 5 fits best in the birkenstock style. My husband also sizes down from an 8.5 or 9 to an 8 in birkenstocks. I have quite wide feet. His are...average width for a bloke I guess. Hope that helps in some way!

I have arizonas. They are true to size for me. The first pair I bought from a shop and now when I need a new pair I buy almost new from eBay, because I know what size I am. My daughter can't get on with them and wears the M and S ones which look very similar.

I have two pairs of Birkenstocks I have regular fit and soft step ones.
They do make a narrow fit too and I can honestly say they are the most comfortable shoes I've owned .I have previously suffered from planter fasciitis but Birkenstocks don't bother my feet

I had my first pair for 10 years.

I size down to a 37 from a 38.

I got my 4th pair yesterday 😳I bought the Yao sandals this time, but I have Arizonas which I got last year. I have narrow feet , ordered the narrow size and they are still at the tightest hole. I stayed with my regular size 5 but I think the Yao version seems bigger.
Anyway very comfy , last well ( I have Boston clogs from aeons ago) , and I know you are looking at sandals, but I love their new sneakers too,
My DH thinks the sandals are fugly though.

Honestly buy your usual size

DD is a size smaller than me and although her Arizonas fit me mine are so much more comfortable because everything is exactly where it should be under my feet and toes on the footbed

You can do find your fit on their website, also on narrow/ regular width.

I love arizonas and have several pairs! Yum hey just several years looking great, then become garden shoes. I seem to be the only person o know who buys my usual size, I buy narrow and have the buckles on the smallest or next one up setting. I also have a pair in a size up and it's also good fit. Most of mine are from amazon which is OK if you're willing to put the time in tracking down your size. And although i do like the ordinary foot bed, the soft foot bed is heaven. It's like wearing house shoes.

I have never worn anything more uncomfortable. Little wonder there are so many on Ebay and vinted.

Clarks have something similar called Buckleigh and Josef Siebel also. Much more comfy. Last three/four years of heavy ish wear. £75ish. I usually have a pair as summer house shoes for a couple of years and then wear them outdoors for another two or three years.

Birkenstocks have become ridiculously expensive in my opinion. I have had several pairs and they are decent sandals but there are other very similar styles on the market now which are just as good and half the price, for example sandals by Oxygen, moshulu, and Fat Face meldon sandals. I have a pair of meldon sandals and they are easily as good as my birkenstocks.

I always buy true to size but I have wide feet. If you have very flat feet the arch support might be uncomfortable - I have high arches which need support so they suit me.

They’re true to size but not at all comfortable - 2nd year of wearing them and I still find they’re like walking on bricks and they rub my soles so I get blisters in them. I can’t do anything more than a quick walk round the shops or potter about the house in them. The soft step ones might be better though.

They are ridiculously expensive and the quality has really diminished. The cork soles seem to crumble on mine in recent years. you used to be able to get years out of a pair. Nowadays if the sole doesn’t crumble, the sides will split.
Birkenstock doesn’t guarantee any shoes that are bought apart from other retailers (like schuh or next or wherever) so if you’re gonna spend ££ on them ,at least buy from Birkenstock direct.

I have narrow feet and wear the narrow fit in my normal size (6 1/2 - 7 and bought size 40 or a 7).

now have 2 pairs and really comfy

I love them, have retired one pair to garden shoes because every one uses them which ruins the fit. I wouldn't buy secondhand personally because they are the sort of shoe that you wear in to fit you.

My top tip is to wear them around the house with wet socks the first couple of times. I have very wide (hobbit) feet and did size down.

I just perused amazon and they don't have the selecting they had even a year ago. But if you google "birkenstock arizona sale" you'll see lots on offer from other retailers that sell this brand.

The Birkenstock sizing is important! I have always found them mega comfy once worn in. Follow the directions on the measuring guide which involves drawing round your foot.
https://www.birkenstock.com/gb/things-to-know/fit-guide/
They are too expensive to guess at the size.