Birkenstocks: are they worth the money?

[BansheeofInisherin]

I walk a LOT as I do not have a car ( London). Up to 10 km per day. Are Birkies really as comfy as everyone says and worth the high price? I have very narrow feet. Usually, i just wear trainers. But fancy a change as summers getting hotter.

Which one is the most comfy ( and least ugly). I think I might want silver or dark grey, and easy to put on and slip off.

Yep! Just, yep. They're the best once you break them in, nothing comfier - I live in them from April - October really. Arizona's (I think) go with everything and are.so easy to slip on and off. I have a dark brown pair and a yellow pair, and a blue plastic pair for the pool.

I like the look of Madrid or Gizeh.....

I never got on with them. Too hard and the raised bits never fitted the contours or my feet no matter what size I tried.

I'd def go for two buckle models, not the single buckle, which isn't great when you walk a lot. Def worth the outlay for the quality and comfort of the sole.

Two buckle it is then. Perhaps the Arizona. I have size 8 feet, but narrow.

I love Mayari. I can easily walk 10 miles in them.

Yes yes yes and more yes. The Arizona. You can’t go wrong! X

I'm on my third year of my gold Arizona's and, like a PP, live in them for half the year!

I wonder if Arizonas will do you if you have narrow feet - sure others can comment. I've just bought my first pair and I have wide feet but reckon I could maybe have done with narrow ones.

I can’t walk in the 2 strap ones, l need the toe posts.

They are very comfortable, BUT l got a horrible untreatable corn from them as they are so hard, and it now needs surgery🫤. And they cause me real Achilles problems.

I still like them though.

I love my Arizonas and yes for me they’re worth the money as I don’t get on well with a lot of shoes. They do a really nice rose pink one that o decided against because v expensive but will look out for if they do a sale.

If they suit your feet then yes, if not then absolutely not. They are not a good match for everyone.

Same. Every so often I try some on and think Nope.

Reef or Roxy flip flops are incredibly comfy.

I guess I will have to try them and see. I do a lot of trying on and returning with shoes. It's why I rarely buy any.

I love mine (mayari) and wear them all day for work/ school run but I wouldn't deliberately walk 10k in them. I have deeply uncool karrimor sandals from sports direct if I'm being more active. DD likes tevas.

I am by no means a bohemian type. I like to wear boring classics that last and my style is a bit French (I know 🙄) if anything as I am lazy at combining things but am fussy about my appearance. However-Birkenstocks!!! I love them. I consider them a casual style classic for Summer by now. As to comfort-I bought a pair of khaki Gizehs (the toe bar ones) in around 2007(?) I walked in them twice then took them on a Summer holiday in the Alps where hubby (then boyfriend) and I decided to go on a little explore which ended up a 6 hour hot sunny walk! In the hills! And yes my feet were really comfy, no rubbing no blisters and I was so impressed! That pair lasted me for about 5 or 6 years of a lot of walking (I avoid driving when I can) and they saw me through my first pregancy (Sept born dd so you can imagine). I live in a cobbled hilly town. The only reason I ditched them was because of the smell in the end (sorry tmi) though I have now learned that there are ways to get rid of that so I have regretted it ever since. Since then I had a pair of red Madrids - didnt work for me as I found they flapped around and are too loose for me. So back to Gizehs. I currently own a white pair and a black patent pair both which I have had for at least 6 years as well. I am always so pleased to pull them out every Spring. Totally worth it. Yes they aren’t fashionable or sexy but they are so ubiquitous and so many brands have their own copy that nobody really notices them anymore. Would replace them if anything happened to them. Though I would never go for a bright style anymore as I wouldnt want them to ‘stand out’. Hope that helps. Who knew I had it in me to write an essay on the topic but I am clearly passionate about them. Thanks for your time if you made it to the end of this ramble whoaha!!!

Haha sounds familiar! I just had the Evri dude collect 6 pairs of shoes to be returned this week as I needed some loafers for work. Still not find the ‘right’ pair. Shows how hard to please I am.

I have ariz

Try again!

I can only wear the one strap ones (Madrid?) as the second strap of the Arizona hurts my mid foot. What I find is that while I have snazzier sandals I end up wearing birkies all the time because they are so much more comfortable.

No I don’t find them comfortable at all but I love my Toms!

And they last years. After a while they can get a bit stinky on the footbed but this is after years.

I bought a pair 4 years ago and have tried many times over the years to break them in and all they've done is distroy my feet in blisters. They definitely do not suit my feet

I love mine and wear them all the time but for 10km I’d wear my trainers.

Absolutely yes. I have walked miles in mine. I also get the 2 strap models but you can get ones with narrower straps.