Birkenstocks - worth the money or cheap alternative?

[bunny2]

Nearly bought a pair today for £39 but thought I'd hold off to find a cheaper kind of sandal. Are birkies really that much better or is it just a lable thing?

[hoxtonchick]

have just found this site on google which seems to have leather madrids. i've been searching for some for ages, you can't get them in the uk. pretty cheap too.

[Demented]

Going to look at Doddle's site now, must remember I'm skint this month!

[bunny2]

love thw Arizona ones

the ebay prices are good

[bunny2]

hoxtonchick, good site, god I want them in every colour

Im going to BUY SOME BIRKIES!!! I am so excited, have lusted after them for years

[RTKangaMummy]

Deffo get some bunny

you will not regret it

just think you can spend more now for comfort and quality

[aloha]

I am loving my white birkenstock rip offs with diamante buckle for 5 quid from Price Less in Peckham. they are actually MORE comfortable than my real birkenstocks.

[motherinferior]

HC, you really are a bit of an addict, you know

I am yearning for a grey felt pair, myself.

[Blossomhill]

My feet are too skinny for them

[hoxtonchick]

you weren't meant to notice me here MI! made it to the shop yesterday, but only purchased for ds so i deserve a pair now....

[Tanzie]

I used to live in Israel and had some fabby sandals which I lived in there - I had them for three years and threw them out because I got sick of them, not because they wore out. Similar styles to Birkenstock, called Naot.

[jenkel]

What are the non leather ones like, still worth getting, are they still as comfortable?

[Linnet]

I have a pair the same as the Arizona ones but I got them in Office years ago and they're still going strong.

[Linnet]

Hit post too soon. I meant to add that I'm also in Scotland which is probably why they've lasted so long as we don't always get good enough weather to wear summery shoes, lol

[expatinscotland]

Label all the way! Ah, Birkies . . .

[RTKangaMummy]

You could wear them with socks though

[Heathcliffscathy]

real ones are much better

[tigermoth]

thank you, thank you, thank you - I have been spending my days searching for bargain internet birkies - these sites are fab.

I have lots of birkie rip offs. A nearby shop has a steady supply of styles at about £9.00 a pair. Very good. Aloha, I too have some white fakes, bought for a song. They are on their second summer.

However I crave a buckle with 'birkenstock' on it, and I want a pair of arizonas in brownm, and this seems to plain a style for my local rip off shop. Well actually I want two pairs, one dark brown, one light brown. I am very interested in hearing how the non leather nubuk ones wear - are they as long lasting?

[CountessDracula]

Well I have the genuine article and fakes too

Birkies much more comfy for walking any distance. Other than that little difference.

Got fakes on mumsnet fab freebie code La Redoute thing last year (along with lots of other stuff, all for nowt!)

[Clayhead]

Birkenstocks for me. One pair I've had since 1992 and still going strong!!

I have bought dd some from this website . They took 4 working days to arrive and are fab.

[kikidee]

I walked miles and miles in my white Madrid's last summer while on mat leave to the extent that I was down to the cork at the heel. Took them to the cobblers today and it's £20 to get them repaired. Could have had a new pair of rip-offs for £15 but wanted to keep the Birkies. Now I can get a lovely new pair of bronze Madrids - hoping to get them on these sneaky cheap sites, off to investigate.

[RTKangaMummy]

Tigermoth

They also have Birkenstock written on the leather on the side

Mine are leather ones so can't comment on nubuck ones really

But would expect them to last as well

They are just sooooooooooo comfy

When I got them, The lady in the shop just looked at my feet in my trainers and said "you need size 40" went and got them and hey presto totally brill

Perfect fit

[RTKangaMummy]

Mine are ARIZONA so yours would have writing on side as well as buckle

[kikidee]

Clayhead, the ones I want are on your site for £19 - can't believe it. However, so are the White Madrid's that I've just paid £20 to get repaired. Oh well, sentimental value I suppose.

[CountessDracula]

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

grammar curmudgeonly moment

madrids not madrid's

(sorry am on mission)

[tigermoth]

that's pretty amazing kanga - she just guessed your shoe size?

Countess, I missed the redoute freebies code -
sounds like bargains were to be had.

Verrrry tempted by the thought of leather embossed with the birkenstock name...