Another crucial Birkenstock question...leather uppers or "Birk Flor"?!

[Caz10]

There seems to be a bit of a price difference - is leather worth it? Looking at Arizonas if that makes a difference!

Hi,

I bought my birkenstocks in amercia in 2006, they are basic leather sling backs and they are soooo oomfty and not worn one bit, they look almost new and i live in them every summer. Def go leather, they last so much longer.

If I ever buy another pair (which is doubtful) I'd definitely go for leather.

The plastic sort don't have any 'give' in them so if they rub (or 'bang' against the top of your feet, as mine seem to ) then you're doomed.

I think all mine are man-made uppers. I have flowery Arizona's, some flowery ones with 3 straps similar to Arizonas and patent Madrids.

My flowery Arizona's are on their 3rd summer and still going strong. They are very comfortable.

The only ones I've struggled with are my Madrids which are great now but took a long time to wear in.

I like the brightly coloured and flowery Birkies which tend not to be leather I think.

I have the birko flor - it tends to come in much prettier designs. It does seem to 'give' a bit even though man-made and one of my pairs is into their third year of wearing. They regularly get chucked in the washing machine as well and come out good as new. The arizona style seems much comfier, I could never get on with Madrids.

Really? You put Birkinstocks in the washing machine HangingBelly (great name!)? I have birko flor gizehs but would have thought they'd fall apart in the washing machine. Doesn't the cork go funny? Am tempted though as the footbed bit is getting pretty manky...

oh now see you were all meant to say the same thing and basically make my decision for me!

I'm looking at blue ones (tell me quickly if that is a fashion disaster please) and they come in both materials.

This Birkenstock business is complicated...

ha ha - never solicit the opinions of others, it always leads to confusion!

Have you worn that style before? If you have and it's comfortable, then you can probably chance it in whatever material takes your fancy.

oh and I have no idea whether blue is a fashion disaster.

No doubt those who Have An Opinion on these things will be able to advise though

I wonder how you get to Have An Opinion...I am always stuck in role of Asking For The Opinion Of Others...

Will just throw caution to the wind and order something I think!

Birko flor are fine - I have 2 pairs, the first pair because of cost, the 2nd, because I gizah's only seem to come in Birko flor.

mine were so vile that it was washing machine or dustbin - they survived! the cork is fine, the leather insole bit does soak up the water so took a couple of days on the line to dry but were totally ok. I wouldn't do it every week but a couple of times in the summer wouldn't hurt.

Thanks Belly, I'll give it a go - like you say I am getting to the wash or bin stage...

Hi everyone, i think my birkenstock had enough. I bought them last eyar and wore all year, the insole leather seems all cracked up, is it normal or do i need new pair?