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A question for long-time birkenstock wearers

Liesbeth

Veteran

Can Birkenstocks become LESS comfortable over time? And I mean, not after a breaking in period, but after years of wear...

I have had my pair for four years, I think. I remember the first time I wore them I felt I was walking on clouds :). I wore them throughout my pregnancy with swollen feet. Possibly because of that (though we're three years past that now), they now feel too wide. I thought about having an extra hole punched into the buckle to tighten them, but the footbed seems to have hardened and feels a bit uncomfortable now too. I can still wear them, but don't feel inclined to wear them on a long walk, which is their purpose.

I'm thinking of going to a shoe store to try some different types of walking sandals and see if my feet are just no longer favoring Birks, or if maybe a new (narrow?) pair fits me better.

I was just wondering if anyone else has had this experience too.

Birkenstock Women's Mules

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15 replies

Latest reply was from Liesbeth

Bijou

Veteran

Liesbeth I do think the footbed breaks down over time on Birks becoming less comfortable. My very old Arizona’s are only useful for wearing to the beach or pottering around the house as they don’t provide enough support to walk significant distances. I can only wear Birks in a narrow fitting, which does help with comfort.

Staysfit

Veteran

The footbed compresses over time, just like any other shoe but it should conform to your foot. Also, if they get wet they can stiffen a bit, especially if it happened repetitively. The band leather does stretch, and I have made new holes before and it helped. Feet can change shape over time as well, not only during pregnancy.

It sounds like you have two problems.
1. Leather that may have stretched when your feet were swollen while pregnant and now is too loose.
2. Compressed and stiff foot beds from long term use.

I happen to love a stiff soled shoe and much prefer my Birks to my other shoes for indoor wear. I wear Florida’s, not the more popular Arizona’s so experience may vary by style. I had a pair of the vinyl Arizona’s and they were not particularly durable. They ripped after one season, unlike my leather and cork Florida’s, which have lasted up to 10 years. I have one leather pair of Arizona’s that run wide so I wear them in the winter with wool socks as slippers. I think the Florida’s May be a bit narrower and their three straps allow for more calibrated adjustment over the arch of your foot.

Minaminu

Veteran

I owned several Birkenstock and only had a problem with the Madrid sandals, the sole broke into little parts in the tallon area. To be fair, tehy were 6 or 7 years old and it was time to replace them!

I find that I have to try them on. I am not a small girl by any means but for some models I need the narrow fit.

Currently have the Mayari model in black, but there is a new model that I am considering.

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Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

You can get the foot beds restored/replaced, I know. I haven’t done it myself.

I’d imagine after four years you might want to get a brand new pair, though.

nemosmom

Veteran

I've only had mine for a year, so I am not much help. Have you worn them a lot? Four years may not seem like a long time to have shoes, but if your (estimated) number of wears is high, maybe a new pair is in order.

Style Fan

Veteran

I find I need to replace my Birks after a couple of seasons. You can get the footbed replaced but I have not done that. I plan to look into it because I love my metallic copper Arizona Birks and I can not replace them.
Everyone is different. Some people can wear shoes for 4 years without a problem. I have sensitive difficult feet and need to take care of them. I am lucky to get two years out of a pair of shoes.

Glory

Veteran

I agree that that the foot bed compresses over time. I have punched new holes as well. It is possible that your foot has now changed. My daughters and I are huge Birkenstock fans. I have had theirs resoled and had new foot beds put in. It prolonged the life of the Birkenstock but only minimally but they are very hard on shoes. In your case it may be that you need a new pair.

notsaf

Veteran

Definitely. I've just replaced mine after about 5 years.

Helena

Veteran

Yep, same here - I wear mine into the ground, so they need to be replaced every few years ... I think my last pair went for three before they got a bit grotty and compressed.

NancyW

Veteran

Try adding holes to see if there is some life left in your Birks. Feet do change over time so consider getting refitted at a good shoe store. I started with Arizona in the nineties, but now prefer the Florida. I use their cork conditioner, but I think the hardening is inevitable. Perhaps, like Staysfit, you could use these with socks as house shoes.

Echo

Veteran

Not only can the shoes change, but so can your feet. I've found I have trouble with some models of Birks and not others. But as you mentioned, try on different brands. While I adore Birkenstocks, and I think they tend to last longer than most other sandals, other brands can sometimes work better, depending on the purpose. You may find a new pair of Birks does the job, or you may find that a different brand fits your feet better right now.

And I find I have trouble with ALL my spring and summer shoes first thing in the spring. I don't know why my feet get so fussy over the winter, but the shoes that were the holy grail of comfort at the end of last summer can be torture in the spring. I just need to get used to them again.

Anonymous

Long-time wearer here. Like StyleFan said, they don't last forever. I use my old ones strictly for around the yard (well, when I had one, that is ) etc. I have never had the footbed replaced, which I know you can do. I like to add a new pair/style every other year or so, as I always like to have one pair that looks pristine and can be worn to work at the gym in the summer. I find the footbed definitely compresses after a few years, and especially if it gets wet at all. My birthday gift this year were the new pale blue suede Arizonas with gold hardware and a white sole.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Thanks everyone, from your responses I gather that:
Bitkenstocks last very long, in my case with (intermittent) frequent wear 4 years may be long enough.
The footbed compresses: well, that's exactly how it feels. They may have molded to my feet but I think my feet have changed just enough to make that uncomfortable. Also, not a fan of a hard footbed.
The different models fit differently so maybe it's time to try on some other styles. Have to investigate b&m stores carrying lots of styles in my neighborhood for a proper try-on.

I would prefer a new style to a footbed replacement. I have the faux leather Arizona's and the buckles have become stained as well, I think with grease because it's hard to clean. Can't polish like real leather.
But these can definitely stick around for trotting around the garden!

Anonymous

My walking sandals have never lasted that long! I squish the heels Maybe it won't happen with the hard footbed ones?

Liesbeth

Veteran

Suntiger, I have the regular ones, I think they are 'hard'..? But the first years they were somewhat cushiony, now almost rock hard. Bear in mind that we have a rather short summer season - only then & on the weekend are they worn regularly.