Are Birkenstocks really comfortable? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Are Birkenstocks really comfortable?

catseye

Veteran

Hi Everyone, I have a question.

I have never worn Birkenstock shoes before. But of course this year I wanted a pair and got this. But after trying on, I am not sure I understand why everyone raves about the comfort. I found the foot bed to be very hard despite what they say about soft foot bed. Will this get better if I try to break it in? Will they really eventually mold to my feet as they say? As it is, I am not finding it very comfortable.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bi.....720280?ori

Shopping

28 replies

Latest reply was from Caro in Oz

Quietgirl

Veteran

I was told to wear them after foot surgery years ago. As I remember, the way they are made encourages your leg muscles to work in new ways. (You have to grip with your toes). So I would suggest walking shorter distances (wear them to the grocery) before you wear them all day to an event!

I do think they will get more comfortable, you just need to pace yourself.

always trying

Veteran

I have had both Berks and the Betula a few years back and the Betula was more comfortable. Now I have Muk Luks and they are softer on the foot bed, and the suade is softer too, plus they fit my low volume feet better..but no one on here has given any response to them as maybe they are just too cheep-like $30.00--for people on here who pay so much more for shoes. BUT there was a post on here about another brand -silver and black-from Target for around $30.00 and were said to be more comfortable than Birks too. These are on target web site now, and are really cute-with nailheads.

I still find some of my old flip flops to be softer on the foot bed and thus more comfy. I do not think Birks are anyway near worth the price as far as comfort level goes...Now if you are a label conscious person, and want the "exact" thing when it comes to the trend, then keep the Birks..But if you just want the look, a comfortable sandal, then I would try some of the other similar ones out there --and others have posted their versions on here too, and will post on this one , so you will get others opinions.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I don't think they are comfortable at all, but I seem to be in the minority. I slipped one on in Nordstrom one day and could not take it off fast enough. Felt all lumpy in the wrong places. I do not have fussy feet at all, but they are relatively narrow, low-volume feet.

Strangely enough, I tried on the Target knockoff version last week and found it much more comfortable than the "real thing." For the price, I would have gone for the trend, but the silver was sold out and I don't care for the black ones.

Diana

Veteran

They don't work for me and I think it's because my feet are not wide enough. The thing about this type of footbed is that the contouring has to be in the right place, otherwise the bumps do not line up with your arches and toes. I find Naots much more comfortable than Birks for this reason.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I bought Birki's with a soft bed as the harder bed was not to my liking...
Tried to get you the link to where I found them, but they are sold out...

Echo

Veteran

It depends on the person. Just like with any brand of comfort shoes, they aren't right for every foot. Many people wear them for shorter bits until they start to mould to the shape of their feet. Additionally, I bought this style in black from two other vendors (I sent one back), and they did NOT have the soft footbed. I don't know if the Nordies version does, but it was a mistake in the description of at least two other websites.

If they do not work for you, they don't work. There are so many Birkenstock look-alikes out there this season that you ought to be able to find a pair of similar looking sandals that DO feel great. I personally love them, but there are other comfort brands like Dansko that are just awful for me, so no shoe works for everyone.

ETA: I tried the Target version the other day, too, and it would not adjust to fit my high-volume foot. The straps look adjustable, but they would not fasten to go over my high volume foot and the velcro kept popping loose. If you can slide most shoes on without evvort or adjustment, the Target sandals might work, though.

catseye

Veteran

Wow, so many of you did not find Birkenstocks comfy. I thought I was the only one. I have so many people around me who claim that Birkenstocks are the most comfortable shoes they have. It made me wonder whether it was just me.

I may try to wear it in the house for a few days and see. As of now, it kind hurts the side of my left foot. And the foot bed is very hard; at least it feels that way to me.

Thistle

Veteran

I love Birks. But I normally do not have wide enough feet for them. Pregnancy took care of that!

First, the pair you selected are patent leather. The tops of them will break in more slowly than the traditional suede. I learned this with the silver ones I bought.

Second, the footbed conforms to your foot with time and use. A way to speed up the process is to wear them as soon as you get out of the shower. When I lived in Seattle, we used to just walk int he grass a bit with them on

Finally, not every comfort brand is comfortable to every foot. There are some brands that just don't work for me despite their reputation. And, there are some pairs within favorite brands that just don't work. I believe this is due to the uniqueness of each foot.

Astrid

Veteran

I love my Birks, I've always liked to wear them. I find that they do get more comfortable with wear. They don't soften up precisely, but they conform to your feet with time. In fact they kind of become smoother (and darker) where your feet are. On mine you can see the imprint of my toes.

As for comfort, are you sure you have the right size? When you buy them in a Birkenstock store in Germany you get a 'fitting', but in other retail stores they often don't know much and sell you the shoes too small. In fact in a lot of the fashion pics I've seen the shoes look like they are too small. You should have some wiggle room in front or your feet won't relax when you're walking and you can get cramps.

ETA

Found a good example of this below. In a lot of the celebrity or fashion pics you see something similar. The sandals always end just a smidge after the toes and there's no room at the heel either. They aren't supposed to fit like that.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dee

Veteran

I have always found Birkenstocks to be comfortable and have always had a pair in my summer wardrobe for over a decade. I have high volume feet. There is always a break in period that is uncomfortable until the leather straps and footbed soften up a bit, but in my mind it gets easier to bend the footbed, not necessarily soft underneath the foot. I hope that makes sense.

Anonymous

The main rules on this forum are to have fun with fashion, and leave no retail stone unturned. There are people on this site from a wide range geographically and economically. So, please don't feel that there are label snobs here. No one will look down on you if you find a $30 pair of sandals or even a $5 pair. If it fits you well and you love the look, that is the important thing. Angie is careful to stress that it is the Birki look that is in now, but how you access that look is up to you. It might be a knockoff, the real thing, or even a lateral inspiration.

I think Birkenstocks proper do suit certain feet types well, but nothing suits everyone. If it hurts the side of your foot, and you find the footbed hard I would take that as they aren't going to work for you. So maybe another kind of shoe with a similar look would work better if you wanted to try out the trend.

Astrid

Veteran

Dee said it just right - it won't be softer under your feet but the whole shoe won't feel as inflexible.

ETA

I've just seen that the ones you've ordered have that soft footbed. I think this is a production just for the USA (or maybe elsewhere), this footbed isn't available here in Germany. So my Birks all have the normal footbed. I've heard that they're a bit different, not just when it comes to softness but also fitwise.

rachylou

Veteran

I prefer Mephistos. I can't wear Birks at all.

catseye

Veteran

Hi Astrid, Thanks for the picture and description on fit. If anything, the shoes I got may be too big. It is a 36 but my feet are short. For example, my ECCO sandals are 35. 36 was the smallest I can find. That might be a problem.

My feet needs a lot of padding. I was just wondering whether these shoes need break in. It is possible that they won't work for me. Very few shoes do with my small size and high arch and narrow heels. But so disappointing when they are supposed to be such a comfortable brand with 100 five star reviews on Nordstrom. Oh, well. What can you do.

Thanks everyone!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

catseye -- I also have narrow heels, a relatively high arch, and a relatively small sized foot. Birkenstocks don't work for me. I find them horribly uncomfortable. But everybody's feet are different. If you experiment you'll find a shoe that does work for your foot. Thousands of people do find Birks comfortable, but those people might not be able to wear *your* comfort shoe.

Jenny H

Birkenstocks are extremely comfortable for me. They do require a breaking-in period though and that can be painful. (Although with my sensitive feet, nearly all shoes require a painful breaking-in period.) My feet have little padding. A doctor once described them as old lady feet. But the standard Birkenstocks work great for me despite this.

I do require a narrow size in Birkenstocks.

I just wish the pair I bought last summer would stop staining my feet when I wear them...

ETA: I have extremely high arches and I have one pair of Birkenstocks designed for people with high arches and these are my every day inside the house shoes. So, so comfortable for me.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

For someone like me with high volume, wide-ish feet with an incredibly high arch and needing good foot support, Birkenstocks are incredibly comfortable. Every time I put mine on, my feet smile But they certainly aren't comfortable for everyone. If they don't work, move on to something that does.

catseye

Veteran

Thanks ladies. I see some of you do report that they need to break in their Birkenstocks. I am going to wear them inside for a few days and see. And continue my sandal search at the same time.

Laurinda

Veteran

I'm with Shannon -- high volume, wide feet, high arch, love my Birkis. This summer I added a pair of Muk luks for USD $20, and summer 2012 I got Wt. Mountain Carly Gizeh-wannabees for USD $20.

Birkis come in different widths, and as Astrid pointed out getting the best length is important. Two other factors are: 1) where the arch is placed in the footbed (arches in Birkis work for me, but Taos' and Jambu's arches are too far forward) and 2) where a toe post (thong) connects with the footbed if there is one. A Carly from 2012 is great for me, this year I tried a pair but the toe post was too far back and not wearable.

MUK LUKS Dual Strap Terra Turf Sandal

View Info

Top Pick

3

White Mountain Carly

View Info

Top Pick

1

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

The regular width, regular footbed Birkis wouldn't work for me but the soft footbed in narrow do. The contours and shapes in the regular footbed are in the wrong places for me. And I had to size down. If you're a size 6 like me, you are likely to need a 35 in Birki brands.

The ones I have now are my first pair ever, and they do take a bit of getting used to I think because they're sort of thick and flat, unlike most shoes I wear. However, I don't grip with my toes. (I also don't do that with clogs.) With Dr. Scholls, the wooden ones that have one strap, I think that's the idea, but I'm not sure that's the case with these.

DonnaF

Veteran

I have a wide forefoot with bunions, a narrow heel, and very low arches, so the worst of both worlds. The Birkenstocks that used to work for me was the Arizona style one and a clog style both made with an extra high arch. The high arch took pressure off my toes or something. Now, even that style doesn't work for me any more. Toe length seems to be a big comfort barrier for many people.

catgirl

Veteran

What Shannon said! They suit my Neanderthal short, square high volume high arch feet perfectly. That's why I didn't bother looking at other brands - I have always found Birks to work for me. But the look is out there at all price points for just about all kinds of feet.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I thought I couldn't wear them when I first discovered them (this was many, many years a go). The moulded toe-piece felt hard & uncomfortable & hurt the sole of my foot. Then a friend suggested sizing down, which I did. I wear/ take a size 39 in Birks & a size 41 in shoes so that's two whole sizes. They are the most comfortable footwear I own

amiable

Veteran

High fiving Shannon and Una - my feet love Birkenstocks. But I know it's pretty specific to the foot. Lots of people's feet don't. I'm eagerly waiting for the Birkenstock craze to be over so that the thrift stores get flooded with these shoes

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I find Birkenstocks extremely uncomfortable. Too wide and far too much arch support. But they DO work extremely well on high volume feet.

Runcarla

Veteran

DonnaF described my feet exactly, but the Birks I tried didn't work for me. The narrow was a better fit, but they just were't comfortable and felt like they would fall off. I tried every comfort sandal Birk look-alike, and scored a Vionic sandal. I wore them all day yesterday, and all day today. My hey are very comfortable, and more supportive than expected. I will be happy to wear these this season, and in future years since Imwill always,want a comfort sandal anyway.

#1 Birks inspiration
#2/3 Vionic Aubrey in black snake

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Anonymous

High five, Caro, I am usually a 40/41 in shoes and a 39 fits best in Birkenstocks for me also. I too have a large volume high arched foot and short toes.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Back at you Ceit