Anyone tried Birkenstocks....and not "adjust" to them?

[alldiz]

Hi,
I have flat wide feet so many people have told me to try Birkenstocks. Well I just bought them today....felt funny in the store...feel "funny" now. Saleslady and "others" have said it takes time to get used to them.

So my question is...Has anyone really tried to "work them in" and NOT be successful. I've wasted more money in the past.....so I'm holding out some hope
Thanks
Kerri

 

[parrothead365]

I have really wide feet also(EEEE ). I have been wearing berkies for about 4 years now. They always feel weird at first. Just keep wearing them and soon the sole will conform to your foot and you will be fine. I have even done the parks in them with no problems.

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, for flat feet you need to make sure you bought the right kind of soles. They make different ones for different needs. Did she tell you that? Everyone can't wear the Papillio (sp?) etc. You need to have the right ones for your feet.
It takes me about a month (at least) to break mine in. Some people just put them on and go but not me. I wear them a few hours and increase slowly until I can wear them all day long.
After they are broke in, I dearly love them. I have a pair of Birkis that did not need as much breaking in compared to the traditional Birkenstocks.

 

[WDW~Lover]

I have a pair and I NEVER wear them. I really dislike them!! I wear
mephisto's instead, they are 100% more comfort!!! and I am getting an older pair refurbished!!

http://www.mephisto.com/spip.php?page=catalogue_femme&lang=en
or

www.thewalkingcompany.com

 

[arminnie]

Everyone's feet are different so who knows.

I wore Mephisto for years - thought they were the best until I finally bought some Birks. I have a very narrow foot so thought I couldnt' wear birkenstocks.

Once I figured out that they were supposed to fit loose I bought some and haven't looked back. I gave away all of my Mephistos.

The first time I bought some I got two pair. One pair was black patent - I still wear them years later. The other pair were the water shoes - I bought them at the Birk store in San francisco, but I was NOT fitted properly. I should have had a size bigger for the water shoes.

If they don't seem right - take them back. They are supposed to have a guarantee. At least they used to. I haven't bought any in several years as I have SO many pair and they do not wear out.

 

[alldiz]

Well, for flat feet you need to make sure you bought the right kind of soles. They make different ones for different needs. Did she tell you that? Everyone can't wear the Papillio (sp?) etc. You need to have the right ones for your feet.
It takes me about a month (at least) to break mine in. Some people just put them on and go but not me. I wear them a few hours and increase slowly until I can wear them all day long.
After they are broke in, I dearly love them. I have a pair of Birkis that did not need as much breaking in compared to the traditional Birkenstocks.

No she didn't tell me this....In fact she said all the soles were the same....except for the "soft" footbed....which I bought....supposedly more cushion. I have the "Arizona's.

Ok....I wore them for a few hours....went out to a restaurant....sat down to eat....AND I COULDN'T GET UP
I stood up and my feet were killing me...I have 2 blisters on my left foot along the arch. Looks like these flintstone feet are not fittin in the Birkies
I don't think they will take them back....the few hours I wore them I have my toe prints in them...unless they go away overnight.
Kerri

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, I might be wrong because I am looking for info on line and can't find it but I know back (years!) when I bought a pair of papillios the lady told me they were made with a higher arch than the regular footbed. Those sandals felt like there was a ball directly under my arch. I hated them. Now, while looking this info up, all I can come up with is different styles such as classic, fashion, etc.

Although I do find an ordering site that has the regular footbed and also the high arch footbed and the soft footbed.
They also say there is a difference in the footbed if it is made in germany or made in China (which is a recent change--I think it is the Betula that is made there and I will be avoiding those at all costs).

Good luck with your shoes. I hate you have blisters. I have NEVER gotten blisters before. My time is for breakin only not that type of what I would consider "ill-fitting" shoes that cause blisters. I think, if I were you, I might head back over to that store.

 

[alldiz]

Well, I might be wrong because I am looking for info on line and can't find it but I know back (years!) when I bought a pair of papillios the lady told me they were made with a higher arch than the regular footbed. Those sandals felt like there was a ball directly under my arch. I hated them. Now, while looking this info up, all I can come up with is different styles such as classic, fashion, etc.

Although I do find an ordering site that has the regular footbed and also the high arch footbed and the soft footbed.
They also say there is a difference in the footbed if it is made in germany or made in China (which is a recent change--I think it is the Betula that is made there and I will be avoiding those at all costs).

Good luck with your shoes. I hate you have blisters. I have NEVER gotten blisters before. My time is for breakin only not that type of what I would consider "ill-fitting" shoes that cause blisters. I think, if I were you, I might head back over to that store.

Yeah....I'll probably call and see if they will take em back
Kerri

 

[Master Mason]

I have gotten blisters a couple of times breaking in a new pair, but it was my fault I didn't switch them out when I felt the hot spot.

Two things you can do that I found help is were socks until they are mostly broken in, do this around the house if you don't like the look. The second is get them wet, that will greatly speed the break in time.

 

[alldiz]

I put them on this morning.....and I could barely stand up.

I have VERY flat feet.....so the support in the arch.....is where I have the blisters. I just want to chop my feet off....I can never find comfy shoes.
Kerri

 

[Master Mason]

it is possible that you can't wear them, not everyone can. I live in mine and would be lost without them.

 

[alldiz]

I called the store and I have 7 days to return them. I will give my feet a rest for a day or so....and try them again for 1 hr....If I can get them back on.

Man at store said the same thing happened to him....I hope they "adjust".....I just want some comfy shoes besides my New Balance
Kerri

 

[darlak]

I cannot wear Birkenstocks. I've tried and I've taken all the advice about breaking them in, wearing socks at first, wearing them for short periods, etc.
They feel fine at first, but the longer I wear them, the more my legs start to hurt. The arch just hits me in the wrong spot. Luckily, 2 or my DD's wear the same size shoe as me, so I gave the Birk's to one of them.

On the other hand, I love all of my Crocs. Yes, the original style is ugly, but no uglier than I thought my Birks were. Plus I now have several styles of Crocs that I honestly think are quite cute. For all-day walking though, like WDW, nothing is as comfortable as my ugly, original style Crocs. At the end of the day, not only do my feet not hurt, but my legs don't ache the way they used to when I toured the parks in my sneakers.

 

[chell]

When I first got some my feet hurt SO bad. I'm also extremely flat footed and have very wide feet. It took a while but I finally got used to them. Now I don't wear them because I fell in love with Crocs. That and the fact that my feet sweat a lot and that isn't good on Birkenstocks.

 

[alldiz]

When I first got some my feet hurt SO bad. I'm also extremely flat footed and have very wide feet. It took a while but I finally got used to them. Now I don't wear them because I fell in love with Crocs. That and the fact that my feet sweat a lot and that isn't good on Birkenstocks.

Uh....Oh...I do love my crocs....or "smocs"....I don't have "real" ones, but my feet sweat too and when it's hot and humid....ahem....they start slippin and a sliding
Kerri

 

[Buckalew11]

I put them on this morning.....and I could barely stand up.

I have VERY flat feet.....so the support in the arch.....is where I have the blisters. I just want to chop my feet off....I can never find comfy shoes.
Kerri

I'm doubting that you are going to like them. Why? Because you bought the softer soles and those should not be so hard to break in. I just think you may not be a Birki candidate. Sorry about that, as they are great shoes but maybe not for everyone. Your feet should not hurt THAT bad.

 

[chell]

Uh....Oh...I do love my crocs....or "smocs"....I don't have "real" ones, but my feet sweat too and when it's hot and humid....ahem....they start slippin and a sliding
Kerri

Mine do too. At least they don't stink. I hate it when I start sliding in mine and worry that it might make some strange noises.

 

[alldiz]

I'm doubting that you are going to like them. Why? Because you bought the softer soles and those should not be so hard to break in. I just think you may not be a Birki candidate. Sorry about that, as they are great shoes but maybe not for everyone. Your feet should not hurt THAT bad.

I think you might be right...I work near where I bought them on Wed.....so they have until then....I don't have much hope.

Mine do too. At least they don't stink. I hate it when I start sliding in mine and worry that it might make some strange noises.

I was caught in a rainstorm in Epcot......walking back to the YC. I went into the BC to get out of the rain. I walked inside to the YC....squeaking the whole way
Kerri

 

[MushyMushy]

I have very flat and wide feet too. The only shoes that are comfortable for me are Teva and Keen. They've got a nice wide footbed and moderate arch support. In fact, I've given up on sneakers for walking and just wear my Teva sandals -- they have more support.