Birkenstocks-are they really $100 worth of comfortable?

[Laugh O. Grams]

Let me steal this thread from the OP....

Comfy enough for all day at WDW, day after day? One PP mentioned "No", I'd like to hear from others, as well?

For me, yes. I've worn them (2 pairs) for 11 Disney days straight without a problem and as I said earlier, almost every day of the year...

 

[merekc]

I'm a fan. I wear the Arizona style all summer long. I tried them first after researching shoes for people with plantar fasciitis. Go try them on in the store, find out your size. Make sure you note that the Narrow (closed foot logo) is the same as regular width American shoes. The open foot logo is Wide.

I always buy mine on Ebay for around $40, but I typically buy them over the winter, not sure what prices are this time of year.

 

[MushyMushy]

Wide foot girl here- think Fred Flintstone feet. That's what I got. I find that the men's are actually better for me- wider and fit better. But once I got the right "men's" size they were like little pillows on my feet. I love them. Maybe time to get a new pair.

Although I am also a huge KEEN fan. These are great and WATER PROOF if you get the right kind.- even the not water proof ones actually held up well in a few florida thunderstorms. I just got a new a pair of those(I find them kind of cute in the colors they have) But if I had to choose I think I would pick a keen over a birkenstock. imho

We must have similar feet. I never thought of trying them in men's.

Oh, and I'm a Keen lover too. I am constantly watching out for specials or sales on Keen and Teva. I had to promise my DH that I wouldn't buy any more sandals for this summer. Though the pup did chew my Mush flipflops. So maybe just one pair. But that's it.

 

[Hedy]

My mom has foot issues (bunion) and lives in her birk clogs. I used them in the parks in 02 successfully.

 

[wowsmom]

Wide foot girl here- think Fred Flintstone feet. That's what I got. I find that the men's are actually better for me- wider and fit better. But once I got the right "men's" size they were like little pillows on my feet. I love them. Maybe time to get a new pair.

I was wondering how they would fit wide feet. A womens' wide is a D and an extra wide is EE. I measure an E - wide and a half is what I call it.

Does anybody know how Birks are when you have plantar fasciitis? I've been living in Crocs for about the past year and my heel pain has gotten horrible (had it before the Crocs, but usually only after a day in sneakers at Disneyland!). I just bought some New Balance walking shoes and they seem to be helping but I like shoes that are easy to slip on/off.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have several pair and yes they are very comfortable, but I wouldn't pay that much for them..at least I didn't. The most expensive pair I got was from QVC for abou $50, and the rest I got from either Sam's or the Birkenstock store when they had a big sale for about $40-$50 each.

I wear my crocs at WDW...all day, every day. I don't wear tennies in case my feet get wet, the crocs just dry right off. Before I got my crocs, I was wearing my Birks, but can't hussle as fast in them...Although I once went to a little street race here that my kids were in, then at the last minute I decided I didn't want them out of my sight...so I ran the 1/4 mile race in my Birkensotcks..they are not for running, trust me..

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I have several pairs and when at WDW usually rotate them with tennis shoes. For me they have to be well broken in. Not very recently bought at all. I also mix in my crocs flip flops.

As far as the cost, try QVC. They usually have several different ones under $100. I have never payed that much for a pair.

 

[BratTink]

I have a bad back that affects my legs and feet. Birks are the best thing to ever happen to me. I've worn them to disney twice and never had one blister or problem and my feet didn't hurt. You definitely have to break them in. I've gotten mine wet and never had a mold problem.

 

[MomofKatie]

Let me steal this thread from the OP....

Comfy enough for all day at WDW, day after day? One PP mentioned "No", I'd like to hear from others, as well?

I like my Birks for knocking around town, but I can't wear them all day at WDW. They are too hard and rub blisters on the bottoms of my feet. And, if you accidentally get them wet? Yeeouch!! They will be damp and terribly uncomfortable for the rest of your trip.

I am a Croc girl all the way for walking around WDW.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I cannot wear Birks because they are too wide. I did buy a new pair of sandals that are Naot. Supoosed to be made for narrow feet. I see someone else wears them too.
http://www.thewalkingcompany.com/Common/OurBrands.aspx?brand=Naot

My last pair of Mephistos were older than my youngest dd who is 11.....I finally had to retire them.

So yea, worth it all the way for me!

 

[Poohbear123]

I have several pairs and when at WDW usually rotate them with tennis shoes. For me they have to be well broken in. Not very recently bought at all. I also mix in my crocs flip flops.

As far as the cost, try QVC. They usually have several different ones under $100. I have never payed that much for a pair.

I paid about 40 for my first pair, on line and just paid 65.00 for the ones from QVC. The ones I got for 40, are discountinued. And they are comfy, especially if I wear them for a few days. Only, my feet swell in them, but I don't think its from the shoe. My feet swell in ANY sandal.

 

[KLAIT]

Yes, they would be worth a million bucks if I had to..they are so comfortable. I listened to a lady at work talk about them for over a year.she has had several back surgeries and her doctor told her to wear nothing but Birks....and she has no problems with the back at all.

Then my mom was having a hard time walking on one of her feet...to the point where she would limp and almost cry...anyway, i told her to get a pair and she could not believe what a difference it made in her feet...so I broke down and got a pair....I LOVE THEM! I bought them new from Ebay for about $40 as well...wear them from snow melt to snowfall....they are so comfy I agree that there is a break in period but they are the best...have a few pair now.

The last 3 times we went to Disney, I have worn them all day everyday from park opening to park close for 8 days straight and have never had a probkem.

In the past, I would rotate my Teva sandles and Tennis shoes and after about 3 or 4 full days my feet would hurt when I first put weight on them when I got out of bed in the morning...since the Birks, not a problem at all...

My suggestion would be to go somewhere and find your true size. ( I have a pretty wide foot and take the closed foot width) and then look on Ebay..there are some really good deals on them.....

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have a pair of Betulla that are made by Birkenstock..They are my everyday knock around shoes....They also make a sandal called "birkies"..

 

[MushyMushy]

My suggestion would be to go somewhere and find your true size. ( I have a pretty wide foot and take the closed foot width) and then look on Ebay..there are some really good deals on them.....

What does the "closed foot width" mean? I haven't seen that on anything.

 

[DMickey28]

I don't get what all the hype is of them. I have three pairs and while they are ok, they are not the most comfy shoes I own. I have had all my pairs for at least 3+ years and they are broken in. They just feel like shoes. My feet actually hurt after walking too much in them because they are soo hard. There is no give to them.

I LOVE my croc flip flops!!

 

[mamacatnv]

I used to live in Berks but at $80-100 I got tired of replacing them often. I like the fit between toe style. Problem was, pretty quickly mine would get stinky. They would absorb the moisture from my feet and would be soggy at the end of a day While I did love them I won't buy them anymore.

 

[KLAIT]

The closed foot width means that they are "narrow" or in US terms regular width. The open foot means wide. On the inside sole of the show there is a little picture of a foot...either filled in black or outlined...

I do have to say that I have a high arch and my foot aches if I wear a shoe without much support...these are great for that!

I also usually buy a wide width shoe in a US shoe, but a narrow in the Birkis.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I have 50 plus trips to Disney in the last 12 years and my feet used to literally BLEED from all the walking. You would have recognized me by my limping around refusing to get a scooter.

I tried gym shoes, tevas, keens, everything. Tried spraying my feet with antiperspirant, tried some sort of foot glide, tried special socks. Nothing worked.

Until Birkenstocks - I was amazed. I can walk all day - no blisters, no bloody stumps.... just happy feet.

I now buy about 2 pair of Birks a year and love them. No matter the cost, I will be a Birk girl.

 

[JessicaR]

I have special needs feet! Wide width and a creature of extreme comfort. Birkenstocks are NOT for me. I can honestly say I gave it a fair try and I have two nearly new pairs that I would just give away.

I found Ecco and Merrells and can live happily ever after forever in them. Spending an entire day walking around and not a single issue.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I loved my Birkenstocks, may they rest in peace! But they do have a fairly long break in period. Currently I'm wearing Naot sandals instead of Birks, they have a similar look but aren't quite as clunky and are quicker to break in.

I was in Las Vegas a few years ago, wearing my favorite Dansko sandals that had a strap across the ball of my feet - they caused huge blisters between my 4th/5th toes. I went to a shoe store the next day and the clerk talked me into Naots (Tahoe style) instead of the Birkenstocks I was considering. Love them! I don't mind the between the toes style, which I've never been able to wear before. The leather is a single layer, not a multi-layer post, and very flexible and comfy.

http://www.leathersandals.com/naot_shoes/7700.html