Go to
www.teva.com to research the various styles available. I suggest one of the slightly more expensive styles that have padded straps. Tevas are available in leather and nylon. You will want to make your choice depending on whether or not you plan on getting them wet. Also look for a style with an adjustable backstrap. The "Pretty Rugged" would probably be a good choice. It retails for $65 on the Teva website. I think it was Tink2dw who posted a really great thread on how to fit Teva's. You may want to do a search on her screen name to find it. The Walking Co stores also carry some Teva's. Some athletic shoe stores do also. I would basically sit down with the yellow pages and let your fingers do the walking. Actually, I bought a pair on Teva Leather Circuits earlier this year, but they didn't agree with my very high arches. (I am supposed to wear custom fit orthotics in my shoes.) Our very own travel expert Beverly Lynn was nice enough to take them off my hands for me. (And thanks for the extra pair of Birks Beverly...they are on my feet as we speak.)
I recently bought a pair of Birkenstocks. They work very well with my high arches and are starting to help my heel spurs as well. However, they feel like walking on bricks for the first couple of weeks until the cork footbed starts to mold to your foot. It is not a good idea to get them wet though. They do make a couple of styles that you can get wet, but they don't have the cork footbed....which is what makes Birks comfortable to begin with. I would not order Birks off QVC unless you absolutely know what size you wear. They have a bad habit of not putting the width of the shoe on their website. Most people will wear a narrow in Birks, so you don't accidentally want to buy a regular width if you don't need it. Go to
www.birkenstock.com and look at the various styles available. The most popular styles are Milano (has a backstrap), Arizona, and Florida (no backstrap). They have a bunch of other styles though. Go to a local shoe store to try them on, since Birk sizes are VERY weird. Check on the Birk site to see if there is a specialized retailer in your area since they will have the best experience with fitting Birks. I actually tried mine on at a local store but ended up ordering them off the internet from
www.footprints.com They have a 6 month walk test...basically meaning that you can return them within a 6 month period for ANY reason (minus shipping costs) unless they are severly damaged (dog chewed, paint splattered, etc.) Their prices are the same as about every other Birk retailer and the shipping was reasonable. Birks are not cheap, the Milano style I bought retails for $95 normally. So, this way if you don't like them you're not stuck with them. As of a couple of weeks ago, Footprints had Milano's and Arizona's in discontinued colors on sale for $69. I got a pair of black ones for that....can you believe black was a discontinued color? So much for being a basic color. To check on closeouts, call the toll free number listed on their site. You can also request a catalog as well. (Birkenstock fitting tips: You will wear a MUCH smaller size than your normal shoe size. I wear a 8 1/2 or 9 in tennis shoes, but my optimal Birkenstock size is 38 Regular, which equivalates to a Ladies 7. They are European sizing, but also have the US size on them as well. Example Euro 38, Mens 5, Ladies 7. A solid footprint printed on the insoles equals narrow width...which in Birks fits most normal feet. A hollow, outlined footprint equals regular width...which usually fits people with wider feet, or most men. To fit a Birk, place your foot into the footbed of the sandals with all straps undone and stand up. Align your toes over the "toe bar." The toe bars should fit under the bony part of your toes, not the fatty pad. With your toes in this position, your heel should be cupped within the heel cup. You do not want extra room in the heel cup, but make sure your heel fits fully in the cup and is not riding up on the rim. At this point, decide if you need a smaller or larger size. Start with the narrow width if your feet are fairly normal. If your feet are riding up on the sides of the sandals, change to the regular width. Tighten the lowest toe strap snuggly while standing up. Proceed to buckle the other straps, progressively getting a little looser as you work up the foot. If you have a backstrap, leave it fairly loose so it does not push your foot forward in the shoe. Repeat these steps with your other foot. Walk around, and adjust the straps as necessary. If you go to a good Birkenstock store (probably most of the ones listed on the website, they will be very familiar with fitting Birkenstocks and will probably measure your feet rather than asking you what size you wear. This is really the ideal situation, since Birks are not comfortable until you break them in after a couple of weeks.
Teva's and Birkenstocks both come in womens, mens, and childrens sizes. Personally, I would not subject a child to the two week break in period that Birkenstocks require, not to mention spending that much money on kids shoes that are soon outgrown.
Hope this helps. Gosh, I didn't realize I had written a book!
I highly recommend them! If you do a search I'm sure you'll find the thread, but apparently it's important to fit your heel/ankle first, then adjust the instep and toe straps. It worked for me. 
