The Bottom Line
Pros
- Last for years of heavy wear - essentially rebuildable
- Narrow widths available
- Incredibly comfortable
Cons
- Not always incredibly attractive
Description
- Anatomical footbed with arch support.
- A toe bar tucks tootsies neatly into place.
- Comfy cups keep shooting heel pains at bay.
- Flexible and shock resistant sole is replaceable (banish the slime).
- Supportive cork footbed puts bounce in your stride.
- Jute footbed layers beef up soles.
- Rubber outer sole is replaceable.
Guide Review - Birkenstock Walking Shoes and Sandals
"(Birkenstocks) are highly favored by their many converts for city walking. Many Birkenstock-lovers wear no other shoes... once converted, few look back," says Wendy Bumgardner, About's Guide to Walking.How true, and how apt that Wendy mentiones "converts": Birkenstock shoes and sandals do create true believers. I'm a worshiper at the happy feet altar, myself, and Birkenstock makes some worthy idols.
Anatomical footbeds are the key to Birkenstock shoes and sandals' comfort-plus design: sliding sore feet into a pair of Birkenstocks is a big "ahh" to aching arches. Tons of tourists endorse Birkenstocks as *the* walking shoe of choice for continent hopping.
One downer: the suede footbed gets a little slick with steady barefoot wear. A pair of socks stops the slime, though sandal wearers may balk at the Birkenstock-wool sock-old hippie connotation.
Birkenstock has long since left the hipster-only realm; About Guide to Shoes Desiree Stimpert says, "Though you may think only of brown two-strap sandals when you think of Birkenstocks, their lines now include contemporary colors and styles." Over four hundred Birkenstock styles, in fact. My favorite women's Birkenstock sandals are the three-strap Florida; men often favor Birkenstock's classic Arizona. You can also choose from clogs and closed-toe Birkenstock shoes (dress shoes, too).
Birkenstocks are tops for tour tired feet. Don't focus on sore dogs next trip - free your feet and your mind will follow.
