Birkenstock footwear for free! (Birkenstock Shoes)

Member Name: anwar7

Product:	Birkenstock Shoes
Date:	29/01/08 (932 review reads)
Rating:

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I can't wait until the summer arrives! Apart from those long sunny days and light evenings I love wearing sandals. However I am not talking about any old sandals, for me sandals equal Birkenstock. Every year I treat myself to a new pair from the ever-growing range offered by the Birkenstock Company. Its not that last years have worn out you understand, just that buying the latest, gorgeous addition is one of my summer vices! Before I tell you why I am hooked on these sandals let me tell you a bit about the company.

A potted history.
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The Birkenstock name has been associated with footwear for over 200 years when Johann Birkenstock worked as a shoemaker in Germany. In 1896 Joann's grandson Konrad started to produce contoured insoles and by 1902 had developed arch supports.

In 1932 many medical specialists were supporting the Birkenstock design. Fast forward to 1964 and Carl Birkenstock was now heading the business and the first sandal was developed. Thong sandals were developed in 1982,a very good year as far as I'm concerned!

In 2004 Birkenstock received the prestigious Drapers award for footwear brand of the year.

What's so special about this brand?
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Birkenstock make a large range of sandals and clogs. I am a fan of thong sandals; you know the ones with a toe post. This type of sandal can be very uncomfortable to wear with the toe post rubbing your toe. Birkenstocks thong sandals are different, put simply they are heaven to wear. Birkenstock call their thong range of sandals Gizeh and it is this range I am going to review.

The Birkenstock Gizeh comes in all 2 widths. I would say that the narrow width is very narrow indeed. I have average width feet and find the regular width perfect. There are no half sizes, which is a shame. There are numerous colours to choose from .If you fancy something a bit different then have a look at the papillio range. These are still part of the Gizeh range but come in lots of original patterns.

Birkenstock are different from many other sandals because they are ergonomically formed. The footbed of a Birkenstock sandal is made of cork and latex. This allows flexibility as the footbed can move as you walk. I love the deep heel cup that prevents which helps to cushion my heels on long walks. Arch supports help to equalise the pressure as you walk .To the front of the sandal is a ridge that looks to me like it would cause discomfort. The opposite is true. The ridge ensures your toes are gripped as you walk allowing your foot to roll correctly. The front of the sandal is edged to help protect your toes. With other sandals I am always managing to stub my toes so this design is a winner as far as I am concerned!

When you first try on a pair of Birkenstock sandals you will notice how soft and well padded the inside of the strap is, another reason why I love this brand!

Birkenstock not only make their sandals using traditional leather but also have developed an alternative material known as Birko-flor. This is a soft acrylic with polyamide fibres. As a vegetarian I do try to avoid leather. This material is really comfortable to wear, looks great and is easy to keep clean.

I do a lot of walking and have always found Gizeh sandals very comfortable. They look great for any occasion. I have several pairs now (still adding to them)! I love the variety of colours on offer. This year a gorgeous red heart design pair is available.

I visited Tucson in Arizona a few years ago and as you would expect the temperature was in the nineties! I wore a pair of Birkenstock sandals on most days and found my feet stayed cool and comfortable. They did get dusty with all the sand around but were easy to wipe clean.

I have a friend who has a pair of double strap Birkenstock sandals and she loves them as much as I love mine. Birkenstock shoes and sandals are not cheap and prices start from about £30. They are available from many outlets including John Lewis. They are often a bit cheaper on the Internet but I recommend you try a pair on first on the high street! I have just discovered that Amazon is selling Birkenstock although the range is very limited. You could always cash in your Dooyoo reward for an Amazon voucher!

Overall I love My Birkenstock sandals and look forward to adding to my collection! They really are like walking on air. I really can't think of any negatives except that I wish they would make ½ sizes.

Summary: Anatomically moulded footwear