Birkenstocks - For happy feet! (Birkenstock Shoes)

Member Name: lindseyphilpot

Product:	Birkenstock Shoes
Date:	05/05/09 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Support the foot, comfortable, reasonably priced

Disadvantages: none

I cannot rave to you enough about these shoes, so if you are not a fan I would suggest not reading this for fear of annoying you further...because I love them.

I brought my first pair about 3 years ago now, I went for bronze/gold in a size 7, Madrid style...perfect. To start with I wasn't convinced though. It claims that "Each contour in a Birkenstock footbed is precisely placed to stretch, flex and move naturally. Your feet benefit from free movement, constant exercise and improved circulation, resulting in long lasting comfort and better health." (Taken from Birkenstock website) but so far all I could feel was a severe case of shin splint in both legs.

I took 'time out' from the Birkenstocks and went back to my boring havaianas but a few weeks later decided to give them another try. Everyone was wearing them and the new colours and styles that were now avaliable were just so cool that I thought that even if they did hurt it would be worth the pain. In fact though something had changed in these shoes and as I slipped them on my feet I felt asthough I was changing into a pair of slippers. The lumps and bumps on the foot bed are so strategically placed that you simply cannot find them uncomfortable. In fact as I walked I felt asthough I was having a foot massge. So what had changed?....Quite simply I had tightened the strap.

Birkenstocks come with an adjustable front to suit the size and shape of your foot, it seems some people have wider feet than others. Because of the tightening process I was no longer struggling to keep the sandals on as I walked and although I hadn't noticed it before when I released the straps again to my horror the same thing happened and I noticed myself squeezing my toes up as I walked to stop the shoe from slipping off.

The answer was to keep the straps tighter at all times which is exactly what I did. No problem at all!

From this day forward I did not take the shoes off. Anything else didn't compare. Come rain or shine you would see me in my Birkenstocks and I have since brought 3 more pairs, in white, pink and black and there are so many more I want to add to my collection as they now come with patterns and coloured inners.

You can expect to pay around £24.99 for these shoes but prices do vary depending on the shop and also te colour and style you are after. They do come in other styles, two and three straps and toe posts and these are all around the same price. I have never tried anything but the basic design though and I don't intend to in case I am disppointed.

I must add that Birkenstock have a really impressive customer service and offer a full repair service for your Birkenstocks, they are supposed to last a life time and with this avaliable there is no reason why they shouldn't. For £25 that is a bargain.

They are widely avaliable and seem to be cropping up in more and more stores as they become increasingly popular. Certain colours and styles are hard to come by though and may have to be ordered on the internet.

The conclusion:

Birkenstocks are a must have for any male female and child as they support the foot whilst staying trendy.

Summary: They look after your feet so you don't have to!