Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
My first Birkenstocks, August 19, 2010
Several friends have been wearing their Birkenstocks for years and always recommended them. I never wore sandals, prefering my shoes to fit snugly and not expose my toes. When I finally decided to get a pair, I went directly to Amazon and was bewildered by all the models and sources there. My wife had a pair of "Arizona" sandals, so I looked at the size charts and based on my other shoes ordered a pair of size 43s from one of Amazon's partners -Heart & Sole. The shoes arrived and were too large, sliding off easily and placing the arch support, uncomfortably, too far forward. I checked with the local shoe store where my wife had earlier found hers on sale. I was told that Birkenstocks run large (towards the largest U.S. size in the charted range). I got a reply to my late-night email to Heart & Sole, the very next day, offering to replace the shoes, with the next smaller size 42, by return post if I enclosed just $8.00 for shipping (only 10 cents more than it cost me to ship the originals back to them). The new shoes arrived faster than expected and fit very well. It takes a few days to get used to these shoes, if you have never worn sandals before, but the kind of full foot support they provide is wonderful and habit forming. They are shaped to fit the whole bottom of your foot, even including a small, shaped ridge under the first joint of your toes. Once you get used to the fact that your heal will rise slightly out of the shoe as, when walking, you roll onto your toes, you will feel free of the slight strain needed to bend the bottoms of standard shoes as you walk. Shortly, you stop worrying about that, since the back of the heal of the Birkenstock is ridged to pocket the heal of your foot when it comes back down and the shoes will stay in place. I am very happy, as are my feet, which can breathe freely, even though I wear socks with my Birkenstocks. I also recommend Heart & Sole as a place to buy yours.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Birkenstock Convert, June 30, 2010
For years I considered Birkenstocks to be the shoe for nerds, and wouldn't even think of wearing them. Then one summer I was on my feet all day at the Minnesota State Fair, walking 12+ hours on concrete without a break, when I happened across a booth selling Birkenstocks. My feet were throbbing, so just for the heck of it I tried on a pair. They felt wonderful! I was an instant convert, and bought them on the spot. As I continued walking around the fair, it felt like I was getting a foot massage with every step, and my feet were renewed for more miles of walking.
Now I wear my Birkenstocks all the time, except when I HAVE to wear dress shoes for work.
Give them a try - I think you will be pleasantly surprised, as I was.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Birkenstock sandals, July 20, 2009
The Amazon.com sizing chart was inaccurate and caused me to return 1st pair for a smaller size which cost me an extra $9 plus. Otherwise, I'm satisfied with this purchase.
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