Teach me how to wear Birkenstocks.
June 2, 2010 9:18 AM Subscribe
My new Birkenstocks feel weird. Basically, I feel pressure on my left heel at about the 10 o' clock position, and on the right heel I feel pressure at the 2 o' clock position, like my heels aren't fitting the cups properly.
Basically, I feel pressure on my left heel at about the 10 o' clock position, and on the right heel I feel pressure at the 2 o' clock position. The shoes are the right size. It sort of bugs me. Do I need to wear them for a few weeks? Adjust the straps so my heel sits differently? Sell them on Ebay? Buy some Chacos?
In another thread someone recommended soaking them and wearing them for ten minutes, but the cork on these is covered by leather.
They are Men's size 14 Milanos.
Basically, I feel pressure on my left heel at about the 10 o' clock position, and on the right heel I feel pressure at the 2 o' clock position. The shoes are the right size. It sort of bugs me. Do I need to wear them for a few weeks? Adjust the straps so my heel sits differently? Sell them on Ebay? Buy some Chacos?
In another thread someone recommended soaking them and wearing them for ten minutes, but the cork on these is covered by leather.
They are Men's size 14 Milanos.
Best answer: If you've never worn Birkenstocks before (you haven't specified) then you'll feel like you have tennis balls under weird places in your feet for a couple of weeks, then your feet will feel amazing.
It's worth breaking them in.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 9:26 AM on June 2, 2010 [3 favorites]
It's worth breaking them in.
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 9:26 AM on June 2, 2010 [3 favorites]
What kind of foot bed did you get?
If you're a Birkenstock noob, the squishy foot bed is easier to get used to. I'd also recommend the soft leather straps.
I have high arches, so the regular foot bed is great for me. They also make a slightly less high foot bed. The footprints on the box and shoe bed indicate which arch style you've got. Some people with truly flat feet will never be able to be comfortable in Birkenstocks, otherwise, yes expect a month of breaking them in. Then you'll never have a more comfortable pair of shoes.
If you've bought them from a good store, they should have told you all of this stuff. If you didn't buy them from a small shop that you have no idea how they stay in business, and the long grey-ponytailed owner personally helped you and nerded out about shoes the whole time, possibly while being sat on by the store cat, you did it wrong.
posted by fontophilic at 9:36 AM on June 2, 2010 [7 favorites]
If you're a Birkenstock noob, the squishy foot bed is easier to get used to. I'd also recommend the soft leather straps.
I have high arches, so the regular foot bed is great for me. They also make a slightly less high foot bed. The footprints on the box and shoe bed indicate which arch style you've got. Some people with truly flat feet will never be able to be comfortable in Birkenstocks, otherwise, yes expect a month of breaking them in. Then you'll never have a more comfortable pair of shoes.
If you've bought them from a good store, they should have told you all of this stuff. If you didn't buy them from a small shop that you have no idea how they stay in business, and the long grey-ponytailed owner personally helped you and nerded out about shoes the whole time, possibly while being sat on by the store cat, you did it wrong.
posted by fontophilic at 9:36 AM on June 2, 2010 [7 favorites]
I used to work at a store that sold Birks, and I agree with sbutler: the company actually says you have to get used to them, and they recommend wearing them for short lengths of time. It's not exactly breaking them in, but it's more like your feet getting used to them.
I definitely wouldn't go soaking them or messing with the shoes at all. Just wear them for no longer than an hour or two at a time (like, just around the house or something) for a week or so. Then they'll feel great forever after.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:37 AM on June 2, 2010
I definitely wouldn't go soaking them or messing with the shoes at all. Just wear them for no longer than an hour or two at a time (like, just around the house or something) for a week or so. Then they'll feel great forever after.
posted by bluedaisy at 9:37 AM on June 2, 2010
Basically Birks break your feet in, not the other way around. The intent of a pair of Birkenstocks is to adjust all the weirdnesses we accumulate in our feet from wearing bad shoes and walking funny (because we all walk a bit funny, more one one side than the other, yadda yadda).
I'd like to thank you for putting this question up - I've been having foot problems for a year or so now and completely forgot about Birkenstocks, which I wore a decade and a half ago with great pleasure. I'm off to find a pair asap!
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 9:56 AM on June 2, 2010
I'd like to thank you for putting this question up - I've been having foot problems for a year or so now and completely forgot about Birkenstocks, which I wore a decade and a half ago with great pleasure. I'm off to find a pair asap!
posted by L'Estrange Fruit at 9:56 AM on June 2, 2010
Response by poster: I bought these on Ebay, and I may have tossed the box. But hey, they were $40. Thanks for the advice thus far, I will tough it out.
posted by craniac at 10:09 AM on June 2, 2010
posted by craniac at 10:09 AM on June 2, 2010
Response by poster: Update: I've been wearing them for about an hour a day, with socks, and the heel issue seems to be resolving itself. I don't know if the sandals or the foot are adjusting, but they are more comfortable, and they seem to help with the tendonitis/pain in my heel.
posted by craniac at 10:28 PM on June 10, 2010
posted by craniac at 10:28 PM on June 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
* Sadly, tennis shoes have become more practical and I've stopped wearing my sandals.
posted by sbutler at 9:23 AM on June 2, 2010