Since we’re besties here (or if you’re new here, I hope we will be besties soon), I feel obligated to give you the full rundown of my love-hate relationship with Birkenstocks. Check out this totally honest Birkenstock sandals review to get all the details.
This post is all about my Birkenstock Sandals Review including the traditional Arizona sandals and the Arizona Waterproof Slide Sandals. I’m currently obsessed with one style and am still trying to learn to love the other!
Disclaimer: Please note that some links in this blog are affiliate links. The Plus Life will earn a small commission at no cost to you if you make a purchase. Read our policy here.
Arizona Birkenstock Sandals Review
As an elder Millennial who graduated high school in the early 2000’s, I remember Birkenstock clogs being ALL the rage during high school. I was never super into them at that time so I didn’t personally wear them.
Now, as a 30-something year old mom, I keep seeing EVERYONE around me wear and rave about their Birkenstock sandals. Honestly, I was getting a major case of FOMO and decided to try them for myself.
I’ve always heard that they require a break-in period but that they offer great support in the long run. I have wide, flat feet so the higher arches were a bit concerning to me and I also don’t love “breaking in” shoes. I’m a comfort girlie and want it immediately – haha. I had heard the comfort is worth the wait, so I placed my order. Here’s my full review!
Arizona Essentials EVA Waterproof Birkenstock Sandals Review
I had been contemplating the traditional leather Arizona Birkenstocks for quite some time, but as fate would have it… one day I was browsing a Clothes Mentor store that had recently opened in my area and came across a brand new pair of the Arizona Essentials EVA Waterproof Birkenstocks in my size.
They were only $15, so I decided to snag them and give them a try.
It was absolutely love at first wear.
Unlike their leather counterparts, these were immediately comfortable and required no breaking in period. The adjustable straps allowed for a comfortable fit for my wide feet and the arch support felt, well, supportive and not at all uncomfortable on my flat feet.
I am our family’s (unpaid) gardener/landscaper, and I wear these shoes EVERY SINGLE TIME I work in my yard. I love that they can just be sprayed off with the hose or tossed in the washing machine to get back to new! The only sign of wear on them after MANY washes is that the size printed on the sole is wearing off. I don’t care about that at all.
What I love about the Arizona Essentials EVA Waterproof Birkenstock Sandals
There’s a lot to love about these sandals, so here’s the rundown!
Price:
At only $49.95 these sandals are only a fraction of the price of the leather Arizonas. While I only paid $15 for mine at the resale shop, I would gladly pay the $49.95 to replace them!
Color Variety:
The ones I bought were black which is perfect for my gardening and general rough-housing, but I love that they come in a variety of neutrals and colorful options.
Durability:
I have worn these shoes through many terrains… stepping on mulch and weeds, in mud, on pavement, and anywhere else my day takes me and they look like the day I got them! I am truly impressed by how well they have held up to my frequent washing and hosing.
Comfort:
Comfort means EVERYTHING to me and if a shoe isn’t comfortable, I don’t care how cute or trendy it is… I’m not wearing it. These are truly the epitome of comfort. I could walk in them all day long and be as happy as can be.
Adjustable Straps/ Wide Foot Friendly:
These sandals do come in both narrow and wide widths and the adjustable straps make them even more flexible for a variety of fit needs.
Supportive Foot Beds:
Birkenstock is known for their supportive soles and while these are a “flimsier” version of their cork soles, they still feel very supportive. They are modeled from the original cork version but are anatomically shaped for the ultimate support.
Immediate Comfort:
Unlike the cork soles, these EVA sandals provide immediate comfort with no breaking in period.
Lightweight:
Birkenstock’s EVA stands for ethylene vinyl acetate which is a high quality elastic material that is very lightweight and very cushioned.
Matching Styles for the Family:
My now four year old got her first pair of these sandals in the kids version last year at three and they were by far her most worn shoes of the summer. For all the same reasons I love them for me (durability, fit, washable, etc.), they’re also pretty perfect for a kid.
She outgrew her pair from last summer, and we already replaced them this year. My two year old will be joining the Birkenstock crew this summer too with this style that has the back strap.
Shop Arizona EVA Waterproof Sandals for women HERE.
What I Don’t Love About the Arizona Essentials EVA Waterproof Birkenstock Sandals
Not to sound dramatic, but I genuinely can’t think of anything I don’t like about these sandals. But trust me, this love fest will have a LITTLE bit more negativity as we move on to the next style in the review, the traditional cork footbed version of the Arizona Birkenstock sandals.
Arizona Birko-Flor Birkenstock Sandals Review
It’s safe to say that the Arizona EVA waterproof sandals have quite the hold on me, so I was excited to finally invest in a pair of the standard cork footbed version this Spring.
I *love* a gold shoe for spring and summer so the Arizona Birko-Flor Birkenstock Sandals in gold were my top pick.
I was so excited for them to arrive and when I first put them on my feet, my immediate thought was, “ABSOLUTELY NOT!”
Honestly, they felt pretty miserable. My flat wide feet felt restricted and it felt like I was walking on a lumpy brick. They felt hard and stiff and I genuinely couldn’t believe anyone would actually keep and wear these shoes.
I vented in my private Facebook group, The Plus Life Community, and was assured that I just needed to wear them around the house and break them in. That’s where I am now… I’ve been wearing them and DO think they’re starting to get more comfortable but I’m still not ready to wear them out and about all day.
On the other hand, I was also told about the soft footbed version of the sandals that offer an added layer of cushioning and less “break in” time.
Because I was stuck on gold sandals, I decided to keep my original purchase. I still haven’t tried the soft footbed version but am convinced those are better suited to my personal preferences.
What I love About the Original Cork Footbed Arizona Birkenstock Sandals
Multiple Widths:
As a wide foot girlie, I very much appreciate having a narrow and wide option available!
Adjustable Strap:
The adjustable straps allow my feet to not feel overly restricted on top. I imagine these are great for folks who deal with swelling too!
Color and Style Options:
There are TONS of options available in oil rubbed leather, shiny leather, metallics and more.
Custom Support Over Time:
Everything I hear about long-time Birkenstock lovers leads me to believe that in time these will become perfectly conformed to an individual’s foot allowing them to have custom support. Frankly, the break in period has been a bit of a challenge for me so far so I haven’t gotten to experience this benefit. I’m hopeful I’ll get there! More to come on this.
Comfort Sole Option:
I haven’t tried the comfort sole option, but now that I’m aware the soft footbed version exists… I’m HAPPY to hear it does! For folks with sensitive feet or flat feet like me, it’s nice to hear that we have an option with extra cushion.
What I Don’t Love About the Original Cork Footbed Arizona Birkenstock Sandals
Price:
I don’t love spending $100+ on a pair of sandals, especially given that the style I went with (in gold) isn’t even real leather. To be honest, I didn’t even realize they weren’t leather until I was writing this review but I still feel like the $100+ price tag is more justified for the true leather styles.
I DO love paying for quality and from what I hear these sandals last FOREVER and you can even have them resoled. For that reason, although I’d prefer them to be cheaper… I’m OK with the price.
Break in Period:
Maybe I’m impatient but I just don’t like having an extended period of time that I need to wear shoes before they feel good. Now, it’s definitely on me that I didn’t know about the comfort version but at least now YOU know about them before deciding which style to try.
Discomfort:
I think my flat feet make these feel much more uncomfortable for me than they do for many people during the break-in period. I am convinced my stubbornness is the only reason I kept these but I am determined to break them in to the point that they are actually comfortable to wear.
Final Thoughts On Birkenstock Arizona Sandals
I am a HUGE fan of the waterproof version of these sandals and recommend them to anyone! With the standard cork footbed version, I definitely recommend trying the comfort/ soft footbed styles first if you have sensitive or flat feet like me.
I know there are thousands of super fans of these sandals so I could be the minority but they truly are SO uncomfortable at first. With a couple hours of house wear so far, they ARE getting better but like I said above… they still haven’t made it into my “outside the house” shoe rotation. Fingers crossed they get there soon! I’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, I’d love to know any sandals YOU love and your thoughts on Birkenstock styles if you’ve tried them!
