Birkenstocks

[Ted Durant]

Hi all -

Patrick's thread on Metatarsalgia prompted a few people to recommend Birkenstocks, and I'm Birkenstock curious, so thought it might be worth its own thread.

What are your feet like? (length, width, volume, arch height, any specific. issues)

What Birkenstock model(s) have you tried and how have you liked them?

What models have you biked in, how has that been, and on what pedals?

Thanks!

Ted Durant

Milwaukee WI USA

[Coal Bee Rye Anne]

I still need to catch up on some threads including Patrick’s Metatarsalgia discussion but as a longtime Birkenstock wearer I can offer the following:

I have long and narrow feet.  Wear size 16 in most sneakers but 15 in other brands (such as Timberland) if they run large or as is often the case 15 may just be largest available size.  I ‘think’ my arch is average but honestly not sure.

Unfortunately, my size requirements limit Birkenstock availability as well but I usually have a pair of Arizona sandals and/or Boston clogs.  I’ve worn both 15 and 16 US sizes in both models but preferred 15Narrow.  I hadn’t been able to get 15Narrow replacements after wearing out my last so now have 15 regular.  

I’ve biked in both but prefer the closed toe of the Boston.  The soft outsole grips my flat pedals well but shreds up quite easily if using spiked pedals.  I have grip kings, VP-001, and some older cage pedals.  Grip Kings grip my Birks the least of all my pedals and I may drill/tap them for set screw spikes someday but haven’t bothered yet.

I think the biggest downside is just getting dirt/gravel/debris in the sandals during rides.  I may get less in the Boston clogs but then it can’t work itself out as well as with the open sandals. With the Arizona I felt my foot move around more in a less desirable way, especially once sweat soaked, so prefer the Boston which just felt a bit more secure with foot placement.  I have not tried any Birks with heel strap, though I’ve wanted to try some London clog/shoe.  Budgeting and a minimalist desire has prevented purchasing any more until I wear existing shoes out.  Now they have a much greater variety of footbeds and soles but at my size I’m still limited in selection so never veered from the standard Arizona and Boston styles.  I’ve never actually had a pair or Birkenstocks serviced or re-soled, despite best intentions, as there seemed to always be a lack of ‘official’ or ‘authorized’ local service centers whenever I looked and I’ve instead usually upcycled many of my old leather straps vs finding a local cobbler to do a re-sole.

I’ll also ride in sneakers or my vans, both laced and slip on, but trashed my slip ons last year after they finally fell apart and have not yet replaced.  I must say my personal preferred riding shoe at the moment is an old pair of Timberland earthkeepers side zipper black boots (old discontinued city type boot) I’d replaced the laces with thick leather lace with a permanent knot with short tag ends so leave them tied and specifically use the side zippers.  They just fit great with a thin pair of wool hiking socks and grip the pedals almost similar to the Birkenstocks but they are wearing thin and double as my ‘nice’ black shoes so I’ve limited riding in them lately to extend their longevity as much as possible and expect this summer will see more vans and Birkenstocks in my rides.

In short, I do really like riding in Birkenstocks for short casual rides with most flat pedals with a preference for clog over open sandals but as someone who sweats heavily once they get saturated my foot begins to slip around a bit more than I’d like so for longer and more aggressive rides I still prefer socks and a full shoe/sneaker.

One last note, with one single speed bike equipped with holdfast foot straps and VP-001 pedals I’ve also successfully used my Boston clogs on these but have gotten them stuck before when I lazily chose not to re-adjust the straps from prior rides with my narrower toed Timberland boots so had a barefoot stop on a few occasions with clog still attached to the pedal.  Usually with a standard flat pedal this has not been an issue for me with open back sandals or clog falling off but it does occur to me why a heel strap may certainly be beneficial either way!

Brian Cole

Lawrence NJ

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[Brian Turner]

Following this discussion because like Ted, I too am Birkenstock curious. Specifically the closed-toe variety like the Boston.

I think shoes like the Bedrock Mountain Clog look really cool and seem like they’d be great for cycling, but they seem to have little to no arch support for those of us who aren’t blessed with normal or perfectly-formed arches.

In 2020, I was diagnosed with PTTD (posterior tibial tendon dysfunction) and since then, I have to wear custom, deep heel cup orthotics with pretty aggressive arch support. I can also get by with shoes such as Chacos that have decent arch support built in - as long as I’m not doing a ton of walking around in them. So, something that I would mostly be wearing while cycling with adequate arch support wouldn’t be a deal breaker. Something easy to slip on like a Birkenstock sounds really appealing.

Brian

Lexington KY

On Jun 10, 2026, at 4:34 PM, Coal Bee Rye Anne <lionsrug...@gmail.com> wrote:

I still need to catch up on some threads including Patrick’s Metatarsalgia discussion but as a longtime Birkenstock wearer I can offer the following:

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[Dave White]

One thing that might matter to you, or not, is that they don't do half-sizes. I ended up buying the Mephisto impression of an open toed Birkenstock.

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[Garth]

Birkenstocks are European sizes. The Zappos chart below does a good job or showing it, with actual foot measurements in cm's, which is the most relatable way to size a foot for a shoe, rather than all these conversion numbers that nobody knows what they mean. I wore a 47/30.2cm in Arizona/Boston, the classics, which all use the same footbed. The uppers are glued on to the footbed, as well as the sole. The classics are modular, if you will. Everything is replaceable, not that it's inexpensive to do so, and you need a Birk specialist to do so. 

For riding they are as good as your ability to pedal in such sandals. I wore Boston and Arizona. They do make one classic with an adjustable rear strap, the Milano. They are quite stiff, stiffer than any flat mtb shoe I've touched. The sole will get some holes from spikes on some pedals, but it won't disintegrate, it's a hard wearing rubber. Not that stiffness is all that important though, as I no longer wear them and prefer Altra trail running shoes(currently Superior) as they are roomier in the toes than Birks are, but they're full sneakers you can lace up snug. If you're craving toe splay room in a sneaker, Altra is where it's at. Beats even Lems wides. Only Sofstar Primal shoes are wider, thee widest ever you'll see in a retail shoe. Those have no padding though(leather upper stitched/glues to a 5mm sole) and are very flexible, so one must have very strong feet to ride with them. I don't even have a wide forefoot and I love me some Altra roominess. The term "wide" foot without knowing where and how it's wide, and the foot shape and toe lengths and patterns, is meaningless. 

I had no idea how scrunched, warped and under utilized my toes and feet in general were until I started wearing what's referred to as "barefoot/zero drop" shoes, and walked barefoot as much as possible. The term can be confusing though as not all such shoes are truly zero drop and have a barefoot feel to them. Altra don't have the feel, but for riding they're good because the ones I wear have a stack height of 21-25mm, so my feet aren't sore from the pedals. Birks allow your toes to move around some, but don't have any ground feel when off the bike.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/G/01/zappos/sizing/conversion/Mens-Shoe-Size-Conversion.png

https://www.wikihow.com/images/a/a7/Types-of-Feet-Summary-Version-3.jpg

[Chris Halasz]

I wear Birkenstocks most of the time. I have a couple pairs for inside and around the house, they are both Arizona - open toe, double strap, no heel strap. 

Around and about, it's Milano (Arizona with a heel strap), or Tokio (Boston closed-toe with a heel strap, and yes, that's how it's spelled), which is what I wear on the bike. A strange thing I avoid - footwear you can't run in when you're out and about - emergencies happen, and the Arizona sandals fly off my feet pretty easily. Great for slipping into around the house, though. As for the clunkiest ones - the Tokio - walked many, many miles per day in those, all day, for weeks, and never experienced any foot fatigue, discomfort, anything like other shoes or sandals I've tried, and they barely show any wear. 

I'm typically a size 12 in Adidas, and 11.5 in dress shoes, and a size EU44/US11 in Birkenstock. My feet are just in-between, not wide, not high arch, etc., so I typically wear the 'regular/wide', but have one Milano set in the 'narrow/medium' exclusively for cycling, presumably to avoid chain grease. 

The synthetic ones I've owned have been surprisingly nice, as of course are the leather ones. 

I just don't like to wear socks, and as far as the feel of slipping a Birkenstock on my foot, even to this day after first purchasing them forty years ago, well, it might be inappropriate for me to say how it good they feel on my feet in a post on this community. Wearing socks and shoes, to me, is like having a three piece suit and tie on my feet.  

I've tried Keens, Bedrocks, Chacos, Tevas - all fine, just like the Birkenstocks a whole lot more. Plenty of good deals for basically brand new ones on eBay, and often some pretty darn good sales on the Birkenstock US website. 

As always, they work for me, YMMV. 

[Tony Lockhart]

Ted, these are the best shoes in the world. I remember seeing a photo of Mark from Riv wearing Super Birkis....probably 2010ish....and I decided to look into them. I figured if I guy like him pedals around in them, and my wife wears them all day in the classroom, why not? I also have memories of Chuck from Velo Retro at Busters (2008ish) in ripped jean shorts and Birkenstocks, no socks. So, as you can imagine, I've had good role models. 

When throwing clay in the pottery, I wear Super Birkis....warm or cold months. I also bike around in them when the LA weather is cold, or if this is a light rain on the ground. When at home, or puttering around town on/off the bike, I wear regular Birkenstocks. I also bike around in Birkenstock (no socks during warm months, socks during cool) and they feel great. I've got MKS RMX both on Leo and Sam.

Stats:

• Size 12 shoe, wide and flat like a tamale, very low arch
• Super Birkis and Birkenstocks, size 46
• Foot shape has a wide toe box, skinny cycling shoes don't fit me. Converse are great, Sambas and Vans don't fit comfortably

Seems like these have blown up in popularity during the past few years. I've even seen my high school students wearing them. You should give them a try....I'll buy you a coffee if you hate them.

[Ted Durant]

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at 8:48:17 PM UTC-5 Tony Lockhart wrote:

Ted, these are the best shoes in the world. I remember seeing a photo of Mark from Riv wearing Super Birkis....probably 2010ish....and I decided to look into them.

If I wear Super Birkis on my bikes I'd have to change my saddle height. That's a lot of stack!

Ted Durant

Milwaukee, WI USA

[Sally Bidleman]

I agree. Best shoes in the world, at least for me! 

I have narrow foot, high-ish arch and wear either 37N, 37wide, or 38N depending on the style. Usually wear Arizona suede (37N) and Boston shearling clog (38N) at home. Also have Florida leather (37wide) and Buckley shearling (38N) that I wear on errands. Milano for occasional biking but I usually wear Hokas for this. I used to wear the closed toe clog/backstrap when I worked in the O.R. and would think they would be best for biking. (You can probably tell that I have lots of Birkenstocks! They really last and you can replace the sole.) Would definitely recommend getting someone knowledgeable to fit them for you if you get a pair. (Long-time eccentric store owner Luke in Laguna Beach was always my gold standard.)

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[Andrew Scherer]

Another long-term Birk wearer, 45+ years back when they were seen at Grateful Dead concerts more than anywhere else. I have long, narrow, low-volume feet with little padding and a tendency for plantar fascitis. I wear size 46 narrow Arizonas and Bostons at home and around town, and I've been hoarding a few pairs of a discontinued model, Gary, for office wear. I've also got a few par of Arizonas in whatever the synthetic rubbery material is for home and beach. Very comfy. I've never tried them riding, I grew up with cleats and 95% of the time I ride with clip-ins. FWIW they also sell insoles, my wife uses them successfully in place of her orthotics. 

[Andrew Scherer]

Forgot - I also have a pair of their Bend style, which look like classic suede sneakers. 

[S. Greco]

I highly recommend Montanas or Alabamas for riding. They are like a Boston, but with a back and laces. Unlike a London, the back edge is rolled over, and unlike a Maine the sides don't overlap so there are fewer areas that can cause blisters. They come in crazy two tone color options if you look hard enough or are readily available in black or brown.

[Damien]

I love my Birkenstocks. I joke with my wife that they are a lifestyle upgrade if you've never had them before. I have both Arizona sandals and the Bostons, but much prefer the Arizona. I'm a size 9-9.5 US usually, and have the Arizona in both 42 regular width and 43 Narrow (both work fine, but fit in different ways). I'd say my foot is kinda average, except for the fact that I have a torn ankle ACL (or something) from a skateboarding injury over 20 years ago (just diagnosed last year - and it's degenerative!). This has resulted in my toe area (don't ask me how that works) getting inflamed/swollen from time to time. When this happens, the Birkenstocks are a godsend.

I use them for cycling all the time, and find that the Arizona stays on quite well. I do worry about exposed toes when cycling, but I've not really ever felt that unsafe in these. I've used them with SimWorks Bubbly pedals, which work very well for me. They're not as grippy as MTB pedals, but offer enough grip. I will note, as someone above has already, that you may get some little holes in the outsole from MTB pedals, but it doesn't actually affect the shoe or the grip at all, in my experience.

On another note - there is nothing better than sliding into worn-in Birks after a long hike or a round of golf. Needs to be experienced.

[Rob McEntarffer]

Love this conversation! And I agree, Damien: there's nothing like the feeling of a pair of well worn Birkenstocks :) 

I worked at a Birkenstock store for 10 years (late high school/college) so I'll add this to the ongoing conversation: like a good, traditional steel frame bike, Birkenstocks are pretty repairable. At the shop I worked at, we 

- replaced soles (easy!)

- resealed the cork footbeds and punched new holes in the straps (also easy!)

- did cork repair and replaced the footbed liner (tougher but possible!). 

Our local birk store doesn't offer these repairs any more (and local shoe repair places charge a lot for them, I think) but it's very possible to repair your own beloved, rugged looking, old birks. Happy riding! 

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[Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!]

I do NOT need a new pair of sandals but you all may have convinced me. I am a die-hard, dedicated Keen wear-er for…everything, but especially for biking. They make sense with their closed toe and the fact that you can toss them in the washer on the delicate cycle. But for other things, I might try your Birks!

[Coal Bee Rye Anne]

I also do NOT need a new pair of sandals but this thread had me curious what Birkenstock is even currently stocking in my size so popped over to check after not checking for awhile.  Of course, they had a greater selection than I expected (insert happy and sad face simultaneously, lol.)  I was tempted by a black pair of Maines that were on a deep discount with only few remaining, having never tried their lace-ups.  Someone beat me to 'em as they vanished from the cart while still browsing (hope you enjoy them if anyone here happened to grab them!)  I've definitely wondered about blisters with more material vs. the minimal styles I'm used to and appreciate the additional comparison on their lace-ups.  I usually can't find Montanas or similar styles in my size anyway but usually keep an eye out.  Hadn't seen Alabamas before, nor the Maine until today, but will await another opportunity to try them.  I resisted the temptation to stock up on known styles or try the London yet, despite several colors available, but did eventually end up ordering a Lutry Suede clog with flippable back strap that will likely serve as my new indoor clog/slipper and replace some cheapo slippers that have seen better days.   This will let me test a back strap optional style while I keep wearing my current Arizona and Bostons.

I should also amend my comment on 'easily shredded' soles with spiked pedals.  Others are correct that it is a hard wearing rubber outsole and will not disintegrate.  As already clarified, spikes will puncture the sole but this just adds to the grip and does not really present any issue unless your sole is already worn thin.  I guess that is what I recall with my last pair where they were already thin and frequent riding and multiple punctures eventually combined to wear some chunks away but not until they were already nearing the end.

[Chris Halasz]

Why there's even a Birkenstock page dedicated to Lael Wilcox

https://www.birkenstock.com/us/journal/people/lael-wilcox/

[Ted Durant]

On Jun 12, 2026, at 3:30 PM, Chris Halasz <cha...@gmail.com> wrote:

Why there's even a Birkenstock page dedicated to Lael Wilcox

That’s interesting. She’s having a lot of foot trouble in her first week. I should have suggested to her to throw some Clem Smith pedals on her bike and just stick to Birkenstocks.  :-)

[Leah Peterson]

 This seals the deal. We have to get Birkenstocks, all of us. And then we’ll take cute pics and post them here. We’re doing this, right? 

On Jun 12, 2026, at 4:31 PM, Chris Halasz <cha...@gmail.com> wrote:

Why there's even a Birkenstock page dedicated to Lael Wilcox

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[Addison Wilhite]

I've enjoyed this thread. I wear my birks regularly, most particularly
I have a pair that I wear around the house as slippers which are
especially good for feet/legs/back health. Also, a shout out to Rob
Mc who mentioned working at a Birkenstock store back in the day. He
got me a job at the same store during my college days (thanks, Rob!).

My contribution to the discussion as someone who has worn and sold
birks: There are "regular" width models and "narrow" models, and many
people when first trying them balk a bit at how wide Birkenstocks look
on their feet. My experience, and the original owner of the
Birkenstock store trained me, that something like 90% of people need
the regular because the human foot naturally spreads out and it is far
healthier to go with the regular width to get the full benefits of the
support. Don't be misled by aesthetics thinking that you can cram
your foot into the narrow width version to make your foot look
skinnier than it is. Very, very, few people need the narrow width in
my experience. My two cents....

I can't really speak to biking with them and I personally probably
wouldn't do it unless I had a model with some sort of back
strap/containment at the heel but that's just me. Unless maybe I was
just hopping on a bike to ride a couple blocks to the store to get
something on an errand.

Addison
Tirana, Albania

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[Ryan Fleming]

Not for cycling...but I've warn mostly Arizonas/ Milanos since my sister in Cape Breton introduced me to them in the late 1980s. They were a revelation, for sure.Great shoes for camp after all-day riding and fine walking shoes. Also, I believe the footbed as well as the sole is replaceable. Now....as Leah has no doubt discovered, they come in a rainbow of colors :)

[Ted Durant]

On Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 12:33:10 AM UTC-5 Addison wrote:

... My experience, and the original owner of the

Birkenstock store trained me, that something like 90% of people need
the regular because the human foot naturally spreads out and it is far
healthier to go with the regular width to get the full benefits of the
support.

+1 here. I always bought shoes in regular width, sometimes narrow, because I'm a skinny guy and my feet seem skinny, too. When I retired and stopped wearing dress shoes, my forefeet spread out like thin pancake batter. And, interestingly, I just ordered a replacement pair of Lems Primal Zen in 1/2 size bigger than what I have been wearing. Apparently my feet are lengthening, too. 

Free the feet!