Birkenstocks as walking shoes?

kristysmith477
kristysmith477 Posts: 13 Member
edited November 26 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone,
I recently purchased Birkenstocks as an alternative to my Croc sandals (which I love for walking, don't love for the look of them). I've been wearing my birkenstocks for short periods of time which has been okay, but I wore them on an hour-long walk this afternoon and I now have 6 blisters on the bottom and sides of my feet...does anyone else have experience with this? I'm wondering how long it takes to truly break them in. I'm also wondering if my weight has something to do with it, as I'm currently at 217 pounds (down from 234). Any insight is appreciated!

Replies

  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    I did an hour long walk in flip flops once.

    Once.

    i just choked on my water LOL
  • beachbody4l
    beachbody4l Posts: 208 Member
    Not sure why you thought sandals would be appropriate shoe wear to do long distance anything in, and I'm from Florida where we wear them everywhere (even to weddings). Personally if I am working out, then I wear work out appropriate shoes.
  • k8eekins
    k8eekins Posts: 2,264 Member
    kristysmith477 wrote: »
    Hi everyone,
    I recently purchased Birkenstocks as an alternative to my Croc sandals (which I love for walking, don't love for the look of them). I've been wearing my birkenstocks for short periods of time which has been okay, but I wore them on an hour-long walk this afternoon and I now have 6 blisters on the bottom and sides of my feet...does anyone else have experience with this? I'm wondering how long it takes to truly break them in. I'm also wondering if my weight has something to do with it, as I'm currently at 217 pounds (down from 234). Any insight is appreciated!

    Birkenstock gizehs were the only ones I'd purchased years ago, convenient for that quick trip to the local supermarket. I'd learnt from experience much like you, that it wasn't as durably comfortable, to start. You need to acclimate the soles of your feet to its footbed. You also need the silicone gel insert to ease it for you. Weight I agree might be cause for much discomfort. I'd switched to Teva wedge flip flops and wedge heels not because I didn't like Birks, simply - curiosity. They were unbelievably more comfortable. For walking and at that duration, I concur with the regular forum posters above, that it is best to consider proper walking sneakers, much like NYers; From apartment complex to workplace or from the apartment building to your campus - wear the sneakers, then change to the appropriate footwear once you're in the building.
  • Avidkeo
    Avidkeo Posts: 3,209 Member
    Im from NZ where shoes are an optional extra - we have people here who run half marathons in bare feet, on the road. It only works because they have been doing it for YEARS and the soles of their feet are about 2" thick.

    Birkenstocks themselves would never suggest them as shoes for long walks. They are a comfort shoe not an exercise shoe. The reason is because like any sandal they move on your feet - where proper fitting shoes dont.

    And you should never have to break in shoes. if you do they are not the right fit for you.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I wore sandals for a 20 minute walk to the park and back. Regretted it for days.
    Get some regular athletic shoes for walking.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I walk around Rome for hours on the weekends and when it gets hot, I can't wear my walking athletic shoes. My feet always swell with the heat. I wear sandels and just got back from a visit in the US where I picked up a pair of sandels by Sketchers. I wore them all over downtown Rome yesterday and they were great.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited May 2018
    I can walk in my Tevas for an hour or so, and in my Keens. Otherwise tennis shoes are the only shoes I walk long distances in.
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    My daughter (21) just had the same experience!
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Yeah, those might be fine for casual wandering around or intermittent steps throughout the day. But the longer you walk, the repetitive movement will have certain areas of your feet rubbing the sandal because they don't fit tightly. You need a well-fitted stable shoe for long walks or exercise walking, unless as someone else said you are willing to go through the process of your feet building up callouses at all those spots to protect themselves.

    If you prefer an open shoe, most of the athletic brands are making sport sandals or walking sandals that would be more appropriate and protect your feet better.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    snowflake954 wrote: »
    I walk around Rome for hours on the weekends and when it gets hot, I can't wear my walking athletic shoes. My feet always swell with the heat. I wear sandels and just got back from a visit in the US where I picked up a pair of sandels by Sketchers. I wore them all over downtown Rome yesterday and they were great.

    Good to hear because in summer I only wear sandals so getting a comfy pair is key. I usually go for Fly London sandals so I must check out the Skechers ones.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    ps my son (he's 24) wore his Converse trainers on his recent holiday, miles of walking in them is a hugely bad idea - he had Plantar Faciitus for weeks and was in agony. Good footwear for walking is a must.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    Maybe I'm an oddball... I've worn both Birkenstocks and flipflops for hours and hours (like 8 hours a day for five days straight walking around Universal Studios) with no issues.
  • ladyhusker39
    ladyhusker39 Posts: 1,406 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    Yeah, those might be fine for casual wandering around or intermittent steps throughout the day. But the longer you walk, the repetitive movement will have certain areas of your feet rubbing the sandal because they don't fit tightly. You need a well-fitted stable shoe for long walks or exercise walking, unless as someone else said you are willing to go through the process of your feet building up callouses at all those spots to protect themselves.

    If you prefer an open shoe, most of the athletic brands are making sport sandals or walking sandals that would be more appropriate and protect your feet better.

    I have 2 pair of Ryka walking sandals coming tomorrow. I'm hoping they'll be good for casual walking. I really want to show off my cute toenails now that summer is coming. But for any significant amount of walking I have Ryka walking shoes which ar are amazing.
  • lingo10
    lingo10 Posts: 305 Member
    It all depends on how you feel and if the footbed is good support for if you have flat or natural arched feet.

    If you want something that will probably feel more comfortable as you walk a longer distance for a period of time, I suggest maybe a memory foam footbed shoe. You can get memory foam in sneakers or sandals :)

    Dr Scholls, Easy Spirit, Skechers, Nike, Under Armour, Adidas and etc... many brands have some
  • Katiebear_81
    Katiebear_81 Posts: 719 Member
    LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »
    ps my son (he's 24) wore his Converse trainers on his recent holiday, miles of walking in them is a hugely bad idea - he had Plantar Faciitus for weeks and was in agony. Good footwear for walking is a must.

    I think it really depends more on what your feet are used to, vs. what a person *should* wear. I am barefoot when I am at home, and put miles and miles on my 5 finger shoes when I was a runner. I can, and do, wear converse trainers for long periods of time (ie. walking all day) and they don't bother me. But I can see how a person who is used to a structured shoe could wear them and end up hurt. If I go and get a structured shoe and wear that for long periods of time, I'd likely end up with really sore feet and joints.

    OP - I'm sure that you could work up to wearing them for long distance walks. But you'll have to go at it slowly in order to build up the necessary calluses.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Davidsdottir wrote: »
    Maybe I'm an oddball... I've worn both Birkenstocks and flipflops for hours and hours (like 8 hours a day for five days straight walking around Universal Studios) with no issues.

    At least for me, there's a difference between just walking around vs. purposeful exercise.

    Where I live, we wear flip flops about 8 months out of the year and they're acceptable (and common) wear pretty much anywhere. If I'm out running errands, grocery shopping or whatever kind of casual walking/wandering around, flip flops are fine and I can do it all day long. But if I'm walking with a purpose, as in trying to make it resemble exercise, they tear my feet up pretty quickly.
  • 0ysterboy
    0ysterboy Posts: 192 Member
    The footbed on Birkenstocks is pretty supportive, but there is insufficient side and top of foot support
  • kristysmith477
    kristysmith477 Posts: 13 Member
    Thanks for the input everyone! I thought Birkenstocks would be a good choice, as I need good arch support (I pretty much only wear Blundstones and Croc sandals.) My goal was to get comfortable with Birkenstocks before backpacking this summer, but it sounds like I'll need to investigate some other options. Thanks for the suggestions!
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    When I went to China 7 years ago and walked all over I had a pair of Dr Scholls sandals. They worked out so well and I wear them still when I have to backpack or do heavy shopping. You might want to check it out.
  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    Eventually, Crocs can become a source of plantar fasciitis rather than relieve it. There's zero support as feet
    slide around even with socks on. Find some walking shoes that fit your budget.
  • AJB1014
    AJB1014 Posts: 1,380 Member
    I had a pair of birks once that I wore out in the rain and that helped break them in faster - It was not an intended way to break them in, but it seemed to speed the process along. I lost those sandals at an outdoor concert. I replaced them with a pair of Teva's - they support my foot shape better, had absolutely zero breaking in time, and have lasted the past 5 years of rigorous wear, from concerts to city sightseeing to evenings out - they also stay on my feet so no more losing shoes at concerts :D

    similar to these https://www.teva.com/women-sandals/ysidro-stitch-sandal/1015120.html#start=99&cgid=women-sandals
  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    kristysmith477 wrote: »
    Thanks for the input everyone! I thought Birkenstocks would be a good choice, as I need good arch support (I pretty much only wear Blundstones and Croc sandals.) My goal was to get comfortable with Birkenstocks before backpacking this summer, but it sounds like I'll need to investigate some other options. Thanks for the suggestions!

    Until they're broken in, Birkenstocks are incredibly stiff. The best way mold them to your foot is to wear them barefoot in the heat (so that your feet sweat). They are awesome to take for hikes... as camp shoes when your hike is over. I have plantar fasciitis and wear my Birks whenever my feet are tired. But I would never, ever use them for purposeful (exercise) walking or hiking. I went on a walk with a friend (not strenuous, but long) in a brand new pair of Gizas and had blisters that were just awful. Never again.
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