Are Birkenstocks Good For Feet?

A friend and I were discussing our plans for a day at the beach. During the chat, she asked what activities I had lined up, and the topic of footwear cropped up. She was going to wear flip-flops but wasn’t sure if they would suit her feet if we walked all day.

“I’m going to wear my Birks,” I told her.

“Are Birkenstocks good for feet?” she shot back.

Birkenstocks are great for your feet because of their orthopedic design. You get arch support and a secure heel hold, along with an open toe box for comfort and mobility.

Howard Osterman, a podiatrist from Washington DC, has lauded the Birkenstock Arizona Soft Footbed Sandal as the “best Sandals for your feet.”

He explains that these Birkenstocks have top-quality, durable, and supportive footbeds, which are necessary for the total comfort of your feet while in motion. Better yet, these sandals are sold at a very reasonable price, making them accessible to everyone.

If you are still not convinced that Birkenstocks are all they’re cracked up to be, continue reading. This article will provide all the details you need to make a decision.

Four Components of the Birkenstock Footbed

One of the things that makes Birkenstock sandals so great is the footbed. Unlike other sandal manufacturers, who throw in a crappy piece of foam or a thin layer of cork to make their footbeds, Birkenstock combines four different components to create one supportive and comfortable footbed: jute (natural fibers woven together), a cork & latex blend, suede lining (softer than leather), and a foam insert (for added cushioning).

Jute

The first layer of Birkenstock sandals is made of jute. This base stabilizes the latex and cork layers, creating a stable platform that supports the foot’s weight with every step while preventing any slippage.

The second layer is also composed of jute and surrounds the footbed’s sides. This thick and absorbent material helps regulate moisture, increasing durability and leveling up flexibility.

Cork & Latex

The actual footbeds of most Birkenstock sandals are made from a blend of latex and cork. Cork has many positive qualities, including a high degree of flexibility and shock absorption.

On the other hand, the latex core cushions your foot. It relieves pressure on your legs and knees, creating a comfortable foot climate you cannot resist.

Moreso, this latex component is an excellent insulator from extreme heat and cold. That’s why you can wear Birkenstocks all day long—even in the dead of winter—without feeling too much tension in your bones and joints.

Suede Lining

Birkenstocks are made with moisture-absorbent suede lining that’s soft and helps keep odor under control. The company uses the same types of premium leathers (think: nubuck and suede) in most of its factories in Germany and Portugal.

Foam Insert

But wait! There’s more. A soft footbed is integrated into every Birkenstock sandal during production. With its solid and comfortable properties, this innovative footbed boasts millions of air bubbles that lend it a luxurious quality you won’t want to pass up.

In addition to the four components described above, Birks are designed to mold precisely to the shape of your foot, providing support to all parts of your foot instead of just one or two parts like other shoes.

Boston Leather Birkenstock Clog

Benefits of the Birkenstock Footbed Design

Besides comfort (apparently), other benefits of Birkenstock footbeds include:

Deep Heel Cup

When we wear flip-flops or other shoes with shallow heel cups, we are putting ourselves at risk for severe foot injuries. The famous heel cups of Birkenstock sandals are designed to keep our feet properly aligned with the hips, ankles, and knees. This alignment minimizes tension in our feet and back, thus reducing the probability of foot injuries.

Longitudinal Arch Support

The longitudinal arch is comprised of the lateral and medial arches. The lateral arch is flatter, and the medial arch is higher. Birkenstock sandals provide adequate support for both parts of the longitudinal arch, which helps to prevent misalignment of bones and muscles, as well as injuries to ligaments and joints.

Traverse Arch Support

Our feet are complex, but the transverse arch is fascinating. It is formed by the cuboid bone, three cuneiform bones, and the metatarsal bases, and it plays a significant role in supporting our weight.

If you don’t have transverse arch support, you may experience pain in your big toe or along the sides of your foot. You could also be more susceptible to bunions, hammertoes, and other foot problems. Birkenstock sandals provide ample transverse arch support to relieve pressure and promote healthy blood circulation, thereby forestalling those issues efficiently.

Raised Toe Bar

When you wear a pair of Birkenstocks, their raised toe bars support your toes and let them flex as they should. This helps blood circulate in your feet, which can reduce leg fatigue. The elevated structure of the toe bar also allows you walk more naturally and maintain appropriate balance.

More Toe Room

The footbed also features more toe room, helping to distribute weight evenly, improve posture and balance, and reduce the risk of leg tendonitis or plantar fasciitis.

Granada Soft Footbed Birkenstocks

Factors that Make Birkenstocks Good for Feet

Premium Materials

Behind the simplicity of these budget-friendly shoes lies the hidden materials that make them unique. They are made from high-quality, shock-absorbing leather soles, cork and natural latex footbeds, and nubucks and suedes.

Durability

Long-lasting shoes can provide you with a number of benefits. These include the ability to withstand long trips and vacations, as well as helping your feet stay comfortable for extended periods.

Birkenstock Papillio Women’s Lola Leather Sandals

Birkenstocks are known for their durability, and as an owner of a pair myself, I would say that this reputation is well deserved. My mother has used hers for over ten years, and she has had them resoled several times. Every couple of years, she takes the shoes to her local cobbler for cleaning and maintenance.

Perfect Fit or Mold

The right pair of shoes can enhance your posture and balance. Birkenstocks are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to improve their gait.

Their soles are designed to let your feet function as intended—maintaining your natural balance while walking or running.

Madrid Birkenstock

The structure of the footbeds stimulates blood circulation, exercises the leg muscles, and establishes stability in your ankles.

These benefits will help you avoid minor bruises along the way, thereby giving you the confidence you need when out walking or running around town or across the country.

Aid Healing of Foot Problems

If your feet are sensitive and prone to swelling, you may instead opt for Birkenstocks to avoid foot problems in your later years.

If you suffer from common foot problems, such as calluses or foot pain, consider purchasing a pair of Birkenstocks. The orthopedic insole included in every sandal can help correct your posture and relieve pressure on the bottoms of your feet.

Our feet take a beating during physical activity, from pounding on the pavement to running up and down the court. After exercise, we want our muscles and joints to relax. Proper blood circulation helps them do that—which can only happen when you wear Birkenstocks shoes.

Milano Birkenstocks – Oiled Leather

Promotes Healthier Muscles and Joints

Of course, you know that blood plays the lead role in nourishing your body with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients essential for healthy joints and muscles.

If your feet are hurting most of the time, why not try Birkenstocks? They will relieve the pain caused by improper footwear and keep your muscles and joints healthy.

Birkenstock Women’s Mayari Sandal

Offers Shoe Care Kit

I’d advise you not to be fooled by the ordinary appearance of Birkenstocks. The company sets the bar high for itself by constantly introducing new products and services that align with the brand’s core values.

For example, as its signature footbeds age, they develop dark brown spots. To help its customers keep their sandals looking their best, the company recently introduced a shoe care kit that includes everything needed to clean and maintain the soles of any Birkenstock sandal.

The DeLuxe Shoe Care Kit provides the perfect solution for keeping your shoes looking new and your feet odor-free. The kit includes a Multipurpose Cleaning Tool and Footbed Cleaner/Refresher. Use it regularly for maximum results.

Also included in the Birkenstock Deluxe Shoe Care Kit is the Stain and Water Repellent. After exposure to rainwater or flood, dry your Birks as soon as possible. Apply the Stain and Water Repellent to minimize potential damages caused by these elements.

Yara Birkenstocks

Cork Sealing

The Birkenstock company recommends that users of their products periodically seal the exposed cork on their sandals to ensure long-lasting support. This will allow you to revel in the comfort and support from your Birkenstocks for many years to come.

Birkenstock has a lot to offer regarding the quality of its products. Added to this are the underlying benefits of these sandals to users: comfort, excellent foot health, and unmatchable durability.

If you haven’t bought a pair of Birkenstocks, now is the perfect time to take the plunge.

Wool Knit Socks, Casual Crew Socks for Birks