Correctly Sizing Your Birkenstocks Ensures Your Enjoyment

The Birkenstock tradition of quality craftsmanship goes back more than 225 years. Crafted in Germany, their foot-wear is created using only premium products and materials. Starting with high-grade leather, suede, nubuck, and non-leather uppers, they dye their materials all the way through for a lasting look.
Birkenstock footwear also includes their unique contoured footbed, shock-absorbing soles and specially designed buckles for years of comfort and durability. Almost every component of their footwear can be repaired or replaced, making Birkenstock footwear a long-lasting investment in the health of your feet.
  1. Remove the shoes from the box and gently flex them with your hands or on the floor. Birkenstocks often feel a bit stiff at first and this will help soften them and make them feel comfy sooner.

     

    happy feet plus birkenstock sandal decoding the numbers on the footbed metric sizes

    Decoding the Birkenstock numbers. Each number correlates with a size scale, including Euro, Metric, and U.S.

  2. Unbuckle ALL of the straps and place your feet in the shoes. Make sure your heels are ALL the way back in the heel cup of the shoes. The contours of the footbed should correspond to your own arch and the toe bar should fit comfortably beneath your toes, where your toes meet your foot.

     

    fitting-your-birkenstocks

    Step 2

  3. Before you stand up, look to see if there is adequate space for your feet (approx. ¼” for toes and heels, and 1/8” on the sides of your feet). You’ll want a little extra room because your feet will expand when you stand and walk.correct 3
  4. Buckle the straps starting at your toes and working up. The straps should be a bit snug but not tight. The support will come from the footbed, not from tightly buckled straps. It’s just right if you can wiggle one finger between the strap and your foot.

     

    fitting-birkenstocks

    A finger should be able to wiggle between the strap and your ankle.

  5. Now take a walk around the house and see how they feel. They might feel a bit stiff. That’s normal. As soon as you start wearing them a bit they will start to soften and shape to your foot.

     

    fit-birkenstocks

    A perfect fit.

  6. Once you feel comfortable with them around the house then go ahead and start wearing them outside. Make sure to get used to them slowly though. Allow your feet and your body to gradually get used to the new support, the straps and the buckles. We recommend a few hours for the first 5 or 6 wearings. After that you may never want to take them off.

If you know any fellow Birkenstock lovers, SHARE this guide on FACEBOOK with them; they’ll thank you for it!

Give your feet something to smile about