Breaking in my Birkenstocks.... About This Page:

[Deberlee]

....is much harder than I thought it would be.

I purchased the Birkenstock Milano's and have been wearing them a little bit each day to break them in. Yesterday, I wore them to work yesterday (desk job with moderate walking between buildings & offices), and I thought my feet were falling off. The fit just didn't feel right!

This morning, though, I had a brainstorm. I pushed my foot to the front of the sandal so that my toes were resting in the toe bed and the arch of the sandal was under the arch of my foot. Then I cinched up the strap on the heal to hold my foot in that position. What a difference! It no longer feels like I'm walking on lumps and bumps in my sandals!

Here's my question - am I going to be doing any harm to my heel if it's not sitting at the back end of the sandal? I now feel like I have the proper arch support and it doesn't feel awkward on my heel where it is now. Or is that what the back strap is for? Was I fitted incorrectly? I tried on a couple different sizes before the saleslady said that the 38's were my best bet. Are their half sizes in Birkenstocks?

Once I cinched up that back heel strap, the difference in the feel of the sandal is remarkable, and they now feel much more comfortable and natural. There's approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch at the back of the sandal between the back of my heel and the heel bed. Is that okay? I think it's probably too late to bring these sandals back as I've been walking (outside) with them for a week or so.

I also purchased a pair of Keen Venice H2 sandals and they fit and feel like a dream. I've done a lot of walking in them with no problems, but more importantly, no sore feet (my problem was ball of foot pain). My next test will be to wear them at the Zoo to see if I can make it through, for once, without my feet bursting into flames from the sheer pain.....if I can do that, they'll be my primary Disney shoe in late August.

[Peanut_mommy]

When my Birks were broken in, they fit like a second sole. If you're comfortable and supported where they are, leave them there and they will settle into that fit and you'll love them.

[dluvsdisney]

I love my Birkenstocks! I wear mine with just about everything. It takes a little time for them to conform to your feet. They do not come in half sizes.

[Deberlee]

Thanks, Heather & Dacy! That's great news! Today I've been using 2 different adjustments with the heel strap to see which of the two makes the fit feel better. Thank goodness for the heel strap!

[stretch2864]

I hope you will enjoy them. I've had mine for years and they are very comfortable.

[Deberlee]

How long did it take y'all to break them in? I've been taking it slow and not wearing them all day long. For instance, if I wear them to work, I don't wear them when I get home and go out to run errands...not yet.

They have the firmest arch support that I've ever, ever had in a shoe and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get used to that. Someone here commented that Birks are good for the feet and that it takes time for our feet to get used to the proper support, but once they do, they're wonderful.

I guess I'll continue to wear them to work as long as I know it's not going to rain that day, and when I get brave, I'll wear them grocery shopping at Woodman's (a store that has nearly 225,000 square feet).

[EmpressLizBunny]

yess in genaral birkenstocks have extra room in the heel also in genaral european womens sizes are your size + 31 so a 38 is a 7-7.5 but birks tend to run a little wide
is your foot in the heel cup at all? the shoe should be alittle longer than your foot my birks are atleast 1/4 of an inch past my heel the most important thing is if they are comfortable

[Deberlee]

Originally Posted by EmpressLizBunny

yess in genaral birkenstocks have extra room in the heel also in genaral european womens sizes are your size + 31 so a 38 is a 7-7.5 but birks tend to run a little wide
is your foot in the heel cup at all? the shoe should be alittle longer than your foot my birks are atleast 1/4 of an inch past my heel the most important thing is if they are comfortable

Yes, I guess my foot is in the heel cup, but just the front part of it. The concept of having more room in the heel as opposed to the toe is foreign to me. LOL

They definitely feel more comfortable now that I've tightened the heel strap, but my feet were still a bit sore from walking in them yesterday with it incorrectly tightened, so that may be why it doesn't feel quite right today.

With the excellent arch support, I'm hoping it takes the burn out of the ball of my foot that tends to happen when I've been on my feet for too long. The podiatrist said that it would, so I'm hoping the Birks are just the shoe for that problem.

Thanks!

[EmpressLizBunny]

if you have ball of the foot pain also check out earth shoes good arch and the heel is lower than the ball of the foot
it took more than a month to breakin my birkenstocks the first time(i would wear tem 1 day and not wear them for a couple of days cuse i had blisters) then it takes 3-5 days every summer to get used to the sandels again just cuse they rub in difernt places vrs my other shoes

[EmpressLizBunny]

you might also look into otc orthotics with a raised metatarsal pad(i used to work in a comfor shoe store so im rembering my training) like these Lynco L605 - Conform Orthotics - Cupped/Supported - Metatarsal Pad - Orthotic Shop

i use the 400 style in all my shoes that have room but for you the 05 series should work they have a bump right before the ball of your foot to take the pressure off but be warned it takes some getting yoused to
try going to a store that specializes in comfort shoes and explain your issuesthe staff are trained to help find the best shoe for your feet

i know the walking co is a nation wide chain that specializes in comfort shoes but im sure there are others in your area

[Peanut_mommy]

I kind of dove in head first, as I bought my Birks at an outlet store in Virginia on our way down to Disney back in '98, and I wore them the entire trip. By the end of the second day in the parks I was in love. I had to retire them last year after a referb around five years. (We had a leak that we didn't catch until it was too late for several pairs of shoes that molded. I almost cried). I'm on a flip-flop kick at the moment but I will probably get a new pair for our trip in October.

[valegirl5292]

I have 2 pairs and love them, it does take a while to form to your foot but once it does you never want to talk them off.