Birkenstock vs. Bare Feet

Flint · 06-27-2006, 12:01 PM

Recently purchased some Birki's (Birkenstock clogs) to wear at work.

http://www.birkenstock.co.uk/index.p...id=5&fabric=15

wolf · 06-27-2006, 12:39 PM

I totally love my Birkies, despite the hippie, tree-hugging associations. They are comfortable. I have several different styles.

Griff · 06-27-2006, 12:55 PM

Are you sure you're from Texas?
I love my old Birkies as well, although mine are the traditional leather sandals.

wolf · 06-27-2006, 12:57 PM

I have never even visited Texas. 100% Pennsylvanian, with a detour for childhood in Chicago Suburbs.

Griff · 06-27-2006, 12:59 PM

Flint, Ms Wolf.

wolf · 06-27-2006, 01:01 PM

ooooh. I get it. Thought you meant me because I was the immediately prior poster. Thanks for the clarification.

glatt · 06-27-2006, 01:22 PM

Each summer for the last ten years or so, my foot would take a few days to get used to the Birkenstock sole, but would then be happy with it. Last summer, I got Teva flip flops. They are so much better than my old leather Birks. More comfortable, and they don't fall apart when they get drenched. Very nice.

To answer your poll, I'll take the Birkenstocks over bare feet. My feet are too tender. But Tevas are better.

Flint · 06-27-2006, 02:17 PM

Each new pair of Birkenstock takes about a week of constant wear to really adjust to your individual foot. After that, you experience a sensual foot massage upon each step! I even wear them around the house sometimes, when there is no real reason to wear shoes.

I also experienced a brief adjustment period where muscles I had forgotten about woke up and got sore for a few days, since it has been a while since I wore a pair of Birkenstock.

I always wore the standard two-strap leather sandals. Every year, I couldn't wait for the weather to turn warm enough to break them out! Then, I started working on that Birkenstock tan...you know, the burned-in white stripes on
your feet all summer.

Now, I have a pair I can wear to work every day. This is a truly monumental development.

Flint · 06-27-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

Are you sure you're from Texas?

Republic of Texas

Ridgeplate · 06-27-2006, 02:40 PM

I've got a pair of Birks and a pair of Tevas and both are quite comfy, although I think the Tevas are a bit better. That said, I *still* prefer bare feets. I do my best to keep from becoming a soft-paw as I disovered the hard way that you never know when you're going to be without shoes.

jinx · 06-27-2006, 03:07 PM

I prefer bare feet, but I've gone thru several pairs of much-loved Birks over the years. Mine always held up after a soaking, but were often done in by being too close to a camp fire (melts the sole right off the cork).
I'm not at all impressed by Tevas but I absolutely

Keens and can't recommend them highly enough. They are Birki comfortable but much more durable, waterproof, fit better, have toe protection.... they just rule. That being said, I took 2 pairs to the beach with us last week and went barefoot the whole time...

Trilby · 06-27-2006, 03:44 PM

I like my birks but I

bare feet!

Flint · 06-27-2006, 04:07 PM

@jinx: these http://www.keenfootwear.com/pdp_page.cfm?productID=8 look pretty sweet! I have a pair of cheap Airwalk sandals from Payless that are similar to this, without the reinforced toe.

jinx · 06-27-2006, 04:18 PM

Yep, I have those and love 'em. They're great for the kids too.
LJ, a diehard Birks fan, has these and swears by them.

wolf · 06-27-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

I always wore the standard two-strap leather sandals. Every year, I couldn't wait for the weather to turn warm enough to break them out! Then, I started working on that Birkenstock tan...you know, the burned-in white stripes on your feet all summer.

Please learn from my unfortunate lesson ... make sure that you put sunscreen on that gap, otherwise you may end up being unable to wear any kind of shoes for a week ...

View Poll Results: What feels better?
Plain ol' human feet. Ho hum.	9	56.25%
The Birkenstock cotton lined, cork/latex footbed.	8	50.00%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

06-27-2006, 12:01 PM	#1
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Birkenstock vs. Bare Feet Recently purchased some Birki's (Birkenstock clogs) to wear at work. http://www.birkenstock.co.uk/index.p...id=5&fabric=15 __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

06-27-2006, 12:39 PM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I totally love my Birkies, despite the hippie, tree-hugging associations. They are comfortable. I have several different styles. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-27-2006, 12:55 PM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Are you sure you're from Texas? I love my old Birkies as well, although mine are the traditional leather sandals. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-27-2006, 12:57 PM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I have never even visited Texas. 100% Pennsylvanian, with a detour for childhood in Chicago Suburbs. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-27-2006, 12:59 PM	#5
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Flint, Ms Wolf. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-27-2006, 01:01 PM	#6
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	ooooh. I get it. Thought you meant me because I was the immediately prior poster. Thanks for the clarification. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-27-2006, 01:22 PM	#7
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Each summer for the last ten years or so, my foot would take a few days to get used to the Birkenstock sole, but would then be happy with it. Last summer, I got Teva flip flops. They are so much better than my old leather Birks. More comfortable, and they don't fall apart when they get drenched. Very nice. To answer your poll, I'll take the Birkenstocks over bare feet. My feet are too tender. But Tevas are better.

06-27-2006, 02:17 PM	#8
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	Each new pair of Birkenstock takes about a week of constant wear to really adjust to your individual foot. After that, you experience a sensual foot massage upon each step! I even wear them around the house sometimes, when there is no real reason to wear shoes. I also experienced a brief adjustment period where muscles I had forgotten about woke up and got sore for a few days, since it has been a while since I wore a pair of Birkenstock. I always wore the standard two-strap leather sandals. Every year, I couldn't wait for the weather to turn warm enough to break them out! Then, I started working on that Birkenstock tan...you know, the burned-in white stripes on your feet all summer. Now, I have a pair I can wear to work every day. This is a truly monumental development. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

06-27-2006, 02:40 PM	#10
Ridgeplate Zen Laxatives: "This too shall pass..." Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 53	I've got a pair of Birks and a pair of Tevas and both are quite comfy, although I think the Tevas are a bit better. That said, I still prefer bare feets. I do my best to keep from becoming a soft-paw as I disovered the hard way that you never know when you're going to be without shoes.

06-27-2006, 03:07 PM	#11
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	I prefer bare feet, but I've gone thru several pairs of much-loved Birks over the years. Mine always held up after a soaking, but were often done in by being too close to a camp fire (melts the sole right off the cork). I'm not at all impressed by Tevas but I absolutely Keens and can't recommend them highly enough. They are Birki comfortable but much more durable, waterproof, fit better, have toe protection.... they just rule. That being said, I took 2 pairs to the beach with us last week and went barefoot the whole time... __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

06-27-2006, 03:44 PM	#12
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I like my birks but I bare feet! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

06-27-2006, 04:07 PM	#13
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	@jinx: these http://www.keenfootwear.com/pdp_page.cfm?productID=8 look pretty sweet! I have a pair of cheap Airwalk sandals from Payless that are similar to this, without the reinforced toe. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

06-27-2006, 04:18 PM	#14
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Yep, I have those and love 'em. They're great for the kids too. LJ, a diehard Birks fan, has these and swears by them. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

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