Birkenstock styles have become a staple of both men’s and women’s spring/summer wardrobes because of their timeless design, practicality, and aesthetic appeal. Although Birkenstock is well-known worldwide, it might still be a mystery to those unfamiliar with the brand and its designs. If you don’t have the appropriate size and fit, their uniquely shaped footbeds can lead to discomfort for people.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to fit Birkenstocks to help you out.
What's Inside:
How To Fit Birkenstocks
Healthy feet and a healthy walk begin with the correct width footwear. You can avoid foot pain and other problems by getting shoes that give you the perfect fit. Let’s find out the steps to follow:
Step 1: Take A Foot Measurement
Put both feet on a firm, flat surface and put all of your weight on them. Measure the length of your longest toe bar from the rear of your heel using a measuring tape.
If you have one foot that is somewhat larger or smaller than the other, you should always wear shoes that fit your larger foot. First of all, when you’re standing still, take a look at the distance between your toes.
Step 2: Narrow Or Regular Fit
Regular and narrow width footbeds are available from Birkenstock. With the barefoot symbol found on the footbed, you can see if the shoe is a standard fit for people with normal to broader width feet.
For people with narrow feet, the narrow fit is ideal. The Birkenstock footbed edge has a colored foot symbol to indicate this. The appropriate width for both feet is critical if you want your Birkenstocks to give you comfort as much as possible. Choosing shoes that fit your feet well is essential to avoid painful pressure points, sore feet, friction, and other foot problems.
Step 3: Checking The Size
Open all of the straps on your new Birkenstock footwear. Undo the straps and put your feet in the footbed of the shoe. If your sandals are a perfect size, you should be able to stand tall with your weight evenly distributed on both the front and back of the shoes.
Ensure that your toes do not touch the front. It is possible that wearing too-small shoes will squeeze the cork and accelerate the deterioration of your feet soles. Your feet should be immersed in the footbed and not on the edges.
Step 4: The Adjustable Strap
At this point, you should buckle all of the straps. They should not be overly tight, as this might cause pressure marks and prevent the foot from properly sliding forward when walking. Under the strap, you should be able to get about a finger’s width of space.
Step 5: Test Your Birkenstocks
Take a few steps in your new sandals to see how they fit and tighten the upper strap. Adjust the straps if they are too loose or too tight. Keep an eye out for the front edge of the sandals when you’re walking. They will feel very tight as they have not yet molded to your feet and acclimated to your walking pattern. If you wear them a lot, this could take a few days to many weeks.
Step 6: Be Comfortable With It
New Birkenstocks need break-in. Your feet will need to become acclimated to the footbed, so don’t wear them for more than 2/3 hours a day at first. As they break-in, you can increase wear. Dark imprints will appear on the footbed and become more flexible. Birkenstocks absorb natural oils and moisture, darkening the footbed, which will suggest they’re getting more comfortable and molding to your feet.
As you walk, Birkenstocks crack at the flex areas. If the cracks get too big, you can have cork injected into them.
Should You Size Up Or Down In Birkenstocks?
Generally speaking, if you are between sizes, it is best to size up in Birkenstocks. If you typically wear a size 8 in shoes, you should size up to a size 9 in Birkenstocks.
First, measure how long your foot is in our classic footbed. Then, when you try on some of the other styles with cork or polyurethane footbeds that are slightly different from your standard footbed size, we suggest going up one size from your classic footbed size.
Are My Birkenstocks Too Big
By putting your heel back into the heel cup, you can see if your toes are securely in the toe grip of your Birkenstocks. If they aren’t, then your sandals are too big. You can confirm this by measuring the distance between your toes and your front.
Are My Birkenstocks Too Small
Between the toes and the border of the footbed, there should be around 10 mm of room. The sandal is too small if your toes contact the footbed’s edge or if they extend over it.
Birkenstock Size Chart Guide Cm
This Birkenstock size guide is designed to help you choose the correct size for your feet. Use it to find the correct size for your Birkenstock sandals, shoes, or boots.
| WOMEN’S (US) | METRIC (CM) | BIRKENSTOCK |
| 4 – 4.5 | 22.5 | 35 |
| 5 – 5.5 | 23.0 | 36 |
| 6 – 6.5 | 24.0 | 37 |
| 7 – 7.5 | 24.5 | 38 |
| 8 – 8.5 | 25.0 | 39 |
| 9 – 9.5 | 26.0 | 40 |
| 10 – 10.5 | 26.5 | 41 |
| 11 – 11.5 | 27.0 | 42 |
| 12 – 12.5 | 28.0 | 43 |
| 13 – 13.5 | 28.5 | 44 |
| MEN’S (US) | METRIC (CM) | BIRKENSTOCK |
| 5 – 5.5 | 24.5 | 38 |
| 6 – 6.5 | 25.0 | 39 |
| 7 – 7.5 | 26.0 | 40 |
| 8 – 8.5 | 26.5 | 41 |
| 9 – 9.5 | 27.0 | 42 |
| 10 – 10.5 | 28.0 | 43 |
| 11 – 11.5 | 28.5 | 44 |
| 12 – 12.5 | 29.0 | 45 |
| 13 – 13.5 | 30.0 | 46 |
| 14 – 14.5 | 30.5 | 47 |
| 15 – 15.5 | 31.0 | 48 |
| 16 – 16.5 | 32.0 | 49 |
| 17 – 17.5 | 32.5 | 50 |
| KID’S (US) | METRIC (CM) | BIRKENSTOCK |
| 6 – 6.5 | 15.0 | 24 |
| 7 – 7.5 | 16.0 | 25 |
| 8 – 8.5 | 16.5 | 26 |
| 9 – 9.5 | 17.0 | 27 |
| 10 – 10.5 | 18.0 | 28 |
| 11 – 11.5 | 18.5 | 29 |
| 12 – 12.5 | 19.0 | 30 |
| 13 – 13.5 | 20.0 | 31 |
| 1 – 1.5 | 20.5 | 32 |
| 2 – 2.5 | 21.0 | 33 |
| 3 – 3.5 | 22.0 | 34 |
| 4 – 4.5 | 22.5 | 35 |
| 5 – 5.5 | 23.5 | 36 |
| 6 – 6.5 | 24.0 | 37 |
Birkenstock Narrow Vs. Regular
Now you’re trying to figure out the difference between Birkenstocks narrow and the regular. Their logo is a footprint with either an outline or a filled-in portion.
For men, a size regular Birkenstock sandal is the same as an American width D-EE, and for women, a size standard is the same as an American width C-D. Birkenstocks narrow sandals for men have an equal American width of B-C, while those for ladies have an equivalent American width of A-B. Most people fit comfortably within the regular width.
Regular or standard size Birkenstocks will be your best option if you have standard feet. Consider Birkenstock’s narrow sandals if you have smaller feet.
FAQ
Do Birkenstocks Hurt At First?
Put on the shoes and walk around for about 30 to 45 minutes. Remove your shoes as soon as you feel any discomfort in your feet. Socks may also be necessary if you don’t want to have blisters on your feet. After a few days, you can extend this period to an hour or two.
Should My Toes Touch The End Of My Birkenstocks?
We recommend sizing such that your heel rests flat in the heel cup and your toes approach, but do not touch, the front lip of your Birkenstocks to maximize their fantastic arch support.
How Are Birkenstock Bostons Supposed To Fit?
Birkenstock Bostons are true to size in foot length, but the closed cap and single strap can make them feel broad on little feet, so if that’s a concern, consider getting the narrow version.
Conclusion
Birkenstock has left its imprint on the shoe industry and the fashion industry at large, being both disliked and admired at the same time.
They began a legacy of high-quality shoemaking and used only their footwear’s best materials and products. It is a must-have for both men’s and women’s wardrobes.
And if you are still wondering how to fit Birkenstock, check our article another time to learn more about it; you will get your desired answer.
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Hello, I’m Kristin, the founder and main author of footwearsfact.com. I’ve been working as a footwear designer and have built a keen interest in different footwear problems, suggestions, and designing. I hope I’ll be able to serve your needs with my skillful team member.