Birkenstock Women's Boston Suede Clogs

I sold Birkenstocks in Seattle's U-district for seven years; the Birkenstock company still makes the same superlative footwear. Oftentimes eschewed by fashion-conscious hipsters, allow me to answer a few questions:"Ew[...] They're so wiiiiide!"(Not really a question, but a frequent comment) Yes, they are wide. Birkenstocks passively support the architecture of your feet from underneath, just as your bare foot would be supported walking on a complient surface like earth or sand. Conventional shoes support your foot by binding them, rendering them less mobile. Your foot is a dynamic structure that NEEDS to move, in order to function correctly."How come they fit so loooong?"Birkenstocks are sized to fit the three arches of your feet: The medial arch (the largest arch typically referred to in the phrase "good arch support"), the metatarsal arch (the pocket between the ball of your foot and your pinkie toe), and the lateral arch ( a lesser known structure on the outside of your foot, in front of your heel). Because the Birkenstock flexes, at the cost of room at the ends of the footbed, a properly sized fit includes some extra room in front of the toes and behind the heel (in a normally-proportioned foot). This maintains correct support under your arches, providing a dynamic balance while you walk."They're so haaaaard!"Yes, Birkenstocks are firm under the sole of your foot. The footbed molds to the individual shape of YOUR feet over time, providing an even support across the entirety of your foot. Conventional shoes accomodate the hard points on the soles of your feet with padding that squshes under pressure, but doesn't actually support the structures of your feet. Birkenstocks are WALKING shoes, and after a normal breaking-in period, you should be expect to comfortably walk MILES in them."They're so floppy!"Birkenstocks exercise your feet, encouraging you to grip with your toes as you walk. At first, this may feel alien, but it provides circulatory benefits, when your calf muscles contract and assist in blood return from your lower extremities."They're really stiff!"Yes, they are. Birkenstocks are made from thick suedes and full-grain hides (and synthetics for the animal lovers). Expect a break-in period during which socks may be required for comfort."So expensive!"Birkenstocks are very durable and 100% repairable. With care, your Birkenstocks will last you for years.Even though I bought these from Amazon.com (and I've worn DOZENS of pairs -all the same size), you really should avail yourself of the expertise of local shoe retailer to ensure a proper fit to YOUR feet. Once you know your size, internet / mail orders become a viable option.Love your feet!

I have several pairs of Birkenstocks. They are great for walking and supportive of my high arches. The toe box is wide enough and high enough. If you buy this shoe, also buy cork sealer, and your shoes will last longer. I prefer the little bottles that have a brush inside to apply the sealer.

Great everyday shoe. The black looks a little closer to a dark navy in person. I wear a 10 in Nike, cowboy boots and most shoes; I got the 42 and they fit perfectly.

I've worn Birkenstocks for over 35 years--sandals, shoes and clogs--back when most people had never heard of them. I started wearing them for the comfort since nothing else has ever fit me so well. Some styles don't fit my feet as well as others--the Zurich model sandals have a strap buckle that hits the top of my toes and raises a sore spot. Some styles I've learned to love dearly--like the Arizona and Milano. The Boston is one of the styles that I've really loved since the beginning. Homely, clunky and lacking in stylishness, it's incredibly comfortable and practical. Like all traditional Birkenstock styles, it's made with a leather covered cork footbed that does require some breaking in for maximum comfort. After a few days of wear, the hard footbed begins to soften a bit and it will take on the shape of your foot while providing excellent support. One thing I have noticed about Birkenstock's clogs and shoes, it's usually best to order a size up from what you wear in Birkenstock sandals. My reasoning is that you will then be better able to wear socks with the clogs and utilize them as regular shoes. With sandals, you can always loosen the straps to accommodate socks but the enclosed foot nature of clogs limits this practice. Also, for some reason my feet perspire more with clogs so I prefer to wear socks except for just puttering around the house.Bostons, like all Birkenstocks, wear well. The cork should occasionally be resealed with Cork Life or Kelly's Cork Renew. If the cork becomes damaged but remains in otherwise decent shape, Cork Life or Cork Renew can be used to fill in the damaged area. If the outsoles begin to come unglued, Barge Cement will repair it perfectly. Same for the suede footbed liner. If you don't feel comfortable doing the work yourself, do an online search for places that specialize in Birkenstock repair and resoles. This might be the best option for clogs since the enclosed nature of the shoe means some parts are not readily accessible without disassembling the whole thing. Mainly, just know Birkenstocks can be repaired and can last a very long time with care and maintenance. I have a couple of pair from the early 80s that still wear well.I'm sold on Birkenstocks. I've recommended them to a lot of people and those who try them have never said they were disappointed. The prices have increased substantially over the years but the quality remains excellent.

I love Birkenstocks and have had a pair on my feet and two pairs in the closet since I was a teen. Like all my Birkenstocks, the Boston clogs fit well and are very comfortable. However, I'm giving the clogs a 4 star because the ones I received do not have a soft footbed. It doesn't really matter to me because I've worn the original and the soft footbed and can't tell the difference, but I feel, if the description says "SFB" then I expect them to be SFB when they're delivered.