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Low quality product equals more sales and more money made. High quality equals less sales and less money made. This concept applies to everything we buy.
I don't think you should be so critical of your early vids. They were simple, in a genuine way, yet informative. They were what turned so many people on to your content. And to be honest, I miss them. I mean, not like I'm gonna go back and re-watch all of them. But I miss the old Rose Anvil. The sparse edits, the absence of graphics and memes, Toaster... It's a major part of what sold your honesty and impartiality. They were several steps above your Uncle John's review of the CAT boots he got for Christmas, but comfortably below the polish and sheen of what I fear Rose Anvil is approaching. I hope it doesn't come to that...
I am actually using them for over a year already. I am pretty happy but cell coverage in my area is not as good as it was with my previous provider (Verizon). I believe Mint is using the T-Mobile network. It's cheap though. I guess you get what you pay for.
The family that owned Birkenstock sold the majority interest in the company a couple of years ago. The corporation that bought it owns numerous "designer" and "fashion " brands that focus more on style . There is now a change in the company to alter the image of the Birkenstock to a fashion product and we are seeing these types of compromises in the construction of their products. My business was an Authorized Repair Center for Birkenstock in Canada since 1990 and after Birkenstock was purchased, Birkenstock Canada discontinued supporting repairing their own products. We no longer associate our company name with Birkenstock.
Yep. I'm so disappointed I didn't know about this and order a bunch more shoes b4 it happened. Quality has really gone down, wouldn't pay that price for the materials they're using now. If I'm gonna go for those types of materials I'll opt for the cheaper Vionics. Same ergonomics and now pretty much the same synthetic materials
I had a pair Birkenstock 'everyday' shoes which I bought in year 2000 and I wore them almost every day for more than ten years until my shoe maker told me they couldn't repair them any more. Since then I've been looking for the same kind but haven't seen them. I'm glad I watched this so that I don't buy another couple.. But it's really sad that you can't find that quality any more.. They used to be so popular here in Sweden, but I haven't seen so many wearing them lately.
I've got Halfinger, but they aren't on old Birkenstock level of longevity. I assume Birkenstocks are still better, but I won't buy anything owned by LVMH out of principle.
Yeah, I remember a friend returning home from his 1-year stay in Montana in 2002 with a Carhartt jacket and a pair of working gloves worn there by most horse & cattle handlers, but also normal folk for their quality. Fast forward to 2010/2023 the brand seems to have morphed into a fashion product getting rid of most of its once inherent and distinct robustness. 😐
I work as a nurse and love my birk slides after a shift, I was considering getting the BS5000s as my next work shoe and you've spared me that mistake. Thanks
The inconsistency is so frustrating. It seems clear that they're outsourcing these shoes and boots to a bunch of different factories with different construction methods and materials so it's incredibly hit-or-miss.
They're all Made in Portugal, so I cannot imagine too many different factories making them. Nevertheless, the designs are all from Birkenstock central since these aren't just rebranded generic shoes from Alibaba or whatever.
@@poppinc8145 there are a truckload of shoe factories in Portugal, manufacturing for tons of different brands. They probably outsourced production to many different factories, working out deals with them individually to create shoes based on their patterns and in some cases using their materials (since there's consistency in lining materials, for example). But if you take the construction of the first two shoes, for example, the lasting board is totally different, the sole construction is totally different, literally nothing about these two shoes appears the same. If it weren't for the Birkenstock name and the made-in-Germany insoles, you would never know these are even the same brand. They're rebranded generic shoes from Portugal, with some (apparently varying) degree of input from Birkenstock.
@@joshuathorson8813 oh for sure it's on them. They should be shooting for consistency in materials and design and setting up their manufacturing partners to make high-quality shoes in the Birkenstock spirit (cork, leather, and arch support).
I have 2 pairs of the Bend Lows and they seem to be of similar construction as the oswego for anyone curious. I've been wearing them a few times a week since last summer and they are the most comfortable shoe I own, in a hard soled birkenstock kind of way, dont expect s squishy newbalance or nike feel.
I first discovered Birkenstock sandals in the early 70's. They were stacked in a big display bin in the middle of a discount store. Not a shoe store mind you but a discount store, and they were deeply discounted because no one was buying them (it wasn't the most attractive sandal). I needed something to wear around the house and the combination of the cork insole design and leather straps looked comfortable so I decided to buy a pair. I paid less than $10 for them... including tax! A few days later I put them on and was amazed at how great they felt. I couldn't imagine why no one else had bothered to develop a shoe that fit the foot so well and felt so good before then, and though I bought them just to wear around the house I ended up wearing them everywhere. Weeks later it seemed that everywhere I went I saw people with them on and within months everyone was raving about their comfort and ease of wear. They held up really well and were so inexpensive that if anything did happen replacing them was no big deal. Recently I was pleasantly surprised to see them advertised and tried looking for the same sandal only to discover that like every other shoe company they make different versions of it and prices are over the top. I can't help but wonder if the quality is still the same. Really disappointing.
Spent a summer selling and repairing birks a couple years back. Folks would bring in ooollldddd pairs that needed fixed up and for the most part the footbeds were the same as the brand new ones we replaced them with. Different adhesive was all
@malice5121 exactly! I've started doing the same thing with any and every thing I come across that I absolutely love. As soon as I'm able I go back and purchase at least one, if not two or three more of the same item. Company's CEO's don't seem to take pride in their wares any longer. It's all about the bottom line. So frustrating!
Yeah I think they're just cashing in on the brand name now. But they're gonna learn pretty quick that most ppl who wore birkies did so out of necessity (podiatry recommendation) and with the reduced quality we've already moved on to cheaper brands
I have plantar fasciitis and the Arizona sandal was like medicine for my feet. But I needed something more office appropriate and I got the QO500. The QO500 feels nothing like their sandals. Super painful for my feet. Now I know why. Thanks for the info @Roseanvill!
Ive been battling the plantar fasciitis shit for almost a year now and have found a few good things while waiting for the orthotic. Footprint Insoles makes a heat moldable insole that helped me a lot when im at work, and now outside of work i wear barefoot type shoes with a little arch support
@@chrism4008 I also switch from arch support to barefoot shoes and back-and-forth too much support for too long bothers my feet, and the same for barefoot
As a flooring installer to see carpet pad used in a shoe is insane to me that stuff on the floor where wear is not focused at all basically turns to dust in 5 years or so, can't imagine that lasting more then 4 or so months.
I'm from Germany and have worn Birkenstock sandals my whole life, since I was a child. I still remember that in the 90s the sandals would last for three, four, sometimes five years and were expensive, but not as expensive compared to dress shoes or running shoes. I remember that my parents bought me some medium expensive dress shoes, made out of real leather for around 200 DM, while my Birkenstocks would have cost something between 100-150DM and, as I said, lasted several years. Theese days, when I buy a pair of Birkenstocks (rarely!), their quality somehow droped. I wear them only occasionally and still they get worn through in sometimes half a year, sometimes a year. And in the 90s, me and my parents have worn them the whole day and we lived on a farm, so they went through some heavy duty work, while in the past years I mostly wear them on the balcony or in the basement or when I get the mail in. And the pair, I am wearing now was quite expensive... Around 150-200 Euro. Thats the ammount, you would pay over here, to get some not posh, but still decent shoes. I did not know, that they also make shoes nowadays, but they seem to rip people off.
Oh, and here they are focussing their marketing strategy realy on that whole idea of using fake leather, since it is 'animal friendly' and using less cork, because real cork is somehow an endangered species or somehting like that. That might be true, but I'd rather pay 50 Euro more for a shoe that's not made with leather or cork, but with good quality materials instead of paying the price for cork and leather for a product that mostly uses cheap and inferior materials and tries to sell to a livestyle community rather than normal people.
Birkenstock used to be a family-owned Business that was Sold out to a Private Equity firm. These firms slap the purchase price of the company onto the bought company, and try to reduce costs wherever they can whilst increasing selling prices. They then call this restructuring the company and maximising profits. These companies are only in for the money. The quality of a product is not on their list of priorities. Marketing is.
I’d love to see some videos of some boots made by Canadian manufacturers like Canada west boots, they seem to provide similar quality to some of the American workboot brands like redwing but at a slightly lower price I’d like to see the differences in the quality and if they’re actually as comparable as they seem
"Its not going to wear out as fast" You literally answered your own question on why they dont use real leather on the insole. Its all about making you buy another pair sooner rather than later.
While planned obsolescence is a thing, my hot take is this is far more about lowering the cost of production to increase margin. It's likely more shortsighted than planned obsolescence.
I ordered a pair of the Birkenstock Martons after the last video based on your no BS rating. Thanks for doing what you do, you’ve probably saved me $500 over the last couple years. PS- if you had a channel membership or superthanks thing I’d hook it up.
I had a pair of Birkenstock shoes in the early 2000s. My favorite pair of casual dress shoes of all time. Very well constructed from quality materials. They were every bit as good as their sandals. They did eventually wear out a few years later, and I tried to replace them with more Birkenstock shoes. I picked up three different shoes at the store, and promptly walked out. They were nowhere near equivalent to the original pair that I loved. I do still have a pair of arizona birks for extremely casual days. I think they are still made like the originals. If anyone knows of a comparable sandal, I'd be willing to try alternatives.
Yes, had a pair of Maryland maryjanes, loved them so much. They were wide enough for my duck feetwore them for 6 years. When I tried to replace them, they had some crappy narrow "replacement" for the Maryland model.
Many years ago, when I wanted a shoe that was like Birkenstocks but fully enclosed, I bought a pair of Naots. I'm not sure if they're still making them but they were great shoes, more comfy than Birkenstocks but just as supportive.
I strongly believe that most companies have a product they make really well and a lot of stuff that’s there to make money. For Birkenstock the sandals are the good stuff, I never considered buying other shoes from them. Also here in Germany Birkenstock sandals are kind of important so a lot of people are very unhappy with the recent changes (especially the price increases and new “luxury” versions) but fortunately the sandals last forever
BTW - on Oswego Birkenstock says the midsole is made of PU and cork - without telling how much of each. It could be exactly the same material decorating their boots around to look like cork....
I was happy to find a couple of pairs of Birks similar to the "BS" 5000, but made in 2004. At least they have the real side stitching, the better footbed and the leather feels a little better. But you're right about the cheapening of the current models. I gave them a pass on sight.
im surprised you didnt get the "Bend" sneakers from brikenstock, though they put the "cork" window on the outside, they use a good drop in midsole like the Oswego. and from my naked eye it has decent leather quality
I've been wearing a pair of the oiled leather Seavees slip-ons which are super comfortable and look good but are absolutely disintegrating after barely 6 months of 2-3x a week city wear and I've been looking at the Oswegos as slightly better quality replacement for a bit more money with the same look. After your previous Birkenstock video I hesitated but now I think these don't look too bad after all
As someone who just bought the Birkenstock Bend Low Suede Embossed, it was a little alarming to see this video title, BUT when I go to the Birkenstock site and read what they write about, for example, Q0500, it fits completely with what this video documents. I found this video misleading.
Thank you for this. The only shoes I wear almost all day every day are Birkenstock sandals. I was thinking about buying another style shoe, but I'm glad I didn't. The price was a deterrent and now the sketchy business practices is.
Thank you for your review! You favorably mentioned the Oswego. They did put a lot of cork in it, which greatly increased its comfort. But in this sole design - which is by the way a foundation of their whole line of other shoes - like Bend - increased comfort came at the price of durability. They used natural rubber here for the sole, which is much softer than man made rubber. The cup sole is thin and soft - is known to easily tear at the stitching (rubber tears), so no gluing does not seem to make it better at all. The advertising cork exposure line created a fault strain line in the high load hill area - I heard many stories when it very soon after purchase got detached and flapping around. And rubber quickly wears on the hill, exposing cork which then wears even faster and looks horrible. And it is unclear if it is possible to fix/resole it - whether you can get the cup sole from Birkenstock, whether you can reattach it? So - it is very comfortable sole/midsole design, but at the expense of these areas being very fragile and not lasting long.
Love your videos. Curious if any of the companies you’ve ever reviewed/exposed reached out to you with explanations/excuses or if any actually changed their production practices for the better based on your analyses? Keep it up!!
great video, would you ever review the birkis. I just wish you did a whole chef shoe series, including all the popular brands and new ones like mise(which are leather)
Just guessing here, but I was browsing the Birkenstock Bend low top style shoes, have the same looking sole as the Oswego. Wondering if that shoe has the same not-BS-ness, cause the all white and all black low top and mid top Bends look actually pretty slick.
@@perryelyod4870 the funniest thing to me is finding out Louis Vuitton makes a lot of products ima little town called San Dimas in Southern California lol
Thanks for this. Birkenstock are one of the few shoes/boots I can wear without them hurting my feet. I am going to get the Oswego based on this review. Please do the Bryson boot.
So I have a pair of “Bend Low”. I have wide feet and high arches and find Birkenstock sandals very comfortable. But the shoes are not comfortable. I swear one has the arch support in a different location than the other and overall they’re super inferior to my sandals, even though they’re the same size. I was hoping they would be some low key shoes I could wear to the office but I guess I will stick with New Balance.
I'm on my feet 40+ hours/week at work and wore the QO500 for a solid 6 months before my job started to require non-slip and safety toe shoes. Most comfortable shoes I've ever worn for restaurant/catering work. Granted I swapped the footbed out for the pair from my Bends (lace-up Oswego's). Now I wear the QS700 which are a hightop non-slip steel toe Birkenstock (had to order them from Germany) and awesome work shoe. As for the QO500 footbed I agree it's not great but I think it has something to do with the antistatic & electrostatic discharge safety ratings of the shoe &/or meeting the EU requirement for safety shoes (the QO/QS is new in the US but has been available in Europe for a while). You may think they're BS but I challenge you to wear them daily for a couple of months and reevaluate. And I figured the were glue because Birkenstock require specialist equipment to resole (but I live in Seattle and we have two shops for that). I'm curious to see a review of the Birkenstock Birmingham boots because they're Horween leather and I know how much you like that.
Hey AJB. I was thinking about getting the QO 400 (basically the 500 but slip on). I’m glad I found your comment bc the video turned me off from the shoes but you got me thinking it may be right way to go. Also, idk if you saw already but he already did a review of the Birmingham! It’s good insight on it. I have the Birmingham in the oxblood (roast) color and I love them. I’m gonna order the Birmingham in black just to have options bc I love the boots so much
Have never owned a pair of Birkenstock, but love Haflinger shoes/sandals & slippers & have worn many over decades! Would love to see you analyze any of their products!
I got my first pair of birks a couple of years back now and was so sad that I walked through the original soles in less than a month. I had done a lot of walking, but that really surprised me. I don't see myself getting anything else from this brand
I'm on the hunt for a light kitchen steel-toe with low profile. So i choose for the BS5000 in high and white. 150€ for a size 13 is sadly on the lower end. There are cheeper but they weigh a ton. Will tell you how they held up in apx a year, because working shoes rarely hold longer than this on me🤗
I happend to look at the perforated suede shoe today - held up to the light - no light coming through the holes. Maybe the holes go through the suede and then are covered by a solid interior liner.
I'd love to see you cut in half the "Bend" and/or the "Bend Decon". Both look similar to the Oswego but with Lace-up uppers. I'd also like to see the "Reykjavik" just to see if it's really a Boston Clog with EVA wrapping the sole or just more BS 5000 kind of high jinx.
I wish I found your channel before buying the Birks. I bought the BS 5000's. They've held up, but understanding more of the shoes through the content of your channel, I realized I got scammed.
Winter is coming you should make a winter boots series best alternative to Sorel caribou, that are not as good as they where in the past with Kaufman made. Kamik, Baffin, Nats, Nats are really warm and don’t slip too much.
Could you cut open the Birkenstock QS700 safety toe? I work in the TV/Film industry and these were recommended to me for the handful times a year where the location requires a safety toe.
People need to realize that this are businesses like any other business and the mantra is PROFIT, we don't get stuff like they use to. Stop buying shitty products relying in brand names and start learning how to figure out if a specific garment is of quality, strat by knowing the materials and the way the garment is made. Start by looking at the label and see the materials and were it was made 😉
Hey Rose Anvil. I'm an aircraft mechanic and my feet are killing me! What are the best boots you would choose regardless of cost? A little protection from tool dropping, some chemical/oil resistance, and comfort on concrete all day! You cannot escape concrete at an airport and hangars!
I'm happy with my Bends just for being a leather sneaker that's actually shaped like a foot. I do wish it lived up to the comfort of their sandals though.
I'd love to see motorcycle boots cut in half. Particularly boots designed to look casual. I have a feeling a lot are just crap quality boots with one or two motorcycle specific features in them so they can charge a huge markup
Thank you for your hard work. I recently was in a Birkenstock store, and I noticed a big change in the shoes some of the older styles they didn’t carry anymore or reinvented them. Thank you.
That's disgusting. the Q0500 is the shoe that most bosses would allow their employees to wear and yet the quality is so terrible, that restaurant workers and hospital workers will suffer. Birkenstock should be ashamed of themselves. The BS5000 is so terrible but the cork tape and fake leather on the other shoes are terrible too. If it's not Birkenstock clogs, I'd go somewhere else for my workshoes. Thank you for this video! Stay awesome.
Would like your review about the birkenstock bend low as I purchased the mink one at around $220 from where I am from and looking if the overall quality of it speaks for the price I paid for.
I wonder, if the cork on the outside isn't real, perhaps it's because in the winter months, for example, in the UK, the Cork would, as with the Arizonas, fall apart if they got soaking wet... It wouldn't be good if they had real cork in the winter shoes...
Thanks for the teardowns Weston. I was disappointed to see the materials in the QO500 work shoe aren't good. I was hoping to get myself a pair of Birkenstocks QS700 boots, as I like footwear with wide toe boxes and minimal drop. I may reconsider and just get something with an arch, but proven quality like a Red Wing work boot. I have an idea for a monthly theme, Safety & work boots/shoes. If it happens, please do the QS700 & Dewalt Plasma.
I have a pair of the QS 700 and I really like them, but I definitely wouldn't buy them new for that price. I got them slightly used for less than half of the original price and they're really holding up well in the (for the most part) chill ikea warehouse where I work. They broke in really nicely and as a barefoot shoes wearer I love the toebox and zero drop (almost, I took out the original cork footbed and just slapped in a flat insole)
2nd the idea of a safety toe month. Had Wolverine Durashocks for about 4 years, Redwing Loggers for 6 years, and Georgia insulated loggers for almost 8 years.
Please revisit cutting open the sandals as the last couple of pairs my wife has gotten in the last 2 years have worn out so much faster then ones she had 4-5 years ago and the finish and quality is crap to
Born got me with their clogs. I scored an old pair that were incredible. When I tried to replace them with the same shoe that was more recently manufactured, the sole cracked within months. I didn't make enough to purchase them in the first place, but I was trying to avoid the poverty tax for once. Makes life feel sort of cruel and random when there's no way to tell what you're gonna get, even if you believe you know what to look for. It's def helpful to hear it from a pro.
So the Artemis moon crew was just announced this week and NASA put them out for interviews on TV. They were even on with Colbert. I mention it only because they were styling some great looking uniform boots in the interviews, and thought they'd make a great teardown for ya. Thanks for putting out great videos.
I love Dansko shoe. I have slim line athletic type for walking and traveling. I have 3, I switch out for work. Nurse here on her feet. I do love Birkenstock Sandals. I do prefer dansko styling and comfort and support
As a dude that was light infantry man who made his money on his feet and love being in the gym but developing degenerative arthritis over the years I’ve went through alot a lot o ay again apt of boots shoes to trying all different kind of things shoe wise getting out of military boots was hard but finding your channel made it easier going from rotating 12 pairs of shoes and boots to 4 pares of boots and shoes from barefoot to hunting boots welll shoes you reviewed that I use as everyday and hunting boots I won’t say you’ve saved me a bunch of money but I will say you’ve saved me a lot of comfort and pain which means so much more to me so thank you more then you will know and I will continue to watch your vids.. and I plan on asking for one of your customs wallets thanks agian
My original sandals lasted 25 years before breaking down... Now, I don't see anything in their lineup to get excited about enough to want to buy them. Pity... loved those sandals. Whose sandals are best? Will you do a sandal shootout in the desert episode?
There's a German company called Alpro who take regular birki sandals and reconstruct them with harder, more durable grippier outsoles, almost vibram-like. Their market is kitchen, hospital staff. I had a pair for 15 years and the soles were as good as new at the end of it. One of the straps broke in the end. I've never been able to find replacements for them. 😢
i gave up on Birkenstock last year with their sandals. wore them for a month and they fell apart and the bottom rubber was fraying. Wasn't even doing anything rough with them. Just normal everyday wear.
Are the bend lows footbed constructed the same like their arizona/Boston/Milano sandal's? ik their soft footbed, regular/classic and then there's the vegan one that is similar to the classic option.
@@aight365 I don’t have a normal pair of birks to compare it too but to my knowledge, yes it is a full thickness cork blend footbed like in traditions Birkenstocks. They are very comfortable. My only complaint is that I had to exchange my first pair due to some discoloration of the white leather. No biggie to me.
I know nothing about quality shoes, but been trying to learn more since I have bunions and flat feet. Wouldn't be getting these kinds if shoes anyway, but great information in general, thanks 👍
I wish you would check out Olukai shoes. Their main gimmick is that the back of the foot can fold down converting them into slips. I’ve been wearing them for years, but I’d like your take.
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Are we gonna get the dievier cut in half video?
Low quality product equals more sales and more money made. High quality equals less sales and less money made. This concept applies to everything we buy.
I don't think you should be so critical of your early vids. They were simple, in a genuine way, yet informative. They were what turned so many people on to your content. And to be honest, I miss them. I mean, not like I'm gonna go back and re-watch all of them. But I miss the old Rose Anvil. The sparse edits, the absence of graphics and memes, Toaster... It's a major part of what sold your honesty and impartiality. They were several steps above your Uncle John's review of the CAT boots he got for Christmas, but comfortably below the polish and sheen of what I fear Rose Anvil is approaching. I hope it doesn't come to that...
I am actually using them for over a year already. I am pretty happy but cell coverage in my area is not as good as it was with my previous provider (Verizon). I believe Mint is using the T-Mobile network. It's cheap though. I guess you get what you pay for.
Would you consider making a video on the “Margaritaville Men's Anchor Lace Boat Shoe”, thanks.
The family that owned Birkenstock sold the majority interest in the company a couple of years ago. The corporation that bought it owns numerous "designer" and "fashion " brands that focus more on style . There is now a change in the company to alter the image of the Birkenstock to a fashion product and we are seeing these types of compromises in the construction of their products. My business was an Authorized Repair Center for Birkenstock in Canada since 1990 and after Birkenstock was purchased, Birkenstock Canada discontinued supporting repairing their own products. We no longer associate our company name with Birkenstock.
Yep. I'm so disappointed I didn't know about this and order a bunch more shoes b4 it happened. Quality has really gone down, wouldn't pay that price for the materials they're using now. If I'm gonna go for those types of materials I'll opt for the cheaper Vionics. Same ergonomics and now pretty much the same synthetic materials
I had a pair Birkenstock 'everyday' shoes which I bought in year 2000 and I wore them almost every day for more than ten years until my shoe maker told me they couldn't repair them any more. Since then I've been looking for the same kind but haven't seen them. I'm glad I watched this so that I don't buy another couple.. But it's really sad that you can't find that quality any more.. They used to be so popular here in Sweden, but I haven't seen so many wearing them lately.
Exactly on the repairs. The sandals wear out so fast now. I will no longer purchase them.
Can I ask what brand you recommend now instead of Birkenstock?
I've got Halfinger, but they aren't on old Birkenstock level of longevity. I assume Birkenstocks are still better, but I won't buy anything owned by LVMH out of principle.
Man, it is super disappointing to see companies like Birkenstock and Carhartt sell out their reputations.
Once it hits the masses they become rich overnight and 99.5% of people will be uneducated on how they're made and just care about the name
Yeah, I remember a friend returning home from his 1-year stay in Montana in 2002 with a Carhartt jacket and a pair of working gloves worn there by most horse & cattle handlers, but also normal folk for their quality. Fast forward to 2010/2023 the brand seems to have morphed into a fashion product getting rid of most of its once inherent and distinct robustness. 😐
@@Hogibaer Carhartt still makes great work wear but then they also stick their name on garbage. It's ridiculous.
Well, Birkenstock was sold to an investment company affiliated with LVMH, no wonder it went down the shitter afterwards.
@@minecraftzocker272 Do you know which company that happens to be by chance? I know Birkenstock and Crocs skyrocketed during Covid
I work as a nurse and love my birk slides after a shift, I was considering getting the BS5000s as my next work shoe and you've spared me that mistake. Thanks
The inconsistency is so frustrating. It seems clear that they're outsourcing these shoes and boots to a bunch of different factories with different construction methods and materials so it's incredibly hit-or-miss.
They're all Made in Portugal, so I cannot imagine too many different factories making them. Nevertheless, the designs are all from Birkenstock central since these aren't just rebranded generic shoes from Alibaba or whatever.
@@poppinc8145 there are a truckload of shoe factories in Portugal, manufacturing for tons of different brands. They probably outsourced production to many different factories, working out deals with them individually to create shoes based on their patterns and in some cases using their materials (since there's consistency in lining materials, for example). But if you take the construction of the first two shoes, for example, the lasting board is totally different, the sole construction is totally different, literally nothing about these two shoes appears the same. If it weren't for the Birkenstock name and the made-in-Germany insoles, you would never know these are even the same brand. They're rebranded generic shoes from Portugal, with some (apparently varying) degree of input from Birkenstock.
@@poppinc8145 cannot imagine many factories? Never been to Portugal, huh?
The factory will make it how you say with the materials you request. This is all on Birkenstock
@@joshuathorson8813 oh for sure it's on them. They should be shooting for consistency in materials and design and setting up their manufacturing partners to make high-quality shoes in the Birkenstock spirit (cork, leather, and arch support).
I have 2 pairs of the Bend Lows and they seem to be of similar construction as the oswego for anyone curious. I've been wearing them a few times a week since last summer and they are the most comfortable shoe I own, in a hard soled birkenstock kind of way, dont expect s squishy newbalance or nike feel.
I first discovered Birkenstock sandals in the early 70's. They were stacked in a big display bin in the middle of a discount store. Not a shoe store mind you but a discount store, and they were deeply discounted because no one was buying them (it wasn't the most attractive sandal). I needed something to wear around the house and the combination of the cork insole design and leather straps looked comfortable so I decided to buy a pair. I paid less than $10 for them... including tax! A few days later I put them on and was amazed at how great they felt. I couldn't imagine why no one else had bothered to develop a shoe that fit the foot so well and felt so good before then, and though I bought them just to wear around the house I ended up wearing them everywhere. Weeks later it seemed that everywhere I went I saw people with them on and within months everyone was raving about their comfort and ease of wear. They held up really well and were so inexpensive that if anything did happen replacing them was no big deal.
Recently I was pleasantly surprised to see them advertised and tried looking for the same sandal only to discover that like every other shoe company they make different versions of it and prices are over the top. I can't help but wonder if the quality is still the same.
Really disappointing.
Spent a summer selling and repairing birks a couple years back. Folks would bring in ooollldddd pairs that needed fixed up and for the most part the footbeds were the same as the brand new ones we replaced them with. Different adhesive was all
Why the hell does it have to be about your life story? We dont need to hear the whole thing to reach your opinion.
@@jangdi. apparently there are others who disagree 😁
@@jangdi.And you literally didnt have to read any of it. Youre the a-hole pal
@malice5121 exactly! I've started doing the same thing with any and every thing I come across that I absolutely love. As soon as I'm able I go back and purchase at least one, if not two or three more of the same item. Company's CEO's don't seem to take pride in their wares any longer. It's all about the bottom line.
So frustrating!
Wow I’m shocked at how much they charge for so little quality materials
I’m afraid a lot of things are made that way now in days
Yeah I think they're just cashing in on the brand name now. But they're gonna learn pretty quick that most ppl who wore birkies did so out of necessity (podiatry recommendation) and with the reduced quality we've already moved on to cheaper brands
The info from this gleaned from this series needs to be better organized somewhere.
I have plantar fasciitis and the Arizona sandal was like medicine for my feet. But I needed something more office appropriate and I got the QO500. The QO500 feels nothing like their sandals. Super painful for my feet. Now I know why. Thanks for the info @Roseanvill!
Try the bends there great
Have you tried Vionics?
Ive been battling the plantar fasciitis shit for almost a year now and have found a few good things while waiting for the orthotic.
Footprint Insoles makes a heat moldable insole that helped me a lot when im at work, and now outside of work i wear barefoot type shoes with a little arch support
@@chrism4008 I also switch from arch support to barefoot shoes and back-and-forth too much support for too long bothers my feet, and the same for barefoot
I wear the Boston Clogs to work, same basic construction as the sandals, but more full coverage.
As a flooring installer to see carpet pad used in a shoe is insane to me that stuff on the floor where wear is not focused at all basically turns to dust in 5 years or so, can't imagine that lasting more then 4 or so months.
would you say that it floored you?
I've been looking at the Bend Low. Would like to see it cut apart.
“ Using their good name to sell a bad product “ Rose Anvil ... Sums up Birkenstock!! Thanks for exposing them.
sums up every business that gets too big in a market where consumers buy on the basis of brand name instead of merit
It's a shame bcos they USED to be a great brand
Dude, thank you for cutting into these shoes and the many others you have done and calling out their strengths and weaknesses.
I'm from Germany and have worn Birkenstock sandals my whole life, since I was a child. I still remember that in the 90s the sandals would last for three, four, sometimes five years and were expensive, but not as expensive compared to dress shoes or running shoes. I remember that my parents bought me some medium expensive dress shoes, made out of real leather for around 200 DM, while my Birkenstocks would have cost something between 100-150DM and, as I said, lasted several years.
Theese days, when I buy a pair of Birkenstocks (rarely!), their quality somehow droped. I wear them only occasionally and still they get worn through in sometimes half a year, sometimes a year.
And in the 90s, me and my parents have worn them the whole day and we lived on a farm, so they went through some heavy duty work, while in the past years I mostly wear them on the balcony or in the basement or when I get the mail in.
And the pair, I am wearing now was quite expensive... Around 150-200 Euro. Thats the ammount, you would pay over here, to get some not posh, but still decent shoes.
I did not know, that they also make shoes nowadays, but they seem to rip people off.
Oh, and here they are focussing their marketing strategy realy on that whole idea of using fake leather, since it is 'animal friendly' and using less cork, because real cork is somehow an endangered species or somehting like that. That might be true, but I'd rather pay 50 Euro more for a shoe that's not made with leather or cork, but with good quality materials instead of paying the price for cork and leather for a product that mostly uses cheap and inferior materials and tries to sell to a livestyle community rather than normal people.
It's good to hear a real wold story that backs up what the video described.
Birkenstock used to be a family-owned Business that was Sold out to a Private Equity firm. These firms slap the purchase price of the company onto the bought company, and try to reduce costs wherever they can whilst increasing selling prices. They then call this restructuring the company and maximising profits. These companies are only in for the money. The quality of a product is not on their list of priorities. Marketing is.
I’d love to see some videos of some boots made by Canadian manufacturers like Canada west boots, they seem to provide similar quality to some of the American workboot brands like redwing but at a slightly lower price I’d like to see the differences in the quality and if they’re actually as comparable as they seem
Same - big fan of Canada West boots.
Dayton Canada would also be a welcome review Go Made in Canada!!
@@acomingextinction i wear a pair of there western boots for work, I'd really like to see some cut apart
"Its not going to wear out as fast" You literally answered your own question on why they dont use real leather on the insole. Its all about making you buy another pair sooner rather than later.
Eh, the out sole will always wear out before anything on a shoe
@@tonytomato100 hence why resoling is a thing
While planned obsolescence is a thing, my hot take is this is far more about lowering the cost of production to increase margin. It's likely more shortsighted than planned obsolescence.
What they’re missing is the ‘well, these suck….I’m not buying another’
I ordered a pair of the Birkenstock Martons after the last video based on your no BS rating. Thanks for doing what you do, you’ve probably saved me $500 over the last couple years.
PS- if you had a channel membership or superthanks thing I’d hook it up.
He has a Patreon if you click on the details of his channel
@@infallibleblue already there
I had a pair of Birkenstock shoes in the early 2000s. My favorite pair of casual dress shoes of all time. Very well constructed from quality materials. They were every bit as good as their sandals. They did eventually wear out a few years later, and I tried to replace them with more Birkenstock shoes. I picked up three different shoes at the store, and promptly walked out. They were nowhere near equivalent to the original pair that I loved. I do still have a pair of arizona birks for extremely casual days. I think they are still made like the originals. If anyone knows of a comparable sandal, I'd be willing to try alternatives.
Yes, had a pair of Maryland maryjanes, loved them so much. They were wide enough for my duck feetwore them for 6 years. When I tried to replace them, they had some crappy narrow "replacement" for the Maryland model.
Many years ago, when I wanted a shoe that was like Birkenstocks but fully enclosed, I bought a pair of Naots. I'm not sure if they're still making them but they were great shoes, more comfy than Birkenstocks but just as supportive.
If you want the features of the Oswego in a sneaker, the Bend sneaker is what you’re looking for. I have 2 pairs, they’re great.
Love the wide toebox on these, very hard to find with any other leather sneakers.
I strongly believe that most companies have a product they make really well and a lot of stuff that’s there to make money. For Birkenstock the sandals are the good stuff, I never considered buying other shoes from them. Also here in Germany Birkenstock sandals are kind of important so a lot of people are very unhappy with the recent changes (especially the price increases and new “luxury” versions) but fortunately the sandals last forever
BTW - on Oswego Birkenstock says the midsole is made of PU and cork - without telling how much of each. It could be exactly the same material decorating their boots around to look like cork....
Since you are going through the Birkenstocks, try the Halflingers. They are also made out of cork seal and wool
I though you would review the bend low… they look amazing.
I was happy to find a couple of pairs of Birks similar to the "BS" 5000, but made in 2004. At least they have the real side stitching, the better footbed and the leather feels a little better. But you're right about the cheapening of the current models. I gave them a pass on sight.
im surprised you didnt get the "Bend" sneakers from brikenstock, though they put the "cork" window on the outside, they use a good drop in midsole like the Oswego. and from my naked eye it has decent leather quality
Yeah, I would have liked to see other shoes than the tested models.
I could be wrong but I think the Oswego and the bend share the same base just a different top
10/10 on the honest and thorough reviews
I've been wearing a pair of the oiled leather Seavees slip-ons which are super comfortable and look good but are absolutely disintegrating after barely 6 months of 2-3x a week city wear and I've been looking at the Oswegos as slightly better quality replacement for a bit more money with the same look. After your previous Birkenstock video I hesitated but now I think these don't look too bad after all
As someone who just bought the Birkenstock Bend Low
Suede Embossed, it was a little alarming to see this video title, BUT when I go to the Birkenstock site and read what they write about, for example, Q0500, it fits completely with what this video documents.
I found this video misleading.
Thank you for this. The only shoes I wear almost all day every day are Birkenstock sandals. I was thinking about buying another style shoe, but I'm glad I didn't. The price was a deterrent and now the sketchy business practices is.
Love your channel. Would you cut through some Birkenstock bend lows?
Thank you for your review! You favorably mentioned the Oswego. They did put a lot of cork in it, which greatly increased its comfort. But in this sole design - which is by the way a foundation of their whole line of other shoes - like Bend - increased comfort came at the price of durability. They used natural rubber here for the sole, which is much softer than man made rubber. The cup sole is thin and soft - is known to easily tear at the stitching (rubber tears), so no gluing does not seem to make it better at all. The advertising cork exposure line created a fault strain line in the high load hill area - I heard many stories when it very soon after purchase got detached and flapping around. And rubber quickly wears on the hill, exposing cork which then wears even faster and looks horrible. And it is unclear if it is possible to fix/resole it - whether you can get the cup sole from Birkenstock, whether you can reattach it? So - it is very comfortable sole/midsole design, but at the expense of these areas being very fragile and not lasting long.
dude. thank you so much for these videos. entertaining, informative, interesting... but also a real public service.
Love your videos. Curious if any of the companies you’ve ever reviewed/exposed reached out to you with explanations/excuses or if any actually changed their production practices for the better based on your analyses? Keep it up!!
I've been reliant on you for a lot of my footwear buys. Thank you for your service ! ;)
great video, would you ever review the birkis. I just wish you did a whole chef shoe series, including all the popular brands and new ones like mise(which are leather)
It would be interesting to see the same test on the Bend sneaker as well.
Just guessing here, but I was browsing the Birkenstock Bend low top style shoes, have the same looking sole as the Oswego. Wondering if that shoe has the same not-BS-ness, cause the all white and all black low top and mid top Bends look actually pretty slick.
I love my Birkenstock. I’ve had six pairs. I try other more stylish ones but always go back to Birkenstock. My back thanks me, so do my arches❤️
I was expecting Birkenstock quality to go down since they were sold to LVMH and sadly it happened 😟
Oh, that company. Want to buy a 'fashion bag' made out of coated canvas for only $3,750 US? Or an Omega watch made by Swatch?
@@perryelyod4870 the funniest thing to me is finding out Louis Vuitton makes a lot of products ima little town called San Dimas in Southern California lol
@@perryelyod4870 Omega is in the swatch group, but their watches are in no way beneath Rolex in quality.
We need an update on the Bostons. Mine are on their last legs (7years old) and I’m concerned that the newer batches aren’t the same.
Thanks for this. Birkenstock are one of the few shoes/boots I can wear without them hurting my feet. I am going to get the Oswego based on this review. Please do the Bryson boot.
I was about to buy honnef but you opened my eyes. Thank you so much bro 👍
0:56 I'd prefer to just get some Vans slip-ons, and even then I'd usually prefer other models they make, but these colors are so nice.
So I have a pair of “Bend Low”. I have wide feet and high arches and find Birkenstock sandals very comfortable. But the shoes are not comfortable. I swear one has the arch support in a different location than the other and overall they’re super inferior to my sandals, even though they’re the same size. I was hoping they would be some low key shoes I could wear to the office but I guess I will stick with New Balance.
I love mine - never an issue, use them for everything. Great boot
I'm on my feet 40+ hours/week at work and wore the QO500 for a solid 6 months before my job started to require non-slip and safety toe shoes. Most comfortable shoes I've ever worn for restaurant/catering work. Granted I swapped the footbed out for the pair from my Bends (lace-up Oswego's). Now I wear the QS700 which are a hightop non-slip steel toe Birkenstock (had to order them from Germany) and awesome work shoe. As for the QO500 footbed I agree it's not great but I think it has something to do with the antistatic & electrostatic discharge safety ratings of the shoe &/or meeting the EU requirement for safety shoes (the QO/QS is new in the US but has been available in Europe for a while). You may think they're BS but I challenge you to wear them daily for a couple of months and reevaluate. And I figured the were glue because Birkenstock require specialist equipment to resole (but I live in Seattle and we have two shops for that). I'm curious to see a review of the Birkenstock Birmingham boots because they're Horween leather and I know how much you like that.
Hey AJB. I was thinking about getting the QO 400 (basically the 500 but slip on). I’m glad I found your comment bc the video turned me off from the shoes but you got me thinking it may be right way to go. Also, idk if you saw already but he already did a review of the Birmingham! It’s good insight on it. I have the Birmingham in the oxblood (roast) color and I love them. I’m gonna order the Birmingham in black just to have options bc I love the boots so much
Very good content and very objective review that helps consumer like me who can’t just be cutting the shoes apart to see if it’s good.
❤
Should have tested the classic Birks like the Boston...
Have never owned a pair of Birkenstock, but love Haflinger shoes/sandals & slippers & have worn many over decades! Would love to see you analyze any of their products!
Terrific content; forensic shoe evaluations. I really like this stuff. THANK YOU AND WELL DONE, SIR!!!
Incredible editing! Awesome evolution respect your first videos!
I got my first pair of birks a couple of years back now and was so sad that I walked through the original soles in less than a month. I had done a lot of walking, but that really surprised me. I don't see myself getting anything else from this brand
I'm wondering what is inside the Birkenstock Montana.
I'm on the hunt for a light kitchen steel-toe with low profile. So i choose for the BS5000 in high and white. 150€ for a size 13 is sadly on the lower end. There are cheeper but they weigh a ton.
Will tell you how they held up in apx a year, because working shoes rarely hold longer than this on me🤗
I happend to look at the perforated suede shoe today - held up to the light - no light coming through the holes. Maybe the holes go through the suede and then are covered by a solid interior liner.
Would you be down to do a cut in half video of Birkenstock QS 700 steel toe work boot? I'm wondering if they did the same thing as the QO 500
I'd love to see you cut in half the "Bend" and/or the "Bend Decon". Both look similar to the Oswego but with Lace-up uppers. I'd also like to see the "Reykjavik" just to see if it's really a Boston Clog with EVA wrapping the sole or just more BS 5000 kind of high jinx.
I wish I found your channel before buying the Birks. I bought the BS 5000's. They've held up, but understanding more of the shoes through the content of your channel, I realized I got scammed.
Always enjoy and appreciate your reviews!
Winter is coming you should make a winter boots series best alternative to Sorel caribou, that are not as good as they where in the past with Kaufman made. Kamik, Baffin, Nats, Nats are really warm and don’t slip too much.
Could you cut open the Birkenstock QS700 safety toe? I work in the TV/Film industry and these were recommended to me for the handful times a year where the location requires a safety toe.
People need to realize that this are businesses like any other business and the mantra is PROFIT, we don't get stuff like they use to. Stop buying shitty products relying in brand names and start learning how to figure out if a specific garment is of quality, strat by knowing the materials and the way the garment is made. Start by looking at the label and see the materials and were it was made 😉
You got them! Congratulations on what you are doing!
Checkout the new diehard malibu soft toe moc toe.360°leather welt and look like redwing 877's.they cost is just under 200 bucks
I would have really loved to see the Birkenstock bends in this line up bc I think they are a way higher quality sneaker style shoe
Hey Rose Anvil. I'm an aircraft mechanic and my feet are killing me! What are the best boots you would choose regardless of cost? A little protection from tool dropping, some chemical/oil resistance, and comfort on concrete all day! You cannot escape concrete at an airport and hangars!
I'm happy with my Bends just for being a leather sneaker that's actually shaped like a foot. I do wish it lived up to the comfort of their sandals though.
I'd love to see motorcycle boots cut in half. Particularly boots designed to look casual. I have a feeling a lot are just crap quality boots with one or two motorcycle specific features in them so they can charge a huge markup
Thank you for your hard work. I recently was in a Birkenstock store, and I noticed a big change in the shoes some of the older styles they didn’t carry anymore or reinvented them. Thank you.
It's the change in materials that bothers me. Especially for the continued high $
since covid era all products were lost all profits that's why shrinkflation come into market and the result is...customer dis-satisfaction😢
That's disgusting. the Q0500 is the shoe that most bosses would allow their employees to wear and yet the quality is so terrible, that restaurant workers and hospital workers will suffer. Birkenstock should be ashamed of themselves. The BS5000 is so terrible but the cork tape and fake leather on the other shoes are terrible too. If it's not Birkenstock clogs, I'd go somewhere else for my workshoes. Thank you for this video! Stay awesome.
THANK YOU please recommend some good ones!!!
Would like your review about the birkenstock bend low as I purchased the mink one at around $220 from where I am from and looking if the overall quality of it speaks for the price I paid for.
The sole of this one is like the Oswego you just reviewed but would like a review specifically with this suede shoe
It does not. Might be worth 60 bucks.
I wonder, if the cork on the outside isn't real, perhaps it's because in the winter months, for example, in the UK, the Cork would, as with the Arizonas, fall apart if they got soaking wet... It wouldn't be good if they had real cork in the winter shoes...
Thanks for the teardowns Weston. I was disappointed to see the materials in the QO500 work shoe aren't good. I was hoping to get myself a pair of Birkenstocks QS700 boots, as I like footwear with wide toe boxes and minimal drop. I may reconsider and just get something with an arch, but proven quality like a Red Wing work boot.
I have an idea for a monthly theme, Safety & work boots/shoes. If it happens, please do the QS700 & Dewalt Plasma.
I have a pair of the QS 700 and I really like them, but I definitely wouldn't buy them new for that price. I got them slightly used for less than half of the original price and they're really holding up well in the (for the most part) chill ikea warehouse where I work. They broke in really nicely and as a barefoot shoes wearer I love the toebox and zero drop (almost, I took out the original cork footbed and just slapped in a flat insole)
2nd the idea of a safety toe month. Had Wolverine Durashocks for about 4 years, Redwing Loggers for 6 years, and Georgia insulated loggers for almost 8 years.
Please revisit cutting open the sandals as the last couple of pairs my wife has gotten in the last 2 years have worn out so much faster then ones she had 4-5 years ago and the finish and quality is crap to
Born got me with their clogs. I scored an old pair that were incredible. When I tried to replace them with the same shoe that was more recently manufactured, the sole cracked within months. I didn't make enough to purchase them in the first place, but I was trying to avoid the poverty tax for once. Makes life feel sort of cruel and random when there's no way to tell what you're gonna get, even if you believe you know what to look for. It's def helpful to hear it from a pro.
As someone living in Germany, i really enjoy you dissing all my neighbors sandals.
Ive been watching this channel 3 years.
Way more finicky now ive been educated.
Cheers Bud.
Thank you for you exposing the inner working of Birkenstock. It seems that they have taken average consumer for granted.
So the Artemis moon crew was just announced this week and NASA put them out for interviews on TV. They were even on with Colbert. I mention it only because they were styling some great looking uniform boots in the interviews, and thought they'd make a great teardown for ya. Thanks for putting out great videos.
I love Dansko shoe. I have slim line athletic type for walking and traveling. I have 3, I switch out for work. Nurse here on her feet. I do love Birkenstock Sandals. I do prefer dansko styling and comfort and support
As a dude that was light infantry man who made his money on his feet and love being in the gym but developing degenerative arthritis over the years I’ve went through alot a lot o ay again apt of boots shoes to trying all different kind of things shoe wise getting out of military boots was hard but finding your channel made it easier going from rotating 12 pairs of shoes and boots to 4 pares of boots and shoes from barefoot to hunting boots welll shoes you reviewed that I use as everyday and hunting boots I won’t say you’ve saved me a bunch of money but I will say you’ve saved me a lot of comfort and pain which means so much more to me so thank you more then you will know and I will continue to watch your vids.. and I plan on asking for one of your customs wallets thanks agian
Mind blown! I have been thinking of getting a Oswego, this gives me more confidence.
This is the outcome where profit comes first rather than product integrity. Love your videos here they are very objective!
My original sandals lasted 25 years before breaking down... Now, I don't see anything in their lineup to get excited about enough to want to buy them. Pity... loved those sandals. Whose sandals are best? Will you do a sandal shootout in the desert episode?
That transition into the Mint mobile ad was absolute perfection. You have come a long way brother
It's a way to save money. The saw form
My Birkenstocks Bend Lows outsole was the weakest point! They lasted about 6 months
Thank you so much for making this!!
I love my birk sandals and bought a pair of shoes from them too. Looks like I got lucky with the birk lottery
There's a German company called Alpro who take regular birki sandals and reconstruct them with harder, more durable grippier outsoles, almost vibram-like. Their market is kitchen, hospital staff. I had a pair for 15 years and the soles were as good as new at the end of it. One of the straps broke in the end. I've never been able to find replacements for them. 😢
I wonder if the stock will lose due to quality issues
Thank YOU, Weston! You do good work--and you crack me up, in the interim! Long live Weston Kay!
One of the best channels on youtube...you're awesome Rose
i gave up on Birkenstock last year with their sandals. wore them for a month and they fell apart and the bottom rubber was fraying. Wasn't even doing anything rough with them. Just normal everyday wear.
Please do the bend low by Birkenstock. I feel like it’s a good quality shoe. It’s my go to white sneaker.
Same here, would love to see a review of the bend low.
Are the bend lows footbed constructed the same like their arizona/Boston/Milano sandal's? ik their soft footbed, regular/classic and then there's the vegan one that is similar to the classic option.
@@aight365 I don’t have a normal pair of birks to compare it too but to my knowledge, yes it is a full thickness cork blend footbed like in traditions Birkenstocks. They are very comfortable. My only complaint is that I had to exchange my first pair due to some discoloration of the white leather. No biggie to me.
I really thought the BS 5000 was going to be legit. Thank you for your insight!
I know nothing about quality shoes, but been trying to learn more since I have bunions and flat feet. Wouldn't be getting these kinds if shoes anyway, but great information in general, thanks 👍
Definitely thankful for channels like yours blowing the lid off of BS marketing
KEEP GOING 🥳🥳🥳
I wish you would check out Olukai shoes. Their main gimmick is that the back of the foot can fold down converting them into slips. I’ve been wearing them for years, but I’d like your take.