From a sustainability standpoint the buyout sucks. I’m more concerned about the acquisition leading to cost-cutting, profit-boosting maneuvers like lowering quality, exporting manufacturing, and decreased durability/function. This is a tragedy for Birk lovers.
We totally agree, we'll just have to see what direction the company takes with the brand moving forward. Thanks for taking the time to share here, Garrett!
Additionally, leaving their orthopedic roots leaves them completely vulnerable to fashion whims. As shown by their history, there will always be a market for quality footwear, but losing that reputation while chasing high fashion is a dangerous path.
All brands from LVMH are sharing the same thing. History and Prestige. They bought Rimowa too, a german manufacturer of luggage bags. They are more popular than 10 years ago even if they now cost 1200€ instead of 500€ for the aluminium version.
Lets be honest $145 is not "exoensive" for a sustainable, quality item that will last you 10+ years. It ends up being about 4 cents a day to wear comfortable shoes. Lets change the perspective from expensive to quality.
That's a great point, not bad if you're only buying shoes every so often rather than participating in trend cycles and such. Thanks for sharing, Yelizaveta 😃
I’d point out that that $145 is just the initial cost and doesn’t factor in the cost of repairs, which, in my experience, needs to be done at least yearly (mine do get a lot of usage). Last year, it cost me $100 per pair. I realized now I probably overpaid. But a $50-$75 repair bill is probably not unreasonable in my market, especially if you want something like vibram soles or a hard rubber heal. Cheaper than buying a new pair every year, for sure, and better for the environment, but not exactly free either
@@dalegaliniak607 got a question for you: where do you repair the shoes, do you have Birkenstock’s repair shop or just go to local repair shop? And what usually do you repair?
I don’t particularly understand why people think Birkenstocks look ugly. I can see why they would think that in the 60s and 70s, but today, just being made of leather and cork instead of synthetic materials puts them leagues ahead of most flip flops and sandals in terms of design
I think it’s the shape. The whole foot shape gets perceived as duck-flipper like. I disagree with this looking bad, but the slender profile is what most people respond to.
Absolutely agree! It feels as pushing of ones subjective opinion in the persuasive way 😅 as if he is trying to convince me that they ARE ugly (full stop)
After watching part 1, I finally bite the hella expensive price for a sandal and bought myself a Birkenstock Arizona to replace my cheap-ass sandals. Never have I wore a sandal so comfortable and perfectly support my foot like Birkenstock before.
I worked in the office for a popular global luxury fashion brand (Italian) from 1998 to 2008. Birks were already popular with all of us, the fashion set, especially the Boston. It was the shoe we wore in the office, with socks, under maxi dresses. I had difficulty at that time getting any of the unique textile versions that came out as my size, a 36, was never included in those runs. What happened later is expanded production, distribution and accessibility but it did already have appeal much earlier. And of course many doctor’s offices had Birk wearers decades ago. That said this was a great vid and I learned a lot.
I'm from Southern California and wore them in high school in the late 80s. Still wear them to this day. Love them or hate them they keep coming back and are timeless in their design. I'll take them over Crocs any day.
Hey Future Proof 👋 I’m so happy that you channel exist and I’m so sad that it doesn’t (yet) reach more people . Your content is 1. Well researched 2. Well produce 3. Hella funny . Thanks y’all for making such quality content that brings long term development and sustainability to everyone:)
I got my first pair of Birks when I was 14(1998) and got so much sh¡t from people. Cuz goth kids couldn't wear Birks with green plaid bondage pants and a purple polo shirt. I was a walking contradiction and I loved it. Comfy shoes are needed when sticking it to the man.
@@FutureProofTV Thank you for providing some awesome content. I love your lil quips, jokes, and way you deliver your information. I found your channel while looking into barefoot shoes for walking and hiking here in Wisconsin. I'm also looking at some of the "health benefits" of walking in something other than Keens sandals or the Reefs flip-flops I have now. I ordered some Vibram V-Alphas, waiting on my replacement pair, as I forgot what my EU size was and ordered them way too big. I was going to get a new pair of Birks but I didn't like the way they are constructed now.
My parents have been wearing birkenstock sandals for over ten years and I was always opposed to them as a pre teen / teen but I recently picked up a pair of oiled leather Arizonas and I am currently breaking them in hoping to experience the comfort everyone raves about. However, my birkenstock shopping experience was less than stellar. From inconsistent sizes, different size per feet etc. On top of that I had to return 2 pairs due to poor QA (Cork lacking seal, footbed not seated correctly to the sole and straps that were not fully attached) I fear that the newer birkenstocks are going to decrease in quality due to the buyout from LVHM.
@1betterthanyou1this is exactly what I figured would happen. Anytime you put a bigger company with bigger goals, especially financial ones it's always the quality and everyday person that suffers for it.
I got my first pair of birkenstocks in middle school in the mid-90s. Wore them to the ground. In college, I think I learned that they could be repaired, and did them, but my local cobbler didn't replace footbeds, so I would replace them every few years when the cork started falling apart (wish I knew that was a thing that could be done before recently. Oh well...). I started wearing clogs in the early 2000s, as a more foot-friendly way to wear birkenstocks in the winter. It's so weird having my anti-fashion become fashionable...
I’ve been wearing Birkenstock before it was a thing. I was stationed in Germany in the eighties and bought a pair then. People thought they were ugly, but I loved them. I love the hippy, bohemian kind of fashion and Birkenstocks to me is that. I have at least 12 pairs of different types. Besides the sandal I also have sneakers, boots and many sandals.
So I encountered your first video randomly c/o TH-cam recommendations and bought my first pair of Birkies coz of it. Initially I was unimpressed due to how firm the footbed is. But I kept on using it coz it was expensive. 😂 Fast forward today (roughly 8 weeks of wearing it) and I actually enjoy it. Yes, the foot bed is still firm but it has molded into my foot supporting my arch. I can’t explain it but because of how it supports my foot, it encourages my body to have better posture. I’m planning to buy additional colors and models in the future. Thanks for introducing me to this brand.
I graduated from high school in Mississippi in 2001, and the Bostons were super popular with the kids I went to school with back then. At the time, I could only afford a pair of knock-offs from JC Penney or Payless or somewhere. I finally got a pair of the Gizeh sandals a couple of years ago, and I love them!
Had two pairs of Arizona's in the 1970s as a teenager. Ended up getting the second pair because I outgrew the first one. And then after many years of wearing cute, often high-heeled shoes that squashed my feet and started to give me hammertoes with my very long toes and high arches, I decided to finally wear healthy footwear again. I have a silver leather pair of Madrids, a velvet gray suede pair of Arizonas and a black pair the waxed leather with suede underside Milanos. Love them all! I really like to wear the Milanos out the most because that they stay on really easily and help me stretch my toes instead of gripping. Although I've gotten good at walking with the mules so that they stay on without too much toe flexion. All of them are original Birkenstocks made in Germany. So glad I got them before the company got sold. And I don't think they look ugly at all I love all of them! And for my winter shoes I wear Doc Martens. Don't think I would go for the Birkenstocks clogs. If I'm going to have closed toe shoes I like a nice solid leather boot or shoe. That's more fashionable than those Birkenstocks clogs. But nobody better make fun of my Birkenstocks sandals.
quality control has gone down since they sold out. I've had to return more than one pair in the last 6 months due to damaged material or defects. Personally I cant wear their old school 'original' footbed. I developed a rather painful heel spur due to the absence of any cushioning in the heel cup.( I walk on my heel first) After a month of recuperating I've returned to the the soft footbed version which seems to have a little more cushioning
I work at Target. A couple of years ago, I was working in the shoe department when a young lady (maybe 15) came in looking for some Birkenstock knockoffs. She didn't know the brand name/technical way to decribe them, so she asked me if we had any" Uncle Earl Sandals". I knew excactly what she meant!
I had a Birkenstock Arizona in high school and wore them over a decade, I didn't know they were repairable back then or I would still have them. Now I'm thinking of the Milano style, which is the exact same shoe as the Arizona but with an ankle strap. This simple feature makes a big difference on how one walks in the shoe and makes it more akin to the barefoot shoes but with the benefits of the cork sole cushioning shocks. Kind of the best of both worlds.
Lmaooooo... That was extra Gross! I can smell the cheese through the phone! * I always made fun of people who wore those shoes. Now I will prolly buy a pair this year to see if they are great. I have to spend a mint on shoes anyway to keep my dogs from barking.
My brother wears only Birkenstock year round for more than 30 years since he discovered them. He has 3 pairs; sandals and clogs. Good thing there’s no snow is SoCal.
I’m not a big Birkenstock guy, I got my first pair just a few months ago (it’s the beach sandal version of the Arizona and I really love them). But, to see Birkenstock being purchased by a big company is disheartening especially now knowing Birkenstock’s legacy and reputation. I guess only time will tell how things will go.
my dad has worn Birkenstocks almost his entire life...i remember being about 8 and it was a huge deal when he bought a new pair, and as i just turned 20, he bought a new pair, because the soles wore out and he didn't know that he could get them replaced. I didn't even know they weren't waterproof, the way he would land and put boats in the water, and swim in them...and they are the most loved and used pair of shoes i have ever seen. i finally bought my own pair!
I lovingly refer to mine as Börkis and when I misplaced them, what happens about every day, I wander around my apartment calling out for my Börkis asking them where they are, as if they would answer my call 😂
I had a bad case of plantar fasciitis and BIRKENSTOCK saved my feet! I wore them 365 days a year, in winter with socks. I have spent hundreds of dollars on custom footbeds which caused MORE PAIN. Doctors could DO NOTHING BUT GIVE CORTISONE SHOTS, which are temporary relief and it ruins your bones and ligaments. That’s when I decided to try Birkenstock as a last resort. At first they were very uncomfortable and I took the advice: wear one hour a day. In time I wore them all the time. Podiatrists HATE Birkenstock because it cuts into their podiatry business. GOOOD!! These people never helped my feet except to MAKE THEM WORSE. I don’t CARE if they are “ugly ass shoes”. I can WALK AGAIN! WORTH EVERY PENNY! (Have you priced orthopedic custom footbed’s at $300 a pop??) I feel terrible that the family had such problems. Who cares about fashion if you CANNOT WALK!!!!!! Fine, call me a hippie! It doesn’t affect my COMFORT and the ability to walk without plantar fasciitis.
made mine worse it seems ,at least in my right heel, from the uncushioned. heel impact .Now Im trying the soft footbed version because I still have hope that they can help me with my PF when nothing else seems to.😔
I am very late to the party and discovered Birks last year. As a new Vermonter, I decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about. As an artist, I was very thankful that I could get them in hot pink and aqua -- I don't like the Arizona because the wide strap puts pressure on my bunions, but I do want leather uppers. The Mayari and Franca are just right. I tried the "soft footbed", but it was very rough on the soles of my feet. As long as they keep making the original footbed with classic uppers in fun colors and styling, I'm in for life.
@@FutureProofTV if you type the words into Google translate it can read it out to you, which might be really helpful to do this once with any new or international words 😉 Levi is introducing entire phonemes that don't exist in German. I think he will find they are easier to pronounce than you would think!
I own three pairs of Birkies and they are the most comfortable (summer) shoes/sandals I ever owned . I found them on a second hand website and will always buy em there
The quality of the birkenstocks I bought this year is definitely poorer than the ones I bought 7 years ago and the price has doubled. I was a huge fan of the brand, it's a shame, really a shame.
Was gifted a pair of EVA ones recently and they're just plain uncomfortable. Can't remember the last time a new pair of slides gave me blisters. The cork ones seem more pleasant though.
I LOVE my Birkenstocks, have worn them forever. I just struggle cleaning the footbed, so i just buy a new pair every few years. I do clean them but they never look that great afterwards.
My sister and my mom love Birkenstocks. I remember my mom wearing them in the 90s. The sandals I love are Chaos. There's a lot of similarities between the two and I would love to see y'all do a video about them
omg, i was at the mall the other day and wanted ti get a new pair of birkens but was shocked with how much more expensive they were! this is really disappointing.
He didn't mention, Berks had a wave of popularity among young Gen-Xers back in the 1990's. Like most things, they fell out of favor, especially when Walmart started selling cheap low quality knock offs and every Rube their Dad started wearing them, and now have made a comeback and popular again. Hell, I still have a pair from 1997. and they are comfortable as hell.
I actually love the Madrid, especially the Big Buckle model. Yes, they are expensive but given the quality and how much comfortable they are, not even that much. I also bought some fake Arizona in the past, and they were literal life savers.
Hey! My girlfriend and I absolutely LOVE your content! I was wondering if you guys were thinking about making a video about Uniqlo? I feel like they seem high quality and whatnot, but they're also quite low-priced. Is it sustainable and stuff? We would love to hear your opinion on this!
Birkens is not without flaw thou. The footbed can easily traps/keeps moisture and water so it might smell like extremely old and dry blue cheese if it is not properly treated
If your feet smell it’s because of toxicity released in sweat. Diet affects how a person smells. I have worn Birkenstocks since 1998 and have never found a more comfortable footwear and I never experienced smelly feet EVER.
I picked up a pair of the eva Arizona’s after the first video for $30. I do think they’re kinda ugly but I have to admit they’re pretty comfortable and they will now become my camp shoe since the Eva is so light lol
i have my birkenstock from way back then. it still is the best sandal i ever wore. for 8 years it went thru hell. Lakes, rivers, mountain hikes,the city. its bit worn out now, but i can get it fixed ^-^
You talk a lot about companies who have sold out and have slacked on quality, but what are some brands that really excel at price, quality and sustainability? I know a lot of the brands that I should not buy from, but what are the brands that I SHOULD. Just a video idea. Really like your content!
The sneakers are awesome. I found myself never wanting to wear anything except my arizonas so I went and got a pair of their bend sneakers and now I never wanna wear anything but
I have been wearing Birkenstock shoes for over 40 years with two downsides when they are worn out the shoe is flat hurts to walk in (new is like walking on clouds and springs - a soft bouncy shoe with little to no discomfit to feet, legs, and back something no other shoe has done for me) in about 2 years of daily use and the other is I can not wear any other normal shoe because no other normal shoe is as comfortable to wear, and my feet are now too wide I cannot find a shoe as wide as Birkenstock I did look! And Birkenstock has a new sole for the shoe very sweet I love this shoe, I would pay double the price if asked too my feet are that important to me, I see the shoe as cheap to buy!
I have high arched feet, my wife got me a pair many years ago to help with the foot pain and have been wearing them since. They last for a good 3-4 years and never get them repaired. However a couple of years ago, I noticed a cost increase and now I know why because of the company who purchased them
I have owned these shoes for 40 years and I think I’ve had like 6 or seven pairs. They last and last and the foot beds get broke in and they are the most comfortable shoe. It’s funny because If you ware different shoes for awhile and go back to Berks you immediately see your foot gets flat. You go back to berks and you can really tell your feet have to get use to it. I will never buy anything else. Can’t imagine life with out them.
I was debating some sandals and clogs because I'm unfashionable and like the look and have plantar fasciitis so I need a healthy shoe and would like to buy long lasting sustainable things. I'm a bit hesitant now.
Damn. You sold me. I want the camo ones now. They are sold out in my size or discontinued. I might buy Chaco slip ins instead. I haven’t decorate decided but the sustainable worm is eating through my brain.
The quality of the Birkenstocks aside it is important to mention that the Birkenstock company should be critizised for their fight against basic workers rights. They paid women significantly less till 2013 and bullied workers demanding or being active in the creation of shop commitees.
Literally just bought a pair of vegan Boston after watching this video cause I recently got really really bad blisters from trying to break in a brand new pair of 1461 doc martens. My feet and soul would like to thank you.
Literally have a pair I have had for THIRTY years, and have only needed to have the uppers reglued a few years ago. Obviously I don't wear them daily (they would have fallen apart by now otherwise). I have other younger pairs and they are just as sturdy! I'm disappointed to hear about the buyout, but I guess everyone has a price.
you can tell the difference between the older versions of birkenstocks and the newer ones : take a look at the cork sole. specifically the section where you pivot the most, the ball of your fee area. after many walks, that area will start to crack. the older cork bed/sole never did that. also, if you love your birkenstocks please, buy some of that cork sealant. you apply onto the cork. it will initially look white but then turns opaque.
Yeah I’m buying a new pair today and getting my first pair resoled .. so excited. They took me through two pregnancies and I wear them everyday at some point in the day. Need to go to the mailbox Birkenstocks, need to water the plants Birkenstocks, running an errand Birkenstocks… bonus my daughter is named Margot 🥰😂
I bought a particularly nice style of Birkenstock’s about 4 years ago (forgotten the name) and I constantly get stopped in the street by people asking me where I bought them. Wished I’d bought 2 pairs in that style- they don’t make it anymore.
Just got myself the white Gizeh with gold hardware at €76.50 on Farfetch directly from Germany and that's all I paid as the DHL shipping was complimentary. Didn't even need to break them in!! Super comfortable unlike any other shoe! A fantastic purchase and this summer its my go-to daytime shoe 😊
My dad has been wearing his Bostons on the tractor and in the shop since the late 90s. "Its like wearing my sandals, but with toe protection." He's right the leather on the Bostons is like boot leather.
Am I the only person who can’t get birks to fit my feet? I have long toes that don’t stay in the foot bed area making them rub on the indents. And the straps aren’t tight enough to to keep my feet from sliding. Does anyone have advice!?
Sadly lots of folks have been reporting a huge drop off in quality. All I wanted was a new pair of the great Birkenstock shoes I had since the 90's that were tanks but they don't make that style anymore and the new shoes just look poorly built in comparison. The sandals still look the same but they are built far more cheaply. Looks like yet another quality classic brand has bit the dust... RIP L.L. Bean, Duluth Trading, Birkenstock etc. etc.
I get the Walmart knockoffs and I’ve loved that look for the last 20 years. Idc what anybody says. I still wear them with super baggy cargo shorts or pants
From a sustainability standpoint the buyout sucks. I’m more concerned about the acquisition leading to cost-cutting, profit-boosting maneuvers like lowering quality, exporting manufacturing, and decreased durability/function. This is a tragedy for Birk lovers.
We totally agree, we'll just have to see what direction the company takes with the brand moving forward. Thanks for taking the time to share here, Garrett!
agreed.
Additionally, leaving their orthopedic roots leaves them completely vulnerable to fashion whims. As shown by their history, there will always be a market for quality footwear, but losing that reputation while chasing high fashion is a dangerous path.
All brands from LVMH are sharing the same thing. History and Prestige. They bought Rimowa too, a german manufacturer of luggage bags. They are more popular than 10 years ago even if they now cost 1200€ instead of 500€ for the aluminium version.
Just like what happened to Dr martens
Lets be honest $145 is not "exoensive" for a sustainable, quality item that will last you 10+ years. It ends up being about 4 cents a day to wear comfortable shoes. Lets change the perspective from expensive to quality.
That's a great point, not bad if you're only buying shoes every so often rather than participating in trend cycles and such. Thanks for sharing, Yelizaveta 😃
In Portugal they’re like 80€ and SUPER worth it
Israel from Birkenstock in Tel Aviv, about $133 and worth every penny!
I’d point out that that $145 is just the initial cost and doesn’t factor in the cost of repairs, which, in my experience, needs to be done at least yearly (mine do get a lot of usage).
Last year, it cost me $100 per pair. I realized now I probably overpaid. But a $50-$75 repair bill is probably not unreasonable in my market, especially if you want something like vibram soles or a hard rubber heal.
Cheaper than buying a new pair every year, for sure, and better for the environment, but not exactly free either
@@dalegaliniak607 got a question for you: where do you repair the shoes, do you have Birkenstock’s repair shop or just go to local repair shop? And what usually do you repair?
I don’t particularly understand why people think Birkenstocks look ugly. I can see why they would think that in the 60s and 70s, but today, just being made of leather and cork instead of synthetic materials puts them leagues ahead of most flip flops and sandals in terms of design
completley agree
I think it’s the shape. The whole foot shape gets perceived as duck-flipper like. I disagree with this looking bad, but the slender profile is what most people respond to.
Absolutely agree! It feels as pushing of ones subjective opinion in the persuasive way 😅 as if he is trying to convince me that they ARE ugly (full stop)
It has to do with the silhouette and overall shape language. It basically just communicates "crude brick". (Or at least my Arizonas do)
you´re right. Havaianas is way uglier but now that is a trens or was people just got used to it and accepted. I think birks are way more premium
After watching part 1, I finally bite the hella expensive price for a sandal and bought myself a Birkenstock Arizona to replace my cheap-ass sandals. Never have I wore a sandal so comfortable and perfectly support my foot like Birkenstock before.
That's awesome to hear, thanks for sharing with us! Glad to have you here ✌️💪
So true
A serious question, do they smell after a while?
@@samsensation786 mine never have
Ok I might have to get myself a pair 🤔
I worked in the office for a popular global luxury fashion brand (Italian) from 1998 to 2008. Birks were already popular with all of us, the fashion set, especially the Boston. It was the shoe we wore in the office, with socks, under maxi dresses. I had difficulty at that time getting any of the unique textile versions that came out as my size, a 36, was never included in those runs. What happened later is expanded production, distribution and accessibility but it did already have appeal much earlier. And of course many doctor’s offices had Birk wearers decades ago. That said this was a great vid and I learned a lot.
Scandicci?
You would think that 36 would be a super common women's shoe size. It's weird they weren't included.
I'm from Southern California and wore them in high school in the late 80s. Still wear them to this day. Love them or hate them they keep coming back and are timeless in their design. I'll take them over Crocs any day.
The fact that these are still coming out with Levi back in the apt. just proves this man’s dedication- keep it up!
Haha we had a big backlog ready for his big move! Thanks Michael 💪
@@FutureProofTV I've been waiting for the car for weeks, I'm impressed!
Birks>Crocs
We agree!!
Birks can rot, can't they?
The real stunner is leather birkenstock clogs. I call mine birkencrocs
@@FutureProofTV Disagree. There are these things found in nature called beaches, and rain...
I agree
Hey Future Proof 👋 I’m so happy that you channel exist and I’m so sad that it doesn’t (yet) reach more people . Your content is 1. Well researched 2. Well produce 3. Hella funny . Thanks y’all for making such quality content that brings long term development and sustainability to everyone:)
Wow, thanks so much Sam! We really appreciate it - just happy we've got people like you on board supporting what we're doing here 😀
I got my first pair of Birks when I was 14(1998) and got so much sh¡t from people. Cuz goth kids couldn't wear Birks with green plaid bondage pants and a purple polo shirt. I was a walking contradiction and I loved it. Comfy shoes are needed when sticking it to the man.
They sure are! Glad you stuck to your guns, and thanks for joining us here! 🙏
@@FutureProofTV Thank you for providing some awesome content. I love your lil quips, jokes, and way you deliver your information. I found your channel while looking into barefoot shoes for walking and hiking here in Wisconsin. I'm also looking at some of the "health benefits" of walking in something other than Keens sandals or the Reefs flip-flops I have now. I ordered some Vibram V-Alphas, waiting on my replacement pair, as I forgot what my EU size was and ordered them way too big. I was going to get a new pair of Birks but I didn't like the way they are constructed now.
Nothing more lame than a "rebellious" subculture that gatekeeps how to properly rebel or stick-it-to-the-man
My parents have been wearing birkenstock sandals for over ten years and I was always opposed to them as a pre teen / teen but I recently picked up a pair of oiled leather Arizonas and I am currently breaking them in hoping to experience the comfort everyone raves about.
However, my birkenstock shopping experience was less than stellar. From inconsistent sizes, different size per feet etc. On top of that I had to return 2 pairs due to poor QA (Cork lacking seal, footbed not seated correctly to the sole and straps that were not fully attached) I fear that the newer birkenstocks are going to decrease in quality due to the buyout from LVHM.
@1betterthanyou1this is exactly what I figured would happen. Anytime you put a bigger company with bigger goals, especially financial ones it's always the quality and everyday person that suffers for it.
Interesting! i haven't experienced this with mine.
I got my first pair of birkenstocks in middle school in the mid-90s. Wore them to the ground. In college, I think I learned that they could be repaired, and did them, but my local cobbler didn't replace footbeds, so I would replace them every few years when the cork started falling apart (wish I knew that was a thing that could be done before recently. Oh well...). I started wearing clogs in the early 2000s, as a more foot-friendly way to wear birkenstocks in the winter. It's so weird having my anti-fashion become fashionable...
11:00 I had a chuckle at your "Givenchy" pronunciation.
I’ve been wearing Birkenstock before it was a thing. I was stationed in Germany in the eighties and bought a pair then. People thought they were ugly, but I loved them. I love the hippy, bohemian kind of fashion and Birkenstocks to me is that. I have at least 12 pairs of different types. Besides the sandal I also have sneakers, boots and many sandals.
So I encountered your first video randomly c/o TH-cam recommendations and bought my first pair of Birkies coz of it.
Initially I was unimpressed due to how firm the footbed is. But I kept on using it coz it was expensive. 😂
Fast forward today (roughly 8 weeks of wearing it) and I actually enjoy it. Yes, the foot bed is still firm but it has molded into my foot supporting my arch. I can’t explain it but because of how it supports my foot, it encourages my body to have better posture.
I’m planning to buy additional colors and models in the future.
Thanks for introducing me to this brand.
I graduated from high school in Mississippi in 2001, and the Bostons were super popular with the kids I went to school with back then. At the time, I could only afford a pair of knock-offs from JC Penney or Payless or somewhere. I finally got a pair of the Gizeh sandals a couple of years ago, and I love them!
Bostons were popular in my school in Toronto as well! 2000-2005. I coveted a pair, and I think I'm finally going to get some this fall.
Same in Pennsylvania in 2003. I was very confused when he said they got popular in 2020 lol
Had two pairs of Arizona's in the 1970s as a teenager. Ended up getting the second pair because I outgrew the first one. And then after many years of wearing cute, often high-heeled shoes that squashed my feet and started to give me hammertoes with my very long toes and high arches, I decided to finally wear healthy footwear again.
I have a silver leather pair of Madrids, a velvet gray suede pair of Arizonas and a black pair the waxed leather with suede underside Milanos. Love them all! I really like to wear the Milanos out the most because that they stay on really easily and help me stretch my toes instead of gripping. Although I've gotten good at walking with the mules so that they stay on without too much toe flexion. All of them are original Birkenstocks made in Germany. So glad I got them before the company got sold. And I don't think they look ugly at all I love all of them!
And for my winter shoes I wear Doc Martens. Don't think I would go for the Birkenstocks clogs. If I'm going to have closed toe shoes I like a nice solid leather boot or shoe. That's more fashionable than those Birkenstocks clogs. But nobody better make fun of my Birkenstocks sandals.
quality control has gone down since they sold out. I've had to return more than one pair in the last 6 months due to damaged material or defects. Personally I cant wear their old school 'original' footbed. I developed a rather painful heel spur due to the absence of any cushioning in the heel cup.( I walk on my heel first) After a month of recuperating I've returned to the the soft footbed version which seems to have a little more cushioning
I work at Target. A couple of years ago, I was working in the shoe department when a young lady (maybe 15) came in looking for some Birkenstock knockoffs. She didn't know the brand name/technical way to decribe them, so she asked me if we had any" Uncle Earl Sandals". I knew excactly what she meant!
My friend made some broth from fancy sandals yesterday.
It was a Birkenstock
🤣🤣😭
I had a Birkenstock Arizona in high school and wore them over a decade, I didn't know they were repairable back then or I would still have them. Now I'm thinking of the Milano style, which is the exact same shoe as the Arizona but with an ankle strap. This simple feature makes a big difference on how one walks in the shoe and makes it more akin to the barefoot shoes but with the benefits of the cork sole cushioning shocks. Kind of the best of both worlds.
Lmaooooo... That was extra Gross! I can smell the cheese through the phone! * I always made fun of people who wore those shoes. Now I will prolly buy a pair this year to see if they are great. I have to spend a mint on shoes anyway to keep my dogs from barking.
Birkenstocks EVA or the plastic/croc like material are godly versatile. I got the black one and I wear them everywhere
I thought they were the best until I bought a pair of Keens. Keens are more comfortable and the build quality justifies the price.
My brother wears only Birkenstock year round for more than 30 years since he discovered them. He has 3 pairs; sandals and clogs. Good thing there’s no snow is SoCal.
Mate everyone in Sweden, Germany uses them!
At work ALL is doctors have them.
During summer 79% of people of all ages wear it
This video was hilarious ❤ Great videos! Entertaining yet informative ❤
I never thought Birkenstocks were ugly, and this video has me shocked there are people out there that think that.
I’m not a big Birkenstock guy, I got my first pair just a few months ago (it’s the beach sandal version of the Arizona and I really love them). But, to see Birkenstock being purchased by a big company is disheartening especially now knowing Birkenstock’s legacy and reputation. I guess only time will tell how things will go.
my dad has worn Birkenstocks almost his entire life...i remember being about 8 and it was a huge deal when he bought a new pair, and as i just turned 20, he bought a new pair, because the soles wore out and he didn't know that he could get them replaced. I didn't even know they weren't waterproof, the way he would land and put boats in the water, and swim in them...and they are the most loved and used pair of shoes i have ever seen. i finally bought my own pair!
I lovingly refer to mine as Börkis and when I misplaced them, what happens about every day, I wander around my apartment calling out for my Börkis asking them where they are, as if they would answer my call 😂
cute!
I had a bad case of plantar fasciitis and BIRKENSTOCK saved my feet! I wore them 365 days a year, in winter with socks. I have spent hundreds of dollars on custom footbeds which caused MORE PAIN. Doctors could DO NOTHING BUT GIVE CORTISONE SHOTS, which are temporary relief and it ruins your bones and ligaments. That’s when I decided to try Birkenstock as a last resort. At first they were very uncomfortable and I took the advice: wear one hour a day. In time I wore them all the time. Podiatrists HATE Birkenstock because it cuts into their podiatry business. GOOOD!! These people never helped my feet except to MAKE THEM WORSE. I don’t CARE if they are “ugly ass shoes”. I can WALK AGAIN! WORTH EVERY PENNY! (Have you priced orthopedic custom footbed’s at $300 a pop??)
I feel terrible that the family had such problems. Who cares about fashion if you CANNOT WALK!!!!!! Fine, call me a hippie! It doesn’t affect my COMFORT and the ability to walk without plantar fasciitis.
made mine worse it seems ,at least in my right heel, from the uncushioned. heel impact .Now Im trying the soft footbed version because I still have hope that they can help me with my PF when nothing else seems to.😔
I am very late to the party and discovered Birks last year. As a new Vermonter, I decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about. As an artist, I was very thankful that I could get them in hot pink and aqua -- I don't like the Arizona because the wide strap puts pressure on my bunions, but I do want leather uppers. The Mayari and Franca are just right. I tried the "soft footbed", but it was very rough on the soles of my feet. As long as they keep making the original footbed with classic uppers in fun colors and styling, I'm in for life.
As a German the way you’re pronouncing the words is so funny 😅 I’m sorry but it had to be said
Lots of love from Germany tho 🤗
He's trying his best 😅 thanks for joining us here! ✌️
Not just the German words... He's a catastrophe but we love him all them same.
'Angstreflex' - when all the letters are in the right order just in front of you, but you manage to create a whole new word nevertheless.
@@FutureProofTV if you type the words into Google translate it can read it out to you, which might be really helpful to do this once with any new or international words 😉 Levi is introducing entire phonemes that don't exist in German. I think he will find they are easier to pronounce than you would think!
I own three pairs of Birkies and they are the most comfortable (summer) shoes/sandals I ever owned .
I found them on a second hand website and will always buy em there
Where do you buy them?
Great video! I love to see the editing evolve and improve with each upload, keep this good thing going 👌
Thanks so much! We put a lot of work into these 🤗
@@FutureProofTV I can tell! I’m also curious about any open spots on the Future Proof team.
The quality of the birkenstocks I bought this year is definitely poorer than the ones I bought 7 years ago and the price has doubled. I was a huge fan of the brand, it's a shame, really a shame.
Don't let the footbed get wet! That's the quickest way to make them deteriorate!
As a german I love this video 😀😀😀
Was gifted a pair of EVA ones recently and they're just plain uncomfortable. Can't remember the last time a new pair of slides gave me blisters. The cork ones seem more pleasant though.
I LOVE my Birkenstocks, have worn them forever. I just struggle cleaning the footbed, so i just buy a new pair every few years. I do clean them but they never look that great afterwards.
My sister and my mom love Birkenstocks. I remember my mom wearing them in the 90s. The sandals I love are Chaos. There's a lot of similarities between the two and I would love to see y'all do a video about them
Conseguí las sandalias que salen en la portada. Nuevas originales en 8 dolares acá en Panamá
Love my Birkenstocks! But since LVMH took over, prices of shoes rose so much! Now one of my shoes would be 30€ more. That’s crazy!!
omg, i was at the mall the other day and wanted ti get a new pair of birkens but was shocked with how much more expensive they were! this is really disappointing.
He didn't mention, Berks had a wave of popularity among young Gen-Xers back in the 1990's. Like most things, they fell out of favor, especially when Walmart started selling cheap low quality knock offs and every Rube their Dad started wearing them, and now have made a comeback and popular again. Hell, I still have a pair from 1997. and they are comfortable as hell.
I actually love the Madrid, especially the Big Buckle model. Yes, they are expensive but given the quality and how much comfortable they are, not even that much. I also bought some fake Arizona in the past, and they were literal life savers.
5:31 and yet crocs LOL
Hey! My girlfriend and I absolutely LOVE your content! I was wondering if you guys were thinking about making a video about Uniqlo? I feel like they seem high quality and whatnot, but they're also quite low-priced. Is it sustainable and stuff? We would love to hear your opinion on this!
Hey there, that's great to hear! We may or may not have a UNIQLO video in the works... keep your eyes peeled for future uploads 😁👀
@@FutureProofTV Oooh that’s great! My notifications are already enabled :)
GEE👏🏽-VHAN👏🏽-CHEE! 👏🏽
Birkens is not without flaw thou. The footbed can easily traps/keeps moisture and water so it might smell like extremely old and dry blue cheese if it is not properly treated
If your feet smell it’s because of toxicity released in sweat. Diet affects how a person smells. I have worn Birkenstocks since 1998 and have never found a more comfortable footwear and I never experienced smelly feet EVER.
What do you mean by "properly treated"? Any tips?
@@itsmegiorgio Birkenstock sells a care kit on their website. Overpriced, of course, but at least you get everything you need.
I think that’s you. I’ve never had a smelly problem with feet.
You're not supposed to walk through creeks wearing them. Traps water??
I picked up a pair of the eva Arizona’s after the first video for $30. I do think they’re kinda ugly but I have to admit they’re pretty comfortable and they will now become my camp shoe since the Eva is so light lol
i have my birkenstock from way back then. it still is the best sandal i ever wore. for 8 years it went thru hell. Lakes, rivers, mountain hikes,the city.
its bit worn out now, but i can get it fixed ^-^
My mind is blown by the pronunciation of Givenchy 😂
Repeat after me. I am not an old hippy…Luv my burkie’s. For many many years now. Great story tell.
You talk a lot about companies who have sold out and have slacked on quality, but what are some brands that really excel at price, quality and sustainability? I know a lot of the brands that I should not buy from, but what are the brands that I SHOULD.
Just a video idea. Really like your content!
Will you do a comparison of pre 2021 birkenstocks and post?
I bought a pair of Birkenstocks after your last video. Scooped the Kyoto model :D
The sneakers are awesome. I found myself never wanting to wear anything except my arizonas so I went and got a pair of their bend sneakers and now I never wanna wear anything but
I just bought a new pair! The store was trying to get rid of them and I bought it for $60. Bless!!
The way u pronaunced giambattista valli and givenchy, adorable
Another kick()ss video!
I have been wearing Birkenstock shoes for over 40 years with two downsides when they are worn out the shoe is flat hurts to walk in (new is like walking on clouds and springs - a soft bouncy shoe with little to no discomfit to feet, legs, and back something no other shoe has done for me) in about 2 years of daily use and the other is I can not wear any other normal shoe because no other normal shoe is as comfortable to wear, and my feet are now too wide I cannot find a shoe as wide as Birkenstock I did look! And Birkenstock has a new sole for the shoe very sweet I love this shoe, I would pay double the price if asked too my feet are that important to me, I see the shoe as cheap to buy!
I have high arched feet, my wife got me a pair many years ago to help with the foot pain and have been wearing them since.
They last for a good 3-4 years and never get them repaired.
However a couple of years ago, I noticed a cost increase and now I know why because of the company who purchased them
I have owned these shoes for 40 years and I think I’ve had like 6 or seven pairs. They last and last and the foot beds get broke in and they are the most comfortable shoe. It’s funny because If you ware different shoes for awhile and go back to Berks you immediately see your foot gets flat. You go back to berks and you can really tell your feet have to get use to it. I will never buy anything else. Can’t imagine life with out them.
i wear white arizonas everyday for work as an orthodontic assistant. i love them.
I was debating some sandals and clogs because I'm unfashionable and like the look and have plantar fasciitis so I need a healthy shoe and would like to buy long lasting sustainable things. I'm a bit hesitant now.
Birkenstock gotta give thanks to this boi. I now own an Arizona because of him
Damn. You sold me. I want the camo ones now. They are sold out in my size or discontinued. I might buy Chaco slip ins instead. I haven’t decorate decided but the sustainable worm is eating through my brain.
"The kale of footwear" 😭😂😭😂
The quality of the Birkenstocks aside it is important to mention that the Birkenstock company should be critizised for their fight against basic workers rights. They paid women significantly less till 2013 and bullied workers demanding or being active in the creation of shop commitees.
Literally just bought a pair of vegan Boston after watching this video cause I recently got really really bad blisters from trying to break in a brand new pair of 1461 doc martens. My feet and soul would like to thank you.
Literally have a pair I have had for THIRTY years, and have only needed to have the uppers reglued a few years ago. Obviously I don't wear them daily (they would have fallen apart by now otherwise). I have other younger pairs and they are just as sturdy! I'm disappointed to hear about the buyout, but I guess everyone has a price.
you can tell the difference between the older versions of birkenstocks and the newer ones : take a look at the cork sole. specifically the section where you pivot the most, the ball of your fee area. after many walks, that area will start to crack. the older cork bed/sole never did that.
also, if you love your birkenstocks please, buy some of that cork sealant. you apply onto the cork. it will initially look white but then turns opaque.
I feel like it would be really cool for you to cover Allbirds shoes. They seem to make similar promises and would be interesting to cover.
Could you please make a video about another German classic - the Lamy Safari pen? :)
We'll make sure to look into it, thanks for the suggestion!!
Any chance there's enough content about Chacos to do a similar video?
After I watched the first Birkenstock video I legit went out and bought a pair of Arizona’s (white)
Yeah I’m buying a new pair today and getting my first pair resoled .. so excited. They took me through two pregnancies and I wear them everyday at some point in the day. Need to go to the mailbox Birkenstocks, need to water the plants Birkenstocks, running an errand Birkenstocks… bonus my daughter is named Margot 🥰😂
It's cute how he pronounced Givenchy as ga-vin-chee 😉
North Face had good stuff at one time but then started selling backpacks to kids. I knew the brand was done. Now Birkenstock, ugg.
I bought a particularly nice style of Birkenstock’s about 4 years ago (forgotten the name) and I constantly get stopped in the street by people asking me where I bought them. Wished I’d bought 2 pairs in that style- they don’t make it anymore.
Just got myself the white Gizeh with gold hardware at €76.50 on Farfetch directly from Germany and that's all I paid as the DHL shipping was complimentary. Didn't even need to break them in!! Super comfortable unlike any other shoe! A fantastic purchase and this summer its my go-to daytime shoe 😊
I actually have 5 pairs of Gizehs, they’re the best!
I have a pair that i got from my father years ago amd they are still fine and were never hideous to me. Well, unless i wear socks with them, that is.
Brand ideas I’d love to see from y’all:
Chacos, Snowpeak, Nike Spacehippie, Jungmaven, RM Williams, Everlane, Burt’s Bees
I started wearing birkenstocks when I was 17 I'm now 62 and I have over 30 pairs, I even have my farmer boot wearing husband wearing them
I can not find some in a UK size 6. Only 5.5 then it goes to 7 Why?
How do you record these if you're living in a prius?
The videos in Levi's office are prerecorded.
My dad has been wearing his Bostons on the tractor and in the shop since the late 90s. "Its like wearing my sandals, but with toe protection." He's right the leather on the Bostons is like boot leather.
When I quick saw the thumbnail for this I thought it was the Sydney Opera house
Am I the only person who can’t get birks to fit my feet? I have long toes that don’t stay in the foot bed area making them rub on the indents. And the straps aren’t tight enough to to keep my feet from sliding. Does anyone have advice!?
They have option now to their website
Givenchy = French pronunciation. Love the content!
Sadly lots of folks have been reporting a huge drop off in quality. All I wanted was a new pair of the great Birkenstock shoes I had since the 90's that were tanks but they don't make that style anymore and the new shoes just look poorly built in comparison. The sandals still look the same but they are built far more cheaply. Looks like yet another quality classic brand has bit the dust... RIP L.L. Bean, Duluth Trading, Birkenstock etc. etc.
They are made in Portugal now :( welp there goes their authenticity and my respect for them
I know how to pronounce Givenchy, more or less, but I love imagining that someone is fuming mad right now about how you pronounce it.
Are rhe best shoes for your foot. Are not for fashion
The problem for me is that Birks have a toe ridge that really bothers my big toe. Torture devices… lol
ngl... but those boston clogs be hitting different. but my ass is too poor for that so imma buy myself some high heel crocs instead 🤣
I get the Walmart knockoffs and I’ve loved that look for the last 20 years. Idc what anybody says. I still wear them with super baggy cargo shorts or pants
I have a pair that's 6 years old. I need to wear them more.
Quality will plummet. No doubt.