What's real? Cork, leather, a buckle or two. A simple idea that's made feet happy for over two hundred years. That's the original Birkenstock. Made in Germany since 1774. No smoke, no mirrors. You walk and the shoe molds to your foot. You feel good, we feel good. That's the deal.
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Remove the shoes from the box and gently flex them with your hands or on the floor. Birkenstocks often feel a bit stiff at first and this will help soften them and make them feel comfy sooner. (hand flexing sandal)
Unbuckle ALL of the straps and place your feet in the shoes. Make sure your heels are ALL the way back in the heel cup of the shoes. The contours of the footbed should correspond to your own arch and the toe bar should fit comfortably beneath your toes, where you toes meet your foot. (foot in sandal with open straps)
Before you stand up, look to see if there is adequate space for your feet (approx. ¼” for toes and heels, and 1/8” on the sides of your feet). You’ll want a little extra room because your feet will expand when you stand and walk. (Top down of foot in sandal)
Buckle the straps starting at your toes and working up. The straps should be a bit snug but not tight. The support will come from the footbed, not from tightly buckled straps. It’s just right if you can wiggle one finger between the strap and your foot. (Foot in sandal with hand & heel in sandal)
Now take a walk around the house and see how they feel. They might feel a bit stiff. That’s normal. As soon as you start wearing them a bit they will start to soften and shape to your foot.
Once you feel comfortable with them around the house then go ahead and start wearing them outside. Make sure to get used to them slowly though. Allow your feet and your body to gradually get used to the new support, the straps and the buckles. We recommend a few hours for the first 5 or 6 wearings. After that you may never want to take them off.
These sandals can be customized by our predorthists. If you have a high arch and need more support we can reomve the the top leather cover and build up the arch to better support your arch. There is a $45.00 fee. Please call for your consultation at (888)840-6324.
124 S. Stewart | Fremont, MI 49412 | (231) 924-0222 | Fax: (231) 924-3855 | 1-888-840-6324