TOE-ON-SHOW season might be drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean that we’ll be putting our Birkenstocks away until next year.

As autumn approaches, my Birkenstocks review reveals why these iconic sandals are no longer just summer staples.

After rigorously testing four different styles across the UK’s unpredictable weather patterns, I’ve discovered these versatile classics deserve a permanent spot in your wardrobe rotation.

From casual weekend brunches to office-appropriate styling with chunky socks, Birkenstocks have evolved far beyond their hippie roots.

The brand now offers designs to suit every fashion preference and practical need – and I’ve put them through their paces to determine which ones truly deliver on comfort, durability and style.

Surprisingly, the most wallet-friendly option emerged as my clear favourite, proving sometimes less really is more when it comes to footwear investments.

Ready to discover which Birkenstock style reigns supreme? Let’s dive into the results of my comprehensive testing.

Pros:

• Stylish
• Comfortable
• Environmentally friendly
• Adjustable
• Huge number of styles and colours available

Cons

• Sizing can be a bit of a lottery with the Arizona
• Expensive (especially newer models like the Reykjavik and Shinjuku)

Rating: 10/10

Birkenstocks review: quick summary

It’s hard to understate quite how much I’ve come to love my Birkenstocks.

Although they take a bit of wearing in, after a few weeks they became one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own (which is no mean feat — I own a lot).

They’re amazing for throwing on to go to the shops, they’re the first thing I throw in my suitcase when I go on my summer holidays, and they can be dressed up to make a very stylish outfit — especially the Bostons, whose louche clog silhouette has been seen on Spring/Summer runways for half a decade now.

The main drawback is the cost — the popularity of the Bostons has pushed their price up to over £150 for some styles, while the Arizonas cost a slightly less painful £105. Newer styles like the Shinjuku fetch a jaw-dropping £190.

While that might be what you’d expect from a pair of shoes or boots, for a pair of clogs or sandals, it’s undeniably pricey.

However, the price is justified by the fact that I’ve had pairs of Birkenstocks that have lasted me nearly a decade.

When you wear them almost daily for half of the year, that’s not bad going.

Birkenstocks review: the nitty gritty

Birkenstock Arizona review

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Birkenstock Arizona, £105 from Size

Pros: Classic timeless design, durable, comes in a huge array of designs

Cons: Expensive, footbed starts to look dirty after continued wear (but you can buy cleaning products to counteract this)

Rating: 9/10

Nowadays, Birkenstock produces a wide range of shoes, including boots, sneakers, slippers, and even rain boots.

However, if you’re reading this review, it’s likely because you’re interested in learning about the brand’s bread and butter: sandals.

The Arizona is likely what you think of when you think of the word “Birkenstock”. It’s the platonic ideal of a sandal: two straps with adjustable buckles and a cork footbed.

It comes in more than 100 variations, comprising different fabrics, colours and properties, but for maximum versatility, I went for classic black leather.

Having been in production for more than half a century, it’s fair to say Birkenstock has had ample time to perfect the Arizona, and it’s hard to fault them at this stage.

Thanks to a shock-absorbing cork footbed and a design that is contoured to support and stabilise your feet, Arizonas are better for your trotters than almost any other sandals or flip-flops I can think of.

While the footbed does take some getting used to (especially the way that it raises in the middle), they quickly became some of the comfiest shoes I own.

Something to note is that, in the Arizona, you might want to size down slightly — the first pair I got, despite being a size 9, made me look like I was walking on a pair of surfboards.

However, it’s not too big of a deal, because Arizonas are super adjustable. In fact, I first started wearing them when I was wearing a cast after breaking my knee, because they were the only shoes that were adjustable enough to wear.

The only other thing to mention is that the cork footbed can become quite dirty, thanks to buildups of dust, dirt, and sweat. However, Birkenstock does sell products designed to counteract this.

Birkenstock Boston review

Birkenstock Boston (Natural Leather), £125 from End Clothing

Pros: Probably the trendiest of Birkenstock’s offerings, durable, comfortable

Cons: Expensive

Rating: 10/10

While the Arizona is the prototypical Birkenstock, if you’re looking to be bang on trend, then you should look to a more northern part of America.

The Boston, for all intents and purposes, is a clog, and to be honest, there’s no particular reason for them to have become as fashionable as they are; indeed, my friends have taken to calling mine my “Birken-crocs”.

I got mine because, like a flea-bitten dog with mismatched ears, something is endearing about their ugliness.

And it’s undeniable that they have the most clout of any Birkenstock, thanks to high-profile collaborations with the likes of Dior and Stussy, as well as their appearance on the feet of celebrities like Kendall Jenner.

Again, for optimum wearability, I got mine in black leather, but I actually sort of prefer them in suede, especially in this tan colourway.

The Boston is fundamentally very similar to the Arizona, with many of the same components; the only difference is that instead of having the Arizona’s double-strap design, there is a single piece of leather that covers the entire upper part of your foot.

I think this tweak in the design makes them a bit more durable than the Arizonas; the stolid, singular piece of leather has held up remarkably well over three years of wear, whereas the straps on the Arizona do start to show signs of fatigue after a couple of years.

My only real qualm with the Bostons (and Birkenstocks more widely) is their price; they currently retail for £125. When I bought them in 2021, I paid £85 and thought that was a splurge.

Even if you take interest into account, based on a price of £85 in 2021, a pair of Bostons should now cost around £100. Even considering an increase in material costs, a price rise of £40 over three years seems hard to justify.

Birkenstock Reykjavik review

Birkenstock Reykjavik, £180 £120 from Size

Pros: Futuristic, fashion-forward design, comfortable, easy to clean

Cons: Design will split opinion, expensive, colour leaks when wet

Rating: 8/10

If you find the look of the Birkenstock Boston divisive, you might fall off your chair when you see the Reykjavik.

I had to do a double-take when I first saw the picture of them, but I’ll admit they grew on me.

Their leather upper is virtually the same as the Boston clog, but instead of Birkenstock’s signature cork footbed, the Reykjaviks feature a statement polyurethane sole that covers the toecap of the shoe and most of the heel. The effect is quite futuristic.

In its press release, Birkenstock claims that the Reykjavik is a “perfect 24/7 all-rounder, especially on long and active days”.

That’s quite a claim, so I wore them for a long (but easy) walk, and I’ll admit they held up really well — they’re immediately comfortable and very lightweight.

However, unfortunately for both me and the Reykjavik, I got caught in heavy rain during the walk, and I can testify that they’re not waterproof. Not only did my feet get soaked, but the dye from the leather leaked through onto my white socks.

However, I can forgive this in a pair of shoes that are evidently designed for summer conditions, and I can also vouch that they’re easy to clean.

What I struggle to forgive, however, is the price tag of £180. That’s £45 more than the Bostons and £95 more than the Arizona.

Birkenstock Shinjuku review

Birkenstock Shinjuku, £209 from End Clothing

Pros: Fashion-forward design, comfortable

Cons: Very expensive, design is a bit overcomplicated, run large

Rating: 5/10

Like the Reykjavik, the Shinjuku is one of Birkenstock’s newer styles, and like the Reykjavik, it comes with a futuristic design language to match.

However, I didn’t warm to the design of the Shinjuku in the same way I did to the Reykjavik.

I think that’s down to the overabundance of features; there are the wide leather straps that go across the top of your feet, similar to those on the Arizona, as well as thinner fabric straps, large metal buckles, and further straps that go around the back of your heel.

However, they’re comfortable enough, and the number of straps does mean that there’s plenty of room to adjust them to fit your feet.

I would recommend sizing down, though; I was sent a 9.5 due to stock issues, and although I knew they’d be slightly too big, they were easily a full size too large for me; I’d go a half-size down from your true size.

The main issue with the Shinjuku, though, is the price; at £190, they’re even more expensive than the Reykjavik, and double (double!) what I paid for my Bostons in 2021.

For that money, I’d recommend getting a pair of sandals from Suicoke instead; they’re marginally cheaper, have the same Japanese-inspired design language as the Shinjuku, and probably have slightly more fashion cachet.

Where to buy Birkenstocks in the UK

As the most drooled-over sandals brand in the UK, Birkenstock is unsurprisingly available in almost every major shoe retailer.

Come summer, stock can often get low in some sizes — especially in the trendy Boston — so I’d recommend pulling the trigger sooner rather than later, especially if you’re lucky enough to find your preferred size and colour in the sale.

You can buy Birkenstocks from:

• Office
• ASOS
• END Clothing
• Schuh
• Next
• Amazon
• Harrods
• Size?

Birkenstock deals

• Birkenstock Arizona Two Strap Sandals, £35 (was £50) – save 30% at Office
• Birkenstock Arizona EVA, £40 (was £55) – save 27% at JD Sports
• Birkenstock Arizona, £69.99 (was £85) – save 17% at Schuh
• Birkenstock Arizona Narrow Fit Birko Flor Double Strap Sandals, £72 (was £80) – save 10% at John Lewis
• Birkenstock Glenda Nubuck Sandal, £73.50 (was £105) – save £31.50 at Very