Anonymous wrote:I have a couple of the SAS Mystic you pictured, OP, and I really like them. They actually run a little big, fyi—not a huge deal since they're so adjustable, but consider a half size down if in doubt. My daily-wear sandals all summer, also owned in multiple colors, are the SAS Relaxed. Birkenstockish in vibe, but without the negative heel. These run true to length and a little wide; I normally wear a WW but happily fit a W in these. They last for years. The SAS website often has more color choices in some styles than Zappos, so it's worth a look.

Anonymous wrote:My mom swears by Clarks.

(Younger) years of partying in heels and commuting in heels destroyed her feet.

She also modeled a bit in the late 70s and often had to spend hours with her feet stuffed in shoes that were too small.

She had lots of foot issues starting in her late 30s/early 40s. She's been wearing gradma shoes since then. She will also take every opportunity possible to school younger women on the importance of wearing quality shoes and being kinder to their feet.

If you've ever been approached on the metro by a kind looking old lady in grandma shoes who told you all about her foot issues and showed you photos of her in her hot younger years... I'm sorry about my mom!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Birkenstock 4 life

So, I'm a new Birkenstock person. I've worn the "fake" ones for years and finally decided to buy a real pair last summer. I feel like I wore them enough to break them in, but they are not as comfortable as my fake ones.

The arch is so high in them compared to the moderate arch in my fake ones. Is that a normal Birk feature?

I have one arch that is lower than the other and that foot is really bothered by the high arch in the Birkenstock. After about an hour or so of wear, I get intense cramps in that foot in the area.

I was thinking of giving them away this year. I tried wearing them again over the weekend to a small town event where I knew I'd be doing a good bit of walking but only for 90 mins., and by the time I got home, my low arch foot was killing me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Birkenstock 4 life

So, I'm a new Birkenstock person. I've worn the "fake" ones for years and finally decided to buy a real pair last summer. I feel like I wore them enough to break them in, but they are not as comfortable as my fake ones.

The arch is so high in them compared to the moderate arch in my fake ones. Is that a normal Birk feature?

I have one arch that is lower than the other and that foot is really bothered by the high arch in the Birkenstock. After about an hour or so of wear, I get intense cramps in that foot in the area.

I was thinking of giving them away this year. I tried wearing them again over the weekend to a small town event where I knew I'd be doing a good bit of walking but only for 90 mins., and by the time I got home, my low arch foot was killing me.

Anonymous wrote:
...The arch is so high in them compared to the moderate arch in my fake ones. Is that a normal Birk feature? ...my low arch foot was killing me.

Anonymous wrote:Birkenstock 4 life