They take a while to break in, and they are always somewhat hard.

I wear the regular footbed. Each new pair requires a good week or two of break in, and they feel quite hard and uncomfortable for that time, but oh man it is so worth it once they are broken in. I wear them constantly from spring to fall. They’re so good for my back and feet and I think they are part of the reason (in addition to working from home and not wearing heels much) that I no longer suffer from chronic back pain.

Ugly.

Soft footbeds break down faster and don’t offer the same level of support. IMO, people get used to the regular footbed. It’s just an adjustment since most shoes are squishier.

I actually prefer the standard footbed. I do not find the soft footbed as supportive and it doesn’t relieve foot discomfort. My other Birks give me such a sense of relief when I slip them on, compared to the soft ones.

Birks are amazing.

Unfortunately, most of the snazzier Birk styles like the patent leather style that OP linked don't come in softbed. Birks do break in after a while and get softer, but you have to wear them quite a bit before that happens. And even after broken in, the standard footbed very comfortable but is not quite as soft as the softbed option. OP if you are lucky enough to have any travel planned to Europe check out the options there. For whatever reason, they seem to sell more softbed options overseas.

I have been wearing Birks for 25 years and found the soft footbed option maybe three years ago. I will never go back!

I wear these. They’re comfy but the buckles hurt for awhile

They break in, but they always remain pretty solid.

Just so you know, I have the ones you linked and they aren't leather, so they eventually crack. I think I'll get another year or two out of them, but they aren't like the leather ones that seem to last forever.

Here's a filtered link with just the soft footbed options: https://footprints.com/collections/birkenstock?sort_by=manual&filter.p.m.my_fields.footbed=Birkenstock+Soft+Footbed

This is a great source for Birkenstocks:

https://footprints.com/collections/birkenstock

Birkenstocks makes a soft footbed option; I buy the Florida which I think is more feminine and flattering than the Arizona.

I once took my grandmother for a followup with her podiatric surgeon after she'd had surgery to correct issues with bunions and hammertoes. He saw me in my Birks (with socks, it was winter in Maine!) and he advised me to wear them as often as possible throughout my walking life, and cautioned me to steer clear of heels and narrow-pointed shoes. Certain issues are genetic rather than lifestyle related and even though I almost never wore heels in my life I still ended up with bunions later in life and I wear Birks whenever I can, both at work and home, to keep my feet as healthy as possible.

Try the soft footbed option.

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/birkenstock-womens-arizona-high-shine-big-buckle-slide-sandals?ID=4699906&pla_country=US&cm_mmc=Google-PLA-ADC-_-Pmax+-+GMM2+-+Center+Core+-+Shoes-_-887759310617USA-_-go_cmp-19967920207_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-887759310617USA_sig-Cj0KCQjw8cHABhC-ARIsAJnY12xOvofGfVtOT1-npOq_80AhzJXfx9hsHC0KfQB9BIZJLVNN9GOVYqgaAmnXEALw_wcB&gad_source=1

I hope this link works.

I really like the look for certain occasions when I can get away with a flat/slide sandal, but not too casual. For example: [url]https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/birkenstock-womens-arizona-high-shine-big-buckle-slide-sandals?ID=4699906&pla_country=US&cm_mmc=Google-PLA-ADC-_-Pmax+-+GMM2+-+Center+Core+-+Shoes-_-887759310617USA-_-go_cmp-19967920207_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-887759310617USA_sig-Cj0KCQjw8cHABhC-ARIsAJnY12xOvofGfVtOT1-npOq_80AhzJXfx9hsHC0KfQB9BIZJLVNN9GOVYqgaAmnXEALw_wcB&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8cHABhC-ARIsAJnY12xOvofGfVtOT1-npOq_80AhzJXfx9hsHC0KfQB9BIZJLVNN9GOVYqgaAmnXEALw_wcB
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But the footbed is so, so hard. Does it break in over time? And if so, how?

Appreciate any suggestions - TY!