This was written by Mitchell Hagler as a guest post on Pain In The Heel on Friday, February 26, 2010:
Being a full service comfort shoe store owner is a mixed blessing for me — a fellow plantar fasciitis sufferer. You might think that the physician would be able to heal thyself, but pity the fool who has himself for a patient. Too many great shoe choices can sometimes leave one feeling as overwhelmed as a kid in a candy shop.
Over the years, I’ve found a measure of relief from my plantar fasciitis symptoms by wearing either the Arizona or Boston, two styles made by Birkenstock. That’s right, “Birks”, the good old earthy-crunchy favorites of hippie-trippie 1960’s Haight – Ashbury and Woodstock. For plantar fasciitis sufferers, evaluating Birkenstock on the rubric of fit comfort, fashion, durability, and price yields a “definite maybe” rating.
Let’s take a closer look:
Fit and Comfort: The Arizona and Boston both have the Birkenstock signature ortho-footbed. This is a firm, molded, supportive structure built of compressed cork and natural latex with a soft suede top liner. The arch support is substantial, and a deep heel cup design provides necessary stability. Both styles come labeled in German narrow and regular widths which translates to U.S. medium and wide. With adjustable straps, both will fit almost any width feet. However, if you need a true half size, you’ll need to explore other brands; Birkenstocks are made on a European whole size grading. Looking for more cushioned support? Consider the soft top footbed version available on both styles. But, if you require a custom orthotic, you are out of luck. Neither style accommodates one, and they both have open back construction, so if you need closed back support, you’ll want to explore other Birkenstock models – possibly the Toyko clog and Milano sandal. There is good news if you need a high arch footbed-an extra high arch option is available in certain core colors of both the Arizona and Boston.
If you are in the throes of a plantar fasciitis flair up, I suggest you strongly consider the soft top option and gradually build up to a full day’s wear time.
Durability: Quite simply, I have found Birkenstocks to last for years with proper care. Cork sole sealer treatment is recommended to extend the life of these shoes. Upper materials can be maintained with standard shoe care products, and if needed, the outsoles can be replaced at any independent Birkenstock repair center.
Fashion: Both styles are available in core and seasonal color palettes with material offerings of suede and smooth leather uppers. Take note, both styles come in vegan-animal friendly birko buc, and seasonal offerings of other fibers such as humane wool, hemp, and cotton canvas. While classic iconic styles, their look blends nicely with today’s bohemian gypsy clothing fashions. Both models are suitable for business casual dress as well.
Price: Suggested retail prices are in the $120 USD range for the Arizona and $130 USD for the Boston.
Conclusion: While not for every plantar fasciitis suffer, Birkenstocks certainly fit the therapeutic footwear criteria to aid in the relief from plantar fasciitis symptoms, and offer plenty of custom variations at a middle price range in today’s market. The Arizona and Boston merit consideration when shopping for your next shoe.
Disclaimer: Always consult a foot health professional completely familiar with your condition to guide you in making a proper footwear selection. The views expressed in this review are those of the article’s author. All rights reserved.
About the author: Mitchell Hagler is a third generation family footwear retailer who is president of Richard York of Riverhead, Inc. [dba: Richard York Shoes] in Southampton, NY. He was reared in the family shoe business, which was established in 1938 by his Grandpa Max. With over 25 years personal experience meeting a spectrum of consumers’ footwear needs, Mitchell is a career long member of the National Shoe Retailers Association, the Retail Council of New York State, and the Southampton Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached via e-mail: sales@RichardYorkShoes.com, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RichardYorkShoes, or Twitter: @TheShoeDawg
I make no attempt to hide the fact that I’m a Blue Collar Comedy watching, NASCAR cheering, country music blaring, son of a GRITS [Gal Raised in The South] guy. Comedian, Bill Engevall, pictured left, is a kindred spirit who made famous a routine entitled, “Here’s your sign”. Read on ’cause here’s YOUR sign.
Anyone reading this old enough to remember that familiar I Love Lucy Show refrain of her TV and real life husband Ricky Ricardo [Desi Arnaz]? Maybe you’ve seen reruns? Well I had one of those kind of days, at work, recently. I was taken to task by a customer who had traveled a great distance to resolve an issue with a prior purchase only to find the shop closed. My reality and those of this person were not quite in alignment at the time.
Here we will be posting periodically to address issues of interest to you, the store’s customers. Questions about footwear construction, proper shoe fitting, foot health, product trends & more!