BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies

Subject: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 03:44 PM

I know it's a cliché for folkies to wear Birkenstock sandals – but I really do love mine. And no – I don't wear them with socks. But it's one of the few types of footwear that gives me the arch support that I need. I don't get to wear them at work { and I wouldn't wear them on stage } but I wear them just about everywhere else. If you don't wear Birkenstocks – what are you're favorite pair of comfortable shoes?

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 03:49 PM

I love the Clark's of England sandals I've been wearing all summer. They are probably the single most comfortable shoes I've ever owned and I refuse to put them away until it gets REALLY cold.
Before I herniated a disc last winter I owned 47 pair of shoes. Now I have 3 and the Clark's top the list.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Amos
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 03:50 PM

I wear mine to work all week long, thanks to an enlightened management that cares more about my results than my conformity. Nothing has been as kind to my feet.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 03:58 PM

We have no real dress code at the office but since the warehouse can be a little treacherous I feel more comfortable wearing something that covers my toes.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 04:01 PM

I cannot understand arch support shoes. The underarch of the foot is not designed by nature to take pressure: the ball and heel are. I have to have flat insoles (or wear no shoes). The slightest contour under the arch leaves me unable to walk within minutes. No I haven't got flat feet.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 05:24 PM

I tried on Birkenstocks and found them very uncomfortable. The clerks scowled at me as if I were violating a city ordinance!

For a big outing, the best shoes I've found are oxfords by SAS with heel cushions added. Around the house, I often wear crocs. However, only one color of crocs (olive green) fit my feet.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 05:27 PM

Ecco and (I know it doesn't sound very interesting but they are very comfortable) Scholl for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 06:01 PM

Brown Boots, what else?

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Amergin
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 06:18 PM

Combat boots.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: artbrooks
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 06:42 PM

Tevas

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: number 6
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 06:50 PM

been wearing these for years now   .... Birkenstocks in the summer, Blundstones in the off season.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 08:48 PM

Ergg... two of my least favourite and most uncomfortable makes of shoe there... Birkenstocks and Crocs. Birkenstocks are not shaped like my feet and Crocs make them all sweaty and slippery.

I don't have flat feet. I do have feet shaped feet - a result of not wearing narrow, pointy shoe shaped shoes - which make most commercial brands impossible to get on, let alone wear for any length of time.

I buy my sandals from a wonderful chap in Yorkshire, who trades under the name of Rooster shoes. I love the sandals as they are adjustable, repairable and lots of other ables too numerous to list here.

I've never worn through the soles yet, I've only ever managed to wear out the rear straps, and I would wear them all year round if I could.

When I'm not wearing sandals, it's a pair of army boots or trainers.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: open mike
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 11:15 PM

back a couple of decades ago the mid wife who delivered my child, and
many others, mentioned that there were so many people with "Birks"
that she tied a small colored ribbon around the buckles of hers,
because at some houses where the habit is to take off shoes and leave
them by the door, there were so many pairs of birkenstocks that it was
hard to tell them apart.

I often wear clogs http://klogs.com/ or Uggs .

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Oct 07 - 11:40 PM

Thanks to the OREGONIAN Newspaper and an article about comics, and a man that lived in a hobbit hole, traveles with his family in a VW bus....SIMPLE SHOES out of Santa Barbara CA were discovered.

Wonderful earth friendly company.

Browse from the topside of the webpage - great clogs - great shoes - people you can know.....

Birkenstock looks industrial, commercial, yuppie, or San-Fran-Friscoish....in comparision

These are people....not a corporation:
http://www.simpleshoes.com/

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Padre
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 12:56 AM

Sperry Topsiders for comfortable shoes

Cole Hahn loafers for daily wear on most occasions

Alan Edmonds lace-ups for Sunday

Padre

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: open mike
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 02:52 AM

hey, man, you got sole!

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Leadbelly
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 12:54 PM

Helmut Kohl, former chancellor of Germany used to walk around with Birkenstock sandals when making holidays. Was really ridiculous...this overweight person with white socks and Birkenstock...incredible

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 01:23 PM

I've always figured the danged things were too expensive...maybe just a tad too trendy...so I just buy the moderate-priced sandals at Zellers for about $40. They seem to be quite good. No complaints here. It takes about 2 years for the velcro to wear out on the straps.

Sandals are the best until the really cold weather sets in.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Susan B
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 09:48 AM

Clarks' Springers in their various styles were brilliant until about 5 years ago, then they changed the 'last' shapes and cheapened the way they made them, so became fairly unwearable for me. I am desperately trying to replace mine with something else before they fall apart completely. Saw some Moshulu shoes in a shop on our last day in Sidmouth in the summer, which looked good, but it was shut and we had to go home. Although I've found them on the internet, that isn't the same as trying them out. Has anyone else tried these?

And, I agree with the people who find Birkenstocks uncomfortable. If the arch isn't the same as your natural foot shape then they won't be right for you.

Richard - I used to be puzzled about shoes with arch supports etc. and always wore sandels made by Sundaes, which were completely flat. These then tended to mould to my own foot shape and be wonderfully comfortable. I'd still recommend thm to anyone who still has "normal" feet. However, time, age and injury can take their toll. If your foot muscles are not strong then it can be a good idea to wear shoes/sandals with supports to prevent overstretching of ligaments that support the longitudinal and transverse arches. Once the ligaments have been overstretched they will never tighten up again, though it may be possible to strengthen the support muscles, with exercise. But while you exercise to tone up these muscles you have to support the arches or it can be very painful!

Sorry about the foot lecture!

Susan B

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 09:58 AM

Since Nature made the human foot to walk on the ground, and the ground is not handily sculptured into arch supports but is usually more or less flat (depending), I don't understand why shoes need arch supports.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: number 6
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 10:00 AM

LH ... that's why Earth Shoes (remember them)came to be.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: number 6
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 10:09 AM

Eath Shoes ... had a pair of them (back then). I started to have back problems ... went to the doctor .... he took one look at my shoes and told me to get rid of them .... took heed of his advice and never had any problems with my back since.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: artbrooks
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 10:13 AM

LH, visualize early man...small in stature, all muscle and sinew, wearing nothing in particular and carrying a throwing stick. Now take a look around at our contemporaries. Any more questions?

TEVAS

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 11:20 AM

Yes, I see your point, artbrooks. People nowadays tend to be overweight and out of shape.

But here's another thing that occurs to me about walking on "flat" earth. If it is sand or soil or a layer of dead leaves...it gives a bit when you step on it. The harder parts of your foot sink in a bit, and the soft earth tends to mould itself into the arch.

And that would be the reason for sculpting a shoe to somewhat fit the contours of the human foot, rather than having a sole that is dead flat.

So that's probably why the Earth shoes didn't work out. They were simulating walking constantly on a hard flat surface, which is not what the foot is intended to do.

Horses needed metal shoes once people built paved roads, for the same reason, I would assume. A horse's hooves are not intended to continually pound on solid rock! They are designed to run mostly on soft ground where they will sink in and be cushioned. A little hard rock underfoot here and there won't wreck the horse's hooves, but running on it all day will.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: artbrooks
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 11:35 AM

Yeah...it ain't the 'eavy 'aulin' that 'erts the 'orses' 'ooves - its the 'ammer, 'ammer, 'ammer on the 'ard 'ighway.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 12:32 PM

That's it. It's gone. I've finally lost the will to live.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 01:57 PM

Oh...the old guilt trip again, is it? Go gently, Chris, but go...

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: redsnapper
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 02:21 PM

Never worn Birkenstocks myself. Docs most of the time and Crocs when weather permits.

RS

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Wesley S
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 01:22 PM

As far as dress shoes go - Johnson Murphys have always fit me well. I don't even need to try them on at the store but I do - just in case. But those crocs leave me cold. Anything plastic like that makes my feet sweat. And I hate sweaty feet.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 12:31 PM

I think the thing I dislike most about the Crocs, other than the creepy feeling plastic they're made from, is the bits over the toes... I hate having my toes constricted and they play merry hell with my inherited ingrowing toenails which have a habit of growing at strange angles. If I've not trimmed them for a while (and it's like cutting metal with a pair of safety scissors), they catch and rub on the top and side of any shoe I wear, hence my open toed sandals all year round.

Because my foot is fairly broad (or foot shaped), the little toe is always pushed against the side of the shoe, causing discomfort.

If I have to wear posh dress (like at concerts), I wear my black sandals, as my wet weather sandals are greeny/brown.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 01:22 PM

Berghaus leather sandals.
KSB Activity Shoes ('walking trainers').
KSB Boots.
S:0)

PS what are 'loafers' when they're at home?

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 09:32 PM

I wear KEENS helps my planter faciatis

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: artbrooks
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 09:38 PM

Hey, what's KEENS? Our daughter is having a terrible time with plantar fasciitis and I would love to have any helpful information to give to her.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: bobad
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 09:42 PM

Try this Art http://www.keenfootwear.com/

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 01:43 AM

I got sugar diabites and I like wearing sandals the doctor told me to get KEENS to protect my feet against cutting as it takes a while to heal they also help with planter faciites

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 08:18 AM

So......what are 'loafers'?

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Padre
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 08:57 AM

Loafers = slip on shoes without laces [think of Weejuns]

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: GUEST,greymalkin
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 12:20 PM

I've got some Birk copies from a Bristol LIDL (euro thrift-store) which are good for short distances - any further and I get toe-fatigue.

Subject: RE: BS: Birkenstock sandals and Folkies
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 31 Oct 07 - 01:00 PM

Aaaaaaahhh! Thanks padre, we call 'em - guess what - 'Slip-ons' in the UK!
Never heard of Weejuns though.