I recently jumped on the Birkenstocks bandwagon and I’m so glad I did – I’d been dying to buy them for months! They’re comfortable, practical, and can be paired with just about any outfit.

There are some ropes to learn, though, when it comes to finding the right pair of Birkenstocks for you and breaking them in when you do get them. Allow me to share my best tips for purchasing and breaking in a brand spankin’ new pair of Birks.

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Tips for Buying Birkenstocks

Try them on in person.

Before I ordered my Birks online, I first went to the mall to physically try some on – and I’m super glad I did. Since I wear a US size 7.5, I assumed I would need a 38 in Birks (the European equivalent – Birks come in EU shoe sizes). However, when I tried them on in person, a size 37 (which is equivalent to a US 6.5) fit me much better.

So make sure you try some Birks on before making a purchase – you may need to order them a size down.

If you need a narrow or wide size…

I have very narrow feet, so I need a 37 Narrow in Birkenstocks. This was another benefit of physically trying them on – I realized that a regular wouldn’t be the worst thing, but that a narrow would certainly be better.

Unfortunately most stores that sell Birkenstocks do not carry them in narrow or wide, but only regular. However, you can find those special sizes on Amazon, which is where I ordered mine from. So if you need Birks in a narrow or a wide, look no further!

Tips for Breaking In Birkenstocks

Wear them a little bit each day.

As comfortable as Birks are, they do take time to break in – i.e., they are not comfortable right away! I recommend wearing brand new Birks for a short amount of time each day, around 1-2 hours. Avoid wearing them for prolonged periods of walking, and take them off as soon as they start to hurt.

I’ve been keeping a spare pair of sandals with me so that I can change shoes when I need a break from my Birks (which has been lifesaving at times, ha). As your Birks break in, you will be able to wear them for longer and longer amounts of time, until you can wear them for as long as your heart desires.

Wear band-aids.

Your Birks are likely going to give you blisters at first. For me, I wound up with blisters on the arches of my feet.

Don’t be afraid to wear band-aids on the spots where they tend to rub or hurt the most. It makes a world of difference! Eventually you’ll break in your Birks to the point where you no longer need band-aids. But until you get to that point, band-aids will help a lot!

Details about My Birkenstocks

This is the pair that I have – the Mayari style in Mocha color – and I absolutely love them! And this is another classic style that I’m dying to try. That’ll be my next pair, probably in black!

Style: Mayari
Color: Mocha
Size: 37 N
Price: $99 on Amazon

I cringed a bit when I first found out how much Birkenstocks cost – and I think $99 is the most I’ve ever spent on a pair of shoes in my life (ha).

But I decided that it’s worth it to invest in supportive, good-quality shoes. I have flat feet, and with the amount of walking I do, flat and flimsy sandals just don’t cut it. So I finally bit the bullet and purchased the Birks – and they are worth every penny!

Bottom line: Birkenstocks are totally worth the investment and I absolutely love mine. 10/10 would recommend!