Materials
Exploring the elements that make your Birkenstocks
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The Footbed
The heart and soul of BIRKENSTOCK
The iconic footbed is the heart and soul of every BIRKENSTOCK. Its beautifully designed anatomical features are the fruits of knowledge passed down through generations of the Birkenstock family. Its invention was inspired by a simple but difficult-to-achieve aim: to enable walking as nature intended. In order to perform this function, the footbed’s contours are designed precisely to underpin the anatomy of the human foot, mimicking a footprint in the sand. Its layered construction uses a unique combination of natural materials processed via a series of bespoke manufacturing techniques. This guarantees optimum durability and flexibility, and means that the functionality of the BIRKENSTOCK footbed is unrivaled.
A Legendary Design
The heart of all models is the original BIRKENSTOCK footbed. The construction, which has been thought out to the smallest detail and makes it feel like you're standing in sand, helps your feet feel as comfortable as possible for hours on end. This supports health and promotes wellbeing.
Deep Heel Cup
The very deep molding in the heel area supports the foot tissue and holds the heel bone firmly in its natural position. This provides the foot with nearly as much support when it is in a sandal as when it is in a closed shoe.
Heel Mould
Activates the calf muscles, stabilises the back of the foot and improves gait and coordination.
Interior and exterior longitudinal arch supports
The arch supports that run alongside the sides of the footbed surround the tarsal bones inside and out. This gives the foot the stability it needs when it takes a step.
Toe Grip
There are raised indentations at the front of the footbed near the toes. Thanks to the toe grip the toes remain loose and spread out in their natural position. The indentations also support the natural rolling motion of the toes.
Footbed Edge
The footbed is drawn up especially high at the front. As a result, the high footbed edge protects the toes during the rolling motion of the foot.
The Structure
01 | FIRST LAYER OF JUTE
The first layer of jute forms the foundation of our footbed. It stabilises the natural cork and latex core.
02 | CORK AND LATEX FOOTBED
The cork and latex footbed is the heart of all BIRKENSTOCK shoes. The shock-absorbing and highly flexible cork and latex core supports and relieves pressure on the feet. The natural materials insulate against the heat and cold and create a good foot climate.
03 | SECOND LAYER OF JUTE
The second layer of jute is placed around the sides of the footbed. This increases the flexibility of the footbed and makes it significantly more durable. This layer of thick, absorbent jute helps to regulate moisture.
04 | SUEDE LINING
The suede lining absorbs moisture. This natural property of the high-quality top layer helps to ensure a pleasant foot climate
Original Footbed Models
Size assistant
Welcome to the Birkenstock Size Assistant!
Let us help you find the size you’ll be most comfortable in.
Approx time to complete: 5 minutes
OR
Or see what a good Birkenstock fit looks like
Watch fitting video
You’ll need:
+ 2 pieces of A4 paper
+ A fine-tipped pen or pencil
Approx time to complete: 5 minutes
Measuring tips
Step One
Measuring tips
Place the sheets of paper on the floor. Stand straight on the paper with your heels against the wall.
Measuring tips
Step Two
Measuring tips
Measure the width by marking the outermost points at the left and right side of the balls of your feet.
Measuring tips
Step Three
Measuring tips
Measure the length by marking the longest toe of each foot.
Measuring tips
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Measuring Tips
Close tips
Measuring Tips
We recommend using a pencil or a ballpoint pen.
A thick pen can distort the result.
