Why is the Birkenstocks Arizona SO Popular? (part 1)

We're about to discover how exactly Birkenstocks managed to create a shoe style so synonymous with its brand name and so popular amongst city-dwellers and outdoor-enthusiasts alike.

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Script: Holly Maley
Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand

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[edgarcardiel]

As a cobbler, we rely alot on these. People almost entirely rely on unrepairable shoes so these help shops alot

[tolohuexochitl]

I really respect Birkenstock for not using Amazon and for keeping their production in Germany where they can maintain their standards and buck the trend of making their money off of very low paid workers abroad.
I hope they never give in!

[samshepherd]

I'm a Crocs guy but you've seriously got me considering a pair of birks for more formal gatherings.

[suciumanu]

Birkenstocks are a classic in Denmark, when I moved here, about three years ago I was flabbergasted at how popular they are. I used to strongly dislike them but over time I started to worm up to them and now I ordered some for myself. My friends and family love them and always say that it's comfortable, flexible and long lasting. I ended up buying some and I am waiting for them to be shipped right now, can't wait to start wearing them this summer.

[AriaLouisa]

I recently bought a pair of Arizonas and I gotta say, I am extremely happy with this purchase. I think they make a lot of my summer outfits look better, and I like the idea of investing in an item that will shape to me overtime and not break within a few weeks.

[prettytalia]

I thought Birkenstocks were ugly and told myself I’d never own a pair. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I saw the Arizona big buckle style sandals that I decided to give them a try. Now I have several pairs. 😅 My absolute favorite are the soft foot bed Arizonas in suede. There is no break-in time!

[lpi]

I wore Birkenstocks for 15 hours during a Disneyland trip. At the end, I was the only one still walking normal compared to others in my family. Love them!

[gabriellawaldi]

I've had mine for over 15 years, I use them - as it is custom in Germany - as house shoes. I wear otherwise barefoot shoes, but coming home and wearing my Birkenstocks is like walking on a cloud!! So relaxing...

[thanielxj]

Birkenstocks also makes clogs for working in a kitchen or hospital. When I was a cook I loved my Birkenstock clogs. I think they were made out of some sort of waterproof polymer that was super tough and had a slip resistant tread. But I could take the insoles out and run them through the dishwasher at home to get them clean again after a 16 HR shift

[eviem]

Crocs person here, but I got my first two pairs of Birkenstocks recently and I cannot tell you enough how much I love them. I got the soft footbed suede leather and the Milano oiled leather. They are awesome and so very well made! Your video is amazingly informative. Thank you!! 😊

[rdrift]

I was gifted this not knowing they were so popular. I had someone point them out on social media asking me if they were “Birks” and was left astonished at how they are so well known. In love with them. They are comfortable! More then my shoes I swear.

[adamgriss]

I’ve been wearing Birkenstocks for over thirty years, and I still wear my Bostons to work and my Zurichs for weekends. So, to say I’m a loyal customer is an understatement!

[lizbecker]

Well, if they're good enough for Jason Momoa, they're good enough for me! I love my Birkenstock Arizona's, and I get very attached to them. They last forever and are so worth the cost. I didn't know you could get them repaired, so now I'm looking forward to keeping my current pair for the rest of my life.

[alexandria]

these and my dr martens are the most expensive shoes i own but i love them SO MUCH. definitely worth it for me. before i got my birkenstocks i would buy a new pair of sandals like every two years because they'd break or i felt like the style didn't suit me anymore, but i haven't even thought of any other shoes for the summer now that i have them. i have the arizona style in mocha. the blisters in the breaking in period were tough though. oddly enough i didn't have that problem with my dr martens

[AdventureOtaku]

One thing that was mentioned is the glue that holds all the layers together. For instance the glue that holds your resolve on the sandal. Historically, the glues that hold shoes together are the most environmentally impactful part of the shoe. I found nothing on their website, so this is another reason that third party certification would be nice.

[BigBearBloo]

I’ve got about 35 years wearing Arizona birks. Never had any pain. Only about 3 days from purchase to completely break them in (no pain, just kinda stiff to perfectly molded to my feet). Also, never repaired any of them. Each pair last 4 to 8 years. Maybe I’ll look into repairing current ones, but getting a new pristine pair is such a treat!

[paigechinaski]

I have a lot of different pairs. My advice to avoid the foot torture is to wear them throughout the day for short periods of time or wear them with thick socks around the house at first- though the oils of your skin will definitely help to soften them up.

[tpslowbie]

Best shoes I have ever bought. Period. The break in process can suck, but it is 100% worth it. “Feels like home”

[finlaymcewan]

Hey Levi, your videos really helped motivate me to try live a more sustainable lifestyle, however I feel like these Future Proof videos are beginning to follow a rather formulaic structure. It comes across as piggybacking on the popularity of these brands, which feels counter to your stance on sustainability. I preferred the content you did before rebranding when it was more about how we should try to live sustainably, and less emphasis on brand names.

[mehdi]

Birkenstock being bought by LVMH could likely be terrible for upholding the brands current ethics, quality, etc. The teardown of their boots was hugely disappointing, but hopefully they don't go down that road with their sandals