Birkenstock Sandals for Men

Having vaulted itself out from the hippie-only market, Birkenstock now boasts a huge variety of shoes, clogs and sandals, with a style appropriate for just about anyone. Walkers worldwide have learned the appeal of Birkenstock sandals, with particular appeal for the city-walker crowd. The price is steep for some of the Birkenstock sandals for men: some styles cash in at well over $100. To listen to the Birkenstock website, though, the price is well worth it. To listen to the crowds of Birkenstock sandal fans, Birkenstock does not lie about this point. These are sandals built to last.

But with so many different styles of Birkenstock sandals for men, how do you sort out which type to purchase? The Birkenstock website for the US touts five basic styles, each further broken down into specifics, usually delineated by different fabrics or materials on the top, strap portion, though there are some minor differences in the footpads between some of the Birkenstock sandals for men. Note that prices included in this article come from the Birkenstock official website: there are other places that may offer specific sales or deals on Birkenstock sandals for men that may allow certain sandals to be purchased for less than what is listed here.

The first type, the Arizona, had the largest variety of specific sandals, and the most expensive of the five groupings. The price ranges from $70-$150 at the time of writing, not taking into account any sales prices. The most expensive Birkenstock sandal listed on the website is in this grouping: the black exquisite leather sandal. These are your classic Birkenstock sandals for men. In fact, the Birkenstock website states that the Arizonas were the first Birkenstock sandals for men that meant success, dating back to 1973. Featuring a two-strap system over the traditional footbed and sole, these are the height of comfort. Unlike many other sandal makers, Birkenstock sandals for men focus on a deep heel well, arch support and a "toe box" to avoid slippage. The Arizonas use lined leather to create a look of sophistication without losing their focus on comfort and protection in the most expensive of the sandals. The less expensive Arizonas use acrylic and polyamide in their upper material. The only major issue with these sandals is the use of the suede liner on the footbed. A person's foot on this fabric creates friction between the fabric on the footbed, the internal materials of the footbed and the EVA sole. Wearing socks decreases the chances of this happening, but many people are unwilling to do this. Fortunately, this is only a minor issue, and Birkenstock sandals for men are still able to be worn even with the small patches and holes in the suede footbed material.

The next group is the Malibu. This is the lease expensive style at only about $40 a pair. These are built for the water and are boasted as being 100% water friendly. Utilizing the same EVA material, there are no cracks or holes for water to seep in. They come in black and blue. They don't feel like "second feet" like some of the other Birkenstock sandals for men, but they hold up to water better than the other styles.

Milanos run from $80-$120 and are almost the same as the Arizona, with an added strap around the back of the foot. This decreases the slippage of the foot, but it can still occur if you don't wear socks with this sandal. They're a bit more difficult to slip on and off, but feel more comfortable once they're on, at least in my opinion.

Monterey's go for $130. These look like the standard Arizonas, but have Super Grip material on the soles, making them better for going off-road.

Zurich's are the most vastly different from the Birkenstock sandal for men dating back to the 1970s. These come with a single wide strap and cost $110. The upper material is suede, like the footbed, and, while they're cozy, they don't precisely scream beauty.