Reviewing Betula Footwear, Licensed by Birkenstocks

While on a search for some really comfortable shoes, one name kept being suggested to me. Birkenstock's.

I had, of course, seen Birkenstock's before. I never thought they were really cute and they looked heavy and huge to me. They also looked kind of on the 'crunchy granola' side. Not to mention the majority of the Birk's I had seen were clogs.

I thought I would research them some more and realized they were a little expensive. Especially for someone who does not like spending a fortune on shoes, much less sandals.

In my research I learned that the Birkenstock company invented the first contoured foot-bed made from cork and latex. The shape of the foot-bed allows your weight to be evenly distributed over the whole foot. This provides you with 'optimal' support. The cork and latex foot-bed gives you support and helps to minimize fatigue.

So far, this was sounding really interesting.

The sole is replaceable, light-weight, has shock resistance, is flexible and also durable.

They offer different collections. Not only clogs are available. They have some really attractive sandals to choose from as well.

For those with high arches, there is a selection to choose from.

Birkenstock also offers a line for those in a professional line of work.

Not only can you purchase some Birkenstock's for yourself, you can purchase them for the men and children in your life.

After all of this research, I realized these shoes sounded like they would be really comfortable and worth the money. I found that you could purchase them through a variety of sources.

Certain shoe stores carried them. I found some of Ebay. I also discovered that you could buy Birkenstock's on shopping channels on television. After seeing a couple of the shows on The Home Shopping Network (HSN) and on QVC, I decided to check out their websites.

I found that Birkenstock had a line named Betula, that was a little more affordable for me.

Most Birkenstock's are in European sizes, so you have to be careful when ordering them online or off of the television.

For those unsure of sizing, this is the chart to follow:

If you wear a size 5, then you would wear size 36.
If you wear a size 6, then you would wear size 37.
If you wear a size 7, then you would wear size 38.
If you wear a size 8, then you would wear size 39.
If you wear a size 9, then you would wear size 40.
If you wear a size 10, then you would wear size 41.
If you wear a size 11, then you would wear size 42.

They do not come in half sizes. If you wear a half size, you would go down a size when purchasing a pair.

Last July, I ordered my first pair. I purchased them off of the Home Shopping Network (HSN).

When you first receive them, you need to bend the shoes to start the breaking in process. It can take a while to break them in, as they 'mold' to your feet.

After about a week, I was in love. They were really comfortable and fit me really well. I wore them until it was winter and way too cold to wear sandals. These were some of the most comfortable shoes I had ever worn!

I purchased a pair for my mother for Mothers Day and bought myself a new pair this year.

It did not take quite as long to break this in and I am going to wear them until I have snow up to my ankles!