Getting the size right
Birkenstock runs in European sizing, so an AU women's 6 is usually a 37 and an AU 8 a 39. The footbed should leave a few millimetres clear in front of your toes and behind your heel, with the ball of your foot sitting in the shaped hollow rather than forward of it. Widths are marked Regular and Narrow. If you're between sizes or not sure of your width, ring the shop on (02) 4396 5159 or come in and we'll measure you properly — it's the part people most often get wrong buying online.
Which style suits what
The Arizona is the two-strap original and the one most people picture. Both straps adjust, so it's the easiest style to fit a wider foot. The Gizeh is the toe-post thong — neater through the foot and the pick for summer. The Mayari has a crossover strap and reads a bit dressier. The Boston is the closed-toe clog, which tends to come out through winter and shoulder season.
Materials, and what actually holds up
Birko-Flor is the synthetic upper: hardwearing, easy to wipe down, and the most forgiving around salt and sand. Birkibuc has a nubuck-look finish that softens as you wear it. Oiled and smooth leather mould to your foot over time and age the best of the lot, but they're happier away from the water. The EVA range is a single moulded piece — fully waterproof and light, which makes it the sensible one for the beach, the pool and the boat.
Wearing in the cork footbed
The cork and latex footbed starts firm and takes a few weeks of part-time wear to mould to your arch. That's normal, and it's why a pair that feels perfectly snug in the box can end up loose later. Keep them out of long soaks and direct heat, brush suede and nubuck with a soft brush, and re-seal the cork edges once a year so they don't dry out and crack.
Find us on the Central Coast
We're at 262 Main Road, Toukley NSW 2263 — a short drive from Budgewoi, Gorokan, Lake Haven, The Entrance, Wyong and the wider Central Coast. You're welcome to come in and try before you buy, and online orders ship Australia-wide. If there's a size or colour you can't see on the site, give us a call — we can usually get it in.