We Think These Are the Very Best Birkenstocks | 2025 Picks

We’re here for one reason only: to tell you about the best Birkenstocks we’ve tried. Birks are known for being super comfy—hello arch support and soft cork footbed—and the SELF team has tested a bunch of the brand’s bestsellers, including the cult-favorite Arizona sandals and Boston clogs.

You’ll reach for these pairs all summer long—and, if we know a thing or two about chic sandals, they’ll go fast, so make sure you scoop your pair up ASAP.

Our top picks

Best Overall: Arizona Soft Footbed, $150Best House Shoe: Super-Birki, $80Best Clog: Boston Chunky, $150Best for Wide Feet: Milano Big Buckle Sandal, $175Best Waterproof: Arizona EVA Essentials, $50Best for Travel: Milano Vegan Birko-Flor, $115Best for Flat Feet: Papillio by Birkenstock Arizona Chunky Sandal, $140Best Overall: Arizona Soft Footbed

Birkenstock

Arizona Soft Footbed

When you think of Birkenstocks, you’re probably picturing these OGs. The comfy slides have two wide straps with adjustable buckles to keep your feet secure, plus a contoured cork footbed that’ll hug your arches. We love that the straps come in both suede and leather styles and in so many colors, including neutrals that’ll match any outfit.

Of course, the most important thing—and the reason why they’re our top pick—is that they’re super comfortable. SELF’s special projects coordinator, Paige Levinson, says the pair she finally bought after seeing Birks everywhere was worth it: “I immediately saw what the hype was about,” she explains. “They molded perfectly to my feet and became the perfect shoe to wear anywhere. They’re so effortlessly cool, and I love being able to just slide them on and go about my day.”

I owned a pair of Arizona sandals for five years and ran them into the ground. Every summer, they were my go-tos for grocery and coffee runs, slipping downstairs in my apartment building to grab my mail, and casual outings with friends. There’s no denying how versatile they are. And they’re leagues above every flat flip-flop I’ve owned, in terms of arch support.

Sizes: 4-4.5 to 12-12.5 | Materials: Suede, leather, cork, EVA foam

Best House Shoe: Super-Birki

These no-frills clogs offer that signature Birkenstock arch support with the same footbed that’s in all of the brand’s classic shoes—covered in plush microfiber. If you’ve never quite gotten down with slippers, these are a comfy alternative for gardening, cleaning out the garage, or taking out the trash. And they have great traction, to prevent you from sliding on the floors you just mopped or the stairs you’re climbing.

If you do want to wear them out, SELF’s special projects director, Hannah Pasternak, approves: “For a to-the-yoga studio or with-socks look, they’re chef’s kiss,” she says. With an upper made of polyurethane, they’ll also keep your feet dry if the weather takes a turn.

Sizes: 4-4.5 to 12-12.5 | Materials: Microfiber, cork, polyurethane

Best Clog: Boston Chunky

For a stylish clog you can dress up or down, go with the chunky version of the beloved Boston clog. They have the same suede upper and adjustable strap across the top of the foot, plus an upgraded contoured footbed and a grooved platform that gives you some extra height.

“I’m a devoted Birkenstock wearer (don’t ask me how many pairs I have—my mom has been wearing the same ones since 1985), but I wanted something that looked a little more polished than the Boston,” Pasternak says. These perfectly filled the hole in her closet—she wears them to the office and to run errands around her neighborhood.

“And I can’t tell you how many compliments I get on them,” she says. “I also love that they’re an under-the-radar style. Everyone says they’ve never seen them before and are always stoked to find out they’re Birkenstocks!”

Sizes: 4-4.5 to 12-12.5 | Materials: Suede, leather, cork, EVA foam

Best for Wide Feet: Milano Big Buckle Sandal

Birkenstock

Milano Big Buckle Sandal

The Milano sandals are a fresh take on the classic Arizonas. They have bigger buckles that make a major fashion statement and a backstrap that’ll keep your heels from sliding out.

Oh, and they’re super comfy: “As someone with wide feet and high arches, it’s important that my shoes have a little extra room for my feet to swell throughout the day,” says SELF senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin. “These are spacious, super breathable, and supportive enough that I can run errands all summer long in them.” Wear ‘em with skirts, dresses, jeans—the options are endless.

Sizes: 4-4.5 to 12-12.5 | Materials: Leather, cork, EVA foam

Best Waterproof: Arizona EVA Essentials

Birkenstock

Arizona EVA Essentials

Unlike most of Birkenstock’s cork, suede, and leather sandals, these slides are made with waterproof EVA foam. In every other way, though, they’re typical Arizonas: They have two adjustable straps across the top of your feet and a shock-absorbing footbed with solid arch support.

Along with her Milano Big Buckle Sandals, Felbin says she lives in these. “They’re really lightweight and don’t need that famous Birk break-in period (you can just slip them on and go!),” she shares. “I actually bought my first pair in Rockefeller Center—I was running around the city in high heels and needed a break, so I grabbed these. They’re ultra-comfy and have been one of my go-to summer sandals ever since!”

Sizes: 4-4.5 to 12-12.5 | Materials: EVA foam

Best for Travel: Milano Vegan Birko-Flor

Birkenstock

Milano Vegan Birko-Flor

If you love the look of the classic Arizona Soft Footbed sandals, but need a heel strap, these are your best bet. They have everything we love about the OGs—adjustable straps, a cork footbed, and that laid-back-but-still-stylish look—but you’ll never have to worry about someone stepping on your heel and causing them to fly off (true story, just ask our senior commerce editor). They’re ideal for trips where you plan to spend days walking around sightseeing and need your shoes to be the last thing on your mind.

SELF’s managing editor, Alessandra Foresto, wears these on repeat: “They’re a classic and pair well with shorts, dresses, and even leggings!” she says. “I did a lot of research on the best sole material for my delicate-yet-wide feet, and these won consistently.” Also nice: “They didn’t require weeks of wear before they molded to my feet.”

Sizes: 4-4.5 to 12-12.5 | Materials: Synthetic leather, microfiber, cork, EVA foam

Best for Flat Feet: Papillio by Birkenstock Arizona Chunky Sandal

Birkenstock

Papillio by Birkenstock Arizona Chunky Sandal

As much as I love the look of platform shoes and sandals, I hate that they often feel flat as a board and super stiff. Birkenstock is doing things right by keeping what makes Arizonas so comfortable and simply adding some extra height to them. “I used to have a pair of Arizonas, and these feel similar,” one SELF tester says. “They also have a lot of arch support, which I like—and need!—as someone with flat feet.”

Sizes: 4-4.5 to 12-12.5 | Materials: Suede, leather, cork, EVA foam

Frequently asked questions about Birkenstocks

What do podiatrists think of Birkenstocks?

Only good things: Jeffrey M. DeLott, DPM, a podiatric surgeon at Hartford HealthCare’s Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute, tells SELF that Birks are supportive and durable. He recommends them for patients dealing with certain foot conditions, like broken toes or arthritis in the big toe.

“[Birkenstocks have] somewhat of a rigid sole, so there are times we’re trying to offload the front of the foot. A Birkenstock sandal can be just as effective as what we call ‘post-op surgical shoes,’” he says. The idea is that the bottom of the shoe doesn’t bend too much, so you’re not pushing off your forefoot as much with each step.

Toe injuries aside, he also recommends them to anyone looking for a solid sandal or house shoe. “I think people can get a nice Birkenstock shoe they wear inside instead of wearing a slipper or instead of going barefoot—it does provide much better support than some of these flimsy flats or sandals,” he says.

The signature Arizona Soft Footbed slides also get the seal of approval from Paulina Piekarska, DPM, a foot and ankle specialist and surgeon at Hartford HealthCare Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute St. Vincent’s Medical Center. She previously recommended them to SELF, citing their supportive design that molds to your foot as you wear it.

Are Birkenstocks good for plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition marked by inflammation and irritation of the plantar fascia, a piece of tissue that runs from the bottom of the heel and underneath the arch of your foot. It often causes foot pain, especially in your heels, and it can be caused (or made worse) by wearing inadequate footwear, Alicia Canzanese, DPM, ATC, a board-certified podiatrist, athletic trainer, and former collegiate track athlete, previously told SELF. The best shoes for plantar fasciitis have good arch support and extra cushioning in the heels.

Thanks to their contoured footbed that’s (typically) made of shock-absorbing cork that molds to your feet over time, Birkenstocks have enough arch support to be a comfortable option for anyone with plantar fasciitis, Dr. DeLott says.

How we tested the best Birkenstocks

At SELF, we take footwear seriously (and we have our annual Sneaker Awards to prove it). Wearing the wrong shoes can cause blisters, achey arches, and just generally unhappy feet. So, to find the best Birkenstocks to you, SELF staff came forward with their all-time favorites from the brand.

Our editors have been wearing these shoes for several weeks or years. They’ve worn them to work, stroll around, run errands, travel, and everything in between. TL;DR? We’ve done our homework, and we’re confident these pairs are the best of the best.

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