Birkenstock Guide: Arizona and the Sandals Beyond It

Birkenstock Guide: Arizona and the Sandals Beyond It

Birkenstock makes far more than the Arizona, and this guide shows how wide the range really is. Browse Birkenstock sandals by style, from two-strap slides to thongs, platforms and the Madrid. Find the footbed shape that suits your day and the finish that suits your wardrobe.

A Birkenstock for every kind of day

The Birkenstock story starts in 1774, when Johann Adam Birkenstock is recorded as a shoemaker in Langen-Bergheim, Germany. Konrad Birkenstock later developed the first contoured insole for shoemakers, and the company registered the Fussbett trademark in 1925. The Arizona followed in 1973 and became the sandal most people picture when they hear the name Birkenstock.

 

This guide begins with the Arizona and then moves through the other open styles in the range, so you can see how far one footbed travels.

Six Birkenstocks: Arizona Big Buckle, Gizeh, Mayari, Florida, Kyoto and Arizona Chunky

Arizona with buckles and rivets

The Arizona arrived in 1973 and has been the brand's most popular sandal ever since. Two adjustable straps sit over the cork and jute footbed that Birkenstock has used for decades, and the footbed gradually conforms to the shape of your foot. What changes from pair to pair is the finish: big buckles, rivets, shearling lining, high shine, snake print suede and raffia.

 

I would choose by what is already in the closet. A tonal suede Arizona works with almost everything, the high shine Big Buckle is the dressier pair, the shearling pairs are for socks and coats, and the lightweight EVA styles, including the sage Big Buckle, are the ones to take to the beach or the pool. Whichever you pick, check that the buckle sits flat over your foot before you commit.

Gizeh and the thong styles

Thong sandals joined the range in 1983, and the Gizeh is the best known of them. Gizeh and Mayari sit closer to a classic summer sandal than the Arizona does, with a toe post in place of a second strap. They are lighter on the foot and easy to pack.

 

The high shine and big buckle Gizeh are the dressier pairs, the rivet version is the one I would wear with jeans, and the printed Etro collaboration is for anyone who wants the shoe to be the statement. A toe post takes a day or two to get used to, so wear a new pair around the house first.

Madrid and the easy slides

The Madrid is where the whole story starts. Karl Birkenstock released it in 1963 as the Original Birkenstock Footbed Sandal, and it has been called Madrid since 1979. In 1966 Margot Fraser was recommended Madrids at a spa in Bavaria and went on to bring Birkenstocks to America, which is a good reason to treat it as the original.

 

Beyond the Madrid, this shelf has the Florida Fresh, the Barbados EVA slides and the Kyoto and Uji in nubuck suede. They share the contoured footbed and they are the quick-on option for errands and travel days.

Platforms with the footbed intact

Platform and chunky Birkenstocks add height without losing the footbed. They pair well with wide trousers and long skirts.

 

The Arizona Chunky appears here in three finishes, so compare the colors rather than the names. The Almina is the wedge, and the Florida platforms are the lighter EVA option for summer.

Also in the range

A few more Birkenstock styles that sit outside the main groups. The Boston arrived in 1976 as the brand's first cork clog, and you can see it here in soft footbed suede and in a big buckle oiled leather version.

 

Oita, Sylt and Tokio are the less expected shapes, and the clogs add Boston in braided, rivet and shearling finishes plus the Naples wrapped clog, which are the cosy end of the range. The final shelf adds the Tulum, Siena, Milano, Granada and Franca, plus the Honolulu in EVA and the Soley wedge. Worth a look if you want something less expected.

Finding your footbed

Try the Arizona first if you are new to Birkenstock, then branch out. The cork and jute footbed does the work, and it needs a few wears to settle to your foot. The finish is where you get to play. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Birkenstock Clogs Guide and Pink Slides and Soft Sandals.