Birkenstock Men's Arizona Essentials EVA Sandal - Comfortable & Lightweight R Fit for Beach, Pool & Summer Outdoor Activities

Overall it's a great around the house shoe. Bought to replace a 20 year old pair of Birkenstock I bought at Costco that had finally breathed their last. Tried replacing them with a look-alike from Kohl's that di NOT have the support and comfort of a real Birkenstock. Took them back and bought a synthetic Birkenstock instead.It's good overall, with the same fit and support. The only thing is that the synthetic just doesn't feel like that nice smooth leather when I don't wear socks. A little less flexible and organic. But for the price I'd rather have a real Birkenstock instead of a leather Kohl's knock-off.I have two pairs of these plastic Birkenstocks and wear them all of the time. I have this black pair, and another in a gold tone. I take them on most of my out of town trips because you can wash them easily and even wear socks with them if it’s cold. But they’re a great alternative to slippers when you need something that can get wet. I’ve read that they can shrink if left out in the heat or sunshine, so I’m careful about that. But I wear them out in the Arizona sun and they are fine when you’re wearing them. I’ve taken them to Hawaii multiple times and had them on a covered porch with no problems. They do sometimes suction on my arch and you can hear it when you walk when they do that and that can be a bit awkward…lol! But the more I wear them, the less that has happened. Not sure if it’s how I’ve learned to walk with them on, or if the plastic is slightly worn a bit. That does seem to be a design flaw that could be looked at by the company, for sure! But I love that they are lightweight, easy to travel with and they seem to hold up to a lot of wear and tear. The buckles adjust and stay put, and I like that feature as well.Wow, these are awesome. I can’t believe I waited this long to buy. I’m pregnant and at the beginning of the summer I wasn’t that uncomfortable and loved them. Now, I’m 36 weeks and seriously these are my go to, we they’re still comfy and supportive, and not ugly. I’ll continue to replace these as they’re needed. Though, for the price, one hopes they last 3-5 Summers! If they do, I will be a loyal customer!These are very cute and comfortable but don’t walk in them when wet! Your foot slides all over and if you are on uneven ground, there is no support and your foot turns. But if they don’t get wet, they are great!I wore traditional Birkenstocks throughout my 20s and was already disappointed in their fragility. Others seem to be able to keep them in good shape for years but for me, as soon as the cork got wet (which is inevitable) they would start the rotting and crumbling process. These plastic versions are almost as comfy as the originals, but seem downright bulletproof. I wear them wading through an active river, over unstable and unseeable river rocks, and they are holding up great. Perfect solution for just popping on some footwear to go out to the store, but slightly less casual than Crocs.I am on my third pair of these. I love how light they are and it's nice to be able to get them wet without worry. I used to walk miles in these but haven't done that in a few years. The one down side to these is that they have a weak spot right in front of the strap by the big toe. This area has torn on each pair of mine after several months of use so if you wear them a lot, you may need a new pair after a year or so unlike their cork and leather cousins.Plastic/rubber makes cleaning mud and dirt easy. Very light and comfy.My first pair of Birks! Love them for the look. They are comfortable and the arch support definitely makes a difference. I will say I only put four stars because I had no idea that they would be so noisy when my feet get sweaty. The air gets stuck between the arches, so if your feet bend a little, it makes a squeaky, almost fart-like sound. Be aware, my fellow people who have foot sweat! Other than that, go-to slip-ons!!!Have been wearing Birkenstocks for a few years now and this is the 2nd pair of EVA ones I've bought. The sizing is the same as for the standard ones. I am a size 5 in most shoes but take a 37 in Birkenstock, which is sometimes advertised as 4 or as 4.5. UK size 5 will be a size 38, which is my usual continental size, so think Birkenstocks just come up a bit larger than most brands. The first pair I bought in a shop where I could try them on, so knew I was 37 in these. I think Birkenstock's website has a sizing guide, if you're unsure about your size in these or any other Birkenstocks (I find the different ones I've tried to be consistent size-wise, so am a 37 in all styles). I find all Birkenstocks I've tried so far very comfortable, although I prefer the styles like these with more than one strap, as they don't "flop" so much when walking. I like the EVA ones because waterproof for gardening etc. I've been wearing the last pair I bought more or less every day around the house and garden, and have washed them quite a lot under hot water, sometimes using soap or detergent, and they lasted 10 months. Now, the front straps are breaking away from the shoe bed, and the shoe bed is starting to crack there, too, where you bend them to walk, so bought a new pair. The only thing I find with the EVA ones is that they come off a bit more easily, so I have to tighten the straps more than you're supposed to. I prefer mine a bit tighter anyway - according to Birkenstock, the straps should be loose enough to let most of your sole rise from the shoe bed when walking. You're supposed to grip the shoe bed with your toes. but that doesn't seem to work too well for me - they say you're supposed to get used to it, but even after weeks, I still found myself suddenly loosing a shoe even with the normal cork sole ones, and this is a bit more so with these, probably because they're a bit less flexible than the cork soles. But this is a minor issue and they're still very comfortable. For the price, I find these last well (you can't expect EVA shoes to last forever), and are practical for when you want waterproof shoes/sandals. I will definitely buy another pair when these wear out, and would recommend.I started looking for sandals and these Birkenstocks were one of the first things that popped up.I didn't hesitate to buy because Birkenstock is a well known name, they had great reviews and were very well priced.When they arrived, my first thought was how light they were - and not in a good way. They almost feel like they're made of foam and I am dubious as to how long they would last even with moderate use.They were comfortable enough (I sized down from my normal size) and I can tell that they would mould to the shape of your feet after prolonged use.Unfortunately the buckle fell off one of the sandals literally on the first use. I thought I might be able to re-attach it but it seems they are glued on.It was terribly disappointing to see how low quality the construction was. I thought German-made things were meant to last?!Needless to say I returned them. I would probably purchase again (if they had my size in stock) but it would have to be at a discounted price.I took this birks EVERYWHERE and they are perfect for travel: light, easy to wipe clean and casually stylish.Also, ridiculously comfortable! I have plantar fasciitis that makes it hard to wear anything other than trainers for longer periods of time. They look great, go well with almost any kind of casual wear clothes and took me to the pool, to lunch, to museums...Now that I am stuck WFH they became my home slippers and I am planning to buy new pink ones for this coming Summer!Update:I've added some photos after 10 months of daily use. I've upped the star rating to 4 and I'm thinking about getting another pair solely for outdoor use. With good wool socks I'm still wearing them daily in the winter.My original review:Worn for some of everyday since purchase, mostly around the house and garden, occasional dog walks (with socks) and frequent, probably daily cycling trips.Within four months the soles have compressed under the main contact points causing my arches to come in to contact with the soles. The tread is not lasting well.At this point I'll say I'd only buy them again if the sole was made more rigid and less easily compressed - I may try a leather version of this design next. To be fair, I have probably used them beyond the "pool side shoe" design expectation. They're easy, comfortable and they harbour no odour that I can detect and they dry almost instantly.I bought an EU42 having found the EU41 (leather version) a bit small. Birkenstock recommended the EU41 based on my foot size of mm 267 x 105 (253 circumference width). I have narrow heels, well defined arches and wide toes.I’ve worn Birkenstocks for over 30 years and love them. The price has rocketed though again so I though I would try these to see what they are like.Because the footbed isn’t suede they do feel odd to start but you get used to them.The thing I won’t get used to through is the creaking. OMG- they are so noisy when you walk that I am embarrassed I’m case anyone hears me.I think they would be great for the beach as they are waterproof etc and I want to like them.But the noise definitely takes one (maybe should be more) stars off the rating.