If you are looking for that trendy Birkenstock Arizona style without the thick rigid sole, you’re in the right place! Here are some barefoot alternatives to the popular double strap summer sandal.
I’ve written about Birkenstocks numerous times – I myself wore them for decades and when I was in the throes of a persistent foot injury they really helped. But I’ve now put Birkenstocks into the category of “a therapy that’s there as needed but is not ideal for chronic use.” I prefer to spend the majority of my shoe-wearing time in options that are more flexible and thin, so my feet can stay supple and strong as I age!
These are in order of my personal favorites!
Koel Ada – These are light, wide, and flexible. The cork insole feels good on the feet, it’s not slippery or sweaty and is really lightweight. They have a generous fit with lots of toe space, and they are secure and not floppy. These are my favorite! I prefer a size 36 in them because they are wide (pictured here is a 37 on my feet, and you can see they are roomy).
Mukishoes Nazare – Buttery soft, with ample toe box space and a soft insole. So comfy! Sizing is mostly true, but they are wide and soft so I went down to a 36 on my low volume feet/narrow heels. If you don’t have low volume/narrow heels I’d stick with your usual size.
These are expected to come back in stock by mid-April. Will also be available at Mukishoes in the EU, there you can use code ANYAMUKI for 10% off.
Butterfly Your World – ANYA10 for 10% off. Definitely a favorite because they are so comfy and lightweight. They also come in multiple width options.
Check out our BYW review here for details on ordering and sizing!
Wildstride Leather – All sandals are handmade to order with bison leather and the quality is top notch. They fit securely and the leather is very high end. These are pricey sandals, but I feel like the quality and craftsmanship warrants it.
I got them in my usual size women’s 6-6.5 and they fit everywhere but are on the long side (longer than is typical for a size 6). They accept custom orders too!
Freet Salcombe – AnyaFreet for 10% off. These have a little bit of cushion, which is nice, and a versatile fit. They’re a little high volume on my skinny ankles, but I still find them comfortable and wearable. Best suited for wide, high volume feet.
If you’re in the UK, shop Freet here.
Softstar Camino Sandals – Read my review here! They also come in a thinner soled version. These take some breaking in and are on the stiffer side, but are really durable. Good if you want more cushion/thickness.
Runner Ups:
Shapen Dazzle – ANYA5 for 5% off. I think these are pretty, but found the width limiting because the sole comes up around the sides. Better for average width, medium to high volume feet.
Posh Panda – Watch my YouTube review here. Super soft and light, but the material stretches a lot so they can be hard to get secure enough. Best suited for high volume feet.
Bioworld (vegan) – I have not tried these personally, but I like the other shoes I have from this shop.
Tomar Creations – I have also not tried these, but again really like the other shoes I have from this store. The leather is really nice.
Ruby Barefoot – ANYASREVIEWS35 for 15% off. The leather on these is fairly stiff and they fit quite high volume.
Barehugs (Poland only) – Don’t really know anything about this brand, but if you’re in Poland they’re an option!
Slides
Slides definitely have their place – I use slides and slip-ons to run the trash out and do other quick things when I need to be totally hands free. But because they aren’t secured to your feet they can promote toe gripping shuffling, and other gait compensations that aren’t helpful longterm. So I personally don’t recommend them for daily or frequent wear. Do with that what you will!
Wyde Maia (EU & US) – Use code ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off. These don’t have arch support, but they do have a more cushioned footbed that will form to your foot. They are moderately flexible and run long, we suggest sizing down.
Vivobarefoot Sensus Yin Slide – Use code ANYASREVIEWS15 for 15% off. These are might lighter and more minimal than the Wyde slide above. You can find the men’s version of the Vivobarefoot Sensus Yin Slide here.
Ahinsa Slip-ons (vegan, EU) – ANYASREVIEWS for 10% off
Zaqq Qansas (EU)
Tomar Creations (EU)
Tarasoles (EU only)
20 thoughts on “Better than Birkenstocks – The Sandals I’m Wearing Instead”
Would love to hear comparisons between them!
Also, which one has found a way to keep the strap in the back from sliding down?
I have a pair of the Wildstride long range ones and they seemed to have figured out. On an instagram post they explained that they angled their backs-trap in a way that it wont slide down. They have been perfect for me honestly. I have been touristing with those all day long this summer and no issues with sliding or blisters.
Great post! Who makes the aqua ones at the top of the post?
Those are the Softstar Camino Lites
I wear my Birkenstock daily. Short walks long walks. Wore them on my trip abroad, walked a 9 hour day in Rome and my feet were amazing. Not a single sore or swelling. And my toes are protected from bumping things. These are toes all the way up and no lip for protection. But these say not for daily use.
Not good for your feet, they have no arch support. I will stick to my very comfortable, podiatrist approved Birkenstocks.
You know, it kind of depends on the podiatrist. The podiatrists that take a natural approach to foot health recognize the place that different types of shoes have. Here is a link to a documentary about shoes with a podiatrist discussing her take on it. And here you can find an interview I held with another practicing podiatrist that you might find interesting.
Thats the whole point lol… why are you on a barefoot shoe blog if you believe arch support is needed? o_O
What about if you have high arches?
IMO high arches can affect the fit of your shoes quite a bit, but don’t have a lot of bearing on whether or not you can wear barefoot shoes.
I wish she would have made her own designs. They look exactly like Birkenstock knock offs, but with thinner soles. Not to mention with Birkenstocks,. I know how to replace the soles.
That’s exactly what some people are looking for, including me. We don’t want a totally different design. We like Birkenstocks for what they are, especially style, but we want them flexible and flat. There’s a market for totally new designs, but there’s a market for taking other designs that we love and want to wear (even used to wear), but choose not to because of lack of toe space, flat soles, and flexibility.
Are there any Birkenstock-like slide in sandals (aka house shoes) with the cushioning and footbed, but with a barefoot-width toe box and that come in size EU 44 – ideally unisex (my feet are low volumen and men’s shoes often don’t work).
I used to wear a pair of Birkenstock Florida as house shoes, but didn’t replace them because I transitioned to barefoot shoes. Now I live in a home again where the floors get very cold in the winter (first floor, old house) AND I would like to get some cushioning and the nice massage effect back from the Birkenstock, especially when I’m standing for a while in the kitchen. I already have warm barfeoot slippers, but I’d like a sandal that also has the footbed that massages my feet.
The Wyde Maia that is listed in the slide section has more cushioning than the other options and I think meets your description.
There’s also the Aylla Thak barefoot slide 🙂 (https://www.aylla.cz/en/thak-sand/)
I have a question. In terms of the options for men, which of the ones with a heel strap has the narrowest width? I know the Shapen Dazzle were narrower, but also seem to be more feminine.
I would say the Softstar Camino and the Wildstride sandals had the narrowest fit around the heel.
Lol, my question was poorly asked. I was talking about narrow in the forefoot, but because I made the heel strap clarification, it definitely sounded like I was asking about the heel. Whoops!
Question for you! Which one of these is the most narrow and low volume? My heel, midfoot, and forefoot are all very narrow
Butterfly Your World comes in several different widths. I’d check the size chart there first to see if they’d be a good fit!