Ok, let me tell you what I did. First off: My college son moved to Hood River, OR for a summer internship. (If you live nearby and see a tall, skinny kid on a big blue beat-up Clem, please wave to him!) He never, ever asks me for anything and is the cheapest of all cheapskates. I told him I was looking at these sandals and I guess those are a popular thing in the Portland area and he was actually looking at them, too. And because he is a golden-hearted absolute sweet angel from heaven, he will be receiving his Havana oiled leather Arizonas in the mail soon.
Ok, for me. I am not really looking for riding sandals. I wear Keens and I can’t imagine anything better. When you roll into your campground and head to the showers, you want to wear sandals in those nasty public facilities and Keens are waterproof. So you get the change to wash the road grime and sweat out of your sandals in that shower while protecting your feet from germs and then you just set them out on the vestibule to dry. They come out looking sparkling clean and then you can toss them in the washing machine on gentle when you get home. But I DO want a pair of slides, so I got the Arizona. Those will be great for running around. I also wanted to see what the Boston is all about so I ordered a pair of those to try on, too. I might not keep either, but I want to see and try them at least. I think the Boston will be great for spring and fall. And I noticed they are oddly popular right now. they are all over the internet, shown with shorts. Huh. The choices in leathers, synthetics and foot beds made the search interminable, or so it felt. In the end I went with oiled leather and the classic footbed because there are too many complaints about the squeaky/sticky/non-supportive leather foot beds in the big buckle versions. I reserve the right to change my mind, but let me just sample the classics first. L On Friday, June 19, 2026 at 2:52:54 PM UTC-4 Garth wrote: > The London is also a classic Birkenstock cork footbed, the same as the > Arizona, Boston and Milano. The only difference in all the classic cork > footbed styles is what type up upper is glued on to the footbed. As I > mentioned before, they are modular in that way, with that one universal > cork footbed they made different styled uppers. > > I'm not up on all of the new-er styles, but as I recall the non-classics I > tried fit smaller length/width and were less pronounced in the footbed. Not > really a Birk experience to me. > > On Friday, June 19, 2026 at 12:40:35 PM UTC-4 Coal Bee Rye Anne wrote: > >> Thanks, I've not seen that site before but will check it out. I've seen >> the London available in my size before... even currently on the main >> Birkenstock US site. There were just many times stock was hit or miss and >> either not available when I had to urge or they were maybe available when I >> really just wanted to replace my existing pair and was self budgeting. >> >> Curious though if you can confirm whether all London have the same inner >> sole as a Boston or do they differ as I read a review somewhere where >> someone mentioned London lacking the toe ridge? Is the London inner sole >> flat through the toes? Just curious having never tried on a pair. >> >> On Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 8:26:55 PM UTC-4 [email protected] >> wrote: >> >>> Yeah I totally understand that it’s would be hard to find some in your >>> size. But they do make a Birkenstock London up to a 50 narrow. Which I >>> believe is a 17, I think?you can check with >>> https://repairmybirkenstocks.com/london-oiled-leather/ >>> They may have your size. >>> ( and yes I nerd out on shoes) >>> >>> The London is my secret sauce for riding. Especially if I don’t need to >>> be clipped in. And I am planning to make a pair into clip-less ready here >>> soon. >>> [image: image0.jpeg][image: image1.jpeg] >>> >>> They do have openings in the front like the Boston but with the covered >>> heel make the difference for staying on and keeping most debris out. >>> >>> [image: image2.jpeg][image: image3.jpeg] >>> >>> On Jun 10, 2026, at 2:34 PM, Coal Bee Rye Anne <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> I still need to catch up on some threads including Patrick’s >>> Metatarsalgia discussion but as a longtime Birkenstock wearer I can offer >>> the following: >>> >>> >>> I have long and narrow feet. Wear size 16 in most sneakers but 15 in >>> other brands (such as Timberland) if they run large or as is often the case >>> 15 may just be largest available size. I ‘think’ my arch is average but >>> honestly not sure. >>> >>> Unfortunately, my size requirements limit Birkenstock availability as >>> well but I usually have a pair of Arizona sandals and/or Boston clogs. >>> I’ve worn both 15 and 16 US sizes in both models but preferred 15Narrow. I >>> hadn’t been able to get 15Narrow replacements after wearing out my last so >>> now have 15 regular. >>> >>> I’ve biked in both but prefer the closed toe of the Boston. The soft >>> outsole grips my flat pedals well but shreds up quite easily if using >>> spiked pedals. I have grip kings, VP-001, and some older cage pedals. >>> Grip Kings grip my Birks the least of all my pedals and I may drill/tap >>> them for set screw spikes someday but haven’t bothered yet. >>> >>> I think the biggest downside is just getting dirt/gravel/debris in the >>> sandals during rides. I may get less in the Boston clogs but then it can’t >>> work itself out as well as with the open sandals. With the Arizona I felt >>> my foot move around more in a less desirable way, especially once sweat >>> soaked, so prefer the Boston which just felt a bit more secure with foot >>> placement. I have not tried any Birks with heel strap, though I’ve wanted >>> to try some London clog/shoe. Budgeting and a minimalist desire has >>> prevented purchasing any more until I wear existing shoes out. Now they >>> have a much greater variety of footbeds and soles but at my size I’m still >>> limited in selection so never veered from the standard Arizona and Boston >>> styles. I’ve never actually had a pair or Birkenstocks serviced or >>> re-soled, despite best intentions, as there seemed to always be a lack of >>> ‘official’ or ‘authorized’ local service centers whenever I looked and I’ve >>> instead usually upcycled many of my old leather straps vs finding a local >>> cobbler to do a re-sole. >>> >>> I’ll also ride in sneakers or my vans, both laced and slip on, but >>> trashed my slip ons last year after they finally fell apart and have not >>> yet replaced. I must say my personal preferred riding shoe at the moment >>> is an old pair of Timberland earthkeepers side zipper black boots (old >>> discontinued city type boot) I’d replaced the laces with thick leather lace >>> with a permanent knot with short tag ends so leave them tied and >>> specifically use the side zippers. They just fit great with a thin pair of >>> wool hiking socks and grip the pedals almost similar to the Birkenstocks >>> but they are wearing thin and double as my ‘nice’ black shoes so I’ve >>> limited riding in them lately to extend their longevity as much as possible >>> and expect this summer will see more vans and Birkenstocks in my rides. >>> >>> In short, I do really like riding in Birkenstocks for short casual rides >>> with most flat pedals with a preference for clog over open sandals but as >>> someone who sweats heavily once they get saturated my foot begins to slip >>> around a bit more than I’d like so for longer and more aggressive rides I >>> still prefer socks and a full shoe/sneaker. >>> >>> One last note, with one single speed bike equipped with holdfast foot >>> straps and VP-001 pedals I’ve also successfully used my Boston clogs on >>> these but have gotten them stuck before when I lazily chose not to >>> re-adjust the straps from prior rides with my narrower toed Timberland >>> boots so had a barefoot stop on a few occasions with clog still attached to >>> the pedal. Usually with a standard flat pedal this has not been an issue >>> for me with open back sandals or clog falling off but it does occur to me >>> why a heel strap may certainly be beneficial either way! >>> >>> Brian Cole >>> Lawrence NJ >>> >>> >>> >>> On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Ted Durant <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Hi all - >>>> >>>> Patrick's thread on Metatarsalgia prompted a few people to recommend >>>> Birkenstocks, and I'm Birkenstock curious, so thought it might be worth >>>> its >>>> own thread. >>>> >>>> What are your feet like? (length, width, volume, arch height, any >>>> specific. issues) >>>> What Birkenstock model(s) have you tried and how have you liked them? >>>> What models have you biked in, how has that been, and on what pedals? >>>> >>>> Thanks! >>>> >>>> Ted Durant >>>> Milwaukee WI USA >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To view this discussion visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/683e5908-ee9b-42b1-94ae-1077294b99c9n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/683e5908-ee9b-42b1-94ae-1077294b99c9n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CABp0VCNXbr%3DKX_Qp3ooy4-WFBpbfJPd3mRnOAFnLCc5Hsej_nA%40mail.gmail.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CABp0VCNXbr%3DKX_Qp3ooy4-WFBpbfJPd3mRnOAFnLCc5Hsej_nA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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