I’ve never heard of them but I’m looking around for shoes with similar sorts of footbeds to Birkenstock. Are they similar? Do you like them?
I’ve been thinking about driving over an hour to go to a shoe store that carries them, but that’s a bit of a drive if they suck.
I used to have a pair of Naot, years ago. I liked them fine. They’re very similar to Birkenstocks, but I found that mine didn’t last as long as the Birkies I’ve owned. (Although one data point is probably not very meaningful.)
What’s wrong with Birkenstocks, anyway?
My wife has owned a couple of pairs and she really likes them. They’re one of the few brands that she can wear comfortably with her orthotics.
I don’t know anything about Birkenstocks, but I have had a couple pairs of Naot for about 6 years. I will say that after 6 years the soles are kind of worn down. I still like them though, as does everyone I know who has them.
I have a pair of the Matai flats, and they were really comfortable initially (about three months), but they stretched out quickly and look disappointingly dingy for how expensive they were.
I’m a lifelong birkenstock wearer, but I bought a pair of Naots about two years ago on a sale. I like them better than birks now. I recently bought this pair: Sandals, Shoes, Boots & More | NAOT, and they are wearing in really well.
I don’t have any at the moment, but I’ve loved the ones I’ve had in the past.
I’ve been wearing Birks for 20 years (Boston’s are my house slippers and run around shoes.), Dansko’s ( sometimes work shoes. These things last forever.) for about 10 and I have a pair of Naots.
My only problem I’ve had with them is that there is no way to tighten up the toe strap on the pair that I own, so it always felt too loose on the sandals I bought.
Kinda looks like this, only with an ankle strap. Because of this glaring problem, I haven’t even thought of looking at another pair in years and apparently, they’ve expanded their shoe selection and I am digging the boots in a major way.
Other than that, they were very comfortable.
( I have feet issues and find that spending $120 or so for a pair of shoes that actually don’t hurt my feet and last 10 years or more are worth every penny.)
I wanted some closed shoes and for some reason the shoe-style Birkenstocks don’t feel right on my feet whereas my Boston clogs are divine. I just hate wearing clogs in the snow.