Customer Reviews Birkenstock Florida Soft Footbed - Nubuck

I love Birkenstocks and was so incredibly excited to get these pair. However, upon fixing the straps to my foot, I've found that it's tricky to determine how loose/tight each strap should be. Too tight and it digs into your foot, too loose and your toes go over the edge. It might just be that the leather needs to be broken into, or I ordered the wrong size, but these shoes are pretty uncomfortable when you first wear them. I'm usually a 37 but I might exchange them for a 38.

I prefer the regular footbed. The soft one makes my foot roll in toward my inner ankle. Unfortunately they don't have much selection any more.

I'd recommend going a half to full size smaller than usual. I ordered 6-6.5 and I normally wear 6. These were huge, very wide, my food was swimming in them. Had to return, will try a size smaller. I haven't worn Birkenstocks since high school, used to live in them, hope to love them again.

I ordered this item because, sadly, the similar Naot sandal has been discontinued. The Naot sandal has wider, softer straps. I have had several pairs and never had to break them in. When I tried on this sandal, I found the straps stiff and uncomfortable and did not want to take the chance that a shoe at this price would not work out, so I am returning it.

Stick to the Originals!! Originally, I was so excited about the new soft footbed, because it didn't have the painful break-in that my last pair of Birks had, but I soon realized that they don't have the same support as the original footbed. One of the things that I really love about Birks is the toe gripper and the more I wear the soft footbeds the more it disappears. After just 4 months in India, it is almost non-existent and I am so disappointed that I paid the extra money for these shoes and had to endure my feet sliding all around in the shoes on my many adventures. I also feel that the arch support is not as good as the originals even though it is still better than most shoes in general. In my opinion, stick to the originals... don't spend the extra cash to lose the quality of support that Birkenstocks are so known for.

I'm not convinced! I want to love Birkenstocks but my feet are not cooperating. I thought the soft footbed would be heaven but they are not. They are vaguely softer than the regulars but it does not feel like walking on a cloud. I like the look but my feet are not perky.

I was hoping to replace my old ones that are falling apart (which birks have a tendency to do), they have the nice, soft suede uppers, these are not suede uppers and are pretty stiff. I wish they still made more suede shoes!!!

straps are incredibly stiff--no way to wear these without really thick socks--not the look I am going for.

love birkenstocks, but the nubuck straps on these are completely stiff--impossible to imagine wearing them. Sorry that Birkenstock seems to be dropping classic styles and materials.

The footbed is wonderful. Good arch support. The problem starts with the leather upper. It is so stiff, it might as well be made of wood. Birkenstocks used to be my go to sandal but not anymore. I don't know where they are sourcing their leather from but they should reconsider. They have ruined a really nice sandal. Fortunately, I have a pair that I can continue to resole. This is good because though the style is the same, the latest version of the sandal is not wearable.

This shoe is not as comfortable as I expected. Possibly I chose a style with a strap that does not fit with my instep.

I am new to Birkenstocks. I have been searching for shoes to help with heel and arch pain that seem to be developing plantar fasciitis. These are not the shoes to help me and had to be returned. Shame, I wanted to like them. I ordered the Granada Soft Footbed in oiled leather and these Floridas. The triple strap design of the Florida hit my foot in a painful way and were impossible to wear. The knuckle of my foot fell between the 2 straps closest to the toes and wanted to cut it on either side. I did test wear the Granadas and the straps felt better. But they felt comfy to start and then my knees began to ache and my legs just felt exhausted and heavy as I wore them more. I sit at a desk and so I'm not standing or walking all day like a teacher nurse etc. I switched to my Nike gel flip flops when I got home for instant relief. My knees ached that night. The next day, I tried them again, same results, but, more knee pain even sooner and I was primarily sitting just wearing these around the house. I also noticed more ankle swelling while wearing them and pain in my arches (and even back). These have hard hard soles, so they do not cushion impact and my home and work have hard floors all over. And the soft footbed is not that soft, okay a little less hard than the rock hard regulars. And the soles are very hard very stiff and have no flex at all. Their website praises hard soles, but, as a trainer, impact is not good. I know they say to wear for a few days to "break in the soles" but proper shoes should not cause pain like this and you should forget you have them on not constantly be aware of your feet. I can't cause myself pain to break in a shoes. And a very expensive shoe too. On the positive, the suede footbed has a fuzzy soft feel to the skin and I supposed the "soft footbed" is better than a regular model, but, it's still very hard and not all that soft. They run true to size too. A lot of reviews say they run too large and I almost ordered down a size, glad I didn't. I wear a size 9 sneaker that is a Euro 40 and the 9-9.5/40 Birks fit my feet perfectly. If you're into Birks, these seem very nice. But, not right for me.

Not my favorites - I have several pair of Birkenstocks in the Orlando style, which I love, and I thought these would be similar. But the straps are quite short and it is just not comfortable. The soft footbed feels okay, but it squeaks when I walk. I have no problem with the regular footbed; I love the arch support so much that I never care about "breaking them in." So, I do not like these, recommend Orlando or Sydney. Granada is nice too, but only come in narrow.

I can walk!!! I have so many feet problems I was unable to step on a floor. That meant being immobile. Florida’s soft footbed are the best!!! I will only wear soft footbed and the 3 straps allow for a perfect fit even as my foot width changes. These are the best shoes I have ever had on my feet. In the old days I was known as a "shoe hound" wearing every brand and having a zillion pairs. Now my Florida "softs" are my #1 shoe!

i have ordered the florida soft footbed nubuck from various online stores for over 15 years. this one is at least a size bigger. zappos is refunding but to be honest I hate having to return anything. I am older and anything with the phones or computers that I am not familiar with is a hastle. Birkenstock has changed their sizing. will have to go to a physical store to try one and buy.

I really wanted to love these sandals. I am a true size 8, usually M width, although I sometimes need a wider width in dressier shoes. I ordered a 39 which were supposed to be 8-8½. These shoes were boats! They were gigantic and too wide. There was over 1½" extra space at the toes and the arch was in the wrong spot. I put the straps in the tightest position but that only flattened the straps. This smashes the feet down, with still lots of room on the sides because the nubuck is so stiff. Nothing about the shoes felt natural and they looked pretty bad, too. I will be returning them and I will not take the chance on ordering a smaller size. They are too expensive to risk not being able to be broken in. I had a very similar three strap style, sold by Land's End maybe 15 years ago that were my favorites of all time. The difference was that they were true to size, the nubuck was super soft and the conforming footbed felt natural, not like a bowling ball under my foot in an awkward spot. They were long lasting, super comfortable, and very cute! Unfortunately, Land's End does not sell them anymore.