Customer Reviews Birkenstock Milano - Leather Soft Footbed (Unisex)

These sandals are classic birks - iconic style, comfortable, great arch support. A little more cushiony than most due to the extra layer in the footbed. Tends to run a little large - I had to go down one size. Arch support in Birks can surprise you - higher and more definitive than most shoes.

I have been on the fence about Birkenstocks just because I tried them at a local Nordstroms and felt they didn't provide enough support during walking. I decided on the Milano style as I needed a good, supportive pair for my trip to Europe in one month. I usually wear a 7.5-8 in sandals/flats and decided to try the 38. After wearing around the house I felt like "I could make them work;" however, my toes kept feeling like they hit the front edge during walks. I decided to contact Zappos and see if I could try on a 39. They sent me the 39 and it felt better right away. The leather might feel stiff at first but I guarantee you they will break in within a week. So worth the money for how they feel. Unfortunately the first pair of 39s Zappos sent had some green glue like substance around the cork edge. I contacted customer service and they immediately filed a return and sent me a replacement which arrived 2 days later on my doorstep. Not only are my feet happy, but I am now sold as a Zappos customer!

I have narrow heels and a wide forefoot, as well as a pesky problem that starts with "b" and rhymes with "onion" (probably stemming from years of wearing heels. These shoes are literally the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. They do require breaking in, so check out the Birkenstock website for guidance. My feet are between 8.5 and 9 (women's sizing), and I normally wear a wide. I got these in a 39 regular and they fit perfectly. (I wear them with feminine skirts, skinny jeans, etc. and feel moderately stylish in them. However, at this point comfort reigns and I'd wear them even if they were as ugly as Crocs. Luckily they're nicer-looking than I remember the old tan suede ones of yesteryear.)

The fit is fine. I swore I would not order these again but I did. They are SO STIFF I can't get the straps in/out/or through the buckles. I know there's a reason they're made like they are, they last forever. After all, they're Birkenstocks. But I am returning. I wish I could wear them but I simply can't.

Excellent quality and craftsmanship! I have wide feet and is so nice not to feel any pinching The ankle strap is great. I can be active without worrying about the sandal sliding off.

The shoe requires a break-in period. They arrived so stiff that I didn’t think they were usable. I broke them in indoors, while wearing socks. There’s a different feel from any other shoe I’ve ever owned. Your feet feel well planted and stable in the shoe.

Can't go wrong with a pair of Birks right? Having pretty bad feet, I felt I needed the back strap to keep feet in place and towards all support, but perhaps not. They will take a little working in, but overall a great purchase.

To bad there is no size 9.5 (EUR 43).

This is my first pair of Birkenstocks. I'll freely admit, I've never been a fan of the style, but I have a toe injury that requires a pair of "large" open sandals that won't aggravate the injury and these fit the bill. They are basically exactly what I expected. I still don't like the style, but they are comfortable, and the adjustable straps are exactly what my injury needed. I typically wear a 6.5 and originally tried the 37 but ended up going up to the 38. I think if I wasn't having to accommodate the injury though, the 37 would have been sufficient. My feet border between M and W (although I almost always stick with the M) and these feel wide on me. Again, that's what I need, so it's ok (and part of that could be due to going up half a size) - just want to let others know how to expect them to fit if they aren't familiar with the brand. They'll do the job while this injury heals, and I'm sure I'll end up pulling them out for around the house wear when that's healed just because they're pretty darn comfy.

The Faded Khaki Milano's I received were not of the "Soft Footbed" style that was being advertised. Upon further investigation on Birkenstock's website, it appears that the only colors/leather styles available with the soft footbed in the Milano lineup, are the Black and Brown Amalfi leather. The Khaki's that I received had a suede footbed, but not the extra-cushioning that makes up the "soft footbed". These are my first Birks, but having just been to a local store and having just tried a pair of Arizona's with the soft footbed, it was clear that these Milano's are misrepresented.

Per my 17 year old daughter, they made my feet look enormous. The heel strap is nice, but maybe puts more pressure on the tips of my toes, made the shoe very uncomfortable. The leather it self for this color was some what plastic-y and VERY STIFF, the edges of the leather straps were sharp and dug into the tops of my feet. I also picked up the same shoe in the oiled leather. Same issue with the pressure on the toes, but the leather was much nicer feeling and looked like real leather. The soft foot bed is nice.

These are a great pair of sandals, but just haven't held up very well. I ordered these less than three months ago, and my complaint is that one sandal is now developing a crack in the side of the footbed, near the front strap. I've never had this kind of a problem with much cheaper footwear. As others have mentioned, the straps do take a while to soften. I toughed it out, only to bloody my feet a bit. Ignoring the quality problems mentioned above, the leather looks great and I think it is worth the extra expense to upgrade from the non-leather options. I also wear a 10.5, and occasionally an 11 in other shoes. I was worried, but the 10-10.5 (size 43) still fit fine.

Someone might find this helpful--I am a long-time wearer of the 'Milano' style, in oiled leather. I wanted to try the soft footbed, which is apparently not an option with oiled leather. After scrutinizing the 'Brown Amalfi Leather,' I ordered a pair. They arrived a day or two ago, and I was disappointed to see that the brown leather is much darker and high-gloss than I expected. These are 'dressy' Birks (to me, anyway), and I'm a pretty casual guy. I'm returning these in favor of another pair of oiled brown leather Birks with the standard soles.

I have long been a fan of Birks, and the soft footbed is very nice and comfortable. Ended up returning these, however, because the back buckle rubbed agains my ankle. Ordered the same sandal but without that back strap, and they're wonderful!

The leather is too stiff, the sole not as soft as I'd expected, nice looking but unlikely to be as comfortable as I'd hoped. Have only worn it slightly indoors.

Poorly Made: Worn out in months. After another snowy, cold Indiana winter, in 2022 I was ready to set my feet free. When it warmed up a bit I put on a new pair of Birkenstocks and wore them happily. By the end of June I found I had literally worn a large hole in the bottom. When I stepped on a rock it hurt my foot as though I had stepped on with my bare foot — which I had, because it gouged my foot through the hole in my sandals.

For men's foot size 8.5 medium (9 in Merrell hiking boots), size 42 regular width seemed a perfect fit, where there is still room in the front. Looked and felt a bit bulky, a tad too wide. Had to buckle front strap on the last hole to prevent toes from sliding and hitting the front. Had to return because after trying to break them in for two weeks, near blistering, really hoping to reach that point/ promise of "the best sandals ever", ultimately, the recipient declared: these prove how successful their marketing is, because these are the ugliest and most painful sandals. Ever. I hate them. They are the worst. I do think that they may have liked them better if they were a bit narrower and less bulky. Arizonas maybe, but narrow version was too narrow. Something is just off about this style.

Way too shiny for me. I buy a lot of leather items like boots, bags and accessories. I have also had several pairs of leather Birkenstocks. These don't look look any I've had or seen. I will be going with the oiled leather even though the soft footbed is not available in oiled. These were really narrow. My foot seemed to push against the inside of the top strap quite a bit. I don't have any wide shoes and don't have need for them. I got a pair of the Arizona's recently from the Birkenstock site and all was good with them. Not sure why this pair from Zappos seems inferior but I have a good guess.

Fits like Birkenstock’s. I had to return due to the leather. Look I’ve bought a lot of leather sandals in the past but the black leather is so hard. If I dropped someone on the ground and I had to bend down, I wouldn’t be able to. That leather would dig into the skin of my feet. It is insanely stiff! Arch support seems like there is a lot of arch. I returned because that means I can’t even bend down to pick something up. It is gonna hurt me! Why be miserable in shoes?

Black ink on leather stained my socks. Painful to use, not comfortable at all. Clasps are difficult to close, lips should be raised to ease the insertion of the leather strap

The one star is for Zappos - Listed as 'soft footbed' on Zappos- which they are not. If you look on the Birkenstock website this model isn't available as a soft footbed. The shoe was the same cost as listed on the Birkenstock website so I kept them.

Item was delivered used

Returned the item, I was surprised to see the material as a shiny leather. It was not something I liked. The picture on the web site looked more like an oil leather but when the box arrived it said shiny leather.

Best sandals I have ever used. They serve as my house shoes as they are so comfortable

I love walking in these I feel like I could walk all day