Customer Reviews Birkenstock Gizeh Oiled Leather

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Rating Summmary:

914 total reviews
Birkenstock Gizeh Oiled Leather

Review Breakdown:

75%5Rated 5 stars out of 5

9%4Rated 4 stars out of 5

7%3Rated 3 stars out of 5

4%2Rated 2 stars out of 5

5%1Rated 1 star out of 5

Customer Fit Survey:

75%"Felt true to size"

94%"Felt true to width"

57%"Excellent arch support"

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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
It took me a long time to figure out how to make these shoes work for me, and I thought I should share what I learned! They are so cute, and CAN BE so comfortable, if you get the right fit. I am a true size 10, with a slender foot. In Gizeh, I now realize I wear a size 41 regular, with an extra hole punched in the leather buckling strap (any Birkenstock or Comfort One store should be able to do this for you.) I first bought these in a size 40 regular, WRONG decision. Though my foot will technically "fit" within the outer confines of the 40, it was too short and didn't fit my contours right. The hard plastic piece (which is really terrible) jammed up against my toe when I walked, and was so painful. So then I tried the 41 Narrow, which was better, but also weirdly too short for me. I later found out that the Narrow sizes are actually shorter than their regular counterparts. So a 41 narrow will be shorter than a 41 regular. Why? No clue; doesn't make sense to me. So then I tried the 42 Narrow, which was waaaay too long. I had over a 1/4 inch of space in front and back. I tried to make it work for awhile, but, since it was too big, it didn't hold my foot, and when I walked, my foot would fall forward and jam into that terrible plastic thong again. So the recurring theme here is: if your Gizeh doesn't fit right, that plastic piece will be BEYOND painful. I kept looking at women wearing their cute Gizehs out and about and and thinking, "How are you surviving that plastic knife between your toes? What is your secret?" So finally, I went to a store and tried on several options. And lo and behold, the 41 regular, my normal size, was the winner. Here's how you know you have the right fit: your heel should be all the way back, firmly down in the heel cup. The arch support should hit you right under your arch. And your toes should not touch the front shoe lip--maybe graze at best. AND THE KEY FOR GIZEH: strap those suckers on tight. The plastic piece should not dig into your foot. It's there to just hold the sandal in place. The tighter you can strap the shoe, the best it stays on your foot when you move, and the less you slide into into the thong. This is not a flip-flop and shouldn't act like one. Over time, the shoe will become more bendy, and will mold to your foot, and won't notice the plastic separator. Many people say that Birks are uncomfortable at first--and I don't think that's totally true. While they take time to soften and conform, the ones that worked for me felt great the minute I put them on. Yeah, they were a bit stiff and are only getting more comfy the more I wear them, but I let the "you have to break them in" adage keep me hanging on with sandals that didn't fit. When you find the right size, it should be pretty clear to you, and if things are terribly uncomfortable, you probably need a different size.
I'd also recommend:
Mephisto
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Verified PurchaseReview for Zappos VIP Points(What's this?)
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Poor SupportGreat Support
Comfy right out of the box-- as long as you get your sizing right. I normally wear anywhere between a 9 and 10, depending on the shoe. I ordered these in a 9/9.5 and they seemed too big. Zappos kindly sent me an 8/8.5 to try on with the larger size, side by side. I am keeping the 8/8.5s, they are a perfect fit. I have included a picture of the two sizes side by side on my feet, my heels sitting properly in the heel cup. As you can see, in the larger size my toes are too far from the edge and while my heel rests properly in the heel cup, my toes do not fit properly over the toe bar. I absolutely recommend these shoes, but be sure to try a size smaller size before settling on keeping or returning them. These definitely seem to run larger than other Birks. With that said, these sandals have excellent arch support; I've found that Birks are the only sandal I can wear with my plantar fasciitis-- I wear custom orthotics in all my closed toed shoes.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Verified Purchase
Runs NarrowRuns Wide
Poor SupportGreat Support
I have been a Birkenstock fan for over 30 years. I've owned owned over 12 pairs (6 are in my closet as I write this) so I feel that I know them pretty well! This is my second pair of Gizehs and they are, now, just as comfortable and as cute as my first pair. One thing to know about Birks, if you've never worn them, is that you don't get accustomed to Birks; Birks get accustomed to you. They will conform to your feet over a short period. So make sure that they fit you. I normally wear a 9 or 9 1/2 W. In Birks I always order the European size 40 and I have never been disappointed. An I even have fat little feeties! With the Gizeh, make sure that you heel is placed in the cup and that the arch of the shoe is directly under the arch of your foot. And be certain to adjust the strap in order to firmly hold the shoe onto your feet. There should be no movement akin to a flip flop! I can't stress this enough!! Do this and you will not notice the bar between your toes. At all. I guarantee it. After wearing them for a couple days your feet should automatically slide right into position when you put them on and they will bend naturally to conform to your gait. I love all my Birks!
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Overall1Rated 1 star out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Verified PurchaseReview for Zappos VIP Points(What's this?)
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Poor SupportGreat Support
Love these Birkenstock’s but not happy that I received a pair with someone’s dirty toe prints in them! For $125 plus tax, I want a brand new pair.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
These are so cute! I got mine in a light green (not sure if they're available here anymore). I get tons of compliments on them. Note: the piece between the toes becomes less noticeable as you break them in. They don't bother me at all any more. Note: Birks feel hard if you've never worn them before. It made my feet tired to break in my first pair. But I love them so much, I have four pairs now! I have plantar fasciitis and high arches. Birks have helped me get my problem under control. Custom orthotics were not able to do that for me, nor any other shoe -- not even New Balance.
I'd also recommend:
Sole footbeds
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Verified PurchaseReview for Zappos VIP Points(What's this?)
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I ordered these and tobacco and habana colors. At first I thought toe separator was annoying and I wouldn't keep but decided to wear around the house for a bit. It started loosening up and I decided to keep. Now a month later they are so comfortable I didn't notice toel separator piece anymore, but I tried and second pair today as I haven't won yet and forgot the toe piece has to be broken in a bit , as its stiff so if you can get past the break in toe seperator these are sooooo comfortable!!! i wear size 7-8 & 38 in these fits perfect.
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Overall3Rated 3 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Verified PurchaseReview for Zappos VIP Points(What's this?)
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Poor SupportGreat Support
Let’s face it people have been wearing Birkenstock’s for years. My brother has been wearing the Arizona style for 20 plus years. I had high expectations for these shoes. Shouldn’t I? After all I spent over $100 on a pair of cork sandals! I live in NE Ohio so sandal season doesn’t last that long. I wore mine on and off for a year and the cork is breaking down. Before you yell at me and say “use the cork conditioner and take good care of them” know that I did just that. I didn’t wear them in the wet conditions, I waterproofed them, cleaned the footbed and conditioned the cork. For shoes this expensive I expect better longevity. I do like them and I’ll wear them until I cannot any longer but I will not buy another pair.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Verified PurchaseReview for Zappos VIP Points(What's this?)
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I love this sandal. Thank you to the other reviewers who suggested tightening the strap completely for the best comfort. Birks are the only sandals that work for my plantar fasciitis. That said, Zappos picture of the tabacco oiled leather is inaccurate. The color is much lighter. I googled it, and the lighter color matches Birkenstock’s website. I still loved the sandal and decided to keep it, but the color was not what I expected.
I'd also recommend:
Dansko, new balance
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Overall2Rated 2 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Verified PurchaseReview for Zappos VIP Points(What's this?)
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I have had these sandals for just over a year. I love them and they’re very comfortable. However, I just noticed a crack in the cork. I’m very disappointed because I really haven’t worn them that much and it doesn’t seem like they should be cracking already. I’ve taken great care of them and never wear them in the rain. It seems like for the price the code should hold up a lot longer.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Verified PurchaseReview for Zappos VIP Points(What's this?)
Runs SmallRuns Large
I exchanged a size 37 in the Graceful Toffee Birko-Flor for a size 36 in Tobacco oiled Leather. To give you some idea of how big these run, I usually wear a 6.5 W. The 36s fit nicely. Besides the 37s being too big, I didn’t like the material of the Birko-Flor. The leather is a much nicer look and feel, and I think it will wear nicer. Some people complained about the leather having scratches when they came but honestly I think that’s just what happens when you buy leather. Over time it darkens and the scratches aren’t as obvious. The Tobacco color was a little darker than what I expected but I still like them. The Graceful Toffee was more metallic than I wanted. See pictures for comparison.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Verified Purchase
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Poor SupportGreat Support
So, I read A LOT of reviews before pulling the trigger on these... and I have to say, both the review-reading and the purchase were well worth the time & money!! First off - for those who complain about the plastic piece between your toes: either the shoes aren't the right size or the strap isn't tightened properly. When I first put them on, I walked in circles around my house, totally disappointed. The footbed fit me perfectly, but the straps were a little loose on me, even while tightened all the way down... so the plastic thong was digging into my foot every time I took a step. To be crystal clear: these shoes are NOT meant to fit & feel like flip flops! The bed should stay strapped nice and snug to your foot every time you step. So what I ended up doing is grabbing a ruler, a hammer, and an awl and making a new hole on each shoe, allowing me to crank these down another notch. Bingo! I think you can have a Berk retailer do this for you also (especially if you don't have the right tools or don't feel comfortable poking holes in your brand new leather!) After the adjustment, the plastic was no longer digging with every step. That being said, it still felt weird to have it between my toes... it took me a solid week of wearing them to break them in... and now? I don't even feel the plastic thong anymore. And the footbed is heavenly! These are THE MOST comfortable pair of shoes I've ever owned - and they are super cute and can easily be dressed up or down!
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I love these! I have worn them every day since they arrived. After having owned dozens of Birkenstocks, I prefer the real leather option to the birkoflor options. These are well worth the extra expense!
I'd also recommend:
orthaheel, dansko
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Overall2Rated 2 stars out of 5
Comfort4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Style4Rated 4 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
The fit is great. I can definitely tell that it will support my plantar fasciitis. Unfortunately, the picture of the shoes is different from what I received. The brown color is a light matte brown, and the picture looks darker and more oiled like leather. The first time I received the wrong size and the color was the light matte brown color. I sent the shoes back and the second time received the correct size but they were the same exact color again (light matte brown). I would suggest to update the picture with what this particular shoe actually looks like.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Verified PurchaseReview for Zappos VIP Points(What's this?)
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Poor SupportGreat Support
SADLY, They are not doggy proof!!
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I have been wanting a pair of these since last summer. These shoes are beautiful and comfortable and I cannot wait for the warm weather so I can wear them. Also, they are on sale for just slightly more than the birki-vinyl material!?! That deal cannot be beat! These do run a full size too big.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I generally wear 8.5-9 size shoes and the 39 fits me perfectly. I held off on purchasing these shoes for a while because I was concerned about the complaints regarding the painful plastic thong piece. Right out of the box, I put the shoes on and I felt immediate pain from the plastic. I almost thought I was going to have to return them, UNTIL I started experimenting with tightening the straps. I have thin feet, and I tightened the straps to the last hole and viola, pain was gone! I am so glad I didn't return them without tightening the straps because they are awesome for my bad feet!
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style4Rated 4 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I'm super excited. Received my Gizeh's today! They fit like a glove and are very lightweight. I have wide feet and they aren't an issue. The arch support is great. The best part is Zappos service! I ordered Saturday night and received them Monday! Plus it was free! I am very pleased!
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style4Rated 4 stars out of 5
Runs SmallRuns Large
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I absolutely love these! Walking in sand and dirt is annoying, though. With raised edges around the shoe, sand is harder to shake out.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I'm usually a size 8 and order the size 38 and it fit perfectly! I found that the narrow was a better fit than the regular width. Great Zappos service, as always!
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Overall1Rated 1 star out of 5
Comfort1Rated 1 star out of 5
Style1Rated 1 star out of 5
Verified Purchase
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Poor SupportGreat Support
Toe strap bar broke after less than a month, super bummed. I really liked these otherwise. Not okay for $120 sandals.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
My first Birkenstock sandal and what an amazing shoe this is! I was definitely missing out all these years. And with my super sensitive feet I was prepared to suffer for a few days while I break them in. But they were so comfortable on the very first wear. My feet feel amazing in them.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
Wonderful sandal. I am between a 39 and 40 in Birks, and for the Gizeh in leather, 39 feels much more comfortable. I could not tighten the 40 enough around my skinny feet.
I'd also recommend:
chaco
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Ordered a size smaller due to other reviews. They fit perfectly and are wonderfully comfortable.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Runs SmallRuns Large
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Poor SupportGreat Support
I ordered two pairs in different colors and kept this one as the dark oiled leather looked great with the dark sole. The sandal fits as expected, I have not owned a pair of Birkenstocks in 15 years or more but they really are built to the same standards. I only wish they came in half sizes since I am in-between a 40 and a 41. This is not a big deal, though. The only downside to this sandal is the blisters I got in between my big toe and second toe where they rubbed up against the thong during a long walk. Just needed a few days break to heal up and am now good to go. I am so glad to have a good looking, comfortable sandal for the summer.
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Overall5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Comfort5Rated 5 stars out of 5
Style5Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Poor SupportGreat Support
Love these! I get a new pair every year or so, because I am a pedestrian commuter, and I literally wear them out. I have very narrow, flat feet, and these are the most comfortable shoes i own. Especially when they're new! Highly recommend. The leather ones are a bit nicer than the birko-flor (which I had for years). Worth the extra money. You can't go wrong. These are my wardrobe staple. :)
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