Over the last decade, Birkenstock — the German shoemaker founded in 1774 — has become synonymous with the world’s most comfortable slip-on footwear (with apparently few alternatives).
Noted for being the famed maker behind the ‘Boston’ and ‘Arizona’ (typified by their use of an adjustable upper and ergonomic cork footbed), we could very easily write an entire list dedicated to these two influential Birkenstock styles. As ever though, we’re one step ahead.
With online retail being the boundless gift that it is, we’ve instead decided to put together our ultimate edit of Birkenstock alternatives.
Every pair of footwear included below embraces a similarly free and easy philosophy: whether it’s fishermen’s sandals for the sartorially inclined or tough-as-nails sandals from a beloved Japanese brand.
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Yuketen Alejandro
DETAILS:
- Huarache-style leather uppers
- VIBRAM Morflex sole
- Made in Mexico
- Also available in ‘natural’ tan
Inspired by the traditional style of huarache sandals worn throughout Mexico in the pre-colonial era, Yuketen’s ‘Alejandro’ has the vague look of a reptilian loafer — yet wears much lighter and cooler than your average slip-on shoe.
Founder and designer Yuki Matsuda is well-known for his obsessive attention to detail. The leather uppers used to make this particular Birkenstock alternative are cut, dyed, and woven by hand: ensuring superior comfort and the capacity to take on a properly individual patina.
Salahe Bembury x Crocs
DETAILS:
- Signature ‘fingerprint’ sole unit
- Croslite™ footbed
- Co-designed by Salehe Bembury
- Multiple colourways
At BH, we’ve long been fans of Salehe Bembury: the cult American designer who has brought his signature biosynthetic style to some of the greatest names in sneakerdom. Yet of all his various projects over the years, Bembury’s ongoing partnership with Crocs remains the most significant.
Taking design cues from Crocs’ beloved Classic Clog — and mixing them with the almost anatomical shapes of the Pollex collection — these Saru slip-ons look as good on sunlit pavements as they do in kitchens or on hospital linoleum.
As with most signature Crocs, the Saru is made out of a proprietary resin-based material marketed as Croslite™. But all you need to know is that it’s light, bewilderingly comfortable and (thanks to its slick exterior) a breeze to spot clean.
Ghiaia Pescatore Leather Sandal
DETAILS:
- Woven detailing throughout
- Stacked leather outsole
- Made in Italy
- Multiple colourways
There’s no doubt that the various Birkenstock styles have set a benchmark for comfort in the realm of modern footwear, but if you’re curious about the possibility of pairing slide-esque footwear with dressier apparel we’d urge you (as a first step) to turn your attention to Ghiaia.
The Pasadena-based haberdasher makes one hell of a fisherman sandal: courtesy of factories in Southern Italy, utilising calfskin leather that has been dyed and stitched by hand.
Like the famed Birkenstock Boston, these babies are constructed with a closed-toe box for added protection (and, we suspect, modesty). Along with the pin-buckled ankle straps, this gives the ‘Pescatore’ an aesthetic that’s dressy enough to stand up to tailoring — albeit one still light and cool enough for the pool.
Hermès Chypre Sandal
DETAILS:
- Upper in ‘H Canvas’ and calfskin
- Anatomical rubber sole
- Made in Italy
- Available in 12 colourways
These ‘Chypre’ sandals — named for the mythological birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite — are precisely the Birkenstock alternatives you should be wearing, on your next all-inclusive Aegean holiday.
A chunkier alternative to Hermès’ best-selling ‘Izmir’ style, the Maison’s own copywriters refer to this (somewhat amusingly) as a “techno-sandal”. Presumably, because it’s the sort of sinfully comfortable slide you’d like to be wearing at the local all-night beach rave.
We enjoy this Prunoir/Noir colour combo: primarily because it contrasts Hermès’ visually splendid H-canvas alongside buttery black calfskin.
Moonstar 810S ‘Allpe Modi’
DETAILS:
- Velcro uppers
- Rubber sole
- Made in China
- Available in multiple colourways
Inspired by the ancient Confucian idiom of being “eight-tenths full”, Japanese label Moonstar’s 810S is a hybrid design — occupying a happy medium between a full-fat sports sandal and your garden variety slide.
Secured using belt-style velcro straps, these ‘Allpi Modi’ sandals take the basis of their design from the traditional footwear of hospital orderlies. Fortunately, the finished look is anything but sterile. Wear these with big cargo shorts or your favourite workwear staples
Mulo Collapsible-Heel Suede Loafer
DETAILS:
- Velcro uppers
- Rubber sole
- Made in Portugal
- Midnight blue
Though including loafers in an article about the best Birkenstocks might feel a touch antithetical, this style by Mulo is — to all practical intents and purposes — a pair of slides in disguise.
Tailormade with “travelling in mind”, this style is built from the ground up with collapsible suede uppers: the kind that packs flat in a suitcase and looks great even when you have the heels folded down.
Suicoke Kisee-V:
DETAILS:
- Neoprene uppers
- EVA foam footbed
- Vibram sole
- Made in China
Easily the most overengineered model of sandal to crack our list, the KISEE-V is a commercial mainstay at Suicoke — and the consummate example of how the cult Japanese footwear brand blends performance and cutting-edge style.
To say that every detail here has been carefully considered is putting it mildly: the sandal’s footbed and outsole have been engineered by Vibram specifically for Suicoke, and the underside of each strap is padded in neoprene (i.e. for a more comfortable, premium feel).
There are a scant handful of slip-on footwear options we’d recommend taking up a hiking trail, but just to be clear: this is one of them.
Velasca Milano Lendenòmm:
DETAILS:
- Neoprene uppers
- EVA foam footbed
- Made in Italy
- Also available in ‘sand’ colourway
A brand that longtime readers of BH might recall for its full-grain leather shoemaking, in recent years Velasca Milano has also gotten deep into the casual side of the footwear game — with moccasins, espadrilles and, you guessed it, slides.
Cue the Lendenòmm: a backless slip-on style (clearly mounted on a cork footbed) that makes it an excellent alternative to the classic Birkenstock Boston silhouette. Derivation aside, the price point and usage of premium materials make it worthy of your consideration.
The one noticeable deviation? A horizontal strip motif along the Lendenòmm’s oiled suede upper, which nods to the horsebit detail found in the signature range of Velasca loafers.
If you’ve enjoyed our edit of the best Birkenstock alternatives, why not explore a few more of our patented Buyer’s Guides? Here are our highlights to get you started:
