The Arizona looks like one sandal. In our range it is five.

Same two straps, same shape, but the builds underneath are quite different, and so are the prices. We have seen people pick the pair that looks right, wear it into a river, and find out afterwards why the leather version was never meant for that.

Before you buy, it pays to know which Arizona you are looking at. Our Birkenstock sandals come in EVA, Birko-Flor, Birkibuc and leather, with regular and narrow widths, and each one suits a different kind of summer.

The Same Sandal In Five Different Builds

Every version except the EVA sits on Birkenstock's cork-latex footbed with a suede lining.

Cork Footbed Or EVA

This is the biggest decision, and it comes down to where you will wear them.

The cork-latex footbed is the one Birkenstock is known for. It is firm to start with and shapes itself to your foot over the first few weeks, with a suede lining on top that feels good against bare skin. It does not love getting soaked, though, so a leather or Birko-Flor pair is one to keep on dry land.

The Birkenstock Arizona EVA is one moulded piece. It is waterproof, washable and very light, which makes it the pair we would throw in the car for Cobden Beach or a swim at the river. It keeps the Arizona footbed shape, but it will not mould to your foot the way cork does. One tip: keep EVA out of extreme heat, so do not leave them on the dashboard on a hot afternoon.

Plenty of people end up owning both.

Birko-Flor, Birkibuc Or Leather

If you are going with cork, the upper decides how the sandal looks and how much looking after it needs.

The classic Birkenstock Arizona uses Birko-Flor, a tough synthetic that wipes clean and handles daily wear. Birkibuc is also synthetic, with a brushed finish that reads like nubuck from a metre away.

The Arizona smooth leather has an open edge finish on the straps for a more handmade look. It softens as you wear it and dresses up better with jeans or chinos. Oiled leather goes a step further and picks up a patina over time, so no two pairs look the same after a year.

Leather costs more up front. If you wear your Birkenstocks most days from Labour Weekend to Easter, it is usually worth it.

Regular Or Soft Footbed

Some Birkenstocks come with a soft footbed, which adds a layer of foam between the cork and the suede lining. It feels cushier from day one and suits people who find the standard footbed too firm.

If you want to feel the difference, slip on a Florida, the three strap style with the soft footbed, next to a standard Arizona in store. Most people can tell within a few steps which one they prefer.

Regular Or Narrow Width

Birkenstock makes most styles in two widths, and it matters more with a sandal than with a closed shoe, because there is nothing holding your foot in place except two straps.

You can check which width a pair is by the small foot symbol on the footbed. An outline of a foot means regular. A solid foot means narrow.

If your foot has room either side of the footbed even with the straps done up, try the narrow. Our Arizona EVA range includes a narrow width, and for kids we carry the Arizona in EVA and Birkibuc.

How An Arizona Should Fit

Birkenstock uses European sizing, so check the size chart on each pair against your usual size before ordering.

Your heel should sit in the heel cup, with your toes stopping short of the front lip. There should be a little room at both ends. Birkenstocks are meant to feel roomier than a sneaker, since the footbed gives your toes space to spread.

Adjust the buckles so your foot does not slide forward when you walk, without the straps pressing on the top of your foot. If you are caught between two sizes, try both on and pick the one where your heel sits properly in the cup.

With a cork footbed, wear them for a few hours at a time over the first week or two. They will feel better every week after that.

For cooler days when an open sandal is not enough, the Dr Martens Brookline Mule slips on just as easily and gives you a closed toe.

Shop Birkenstock At Westside Surf & Street

If you visit us in Greymouth, try a cork pair and an EVA pair back to back, and check the width while you are there. If you are ordering online, go by the heel cup and the size chart, and have a think about whether your pair is going to the beach or staying on dry land. That one question sorts out most of the choice.

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