Yesterday I poked fun of the Birkenstock teacher down the hall. Today I am that teacher, except my classroom consists of one beguiling yet limit-testing preschooler and a very, very hardwood floor. My active rheumatoid arthritis is not only having its way with my wrist, but also the small bones in my forefoot--every unshod step on our floor leaves me wishing for a pair of these.
Not only do you get the famous anatomical cork/latex Birkenstock footbed, there's an extra layer of cushioning foam inserted below the suede footbed liner. After reading through the many reviews of other Birkenstock soft footbed styles, I'm convinced this is the shoe for all types of foot maladies from Morton's Neuroma to neuropathy to metatarsalgia to Fred Flintstone feet.
I'm happy to see the soft footbed is starting to spread to other styles other than the two-strap Arizona. The Bern's versatile closed-toe style with instep adjustability makes it a great choice for fall when the toes go into cover-up mode and the hand-knit socks come out--some days call for comfort over runway fashion.
A word on sizing: remember a Birkenstock regular best fits a wider foot and the narrow is best for medium widths.
The Birkenstock Bern Soft Footbed and other similar styles can be found at Zappos for $139, free shipping both waysl.
