Over the past few years, the sales of chunky footwear from Dr. Martens have skyrocketed. This includes the brand's sandals! They have quickly become a fashion staple for most people because they work with almost every style.
Given the demand for docs’ sandals, one might ask if they can possibly replace Birkenstock in the top spot. Well, let me help you answer that.
Dr. Martens’ sandals are definitely better than Birkenstock’s in terms of leather quality. However, Birkenstock gets the upper hand when it comes to a variety of aspects like style, comfort, sizing, pricing, and breaking in. Of course, choosing which is better can be relative since each individual has their preference.
In this guide, I'll be comparing Dr. Martens' and Birkenstock's sandals in detail to help you decide where to invest your money. Both brands don't offer cheap footwear, so you really have to know where your money's going.
Dr. Martens Women's Vegan Blaire Cambridge Fisherman Sandals
Dr. Martens' sandals are made of different types of leather, including Hydro, Brando, Vegan, and Patent. These are the same types of leather they use for their boots, so expect that their sandals are heavier than usual. For the sole, they use AirWay, but they also have pairs that feature lightweight EVA soles and others.
Wearing docs sandals for long hours would not be a problem because their footbeds are made of SoftWair memory foam. Moreover, docs uses Goodyear-welted lines that are heat-sealed and stitched using their iconic yellow thread.
Birkenstock Arizona Women's Sandals
Similar to Dr. Martens, Birkenstock uses high-quality leather for its sandals– suede, oiled, nubuck, and full-grain. They also use synthetic materials, including Birko-flor, Birko-flor nubuck, and Birko-flor patent, which is comparable to Dr. Martens' vegan line.
Birkenstock prides itself in its footbed, saying that it is the "heart" of all its sandal models. In fact, they coined the term footbed in the 1930s when they first developed the inner soles.
Today, their footbed comprises five layers: first layer of jute, cork and latex footbed, a second layer of jute, suede lining, and foam insert. As for the outer sole, they use EVA molded, EVA lightweight, and the classic EVA sandal sole.
Dr. Martens Unisex Gryphon Gladiator Sandals
Dr. Martens sandals only come in four styles (silhouette), and they are the following:
Birkenstock Arizona Sandals
Unlike Dr. Martens, Birkenstocks have 41 models or sandal styles! Some of the bestsellers are the following:
Dr. Martens Women's Voss Hydro Fisherman Sandals
Dr. Martens sandals are really comfortable after breaking in. Remember that their footbed is made of memory foam, and their soles are air-cushioned!
Most customer reviews state that they may feel rigid at first, but once you've tamed them, they'll feel like slippers. That is if the weight of chunky sandals doesn't matter to you.
Important: It takes three to five weeks to break in a pair of Dr. Martens sandals. Yes, you read that right! Almost the same as their boots. During this period, wear thick socks and only slip them on for a few hours a day. Prepare a pack of plasters in case there's persistent rubbing.
Birkenstock Unisex Professional Boston Super Grip Work Shoes
Birkenstock sandals are known for being comfortable because of their contoured 5-layer footbed. They do not need breaking in, so you can use them for long hours right after purchasing!
Note, though, that you may get blisters if you do not get a pair based on your foot size. This is why they have search filters on their website for foot width. You can either choose between wide or narrow.
Dr. Martens Women's Clarissa II Sandals
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Amazon & Dr. Martens & Zappos
While Dr. Martens boots run true to size, it's an entirely different story regarding their sandals. Most people claim they run absurdly big, so you should probably go one size down.
Nevertheless, the best way to choose the right fit for you is to visit the nearest Dr. Martens store and try a few. The feeling of tightness in terms of width is normal as long as you are not pinching or hurting your toes, especially if you own the gladiator style.
Birkenstock Women's Mayari Sandals
Birkenstock sandals run true to size! However, if you are eyeing the Mayari and Gizeh style, you may have to adjust your sizing in terms of width since they run narrower. As for the length, you won't have any issues at all.
In this round of Dr. Martens vs. Birkenstock, the latter is undoubtedly the winner. They have a size converter for US and EU on their website, and you can also choose between wide and narrow widths.
Dr. Martens sandals are usually priced between $99 to $253. While some people might find this range pricey, the value you will get from this amount is twice as much. Docs are known for their durability and comfort. Thus, even after many years, your sandals will still be very usable.
Birkenstock Women's Mayari Sandals
The price range of sandals from Birkenstock is quite wide. Some models only cost around $15, but there are some that cost a whopping $1,022! Considering these amounts, you'll surely find a pair that fits your budget and needs.
In this comparison between Dr. Martens sandals and Birkenstock, there is no doubt that the latter has more appeal to the general population. To sum up, here are the reasons why Birkenstock is considered better than Dr. Martens:
Meanwhile, for those who are after leather durability, you won't go wrong with Dr. Martens because the brand is known to use only the best quality leather for their footwear.
