Birkenstock vs. Mephisto vs. Crocs vs. Naot Sandals: Which is the Best Option?

• Birkenstock

Birkenstock History and Origin

Birkenstock is a shoe manufacturer known for its production of Birkenstocks. Founded in 1774 by Johann Adam Birkenstock, its original purpose was to create shoes that support and contour the foot, compared to the flat soles of many shoes during that time. At Birkenstock, tradition and heritage are important hallmarks of a brand that dates back not years or even decades, but centuries.

Birkenstock is deeply rooted in the fine art of crafting premium quality shoes that are good for you. Since 1774, Birkenstock has passed this commitment down from one generation to the next. The result is the absolute best in quality, comfort and support.By 1925 Birkenstocks were sold all over Europe. In February 2021, L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by Bernard Arnault's LVMH, said it had agreed to buy the German footwear group Birkenstock in a deal.

Prices: women and mens thong sandals: $39.95 - $220; clogs: $79.95- $230; one-strap: $39.95 - $215; two-strap: $49.95 - $270; multi-strap: $99.95 - $185; Kids sandals: $34.95 -$130.

Design & Style

Birkenstock sandals are handcrafted in Germany since 1774. The most commonly spotted Birkenstocks are those with one or two leather straps and buckles on them, and those have become the staple for both men and women around the world. They are easy to match with trousers, jeans, and even dresses to give a certain 90s  chicness.

And with lots of advances in the fashion world, Birkenstock sandals also come in different designs and colors, but usually black and brown. The brand even has even come up with wool covered winter versions of the shoes for comfort all year round.The Birkenstocks are designed to get the exact shape and size of the wearer's feet. A fitting Birkenstock has to be customized to get the shape of your feet.

Quality (Mateiral & Comfort)

Birkenstock sandals are mostly made of leather, suede, and jute. With more than 250 years of history, you can be assured about the quality of Birkenstocks in terms of quality, comfort, craftsmanship, and support. They are proud to carry both firm and soft footbed Birkenstocks. Both provide excellent arch support and help alleviate pain from common foot problems including plantar fasciitis.

The Birkenstock hard and soft footbeds are made of resilient cork and latex and shaped to create a healthy walking environment for your feet. Additionally, the cork/latex blend is pliable and reacts to natural body warmth. Therefore, over time, Birkenstock shoe inserts yield to the characteristics of an individual foot. Many long-term Birkenstock wearers maintain that the longer you wear them, the more comfortable they become. In short, the shape of Birkenstock follows the contours of a healthy foot.

Where to Buy Birkenstock Sandals for the Cheapest?

The Walking Company (10-12% cashback）

Famous Footwear（0.8-1% cashback）

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• Mephisto

Mephisto History and Origin

In 1965 Martin Michaeli founded MEPHISTO with the sole intention and his deep rooted ambition to create the world’s best shoes. With his savings from the time he spent in the USA, Martin MICHAELI sets up his company MEPHISTO in France and creates the MEPHISTO shoe. The moccasin becomes the spearhead of MEPHISTO. Its distribution starts in Germany, Austria, Belgium as well as in Switzerland and spreads from there over the whole of Europe.

In 1973, Martin Michaeli decided to apply for his first patent to protect his rights to the manufacturing method he had developed for the footwear. By the mid-70s, Mephisto had become known internationally, including in the United States, and just a decade later, the company was exporting about 80 percent of its footwear. The opening of shops, followed with the first located in Germany. Today, the brand continues to gain loyal converts. Its wide range of Mephisto walking shoes, sandals and boots, are selling about 100 million pairs each year.

Prices: women's sandals: $145-$299; mens sandals: $134-$329.

Design & Style

 All Mephisto sandals are handcrafted by expert shoemakers in France and Portugal who employ age-old traditions. On average, over 160 steps are needed to manufacturer a single pair of Mephisto sandals.The durability in Mephisto sandals is mostly thanks to the layered cork footbed and other high-quality materials, such as nubuck leather, that make the straps and buckle closures. As for the cork footbed, the jute layer, rubber sole and 100% natural cork work together to ensure your sandals stay strong.
One of the reasons Mephisto shines is its SOFT AIR technology, which is included in the midsole of all Mephisto sandals.  It can reduce the shock a pedestrian experiences while walking for short or long periods of time. This feature not only protects the wearer’s feet, but alleviates strain on the joints and aids in the proper alignment of the back which makes you feel like you’re walking on air (hence the name). Luckily, Mephisto also has a sandal colour and style for everyone!

Quality (Mateiral & Comfort)

Mephisto sandals are made with a natural cork midsole and footbed. Cork has many beneficial properties. It is not only naturally shock absorbent, but also naturally firm and very supportive. This makes it fantastic for arch support!  To top it all off, cork is highly durable and has natural moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties to promote good foot hygiene. Moreover, the 100% latex rubber outsoles enhances durability and maximizes shock absorption.

Mephisto sandals also offers anatomically full-fitting last, this construction allows for proper heel, arch and foot support when a person is running his or her errands throughout town. In addition, Air Jet System this innovation channels air throughout the sole of the shoe or sandal, so that every step allows the wearer's foot to remain fresh and healthy.

Where to Buy Mephisto Sandals for the Cheapest?

Walmart.com (3.5-4% cashback）

Happy Feet（6-8% cashback）

• Crocs

Crocs History and Origin

Crocs, Inc., is a Colorado maker of unique clogs that became extremely popular in the early 2000s with both men and women. This inexpensive shoes brand rely on a proprietary closed-cell resin material called Croslite to produce a lightweight, slip-resistant, odor-resistant, non-marking sole. The material also softens with body heat, thus molding the shoe to the foot of the wearer and providing a comfortable fit.

Originally intended for use on boats and in other outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and gardening, Crocs has also found a market with working people who spend a lot of time in their feet, such as health care and restaurant workers. Moreover, Crocs, generally considered an ugly shoe, has attracted the attention of celebrities, thereby making them fashionable.

Prices:  Men and Women's Clogs: $37.42 -$85, Sandals $52.43-$59.99, Slide Sandals: $17-$57.42, Flip-Flops: $29.99-$39.99; Kids Clogs: $23.99-$59.99, Kids Slippers $25-$37.49.

Design & Style

Crocs clogs assumed  the shape of crocodiles with ventilation holes. Inspired by the Dutch clog, Crocs were originally designed to be boating shoes. This simple fact may provide some clarity to the polarizing Crocs design and material makeup. The shoes were originally created for boaters, prioritizing grip-focused soles, waterproof materials, and foot protection.

Pulling from the design of clogs, Crocs were also designed to be easy to take on and off, which is great for the high seas-or just running errands. Crocs have put more variety into the color and style of their shoes. The brand is also known for making Jibbitz decorative charms that can be applied in the ventilation holes found on Crocs' instep.However, there're also many Crocs haters still out there who still think these clogs are the ugliest pieces of footwear ever made.

Quality (Mateiral & Comfort)

Designed to perform on both land and sea, Crocs are made of a patented foam called Croslite. The foam, which is exclusive to Crocs, is actually closed-cell resin, not plastic or rubber as one might assume. The process used in making this Croslite material is a carefully protected corporate secret. The brand further innovated on Croslite in 2018, creating LiteRide, a material that is“25% lighter and 40% softer than Croslite, while still providing shock absorption and support,” according to Fast Company.

The Crocs clog is known for delivering all-day comfort. Featuring so many colors, it’s easy to be creative and bright in Crocs clogs. Like oh-so-trendy tie dye Crocs. And match your mini with clogs for kids, too. Colorful hues aren’t the only reason Crocs are their favorites. People love their versatility! Lightweight, breathable and water-friendly features make comfortable style hard to beat.

Where to Buy Crocs for the Cheapest?

crocs.com (5-6% cashback)

crocs.co.uk (4-5% cashback)

• Naot

Naot History and Origin

Naot began as a small one-room workshop in 1942. Founded by a mostly agricultural kibbutz in northern Israel, Naot began as a producer of simple work shoes and plain sandals. From these humble beginnings, Naot has grown into Israel’s leading manufacturer and exporter of shoes.  In the 1980’s, Naot adopted the belief that “it’s fashionable to walk in comfort.” The word “Naot” translates to the word oasis, which refers to the relief one feels when wearing their shoes. For over 80 years, Naot has been creating shoes that are beautiful yet comfortable.

Crafted by hand through the combined efforts of people from different cultures and backgrounds, Naot shoes are ethically made using sustainable methods with materials of the highest quality. Fine Italian leathers and  their signature insoles combined with advanced designs, make for an unparalleled combination of quality, fashion and comfort. They have 80 branches in countries around the world.Today, Naot shoes are worn all over the world, with a loyal following in the U.S., Canada, Germany, the U.K., and Australia.

Prices: women's sandals: $104-$169.95; mens sandals: $48-$189.95.

Design & Style

The key ingredient to Naot’s success lies in their unique footbeds design. Naot footbeds are anatomically contoured, which means that they are formed to fit the natural shape of your foot. According to the manufacturer, “The footbed is a ‘negative’ print of the foot, just like the footprint you leave while walking in the sand.”

Naot shoes also come with a supportive heel area. This means a heel cup that sits around the bottom edge of your heel which provides the support that foot experts say is so important in shoes. The front- and midfoot straps on many styles allow a more customized fit over and around foot problems and also help increase stability.Naot also makes their shoes with built-in big toe support. This can be helpful for ladies who are dealing with the stiff painful toes of hallux ridigus/limitus.

This thoughtful design provides hallux (big toe) support to improve your foot’s grip on the shoe, arch support for healthy weight distribution and alleviation of joint pressure, and a deep heel cup for optimal balance and stability.

Quality (Mateiral & Comfort)

Naot's comfort footbed is made of a unique, high-quality blend of cork and latex, granting it flexibility, shock absorbing qualities and long-term durability while the upper parts of their shoe are made from Italian leather  and other fine materials.

The amazing thing about cork footbeds is that cork will mold to your foot’s individual shape over time.So, after a bit of wear, your Naot shoes will feel as if they were custom-made for you. In addition, Naot footbeds also have a special inner layer of latex sponge for extra caressing and softness.

In a word, the extraordinary comfort of Naot sandals comes not just from their ergonomic shape, but from the quality materials from which they are crafted.All this construction combines to create a pretty amazing footwear experience.

Where to Buy Naot Sandals for the Cheapest?

Walmart.com (3.5-4% cashback）

Nordstrom（0.4-0.6% cashback）

Conclusion

Birkenstock vs. Mephisto vs. Crocs vs. Naot Sandals: Which is the Best Option?

With no doubt all the four brand sandals performances are excellent which offer good arch support and are comfortable to wear. However, it is a matter of opinion as to which of them is better.

If you’re looking for a sandal or shoe that will last the test of time whilst still looking stylish, Birkenstocks is the brand to go for. Birkenstocks are known for their signature look and high-quality materials, so as long as you take care of the leather, this shoe will be at your side for years.

Mephisto sandals are built for wear. It always puts their fit and comfort first. These shoes often use high-quality textiles and leathers, plus they have ergonomic instep designs to support your Achilles tendon. If you don’t mind that the brand isn’t as well known, Mephisto is worth a look.

Crocs slides have holes at the upper for maximum breathability and comfort. It also has a broader room for the free movement of your toes. It is excellent footwear for anyone who has given up on style and no longer cares about appearance.

The Naot sandals is best known for treating foot pains, such as plantar fasciitis. The elevated footbed with a deep heel cup provides extra strength and a firm grip on the sandals. The latex and cork-made footbed also help treat flat and heel spurs. But Naot is cut narrow and is not ideal for people with wide feet.

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