Birkenstock Gizeh Review

The Birkenstock Gizeh is a unique and stylish flip flop design that's initially quite uncomfortable until you put in the work to break them in. Once you wear them enough, the cork footbed softens and the suede lining contours to your foot shape, and you'll be wearing them everywhere you can in warm weather. The shoe is more supportive than others, and the outsole is much thicker with a lug pattern that grips well on a variety of surfaces. They are not the best choice for beach days, and are too bulky to pack into the mountains, but we love them for everything from running errands around town to going out to dinner with friends to casual park hangs.

Comfort

The Gizeh has the potential to be one of the most comfortable flip flops that you've ever purchased, especially once you break them in. Out of the box, the shoe is stiff and rigid, yet softens with over time as the cork outsole and suede-lined footbed literally mold to the shape of your foot. The Birko-flor adjustable strap (a skin-friendly synthetic material that's much easier to maintain than leather) feels comfortable next to your skin, while the raised footbed cups, supports, and protects your heel by placing it in your body's natural alignment.

Our testers ordered their regular street shoe size and found the fit perfectly true to size. That said, the footbed has a very specific and contoured fit. We highly recommend trying these on before buying; if you don't get the right size, the arch support and toe ridge will not sit in the correct spot, causing discomfort that is hard to ignore. The Gizeh also requires a longer break-in period, during which you may experience some discomfort from the stiff materials, especially when going up or down steps, but this discomfort will eventually subside into a highly comfortable shoe that's customized to the shape of your foot.

Support

The Gizeh is a super supportive design complete with a suede-lined, cork-latex footbed that eventually molds to the shape of your foot. A deep heel cup that surrounds your foot and is designed to hold your heel in anatomical alignment. We also love that the raised edges wrap all the way around and provide additional protection for your feet by preventing stubbed toes. Another detail that makes these flip flops feel more secure and supportive is the wide, long, and adjustable toe strap that covers quite a bit of your foot and helps keep them on your feet more easily without exhausting your feet.

Although you must commit to a more extensive break-in period, we think it's well worth the customized support and comfort you experience in the long run. We recommend wearing them for short stints at first to avoid any hot spots. Once you take the time to soften the cork a bit, these are an all-day, every-day kind of shoe. The Gizeh design also includes thoughtfully placed arch supports that run along the sides and middle of the shoe, along with a toe grip ridge that offers more support for the toes by maintaining their naturally spread out position.

They also come in both regular and wide fits, so you can tailor the shoe to your foot shape. Whether we were hopping on a plane for extended travel or out for a day of errands around town, these flip flops felt highly supportive and remained comfortable after hours on our feet.

Versatility

The Gizeh is a flip flop that you can wear just about anywhere. They are perfect for casual outings, whether you wanna dress them up or down. We love the style of the Birko-flor straps, as well as the cork footbed, which makes them feel more substantial and a bit dressier than a traditional flat flip flop. Whether we were traveling to Europe, running errands around town, or headed to yoga class, the Gizeh never felt out of place.

Perhaps the greatest caveat to this design is that they aren't designed to be worn while in the water, as this would destroy the cork footbed. That said, for the sake of comparison, we thoroughly tested these flops in water alongside all the others, and they survived to tell the tale. For ladies who are after a more versatile design that can be worn in water, Birkenstock makes a full EVA option in the exact same design.

Previous Next

Style

Of all the flip flop designs that we tested, the Gizeh was by far the one that received the most compliments, thanks to its unique style and design that looks polished and doesn't skimp on support and comfort. While not everyone loved the thong-style and cork footbed, Birkenstock offers many styles without the toe post that are just as supportive and comfortable.

The synthetic Birko-flor gives the shoe a leather look and feel without the hassle; it's easier to keep them clean and functional for everyday use in warm weather. The shoe comes in a variety of colors, ranging from muted pastels and natural earth tones to studded suede, metallic-coated straps, and decked-out floral designs. We tested the Birko-flor version for ease of maintenance, but if you prefer real leather, you can get that too.

Traction

The lightweight EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) outsole measures 10 mm thick to provide excellent traction and high-quality performance on a variety of surfaces. In addition to the high-performing outsole, the internal footbed and thong-style strap provide a great combination of security underfoot, especially when you're navigating more uneven surfaces like cobblestones or pathways through the park. The outsole is quite functional on uneven terrain and flat trails, but it's not best to really work the toe post and cork footbed, as this is the typical breakage point of these flip flops, right at the base of the forefoot, where the cork sees the most flexion.

The raised edges on the footbed also enhance performance, as the shoe hugs the base of your foot for even more confidence in your stride. While the lug pattern on the bottom of the shoe isn't aggressive per se, it is one of the thickest and most effective lugs that we've tested on a pair of flops.

Previous Next

Should You Buy the Birkenstock Gizeh?

There's no doubt about it, this shoe is a bit of an investment, but our testers agree that it's worth every penny. And if you take good care of your Gizehs, they could save you from buying multiple pairs of cheap flip flops year after year, which could save money in the long run. If you're in the market for a super stylish, comfortable, supportive, and high-quality flip-flop design, the Gizeh won't disappoint, that is, unless you're in need of a water shoe, and we have those recommendations listed below.

What Other Women's Flip Flops Should You Consider?

If you like the unique style of the Birkenstock Gizeh but want something more affordable that you can wear in the water, we recommend the Birkenstock Gizeh Essentials EVA. If more versatility is what you're after, we recommend the OluKai Ohana. The Ohana is perfect for casual use around town, for your commute to the beach, and they're light enough to toss into a backpack or tote for a post-gym shoe. But if you want something even lighter and more affordable, check out the Archies. They're perfect if you want a bare-bones flip-flop, but your feet need a little extra support.