Fake vs Real Birkenstock Sandals: How to Spot?

There are lots and lots of fake companies who make knockoff Birkenstocks, and in certain areas, sellers might try to pass them off as genuine sandals. As you might know, Birkenstocks are high-priced sandals with proprietary soles. Although some fake ones might appear really similar, the similarities end there. There are several ways to tell if you are buying genuine Birkenstock sandals.

Key Takeaways

• Look at the box. Real Birkenstocks come in a strong box with a barcode, but fake ones might come in a flimsy or unbranded box.
• Check the part you put your foot on. Birkenstocks have a special part there with cork and soft stuff, but fake ones might not have it or it might not be made right.
• Look at the straps. Real Birkenstocks have strong straps you can change, but fake ones might have straps that are weak or made out of bad stuff.
• Feel how heavy they are. Real Birkenstocks are heavy because they’re made out of good stuff, but fake ones might be light and feel not good.
• Check the logo. Real Birkenstocks have a good logo, but fake ones might have a bad one that’s hard to see.
• Look for a number on the sole. Real Birkenstocks have a number on the bottom that matches the number on the box.
• Check the price. Birkenstocks cost a lot because they’re really good, so if you see some for really cheap, they might be fake.
• Look at the sewing. Real Birkenstocks have good sewing that’s even, but fake ones might have sewing that’s not even or not good.
• Look for things that match. Real Birkenstocks look the same all over, but fake ones might not look the same in all places.

Check the Seller

The very first and most obvious way to avoid being ripped off is to always buy Birkenstocks from an officially approved Birkenstock seller. For those who don’t know, the official Birkenstock website includes a store locator to help you find a licensed retailer close to you, and if you are searching for a legitimate site to purchase your Birkenstocks from, authorized retailer websites are a good place to begin with.

Always Do Pre-purchase Research

Assume you have found a place to purchase your Birkenstock sandals online, but you are having difficulty confirming the seller’s authenticity using the store locator. Explore the website to see what you can find. Do you notice a lot of grammar or spelling mistakes? And if you find an exceptionally high lot of mistakes, the website is probably a scam, particularly if it has “Birkenstock” in the URL spelt wrong (“Birkinstock”) or preceded by appealing words like  “on sale”, ”discount”, or “cheap.”

Astonishingly low prices are another apparent scam trick. Things that seem too great to be true, as unoriginal as it may be, generally are. For instance, if you find a new pair of Birkenstock sandals for 30% off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (or MSRP) or less, you should do a little more research on the seller before buying a product.

Take some time to read the website’s reviews. If you come across a slew of one-star feedback complaining about the quality of the shoes or sandals received, interaction occurs with the seller, the return or shipping process, or general client satisfaction, you should consider avoiding that website.

Be extremely cautious, on the other hand, if you only find five-star reviews. Almost all retailers will never have only satisfied customers, and a webpage should have several mixed or even negative reviews. Only positive reviews may imply that they were generated by bots or bought to improve the website’s appearance.

Get In Touch The Seller

If you are still not sure about a salesperson, contact them. Valid online companies should have various ways to contact them, such as an email address, a phone number, and a physical store address. Don’t purchase if you can’t even reach them or if you find them to be untruthful, unknown, or otherwise unpersuasive when you do research about them. A genuine seller should be very happy to clear up any confusion and completely reassure you of the origin of their Birkenstock sandals and shoes.

Examine the Packaging

The authentic Birkenstock sandals should be packaged in a real blue Birkenstock shoebox with the Birkenstock text logo on every side other than the bottom. In addition, you should find a circular logo on top that extends all the way to the back of the package or box.

The front section should feature a depiction of Birkenstock sandal styles, with the names of each model printed underneath each style respectively.

One side of the original Birkenstock box should have a paragraph about the brand in both English and German.

On the opposite side, you should find a sticker tag with an illustration of the sandal style, the model name, the material, the color, and your sandal size as well as the foot width.

This information must correspond to the sandal inside the shoebox. Besides, the EAN/UPC barcodes and sandal’s code should also be included on the sticker tag.

When the box cover is opened, there must be text on the inside reading “TRADITION SINCE 1774”.  In addition, the inside should be printed with Birkenstocks exclusive sole design, and the lid should also include a size guide.

Building Examination

As many of you might know, Birkenstock is a premium brand. Does it appear that your buying continues to live up to that standard? There should be no obvious flaws such as crisped glue globs, scuffs in any of the materials, or lacking chunks of cork. Any product is susceptible to minor flaws or deformations, particularly those made from natural materials, but a Birkenstock sandal should look and feel like it just came out of the box.

Start by looking at the material while you are inspecting it.  Birkenstock is known for using high-quality materials in their sandals, so if the materials appear cheap, something must be wrong. 

If you are a real Birkenstock fan, you might be surprised to discover that the company has created their own synthetic upper materials. Accordingly, these materials have enabled Birkenstock to create vegan collections and offer sandals to their customers who prefer not to buy leather, while remaining high-quality materials.

I highly advise you to read up on the materials that Birkenstock uses in the design and construction of their sandals on their official website to get a better idea of what materials can be found in genuine Birkenstock sandals.

Now, let’s go into the details of what you should inspect in a pair of real Birkenstock sandals.

Inspect the Footbed

The insole is probably the most significant component in determining the validity of Birkenstock sandals. In general, the footbed, which has been nicknamed the “heart” of all Birkenstock sandals models, should have a super soft suede lining, a profound heel cup for natural extra padding under the heel bone, both transverse and longitudinal arch support, as well as a raised toe bar.

Inspect the Sole

All Birkenstock sandals’ soles are proprietary and have the company’s distinctive hourglass-shape pattern. In addition, the word “Birk” should also be debossed on a few of the sole forms.

Inspect the Logo

Each sandal should have a BIRKENSTOCK logo debossed on the interior side of the strap. Besides, when you run your fingertips across the logo, you should really be able to feel the indelible mark. Generally speaking, it must be straight and tidy.

Inspect the Buttons and Buckles

Every authentic Birkenstock sandal must have a debossed text logo on both buttons and buckles. What’s more, the word “BIRKENSTOCK” should be visible on larger buckles.

On smaller buckles, look for the words “BIRK” or “BIRKEN.”

Inspect the Material

As you might know, Birkenstock makes use of high-quality materials. Leather Birkenstock sandals are made of premium, thick, complete structure leather, whereas synthetic models are made of durable, skin-friendly, Birko-Flor that should be long-lasting and thick.

Counterfeit Birkenstock sandals, on the other hand, are typically made of thin leather or low-quality materials that lack a fleece lining.

Inspect the Sandals’ Weight

Birkenstocks are designed to be comfortable, so they must be lightweight. Fake Birkenstock ones, on the flip side, are typically heavier than genuine Birks.

Inspect the overall quality

Genuine Birkenstock sandals are made in accordance with strict manufacturing standards and are assured to be of the highest quality. What’s more, the cork, footbed, and outsole should all be tidily aligned, with no glue clumps anyplace.

Birkenstock Essential Vs. Papillio

The Papillios and Birkenstock Essentials are two Birkenstock lines that differ significantly from the authentic Birkenstock style and construction.  While these are still genuine Birkenstock items, they don’t really look like the ones you are used to.

In particular, the Birkenstock Essentials are a water-resistant line of molded EVA sandals on the basis of common Birkenstock sandal styles.  Arizona, Gizeh, Madrid, and Milano, and several kids’ styles have been reinvented as Birkenstock essentials. This product line usually comes in a wide variety of fun, vibrant colors, and the Birkenstock Essentials are ideal for throwing into your travel bag for a day of outdoor fun due to their low weight and water-resistant materials.

The Papillios, on the other hand, are a women’s-only line made in Spain on the very same authentic, made-in-Germany insole. They will be packaged in trademarked boxes with the Papillio logo, and the insoles will be labeled “Made in Spain” rather than “Made in Germany.” In general, they are available in the more feminine patterns and colors, but they are still the same Birkenstock sandal styles that you know and like.

If you find you have purchased a new pair of fake Birkenstock sandals, try to reach the seller to arrange a return. Wrong decisions may have occurred, and they may be able to assist you in obtaining what you ordered or, at the very least, returning the pair you got.

If, on the flip side, you come across a scammer, you might find it difficult to make a return or get your money refunded. If the fraudster refuses to negotiate, your credit card provider or bank might be able to assist you in disputing the charge. If you have encountered a disreputable seller, it may be worthwhile to keep a close watch on money transfers on your card. Some scammers may try to con you twice by sending you fake Birkenstock sandals and stealing your credit card information.

Of course, equipped with these tips for identifying genuine Birkenstock sandals, you will have no trouble purchasing genuine pairs each time.  Birkenstock’s comfort and style are unrivaled, so you will want to make sure you are getting the real stuff when you purchase a new pair.

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