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There are a ton of reasons why I love the Birkenstock Arizona EVAs, but the primary one is their $45 price tag. It saves me from the panic I usually endure after spending too much on shoes—especially seasonal ones like sandals.
Unlike the EVA sandals’ more-traditional Arizona contemporaries—those made from wool, shearling, or leather—the plastic ones won’t empty your bank account. They’ll also look just as good on your feet (and, in some cases, better—these Birkenstocks shouldn’t be worn outside of the house, sorry!).
Spending more than $100 on a pair of shoes feels like a huge commitment. But less than $50? I can stomach that. Let’s do the math. If I pay $45 for a pair of shoes that I’ll wear at least 90 days of the year—over three months during the summer—that’s like 50¢ a day. And I’ve worn mine for more than two years now. Birkenstock is basically paying me to wear them at this point. (That’s how it works, right?)
In addition to their lower price, the EVAs are comfy, and they’re much easier to maintain than their more-expensive leather counterparts. The EVAs are made of synthetic plastic—or ethylene vinyl acetate (the sandal’s name, EVA, is an initialism of this combination of materials). So whether I wear them in the dry desert heat of Joshua Tree, California, or along the crowded streets of Manhattan, all I need to do to clean them is wipe them down with soap and a towel.
From my perspective as a Wirecutter writer, the most important aspects of a shoe are affordability and durability. But the superficial side of my judgment—important for any style writer to balance—wants to prioritize a shoe’s looks. And though the EVAs are affordable and durable and comfortable, the real reason for buying a shoe is that they look good on your feet, to complete an outfit. The Arizona EVAs easily look as presentable as the more-expensive Arizonas—maybe even more so, thanks to their attractive and subtle monochrome coloring.
I’ve owned both the leather Birkenstock sandals and the plastic Birkenstock EVAs, and there’s no occasion where I’d wear leather Birkenstocks that I wouldn’t also wear my EVAs. For any situation where a low-key, handsome pair of sandals fits the bill, these two are completely interchangeable. Which means that for less than $50, you can own a pair of Birkenstocks that retain the history and style of the leather version, but that also improve on those shoes’ price and their ease of care. Plus, the EVAs come in a bunch of colors.
I’m extremely basic. I own the EVAs only in black. But I plan on buying white ones next. If I wanted to, I could buy a pair of Arizona EVAs in lime. And then I could absentmindedly walk them into a muddy puddle. And then I could clean them, and they would look as though they’d just arrived—all for less than you’d pay for a similar pair of shoes that wouldn’t recover from that dirty walk around the block. You know what we call that in the biz, right? That’s magic, kids.
We’ve never officially comparison-tested the Birkenstock Arizona EVAs against other sandals, but here’s what we know for sure:
Read more in our review of Birkenstock Arizona EVAs.
For the past two years, the Birkenstock Arizona EVA sandals have gone on sale at the end of August.
Best price we’ve seen: $35
Birkenstock Arizona EVAs are water-resistant and machine-washable, so it’s safe to toss them in a washing machine (though we don’t recommend it).
No matter how dirty they get, your EVAs can be easily cleaned with dish-washing soap and water. Apply the mixture to a kitchen rag, and wipe the shoes down whenever you’ve stepped into a mess. Et voilà! Clean Birks.
Justin Krajeski is a staff writer reporting on everyday carry at Wirecutter. He previously wrote about tech at Wirecutter. He carries things every day. He’s very well versed in carrying.
by Dorie Chevlen and Wirecutter Staff
by Justin Krajeski and Alex Arpaia
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