Birkenstock Catalina: The Best Wide-Feet Friendly Sandal I Own

Here’s a secret: for several years, I swore I would never buy a pair of Birkenstocks. But then, I saw the Birkenstock Catalina on TikTok. Now before you dismiss me as a hater, I want you to know that it wasn’t the Birkenstocks, it was me. The ubiquitous double-strap sandals are a mainstay on the feet of thousands of women (and men) in New York City every summer, seemingly never going out of style. And look, I saw the appeal. Living in the city, you need a shoe that is both comfortable and durable, and the flip-flops I grew up wearing back home in Southern California do not cut it when walking up and down the gross, sweaty subway steps. But still, I resisted.

I’ve always had a thing about my feet. Specifically, how wide they are. I remember being a little girl at Stride Rite, my mother jamming my foot into one of those measuring things year after year. Every time, the salesperson would comment about just how wide my feet were. “Off the charts!” “We may need a special, wide size!” I’m not saying it’s trauma, but it’s not not affected my feelings about my feet as an adult.

So, the prospect of slipping my square-shaped appendages into a sandal that had the potential to make them look even more horizontally oversized never appealed. It’s kind of the exact opposite of what I’m searching for in footwear, in fact. But I must admit that I envied the arch support and durability of the Birkenstocks I saw roaming the streets, imagining how much more comfortable their feet must be than mine sweating in tennis shoes or slipping in slides.

Then, a few weeks ago, I got served a TikTok video from a creator who was excitedly sharing her new pair of Birkenstock Catalinas, a newer style released by the brand last year. She swore that these were “chic” Birkenstocks that had a leaner shape.

I immediately Googled, and was struck by the sandals’ frame in comparison to the classic Birks. These were more like slides, with just one simple strap down the front to elongate the foot, and a nice buckle to finish.

For the first time I wondered, could I pull these off? I decided to find out.

My honest review of the Birkenstock Catalina

Original photo from Stephanie McNeal testing Birkenstock Catalina Luxe Buckle

Original photo from Stephanie McNeal testing Birkenstock Catalina Luxe Buckle

I’ve been rocking my Birks proudly all around Brooklyn since I first got them a few weeks ago and I have to say—I’m sold.

One of the main reasons I always envied the Birkenstock-wearers was the durability and arch support, which are hard to find in any other sandal. As a mom of a toddler in Brooklyn, I do a ton of walking, and most summer footwear simply doesn’t cut it (no one wants to come back from the park with their feet covered in dirt). I usually just wore tennis shoes instead, but in the oppressive New York summer heat, that can be uncomfortable as well.