I was not expecting the Birkenstock Kyotos to be my favorite when the large box of Birks I ordered arrived at my house.
I already knew I’d adore the Madrids (they would definitely be in the running for my favorite), everyone else loves the Gizehs (the amazing reviews are hard to ignore), and I wore the lined Buckleys this fall on the daily (I thought maybe the unlined navy ones would be my shoe for spring). The Kyotos, however, were the VERY clear winner…they’re the perfect Birkenstock for me as we transition to spring (and will look just as good this summer).
Navy Buckley | Taupe Kyoto | Gray Madrid | Onyx Gizeh
The Birkenstock Kyoto Slide Sandals Are Unexpectedly Good
I may have worn my new Birkenstock Kyotos to the playground immediately, with my puffer coat (despite the cold temperatures). AND… I may have been VERY happy about that decision. I also may be slipping my feet into them daily, even if I’m not leaving the house, because they’re so darn comfortable and the style makes me happy to look at.
And that day I showed up on the playground with my brand new inappropriate-for-the-current-40-degree-temperatures-Birkenstocks? Three unsolicited compliments about how cute they were. Yep, three.
I was actually QUITE surprised at the unprompted playground compliments on these Birkenstocks. I thought for sure these were going to be my new “so-ugly-they’re-cute” shoes for spring, but maybe they’re just…actually…cute? In a natural, down-to-earth, easy-going, not-too-fussy kind of way?
Whatever they are….they’re absolutely my new favorite Birkenstocks.
At Nordstrom | At Zappos | At Anthro | At Urban | Jeans | Cardigan
A Review of Birkenstock Kyotos, My New Comfort Shoe Love
I have officially turned into a high-maintenance comfort shoe Birkenstock wearer. I own multiple pairs and have a favorite for pretty much every season. The Birkenstock Kyotos are my current favorite is because they hit that happy medium between Birkenstock’s summery Madrids and the colder-weather Buckleys.
At Nordstrom | At Zappos | At Anthro | At Urban | Jeans | Cardigan
The Kyotos cover more of my foot than the Madrids, but not as much as the Buckleys. Maybe not ideal to wear with a puffer (like I did), but they definitely look plenty appropriate with a spring jacket or sweater.
At Nordstrom | At Zappos | At Anthro | At Urban | Jeans | Cardigan
No shoe is perfect. Even my precious comfort shoe loves. So…my personal pros and cons detailed below.
Birkenstock Kyoto Details: Comfort, Colors & Fit
True to Birkenstock reputation, these shoes are SUPER-comfortable (my feet adore Birkenstocks), and the Kyotos do have that signature cork footbed. Personally, I’ve found that I can walk in them all day long. I appreciate the adjustable strap to fit different widths and foot shapes, and the wide strap and adjustable closure makes it easy to get a very secure fit with no foot slipping.
At Nordstrom | At Zappos | At Anthro | At Urban | Jeans | Cardigan
Limited reviews (but several negative) on Nordstrom’s site. For me, the Kyotos are pretty perfect..no issues with comfort or walkability or heel issues or sizing… but for others, apparently, not perfect. More reviews (including others who love them) on Zappos.
At Nordstrom | At Zappos | At Anthro | At Urban | Jeans | Cardigan
The taupe is a bit of a cooler color than I usually prefer (I wish they came in a light tan), and sometimes the black velcro shows if you’re not careful with closure. Also available in black.
At Nordstrom | At Zappos | At Anthro | At Urban | Jeans | Cardigan
I typically wear a 7 in sandals and a 7.5 in boots. In most Birkenstocks, however, I size down to a 37 (6-6.5), including these. I have a wide-ish foot…not so wide that I need wide sizing, but narrower-styled shoes don’t work for me. I ordered my Kyotos from Nordstrom (with regular width), but Zappos carries narrow sizing.
How I’m Styling Birkenstock Kyotos
Still playing around with how I’ll be wearing the Birkenstock Kyotos. My favorite combination so far is definitely with blue denim (the crop chew hem I’ve been wearing forever and my new straight-leg blue jeans below). I also like them, though, with gray denim and my summer uniform (black linen pants or a black breezy dress). So as I said…you’ll be seeing these guys on repeat…for sure.
Outfit 1: Birkenstock Kyotos + Straight-Leg Jeans + Tank
Kyotos | Denim | Tank | Similar Bag
Outfit 2: Birkenstock Kyotos + Gray Denim + Stripes
Outfit 3: Birkenstock Kyotos + Linen Pants + White Tee
Kyotos | Pants | Top | Similar Bag
Outfit 4: Birkenstock Kyotos + Breezy Black Maxi Dress
Kyotos | Dress | Similar Bag
Anyone else tried the Kyotos? I’m working on a pro/con review of the other Birks I tried as well (and considering doing a video review of them all), so look for that soon-ish. Here’s to happy feet…forever and always!
-Linzi
This one’s for the Pinners…thank you for sharing!
