Birkenstock Santarem Shoes : Stepping Out

Most fashion-conscious people (or my mother) would be horrified if they opened my closet and the my random collection of athletic, casual, travel, and hiking footwear. It's not just that several pairs of shoes are missing one shoe. Or that there are shoes in there so battered or out of style that they should have been thrown out years ago. I think it's mostly down to the fact that despite the mound of shoes, there aren't any in the pile that are suitable for wearing to a party or other social function.

Thanks to Birkenstock, now I have shoe I can wear on the street, to work, and to my evening social events without looking like Joe Mountainclimber or Joe Jock. The Santarem shoes, part of Birkenstock's Footprints line, are described as a "sporty lace-up sneaker," but for me they're also a casual shoe, an urban shoe, and the first shoes I reach for in the morning.

The first time I slipped my feet into my Santarems, they seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. My soles immediately sunk into the proprietary contoured footbed that has made Birkenstock a household name across the world. Birkenstock's Footprints collection contains a variety of casual and dress shoes and sandals that provide a similar type of arch and metatarsal support as Birkenstock's well-known sandals (same contoured footbed, but with slightly less pronounced arches as in Birkenstock's Classics line). I like them because my arches feel well-supported and my toes stay happy because the toebox is wide and rounded (just like the shape of my foot).

It had been quite a while since I had dug out my well-used "Birks" sandals out of my closet. I had forgotten how they helped me relax, representing a time in my life when things were less complicated. The Santarem gave me a similar feeling. Sure, they're hip and modern, with a suede upper (black, in my case) and a familiar looking rubber outsole that are right at home at the coffee shop or in 'da club, but the comfort factor hearkens back to a day when people weren't afraid to shed the shackles of fashion slavery. With the Santarem, I don't have to force my feet into an uncomfortable pair of shoes for the sake of style.

My first walk across the city in my Santarems was nearly epiphanistic. You know the feeling when you're wearing a cool jacket or another new piece of clothing, and you feel calm, cool, and confident. These shoes had the same effect, elevating me just enough to make me wonder why I hadn?t discovered these shoes sooner.

Don't make the same mistake I did by waiting too long to get into these footsavers. You won't regret making the purchase. The price is a bit steep-any shoes that cost north of $125 better be able to justify the price tag--but the combination of quality, comfort, and attractiveness easily justify the buy.

Bottom Line:: Never sacrafice comfort for cool again. For the price, the discriminating footwear buyer expects both, along with sturdy construction. The Santarem passes all of these tests with flying colors. Other urban shoes, step aside. You've just met your match.--G.P. (Sept ?05)

Price: $170

Manufacturer's Site: www.birkenstockusa.com

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