You Need a Pair of Birkenstock Kyoto Sandals. Here's Why
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SHOP $150, birkenstock.com (Birkenstock is also available on Lazada and Zalora.)
I'm late to the sandal train. As a kid, I didn't like the footwear style and grew up thinking of myself as a closed-shoe kind of guy. It's surprising considering the Philippines is a tropical country where summer is (almost) eternal, so sandals should be on one's rotation. It was only after I put on my first Birkenstock Arizonas as an adult that I got there and realized that I was missing out. Sandals work for running quick errands, casual weekends about town, and… they're just easy.
These days, I'm stepping into more adventurous sandal territory with Birkenstock's Kyoto. The German company touts the style as the next generation of Birkenstock sandals. A new classic, if you will. Even if you have the Arizona and Boston, you should consider the Kyoto too. The one-strap seamless silhouette is exactly what every modern wardrobe needs. Here's why.
It's not your typical sandal.
While sandal naysayers will tell you that the style isn't versatile enough for wear in the nighttime, the Kyoto changes that. Birkenstock took the Zürich sandal and elevated it with new design elements to allow for wear for either easy workdays or casual nights out. The first thing that captures your attention is the suede upper and nubuck hook and loop closure. The changed upper gives the whole sandal a more athletic feel along with a more stylish edge. With the modern design, you can easily dress it up with a minimalist fit.
SHOP $150, birkenstock.com
Easy is the name of the game.
One word: Velcro. Yep, that's right, the sandals are fastened with a Velcro strap. So, there's no need to fuss with buckles. This is the Birkenstock for everybody who has no time to fuss with buckles. We could stop there, but the Kyoto is also easy for another reason. Zero break-in time. Sure, the footbed still has to mold to your foot but the upper is comfortable enough (suede!) that you can just take it out of the box and wear it without worry.
SHOP $150, birkenstock.com
Comfort is a given.
At the end of the day, these are still Birkenstocks. So, you just know they're going to be comfy as hell. You've got the cork-latex footbed, of course, which Birkenstock is famously known for. Thanks to the footbed's special shock-absorbing, highly flexible, and pressure-relieving support elements, your feet will stay comfortable the whole day. And that combined with the soft suede upper? *chef's kiss*. Really, there's nothing left to say: try it on—and spread the word.
SHOP $150, birkenstock.com
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