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After spending two years with my EVA foam Birkenstocks across various travel scenarios and daily situations, I’ve discovered what might be one of the most practical footwear innovations.
They are comfortable, the look great and they hold up really well.
They excel in beach vacations and settings where your feet are constantly getting wet and sandy. They dry very quickly and also dress up well for dinner - making them very versatile.
They also come in a lot of great colors and some additional styles now like these ladies sandals
What is EVA Foam?
EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam represents a fascinating material science achievement in footwear. Unlike traditional Birkenstocks that use cork and latex footbeds with leather straps, these are molded entirely from this synthetic material. The result? You get the exact same contoured footbed design—deep heel cup, dual arch support, raised toe bar—but in a completely waterproof, ultra-lightweight package.
The engineering is impressive: they’ve maintained every orthopedic benefit of the original while eliminating the traditional limitations. No break-in period, no water damage concerns, and significantly reduced weight for travel scenarios.
Real-World Performance Testing
Travel Efficiency: At 7.8 ounces for a size 8 pair, these pack almost flat and weigh less than most sneakers. During recent trips, I’ve successfully used them for beach activities, city walking, hotel showers, and casual dining—essentially replacing 3-4 different shoe types in my luggage.
Water Resistance Reality: Complete submersion causes no damage. I’ve tested them in pools, ocean waves, and questionable hotel bathrooms. They rinse clean instantly and air-dry within 30 minutes. This transforms travel logistics, especially for beach destinations or multi-activity trips.
Comfort Longevity: The structured footbed provides genuine arch support during extended walking. Unlike purely cushioned alternatives, these maintain foot alignment and reduce fatigue over long periods.
Technical Considerations
Sizing: Follows traditional Birkenstock sizing, typically requiring a half-size down from athletic shoe sizing. The molded construction means less size flexibility than leather versions.
I’m a 45 in all Birkenstocks and these have the exact same fit as your regular Birkenstocks.
My Experience
After extensive testing across different scenarios—city exploration, beach activities, travel convenience, daily comfort—these have become default choices for situations requiring lightweight, versatile, immediately comfortable footwear. The instant comfort factor eliminates the patience typically required with traditional Birkenstocks.
The waterproof capability has proven particularly valuable for travel scenarios involving water activities, questionable surfaces, or climate transitions. Being able to pack one pair that handles multiple scenarios significantly simplifies travel planning.
Oh and they are made in Germany!
I've been going down the rabbit hole of 3D printed shoes with the Bambu recently Omar. I've customized this print and will try the 3 day print next week. Might be fun for you to try too. https://makerworld.com/en/models/1229146-whaleberry-a-3d-printed-thick-soled-casual-shoe#profileId-1251096
I just bought a pair two weeks ago, and they’re great. One thing that’s missing, though, is that they don’t offer a narrow option for the larger EVA models (at least I couldn’t find one), and I found the narrow option for the traditional version to be a slightly better fit.