Thursday 20 October, 2022 |
Birkenstock Boston clogs and cheaper duplicates are selling out on stores and online
Birkenstock Boston clogs should cost you about $160. If you can find a pair, that is.
Thanks largely to social media, the cork-heeled staple has become a hot-ticket item in recent months. It is so hot that the taupe suede leather model, the favorite among users on TikTok, is sold out in every size on Birkenstock’s website. Only a few sizes are available in other suede leather colors. (If you have very tiny feet or very large ones, you may be in luck.)
This leaves three options. One: You can wait patiently for a restock. On the Birkenstock subreddit, a community devoted entirely to the German footwear brand, users post updates alerting other community members when certain styles are back in stock online. Blink and they will be gone again.
In New York City, the Birkenstock store in SoHo was completely sold out of the taupe suede Bostons on Friday morning and was awaiting a new shipment. The Williamsburg location had only a few pairs in limited sizes and widths.
Two: Try your luck at an outside retailer, where supplies have also appeared to dwindle in recent weeks.
Kristen Seninger, 24, called a local Journeys store in San Francisco for five days straight in late August asking if it had a pair in her size. “I did this every single day, multiple times a day for the past week and I got them,” she said in a TikTok video filmed in her car after purchasing the shoes. “The girls in the store basically knew my name. They hated me, but we secured the goods today,” she added. (In a phone interview, Seninger said the Journeys employee who sold her the clogs was “excited” she had finally gotten a pair.)
Or, option three: Pony up some extra cash for resale sites like eBay and Poshmark, where sellers are listing pairs of Bostons for marked-up prices, in some cases for more than double their retail value.
Sarah Cowie, an accountant in Michigan, tried and failed to find a pair of the coveted clogs, specifically a pair in taupe suede, after seeing them in a video from one of her favorite YouTubers, Gretchen Geraghty.
“I’m so late to the party that they were all sold out everywhere,” Cowie, 27, said in a phone call. “I went on Poshmark because I use Poshmark to sell a lot of my clothes. I found a pair. It was ridiculously overpriced, but I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to wear these, so it’s worth it.’” Cowie said she ultimately paid about $330 for the shoes.
“They’re so controversial now,” she added, describing the popularity of the shoes on TikTok. “Some people are like, ‘Hey, they’re really cute,’ and some people think they’re a potato shoe.”
Cowie’s particular pair of Bostons made their way to Michigan from a Poshmark seller in Nashville, Tennessee, Savannah Huml. (Cowie left Huml a comment on the platform thanking her for shipping the clogs so quickly. These comments, known on Poshmark as love notes, are public.) Huml, 27, purchased five pairs of Birkenstock Bostons this summer from a store in Wisconsin. A longtime fan of the style, she had planned to keep two pairs for herself and give the rest as gifts to her sisters and a friend.
“I was selling some of my older jeans on Poshmark, and I was wearing a pair of my old ones and people are more interested in those than they were in the pants that I was actually selling,” Huml said of the Bostons she happened to be wearing in a photo she posted on the resale platform. “That’s when I realized, ‘OK, you know what? That’s fine.’ If everybody really wants these, I can sell them instead of giving it to them for Christmas.”
She has since sold three of the pairs, including the ones she sold to Cowie. One pair fetched $350, Huml said. (Poshmark takes a 20 percent commission on sales over $15.) People on the platform have accused her of price gouging and have left nasty comments, some of which Huml said she reported to Poshmark for harassment.
“I looked at some of the people that were kind of harassing me and they seem to be adult accounts. They weren’t, you know, 14-year-olds,” Huml said. “These seem to be moms, mothers harassing me on the internet because I have a pair of Boston clogs that their daughter really wants.”
The rise of the Birkenstock Boston did not happen overnight. The clogs were spotted in 2021 on the feet of many celebrities, including Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber, and YouTube personality Emma Chamberlain.
“I didn’t come up with this idea on my own. But I saw multiple people that I really like their style wearing these,” Chamberlain said of her purchase in a video last year. “Sometimes I’m a sheep just like everybody else,” she added.
Sales of Bostons are “up double digits”, according to a representative for Birkenstock, writing in an email that the company has seen increased interest in the style over the last several years. “Consumer demand for Birkenstock has exceeded supply for 10 years now,” the representative also wrote. The Birkenstock Arizona, the iconic two-strap sandal that is synonymous with the brand, has also become fashionable in recent years, from designer pairs to the super comfortable plastic EVA model.
The steady increase in popularity of the clogs on social media caught Sarah Hoxsie’s eye. Hoxsie, 25, works in digital marketing and runs a side business reselling clothes on Poshmark from Fairfield, Connecticut.
“When you see things going viral on TikTok, from a reseller’s point of view, that’s more of, like, ‘OK, that’s something that I should keep in stock’ or ‘I should try and sell,’” she said.
Hoxsie purchased six pairs of Bostons at Retail 101, a discount store that sells new items, as well as items with slight defects and items that had previously been returned.
“I’ve never in my life felt like a Birkenstock would be something that is almost like a Supreme item where people buy them and then resell it for like five times the amount,” Hoxsie said. She said she also received her share of critical comments, reporting some for harassment on Mercari, another reselling platform she uses.
“There’s very strong opinions on it. Like, ‘You’re like stealing from the poor,’ ‘You’re taking everything from these thrift shops,’” Hoxsie said, using an expletive, of her work as a reseller. “We’re taking stuff that would go to landfill. But I don’t know. I think people are just mad when they can’t, like, go to the website and buy what they want.”
Not everyone cares to have the real deal, though. For some, getting the Boston look at a fraction of the price scratches the same itch. Sonali Prabhu, 25, got a pair of dupes — internet speak for a cheaper duplicate of a popular product — from Kohl’s for $50.
“I feel like they just all look the same. And most of the outfit inspo that I’m seeing for these Birkenstocks are, like, covered. They’re halfway covered,” Prabhu, a photographer and influencer in Austin, Texas, said. “It’s just like the little like round part in the front that’s showing anyways. So I just thought, you know, it’s not even worth getting it for, like, hundreds of dollars.”
Prabhu shared an affiliate link on social media that her followers could click to purchase her find. (Purchasing something through an affiliate link means the link poster, in this case Prabhu, receives a portion of the sales profit.)
“I have chronic foot pain and can 100,000 percent tell the difference,” one commenter on Prabhu’s TikTok video wrote, comparing the copycat pair with the Birkenstocks. “If you aren’t wearing them for support of orthopedic purposes, the dupes are great.”
The clogs are now sold out in taupe on the Kohl’s website but are still available in black.
Where To Get The Birkenstock Boston Clogs Store Going Viral On TikTok
Birkenstock sherling clogs from Free People, leather Birkenstock clogs from Zappos and floral clogs from Amazon.
The Red Sox, Dunkin’ Donuts, calling traffic circles “rotaries” — Boston is known for many great things. Yet, on TikTok these days, the name of this east coast city means one thing and one thing only: the Birkenstock clogs with a rounded toe and a little buckle.
First designed in the late ’70s as a colder-weather version of the brand’s beloved leather sandals, Birkenstock’s Boston clogs have a supportive footbed, a grippy EVA sole and a wide variety of colors and materials. They’re historically beloved by art teachers, farmers market attendants and cool hippie dads that wear friendship bracelets, though for the last few months on TikTok they’ve also become a cult favorite sported by fashionistas, college kids, working moms and seemingly everyone else that wears shoes.
Of course, the sudden revival of these beloved kicks means they can be hard to find. With stores often selling out of different colors and sizes, it seems there’s more Boston demand than there is Boston supply.
Yet, because we love you and love comfortable shoes, we’ve scoured the internet looking for the widest selection in color, material and sizes of the Birkenstock Boston clogs. We’ve even thrown in a few highly-rated dupes if you want the look for a fraction of the price.
Because these shoes are so popular, different retailers have different selections of colors and styles. Zappos appears to have the widest range, and you can also shop Birkenstock directly. We hope you find your perfect fit for fall and maybe warmer winter days, too.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Birkenstock unisex oiled leather Boston clog
With a sleek, polished look, the oiled leather clog is a sharp but comfortable shoe you'll never take off. They'll add a cool texture to any outfit and look great styled with jeans or white pants. These come in women's sizes 4-12.5 and men's sizes 7-13.5, but each retailer below has a different selection of colors. (They’re also available directly on Birkenstock's website in a pretty good size run, although the sought-after sand color is currently out of stock there.)
$140 AT ZAPPOS$130+ AT AMAZON$150 AT NORDSTROM
Birkenstock Boston unisex suede clogs
Warm and casual while still offering maximum comfort, the suede Boston clogs look even better when they're broken in. They have a natural texture, giving a soft look to any outfit. Wear them with cuffed pants and embrace your inner art teacher. These come in women's sizes 4-12.5 and men's sizes 7-13.5. The websites below have different selections of colors, so be sure to check them all out.
$155 AT ZAPPOS$155 AT URBAN OUTFITTERS$155 AT FREE PEOPLE
Birkenstock narrow width women's Boston clog
Finally, a pair of Birkenstock clogs for folks with narrow feet. According to Birkenstock.com, the narrow cut for Birkenstock is around a typical A-B width for women. They come in 13 colors and fabrics, including suede and oiled leather in women's sizes 4.5 to 13.5.
$145+ AT AMAZON
Birkenstock sherling women's Boston clogs
Slippers you can wear outside because they have a real sole? Yes, please. Keep these by the door for walking the dog or running to the mail box, slip into them after yoga class or just wear them all day long to give your feet a treat. The genuine shearling is moisture-wicking, keeping your piggies warm without them getting sweaty. These come in women's sizes 5-10.5. Each website below has different colors available.
$79.99+ AT AMAZON$170 AT MADEWELL$170 AT FREE PEOPLE
Papillio by Birkenstock Boston women's shearling clog
If you can't get enough shearling, you need these fuzzy platform Boston clogs. With snuggly fibers on the inside and outside, they'll give you a little height and a lot of comfort. These come in white and black in women's sizes 5-10.5, and are in plentiful stock at Nordstrom.
$190 AT NORDSTROM
Cushinnaire Hana women's cork footbed clog
A solid Birkenstock dupe for a fraction of the price, these cork-soled clogs are a must. Reviews say they break in easily and have extra-comfortable insoles. These come in three colors in women's sizes 6-11.
$39.99 AT AMAZON
Maiitrip fur-lined cork clogs with arch support
With the comfort of a slipper and the versatility of a real shoe sole, these faux fur-lined clogs will be your (and your wallet's) new favorite. They come in five solid colors, four colors of plaid and women's sizes 6.5-11.
$17.99+ AT AMAZON
White Mountain Bari leather clog
These floral clogs are actually everything: bold but chic, colorful but wintery and made with a comfortable footbed. They come in nine other colors and materials, from leather to suede to faux fur, in women's sizes 5-12.
$27.60+ AT AMAZON
Can't Get Your Hands on Those Celeb-Worn Birkenstock Clogs Store? We Found a Nearly Identical Pair for Just $40
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
PHOTO: THEIMAGEDIRECT.COM; BACKGRID; RACHPOOT/BAUER-GRIFFIN/GC IMAGES
Cooler temperatures shouldn't force us to sacrifice the convenience of slip-on shoes. That's why warmer slides, like the Birkenstock Boston clogs that celebrities love, are in super high demand right now, making them nearly impossible to find online and in stores.
Rather than wait who knows how long for a restock, or buy them at a hugely inflated resell price, we suggest getting a pair that look identical, especially since we found ones on Amazon for only $40. It may sound too good to be true, but one thing's for sure: The Cushionaire Hana Cork Footbed Clog will keep your feet warm and hands free from fussing with footwear all fall and winter long.
While the dupe doesn't have 100 percent of the attributes beloved by Birks clog wearers, they're pretty darn close for how they look. Similar to the Boston clogs, these slip-ons feature an upper that's soft and flexible, as well as genuine suede insoles, which easily form to the contour of the wearer's foot. There's also a big buckle strap that can be adjusted for a more comfortable, customized fit.
AMAZON
Buy It! Cushionaire Hana Cork Footbed Clog in Brown, $39.99; amazon.com
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Available in black, stone gray, and a brown that mimics Birkenstocks' best-selling taupe shade, it's hard not to mistake them for the real deal at first glance. That's one reason why shoppers love them, and why they have hundreds of five-star ratings.
One reviewer wrote that the shoes "have no break in period," adding that they "would gladly buy these over and over again." Another person said they're "great for running errands, [and] quickly running outside to take out the trash," while a third five-star reviewer raved that the leather doesn't scratch or stain.
Once you grab a pair, you'll want to order every color so you can try out all of the combinations shown off by celebs. They can be effortlessly styled with ripped baggy jeans and a cropped tee, as modeled by Hilary Duff, Kristen Bell, and Kylie Jenner. Or, for an even more casual route, try the sweats with clogs combo that's preferred by Kaia Gerber.
Regardless of how you choose to wear them, nothing beats the feeling of wearing slipper-like shoes outside the house, which is the exact experience clogs bring to your closet.
AMAZON
Buy It! Cushionaire Hana Cork Footbed Clog in Black Napa, $39.99; amazon.com
AMAZON
Buy It! Cushionaire Hana Cork Footbed Clog in Stone, $39.99; amazon.com
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