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From the moment I splurged on my first pair of classic Birkenstock Arizonas, in my early 20s, I vowed that I’d spend the majority of my waking hours in these sandals. Eva Sole Making Machine
I stayed committed to that plan for several years, wearing them nearly nonstop, despite one glaring problem: At the first sign of rainy or wet conditions, my beloved leather-and-cork shoes would promptly turn into a sticky, sludgy mess.
Finally, in 2021, I surrendered and admitted that I needed an alternate option. Luckily, there just happened to be an extremely qualified candidate—the Birkenstock Arizona Essentials EVAs.
The Arizona EVAs are similar in design to the original Arizonas, but the EVAs are made from waterproof plastic. (And, appealingly, they cost roughly half the price.)
The EVAs are kind of like a resourceful younger sibling—if the original Arizona is Barbie, then the EVA is Skipper.
These sandals haven’t taken the place of my old Birks, in my closet or my heart. (I love both of my shoe children equally!) I have, however, come to deeply appreciate their different and complementary skill set.
These are the iconic Arizona sandals we know and love, but in a less-expensive, more summer-ready material. Though it can take a little time to break them in, the cushiony comfort is worth the wait.
Full disclosure: Before I actually bought my EVAs, as a Birks purist, I had some reservations about their being made out of plastic (or ethylene-vinyl acetate, to be exact—hence the name). Haunted by the ghosts of flip-flops past, I worried: Would they make my feet hot and sweaty? Would they chafe, rub, or give me blisters?
Surprisingly, no. As I first slipped them on, I wondered what sorcery the EVAs were constructed with—it felt almost as if these were pre-broken-in shoes. (Any Birkenstocks diehard will tell you that the break-in period for the classics can be brutal and lengthy.) To be fair, my experience isn’t universal. Wirecutter style staff writer Zoe Vanderweide says her first hour wearing EVAs was so painful that she ended up walking home barefoot—and we found similar complaints online. But most folks (Zoe included) tend to agree that the EVAs are far easier to tame than the OGs.
The EVAs sport many of the features—including a deep heel cup, a roomy toe box, and a raised toe bar—that have earned Birkenstocks their reputation for being uniquely comfortable. The plastic straps have noticeably less give than the leather ones, but they’re still adjustable. And though the synthetic soles don’t mold to my feet quite as deeply as cork, their contoured design offers comparable, podiatrist-approved arch support and relief for my back pain. They’re like a stress ball for my feet.
As it turns out, my concern about the EVA sandals’ material was unfounded—in fact, it’s their greatest asset. Due to their foam-like feel and light weight (my EVAs weigh only 6 ounces, versus 16 ounces for my OG Arizonas), EVAs are a game changer for situations when every ounce counts. (For example, I’ll tuck them into my purse for formal events as late-night relief from high heels.) That lightness also makes EVAs incredibly quick to slip on and off when you’re, say, rushing through security at the airport.
Most importantly, EVAs are impervious to liquid (unlike the originals, which get all gunked up by moisture). These sandals were born for the rain. Cleaning regular Birks is a chore, whereas the EVAs are easy to maintain. In my experience, any scuffs can be remedied with a quick wipe-down or swipe with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (to be on the safe side, try this on an inconspicuous area first). And actual dirt washes right off. When a sudden downpour turned an outdoor wedding reception I was attending into a mini water slide, I simply hosed off my EVAs at the end of the night. Meanwhile, other, less fortunate guests went squelching through our hotel lobby in their then-unrecognizable, soggy, muck-caked shoes.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the Arizona EVAs—with their enduring, gender-neutral two-strap design—encompass everything I’ve come to cherish about Birks. They’re available in the same wide range of sizes as the classic Arizonas, but the EVAs have their own constantly evolving rainbow palette of colors. (My EVAs are a subtle lilac that inexplicably works as a neutral—I swear.) I’ll pair them with practically any item in my closet—jeans, dresses, sweaters, long-line coats, yoga pants, rain jackets (they are, after all, waterproof!), culottes, you name it.
And because they’re such utility players, my EVAs are now well traveled. I’ve worn them hiking and biking, and they’ve saved my feet during day-long treks through far-flung cities. EVAs are also frequent fliers with Wirecutter updates writer Sarah Gannett, who notes that they “can replace flip-flops for hostel showers or going to the beach, but they’re also more functional [walking] shoes.” One colleague wears EVAs to theme parks, and another uses them as house shoes.
Despite being in heavy rotation, my EVAs are holding up beautifully. Wirecutter commerce partnerships coordinator Allison McLane says her EVAs were tough enough to survive her dog’s attempt to convert them into a chew toy. But not everyone finds them so durable: A couple of my colleagues reported that their EVAs broke at the seam between the footbed and the strap (an issue that’s been echoed in online reviews).
Finally, a note about the EVAs’ price: It makes me like them even more. I’m not saying that 50 bucks is cheap (and these sandals do go on sale sometimes, which is a treat). But compared with what the originals cost (usually around $130), the EVAs’ price tag is far more reasonable—especially for a pair of sandals that will likely take a beating. (Could you spend even less than $50 and buy one of the many EVA knock-offs? Sure. Just know that my mom went that route, and her “fabulous fakes” quickly developed some not-so-fabulous creases and stains.)
Since the EVAs are such a good value, I’ve noticed that I’m less cautious with them—I don’t have the same anxiety about ruining them as I do with my leather Arizonas. I feel a sense of levity when I put them on. Perhaps this is why EVAs are the only sandals that have convinced me to (occasionally) break my personal rule against wearing socks with sandals. What can I say, love makes you do crazy things.
This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Catherine Kast.
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Kaitlin Mahar is a staff writer for Wirecutter’s Deals team. Her byline has appeared in Delish, Esquire, and Town & Country. When she’s not hunting for deals and fiercely defending the Oxford comma, she’s a proud cat parent, an avid yogi, and a co-producer and co-host of the podcast Crime Culture. Please tell your pets and grandparents she says hi.
Foam Eva Injection Moulding Machine Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).