If your shoes are uncomfortable in any way, you could have a hectic and unpleasant time. No one wants this hassle and due to this people are always in search of well-fitting footwear and spend a lot of time before buying from any new brand.
If you are also the one looking to get the next pair of comfy shoes, you should consider Ecco and Birkenstock.
Both are known for their impressive quality and long-lasting construction, however, in this article we will compare them to help you choose a more suitable one.
Comparison Table Between Ecco And Birkenstock:
| Ecco | Birkenstock |
|---|---|
| Founded in 1963 | Founded in 1774 |
| Little to no break-in period | Long Break-in required |
| More Flexible | Rigid Midsoles |
| Best known for their leather products | Highly popular for their sandals |
| Athletic and Sports options | Most options are for outdoor and casual use |
| Waterproof and water-resistant option | Not very appropriate around water |
| Athletic, Boots, Casual Sandals, Dress Shoes, Oxfords, Boat Shoes, Casual Pumps, Flats, Wedges, and Golf shoes | Sandals, Low Tops, Lace-ups, Clogs, Sneakers, boots, and Wedges |
| Popular | More Popular |
| Wider Fit | Narrow and Wide option |
| Gore-Tex Technology | Moisture-wicking fabric |
| Simple yet Colorful | Old-looking |
Overview of Birkenstock:
Birkenstock come a long way from its humble beginnings to become a globally recognized brand. This world’s oldest shoe company can be traced back to 1774 when Johann Adam Birkenstock was a shoemaker in the little town of Germany, Langerberg.
In 1896, Johann’s grandson Konrad Birkenstock, who owned two specialized shoe stores in Frankfurt, made the first steps towards developing the brand’s iconic contoured sole. At that time when most shoes were simply flat and simplistic, this was a major advancement in the footwear industry.
For the next 15 years, Konrad held seminars and sessions to spread the word about his revolutionary ideas and acquired a license to manufacture his contoured insole.
Then in 1902, this led to the development of the first flexible arch-support system for factory-made shoes, (“a technology utilized in most of their shoes today”). After almost two decades the brand began exporting its arch support systems to Austria, marking the beginning of international distribution.
In addition, the world-famous Birkenstock sandals were discovered in 1964 by the American entrepreneur Margot Fraser, who was on vacation and realized that, unlike any other footwear she had worn, these sandals alleviated her painful foot condition.
After the success of the first design, Birkenstock went on to create another modern classic, the Arizona sandal with two straps, which become their best-selling.
With that, their sandals collection got better and the best as new styles, colors, and patterns were added. Today, Birkenstock sells a wide variety of footwear, including clogs, shoes, sandals, and even flip-flops.
Overview of Ecco:
Ecco is a Denmark-based company that is known for making comfortable footwear with high-quality materials and advanced technologies all over the world.
Birte and Karl Toosbuy two brothers came up with the idea for ECCO in April 1963. In 1996, ECCO opened a center in Denmark called “Futura” to do research and design work, then launched its first big store on Oxford Street in London, England, in 1998.
By the year 2000, Ecco was proud of being the only shoe manufacturer to operate its own production tanneries and retail locations. This enables the brand to maintain complete supervision over the manufacturing process and product standards.
The brand has been at the forefront of casual and outdoor shoe design for many years, and its long-term partnership with Gore-Tex has led to some of its all-time favorite shoes including a top-rated model Ecco Men’s Track 25 Moc GTX Shoe.
Furthermore, Ecco promises to provide a huge variety of high-end footwear and handcrafted leather items without sacrificing quality. If you’re seeking trendy everyday footwear or something special for a particular occasion, the brand claims to have it all.
Today, it manufactures and distributed its footwear in over 99 countries and can be purchased from more than 2000 different retail outlets.
Major Differences between the Brands:
In this review, we’ll explain the features of Ecco and Birkenstock to help you decide which one will be the next better option to add to your footwear collection.
1) Comfort:
Birkenstock manufactures orthotic footwear and insoles that provide great comfort and support for long hours.
However, when you first wear Birkenstocks, they won’t be very comfy because they will not be adaptable to your foot shape and walking gait. You need to slowly break them in and then it will help you to adjust to the molded footbed of these shoes, making them more comfortable and flexible.
When your unique foot anatomy is properly supported with every step you take in these shoes, you’ll feel the benefits in your entire body. The result is strong and healthy feet, knees, and back that allow you to stand and walk with ultimate ease.
In addition, for added comfort, the majority of their sandals feature an adjustable strap, which is very helpful in an open-toed shoe because it prevents the sandal from sliding around on the foot.
Conversely, Ecco shoes are renowned for their comfort; their insoles are comprised of plush full-grain leather and feature an innovative System for comfort.
Their famous “ECCO Comfort Fiber System” is based on the brand’s modern research, which enables the leather to breathe so that it remains fresh and soft in warm weather and actively circulates air on the foot during walking, running, hiking, or other activities.
Furthermore, the zonal FluidFormTM Direct Comfort Technology used in most of their styles is a “state change” technique that employs specialized fluid materials to form around an anatomical last, ensuring a finely measured balance of cushioning and flex while providing personalized comfort and support where it is mostly required.
2) Popularity:
Birkenstock “rates among the top five global shoe brands”, this rich-in-history, family-owned brand, is the largest company in the German footwear sector and consistently receives several awards for its innovative designs and high-quality products.
Famous models like “Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, Kate Moss, and Chlo Sevigny” were spotted wearing Birkenstocks as a fashion must-have.
Alternately, those with an active lifestyle, such as walkers, travelers, and athletes, preferred wearing Ecco footwear.
Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson, Fred Couples, Erik van Rooyen, and Lydia Ko are among the golfers who have become well-known brand ambassadors for the organization. In addition to receiving “The Green Imprint Award at the eighth annual ELLE Style Awards,” many Ecco’s models have been featured and honored with prestigious awards.
3) Target Market:
Birkenstock offers its footwear to anyone from young to old aged between 18 and more than 60, regardless of gender as some of their styles are unisex.
Contrarily, Ecco serves a diverse clientele, from weekend warriors to professional athletes. Upper-middle-class boys and ladies between the ages of 16-30 make up its core audience.
4) Price:
Ecco typically costs between $75 and $300; whereas Birkenstock’s models range in price from $40 to $180, but certain boots designs go for as much as $320. The price of both of these brands varies on the model you purchase, but because they are durable, your money will be well spent.
5) Design:
The Birkenstock footwear is anatomically designed, because its footbed conforms to the shape of your foot, enhancing the strength, support, activation, stability, and alignment of feet and body.
Although Birkenstock provides many types of footwear, its sandal collection is the most prominent and reliable.
With their durable rubber soles and excellent traction, these sandals are ideal for long walks on roads or dirt paths that may be rough on the bottom of your foot. However, Due to their leather construction, it is not optimal for Birkenstocks to become wet. But if they are occasionally exposed to water, they can easily return to their original state, so they become a desirable option that can withstand multiple seasons.
Altogether, the superior craftsmanship of Birkenstocks makes it not only a fashion statement or a comfort item but also a long-term investment.
Alternatively, Ecco’s products were designed with fashionable and sophisticated aesthetics in mind. To keep up with fashion trends, their shoes are made with “anatomical lasts and distinctive 3D molds,” which also contribute to their extraordinary level of comfort.
The brand’s golf, outdoor, and athleisure shoes feature “BIOM Natural Motion” to promote a natural movement that increases strength.
In addition, their innovative “ECCO TRI-FI-GRIPTM” outsole consists of three distinct zones: one for stability, another for durability, and a third one for rotational support. Each of these zones contributes to an outstanding performance overall.
Lastly, due to the incorporation of the Gore-Tex layer, these shoes are waterproof yet breathable this kind of construction is not common in ordinary footwear so your feet remain dry and cushioned during any activity.
Conclusion: what Should You Buy?
Ecco and Birkenstock each have their plus and minus points; it is up to you to determine which is more appropriate for your foot type.
Birkenstock footwear is so much sought after than Ecco because of many features, such as their “elevated footbed edge, toe grip bar, arch support, heel mold, deep heel cup, and generous toe box”. However, you will need to wear them for an extended period before they become extremely comfortable. If you need Birkenstock which is easy to break in, go for the option that has a more cushioned footbed.
Even though Birkenstock has been around longer and is more well-known, that doesn’t make Ecco any less good. So if you need casual, outdoor, or even athletic sports footwear & out-of-the-box comfort you can rely on Ecco.
To put it briefly, these brands have their unique function and both are doing well in carrying them out.