Rio Grande Sandal
By: Rhett Olson

I was one of the lucky testers here at GearReview.com who had the chance to test the Birkenstock Ontario shoes. The Ontario is the epitome of footwear comfort. (See the review). So, when I was given the Rio Grande sandal and told to "wear them out," I knew I was in for a treat.

The Rio Grande falls in the Birkenstock Tatami Æ Collection. These hand-stitched, leather trekking sandals are solid. They have three straps (one around the heel and the other two over the top of the foot) that are adjusted by metal buckles. Unlike other sandal that I have worn, I never had any problems with the buckles digging into my foot or being uncomfortable in any way.

The polyurethane sole has taken all the wear and tear of the past year and then some. I would estimate another five years of the same use before the soles wear out. Also, the cork Birkenstock is known for is used in the removable footbed giving firm, comfortable support. I liked being able to remove the footbed for the occasional cleaning. (Not wearing socks creates a good stink after a while.)

I found the sandals to be suitable in a wide array of uses. They were great for walking well beaten trails or just beating around town. I liked the way the sole curved up around the foot, keeping a lot of the annoying pebbles out from between the foot and footbed.

On top of the Rio Grande's superior performance, they look good. I applied Nikwax waterproofing treatment right out of the box and once or twice over the past year. It didn't help keep my feet dry, but the leather still looks like new.

The Rio Grande are available in Cocoa or Mocha Nubuck, or Coffee Brown leather and well worth every penny.

Rhett Olson is a contributing editor with GearReview.com

For more information, contact:
Birkenstock
8171 Redwood Blvd.
Novato, CA 94949
(800)761-1404