10 Best Sustainable Birkenstock Alternatives & Dupes [2026]
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Love the Birkenstock look but not the leather or the price? We compared 10 sustainable Birkenstock alternatives and dupes. The main question for each was how close the footbed feels to the original, and after that what the sandal is made from.
Every brand below makes a two-strap Arizona style or a Gizeh-style thong, and several make a Boston-style clog. Most are fully vegan and a few are considerably cheaper. If you just want the shortlist, start with our three editor’s picks.
Our Favorite Birkenstock Alternatives
Here’s how the 10 brands compare at a glance:
| Brand | Closest Birkenstock style | Vegan | Price | Made in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nae | Arizona, Boston clog | Yes | $$ (around $110–140) | Portugal |
| Plakton | Arizona, Gizeh, Boston clog | Some styles | $$ (around $100–120) | Spain |
| Native Shoes | Arizona EVA, Madrid EVA | Yes | $ (around $55–70) | China, Vietnam |
| Biankina | Arizona (Marbella), Gizeh (Malaga) | Yes | $$ (around $95–120) | Spain |
| Will’s Vegan Store | Arizona, Boston clog | Yes | $$ (around $90–120) | Portugal, Italy |
| Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather | Arizona, Boston clog | Yes | $$$ (around $150–200) | Italy, Portugal, Sweden |
| Indosole | Arizona EVA, Madrid EVA, flip-flops | Yes | $ (around $45–75) | Indonesia |
| Chaco | Arizona (Z/Cloud, Chillos slide) | Most styles | $$ (around $60–110) | China, Vietnam |
| Naot | Arizona (Santa Barbara), Gizeh (Kayla) | No | $$$ (around $150–200) | Israel |
| Allbirds | Madrid EVA, Arizona EVA (sliders) | Yes | $ (around $50–70) | Vietnam, South Korea |
Prices are approximate, checked September 2026, and vary by style and region.
About Birkenstock (and why people look for alternatives)
Birkenstock is the German footwear brand behind the anatomically shaped cork-and-latex footbed that the Arizona, Gizeh and Boston are built on. The company traces its roots to 1774, the contoured footbed to 1896, and around 95% of its shoes are still made in Germany.
My own well-worn pair of Arizonas
The cork footbed itself is renewable and long-lasting, and the sandals can be resoled. Most of the range uses leather or suede uppers, though, the popular Birko-Flor uppers are synthetic, and the Essentials line is virgin EVA plastic. The brand has a vegan collection but publishes little about supply-chain wages or its climate footprint, so we don’t rate it as a sustainability leader.
The usual reasons to look elsewhere are wanting a vegan sandal, or wanting the same shape for less money. All 10 brands below deliver on at least one of those.
The 10 Best Sandals Like Birkenstock
1. Nae
Sustainability: PETA-approved vegan, Portuguese cork footbed, recycled car-tyre rubber soles, ethical factories in Portugal
Best for: A vegan alternative to the classic Birkenstock Arizona
Price: Around $110–140
Ships to: Worldwide
Nae stands for “No Animal Exploitation”, and the Portuguese brand has spent over a decade proving that vegan footwear can match leather on quality. Its double-strap sandals are the closest vegan match for the Arizona we’ve found: a contoured cork footbed, adjustable nickel-free buckles, and a lightweight sole made from recycled car tyres that grips better than Birkenstock’s EVA.
The cork upper on the Darco model is coated in an antimicrobial microfiber that helps prevent the blisters and odours new Birkenstocks are notorious for. Nae also makes a Boston-style clog and a one-strap slide, so you can get the whole Birkenstock lineup in vegan form.
Everything is made in family-run factories in northern Portugal, and the brand is transparent about where each style is produced. Nae is rated 4/5 in our brand directory.
2. Plakton
Sustainability: Natural cork footbeds, handmade in Spain since 1995, vegan and wool-felt options, carbon-neutral shipping
Best for: The closest cork footbed to a real Birkenstock
Price: Around $100–120 for two-strap sandals
Ships to: USA, UK, EU, Australia (separate regional stores)
If what you love about Birkenstocks is the footbed, Plakton is the brand to look at. The Spanish company has handmade cork-footbed sandals since 1995, and its two-strap Barna and Beta styles are the nearest thing to an Arizona in shape, arch support and that slightly firm cork feel that moulds to your foot over a few weeks.
Plakton adds a memory-cushion layer on top of the cork, which makes the break-in period noticeably kinder than Birkenstock’s. The range covers Arizona-style two-straps, Gizeh-style thongs and Boston-style clogs (including a wool-felt clog for winter), and there are vegan versions of the core styles alongside the leather ones.
Prices sit a little under Birkenstock’s leather sandals, and the sale section on the US store regularly drops two-strap styles below $100. Plakton isn’t as vocal about certifications as some brands here, but handmade-in-Spain production and natural cork are a solid starting point.
3. Native Shoes
Sustainability: Sugarlite™ sugarcane-based EVA (22% lower emissions than standard EVA), Bloom algae foam styles, Remix take-back recycling program
Best for: A waterproof Birkenstock dupe, and Birkenstock alternatives for kids
Price: Around $55–70
Ships to: USA, Canada and worldwide
Birkenstock’s EVA Arizona is popular for the beach and the pool, but it’s virgin plastic. Native Shoes makes the same kind of lightweight, waterproof, hand-washable sandal from Sugarlite™, an EVA blended with sugarcane resin that cuts greenhouse-gas emissions by around a fifth compared with standard EVA. Some styles use Bloom foam made with harvested algae.
The two-strap Frankie is the obvious Arizona dupe and comes in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes, which makes Native one of the best Birkenstock alternatives for kids. It won’t give you a cork footbed, but for a sub-$70 waterproof sandal it’s a far better material story than the EVA Birkenstock.
When they’re worn out, Native’s Remix program takes the shoes back and recycles them into materials for playgrounds and community spaces. See our Native Shoes rating.
4. Biankina
Sustainability: Cork midsoles, recycled uppers, handmade in Europe with traditional techniques, free shipping and returns
Best for: Vegan Arizona and Gizeh dupes with a Mediterranean twist
Price: Around $95–120
Ships to: Worldwide
Biankina makes two of the most convincing vegan Birkenstock dupes on this list. The Marbella is a double-strap sandal with a contoured cork footbed that sits squarely in Arizona territory, and the Malaga is a thong-style sandal that answers the Gizeh. Both are handmade in Spain from a cork midsole and recycled uppers.
The Marbella comes in six colourways including metallic silver, which Birkenstock only offers in its pricier lines, and the brand’s Mediterranean styling makes these look a little dressier than the original.
Biankina offers free shipping and returns, which takes the risk out of trying a new footbed shape. Use code ECOTHES for 10% off your order.
5. Will’s Vegan Store
Sustainability: Bio-based Italian vegan leather, recycled soles and insoles, carbon-neutral, made in Portugal and Italy
Best for: A vegan Birkenstock Boston alternative
Price: Around $90–120
Ships to: Worldwide
The Boston clog is Birkenstock’s most-copied style right now, and Will’s Vegan Store makes one of the few clog alternatives that is both vegan and genuinely well made. The uppers are cut from the brand’s Italian bio-based vegan leather (up to 69% plant-derived content), the footbeds are recycled, and everything is produced in Portugal and Italy under a carbon-neutral certification.
Will’s also makes double-strap sandals in the Arizona mould, and the whole range ships in plastic-free packaging with a straightforward returns policy. It’s one of the longest-running vegan footwear brands in the UK and is rated 4/5 in our directory.
6. Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather
Sustainability: AppleSkin™ apple-waste leather, natural cork midsoles, Oeko-Tex certified materials, made in Europe
Best for: A designer-level vegan Birkenstock alternative
Price: Around $150–200
Ships to: Europe, North America, Australia and more
Parisian label Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather is the fashion pick on this list. Its two-strap sandals pair a natural cork midsole with AppleSkin™, a vegan leather made in Italy from apple pomace left over from the juice industry, and everything is Oeko-Tex certified and made in Europe.
Good Guys also collaborates with Swedish clog maker Troentorp on a range of vegan clogs, which are a stylish (if heeled) alternative to the Boston. Prices are higher than Birkenstock, but the materials story is one of the best here.
Shop Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather
7. Indosole
Sustainability: Certified B Corp, 1% for the Planet, soles made from recycled tyres, natural rubber, waterproof
Best for: Budget-friendly waterproof sandals with a real recycling story
Price: Around $45–75
Ships to: USA, EU, Australia (regional stores)
Indosole started by turning discarded tyres in Bali into sandal soles, and it has now kept well over 80,000 tyres out of landfill. The B Corp brand makes slides, double-strap sandals and flip-flops that are 100% waterproof, so they compete with Birkenstock’s EVA range rather than the cork classics.
The footbed is softer and flatter than a Birkenstock, so these are better for the beach and travel than for all-day arch support. They’re also among the cheapest sandals here, and Indosole backs each pair with a one-year warranty.
8. Chaco
Sustainability: ReChaco repair and resole program, LUVSEAT™ podiatrist-certified footbed, some recycled webbing
Best for: An outdoorsy Birkenstock alternative you can get repaired
Price: Around $60–110
Ships to: USA and worldwide
Chaco is the choice if you want Birkenstock-level arch support in a sandal you can hike in. Our editor Georges owns a pair of the Chillos slides and rates the footbed and the versatility. Chaco’s classic Z sandals carry an average rating above 4 stars across thousands of reviews.
Chaco doesn’t lead on materials: most soles are still virgin EVA and polyurethane. What it does have is ReChaco, a repair programme that will restrap and resole your sandals, which has kept more than 266,000 pairs out of landfill. For a detailed comparison, read our Chacos vs Birkenstocks guide.
9. Naot
Sustainability: Cork and latex anatomical footbed, leather and suede uppers, handmade construction, long lifespan
Best for: A leather Birkenstock alternative with a removable, replaceable footbed
Price: Around $150–200
Ships to: Worldwide
Naot makes the most Birkenstock-like footbed of any leather brand here. The cork-and-latex footbed moulds to your foot like a Birkenstock’s, and unlike a Birkenstock’s it is removable, so it can be replaced when it wears out instead of the whole sandal.
The Santa Barbara is Naot’s Arizona equivalent and the Kayla its Gizeh-style thong, both with adjustable straps for a customised fit, and the brand offers men’s and women’s ranges in a wide spread of colours. Naot isn’t vegan and doesn’t publish much about its environmental impact, so it earns its place here on durability rather than materials.
10. Allbirds
Sustainability: Certified B Corp, SweetFoam® sugarcane-based sole, recycled polyester straps, carbon footprint printed on every product
Best for: A sugarcane-based alternative to Birkenstock EVA sliders
Price: Around $50–70
Ships to: Worldwide
Allbirds is better known for its wool sneakers, but its sliders and sandals are a smart alternative to Birkenstock’s EVA Madrid and Arizona. The soles are SweetFoam®, a sugarcane-based EVA, and the straps use recycled polyester. As a certified B Corp, Allbirds also prints the carbon footprint on every product it sells.
Like the other EVA-style options here, you won’t get a cork footbed. What you get is a soft, cushioned slider for around $60 from a brand with a genuinely transparent supply chain. If you’re curious about the rest of the range, we’ve tested most of it: see our Allbirds alternatives guide and Allbirds brand rating.
How to choose a Birkenstock alternative
Decide whether the footbed matters. If you wear Birkenstocks for the arch support, stick to the cork-footbed brands: Nae, Plakton, Biankina and Naot. The EVA-style options are cushioned and waterproof but flat by comparison.
Check what the upper is made from. “Vegan” on its own can mean PVC. The brands above that use bio-based or recycled uppers are Nae, Will’s, Good Guys (AppleSkin™) and Biankina (recycled). Native and Allbirds use plant-based foams for the sole.
Look for repair or take-back. Birkenstocks can be resoled, and that’s a real sustainability advantage. Chaco’s ReChaco programme and Native’s Remix recycling are the closest equivalents on this list, and Naot’s removable footbed extends the life of the sandal.
Sizing note. The cork-footbed sandals fit like a Birkenstock, so order the size you’d take in an Arizona. EVA sliders tend to run half a size large.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sandals are most like Birkenstocks?
For the classic cork footbed and two-strap shape, Plakton, Nae and Biankina are the closest alternatives to the Birkenstock Arizona, and Biankina’s Malaga is the closest match for the Gizeh. For the waterproof EVA Birkenstocks, Native Shoes and Indosole are the nearest equivalents.
Are there cheaper alternatives to Birkenstocks?
Yes. Native Shoes (from around $55), Indosole (from around $45) and Allbirds sliders (around $60) all come in well under a leather Birkenstock Arizona. Among cork-footbed brands, Plakton regularly sells two-strap sandals under $100 on sale.
Is Birkenstock a sustainable brand?
Partly. Birkenstock uses renewable cork in its footbeds, makes around 95% of its shoes in Germany, and its cork sandals can be resoled. Most uppers are leather or synthetic Birko-Flor, though, and the brand publishes little about wages or emissions. We’d call it durable rather than sustainable.
What are the best vegan Birkenstock alternatives?
Nae (Arizona and Boston styles), Will’s Vegan Store (Boston-style clogs and sandals), Biankina (Arizona and Gizeh dupes) and Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather (AppleSkin™ sandals) are all fully vegan and use cork or bio-based materials rather than PVC.
Is there a vegan alternative to the Birkenstock Boston clog?
Will’s Vegan Store makes the best vegan Boston alternative we’ve found, in bio-based Italian vegan leather with a recycled footbed. Nae also makes a cork-footbed vegan clog, and Plakton offers a wool-felt clog for winter.
Wrapping Up: The Best Birkenstock Alternatives
Birkenstock makes a comfortable, long-lasting sandal. It’s no longer the only way to get the cork-footbed feel. Our top three picks:
- Best vegan Arizona alternative: Nae. Cork footbed on a recycled-tyre sole, made in Portugal.
- Closest footbed to the original: Plakton. Handmade in Spain with natural cork since 1995.
- Best waterproof dupe: Native Shoes. Sugarcane-based EVA at around $60, with a take-back programme.
Not every sandal here is cheaper than a Birkenstock, but every one is built to last.
Looking for alternatives to other shoe brands? Read our guides to sustainable alternatives to Allbirds, Crocs, Toms, Converse and Vans, or browse all our sustainable sandal brands and vegan sandals.
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