Shoes

[beach-mom]

I saw this on Yahoo! I love my Crocs, but I wear them only around the beach or the pool. I don't wear them for anything else, unless it's summer and it's pouring rain outside. I have a pair of summer Crocs, which are like flip flops with a little support. DH likes his and wears them more than I wear mine. 

So this is something to be aware of:

"Somehow, Crocs shoes have managed to stick around over the years. Although they aren’t the most fashionable footwear choice, you have at least one friend who owns a pair. Maybe you even wear them yourself (we won’t judge). With over 300 million pairs of the floating clogs sold in the last 15 years, you’d think that there probably isn’t anything wrong with rocking those Crocs when you’re just running your Saturday errands or taking your pooch out for a late night walk. Podiatrists, however, are speaking out about the go-to footwear of chefs and toddlers alike… and what they’re saying isn’t very good.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, podiatrists warned that the biggest problem with Crocs is the one thing so many people love — the soft, flexible footbed. Apparently, this oh-so-comfy feature can cause damage to the foot, heel and legs over time. The shoe’s total lack of heel support can also cause wearers to use their toes more to stabilize, which can cause a whole host of issues.

Though one of the docs interviewed said that some patients may benefit from wearing Crocs, for most of us, these shoes are not for everyday use. So next time you decide to slip into your fave foamy kicks, remember to keep them on for only a short spurt."

[Desertdi]

I think it's a pile of baloney...........a person should "know" how their shoes feel on their feet...........

[faeriemoon]

I use mine for boating and that's about it.  I know people rave about them for comfort, but I don't find them all that comfortable.  They are very wide (the original style, that is), even for me, and I am someone with a wide-ish foot.

[VaBelle35]

First of all, the podiatrist can't really make a blanket statement about all Crocs as their are TONS of styles. 

I specifically wear mine around the house as house slippers because I have hard wood floors and need the arch support.  I buy the Capri IV thong style.  They have tons of arch support and the gel is comfortable for when I am cooking or baking for hours at a time.  Instead of buying gel mats for my kitchen, I buy Crocs and replace them about twice a year.

[MoJoV]

People shouldn't wear the same pair of shoes all day every day.  Crocs are just like any other shoe in that they shouldn't be worn all the time. I wear different shoes almost daily...gym shoes,sandals,slippers,flats,crocs,low heel dress shoes. Common sense.

[1MrsT]

@VaBelle35 You're so right! I have many of their styles and my current faves are the stretch sole skimmers, which they're not making. I've got 4 pair of those and my DH has some of them in loafer styles. But my slippers (worn daily) are Freesails in hot pink. They're a more modern take on the original style. And of course, I have several pair of the all "rubbery" skimmers and flats.

The reason I swear by them is I have Morton's Neuroma in both of my feet and Crocs is one of the brands I can wear pain free. I find their squishy-ness conforms to my foot in a supportive way. I can wear them all day and I don't get knee or back pain. Love this brand.

[Moonchilde]

Somehow, I don't think the many surgeons who choose to wear Crocs in the OR feel they're damaging to the feet.

They have a better arch support than many shoes.

No one should wear the same shoe, i.e. the literal same pair, all day every day; shoes quickly wear down if you do that.

[jaxs mom]

Interesting statement from their podiatrists. I'd think that would also apply to Sketchers and other shoes that have memory foam footbeds. I do own one pair of crocs for in the garden or going out on the wet grass but I rarely wear them, and I never wear them anywhere but in the backyard. Out on errands, um no. 

[CAMOGIRL]

Crocs are definitely NOT the most attractive shoe, but, I find them to be super comfortable. Kinda bouncy. I own a couple pairs - one in my son's college colors and a brown pair with fleece liners for the cooler temps. Also, have a pair of their thong sandals too in  the same college colors - hook 'em horns! Just wash 'em off  with the hose, let air dry and good to go for next time! They do not seem as popular as a few years ago here where I live - but, people of all ages definetly wear them - from toddlers to grandparents and everything in between! 

[CJC]

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@VaBelle35 wrote:

First of all, the podiatrist can't really make a blanket statement about all Crocs as their are TONS of styles. 

I specifically wear mine around the house as house slippers because I have hard wood floors and need the arch support.  I buy the Capri IV thong style.  They have tons of arch support and the gel is comfortable for when I am cooking or baking for hours at a time.  Instead of buying gel mats for my kitchen, I buy Crocs and replace them about twice a year.

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I also wear my Crocs around the house on hard floors, the original standard Crocs style.  I've suffered with plantar fasciitis in the past, and my podiatrist said I need much more arch support than I get from wearing floppy flat house slippers.  He recommended Crocs because the arch support is molded into the shoe.  A few years back LL Bean sold an imitation Croc for $9.  I bought 6 pairs in various colors and took a pair to my podiatrist to be checked for proper foot alignment.  He said they were an excellent choice for a house shoe.  I'm still wearing all 6 pair, and they are a far cry from the very expensive orthopedic-style shoes.  Right now I'm wearing my lime green pair!  No more plantar fasciitis!