Crocs or nah?
May 31, 2022 9:20 AM Subscribe
The tread's completely gone on my classic crocs and they always fit a bit too loose and slid around more than I preferred, so I am looking to replace them with another durable, easy-on, water friendly, outdoor shoe for chorin' and gardening and noodling around the farm and the occasional trip to the store or the dog park.
My "summer crocs" were pretty good for this, but I'm wondering if I should consider switching things up a little? The critical features are easy to get into but won't fall off on uneven terrain, non-absorbant material, good arch support, minimal heel, some tread (doesn't need to be aggressive). The right shoe might be something low-heeled clog-like like crocs, something more sandal-like that can be put on one-handed, or even something more garden shoe/muck shoe with good support.
I recently got a pair of Keen water sandals and I really like them and will use them in several contexts, but they are a bit of a struggle to get on and off which discourages me sometimes from wearing them when I need something to slip on to go outside for 5 minutes.
I don't care if they are ugly as fuck. I'm not exploring non-croc options for aesthetic reasons. If the answer winds up being "get another pair of crocs, one size smaller" then so be it.
My "summer crocs" were pretty good for this, but I'm wondering if I should consider switching things up a little? The critical features are easy to get into but won't fall off on uneven terrain, non-absorbant material, good arch support, minimal heel, some tread (doesn't need to be aggressive). The right shoe might be something low-heeled clog-like like crocs, something more sandal-like that can be put on one-handed, or even something more garden shoe/muck shoe with good support.
I recently got a pair of Keen water sandals and I really like them and will use them in several contexts, but they are a bit of a struggle to get on and off which discourages me sometimes from wearing them when I need something to slip on to go outside for 5 minutes.
I don't care if they are ugly as fuck. I'm not exploring non-croc options for aesthetic reasons. If the answer winds up being "get another pair of crocs, one size smaller" then so be it.
Maybe Birkencrocs?
Birkenstock makes a fully plastic sandal - like this.
I love them - perfect camping shoes and they look like birkenstocks, not crocs (*).
(*) Not that I care.
posted by whatevernot at 9:32 AM on May 31, 2022 [4 favorites]
Birkenstock makes a fully plastic sandal - like this.
I love them - perfect camping shoes and they look like birkenstocks, not crocs (*).
(*) Not that I care.
posted by whatevernot at 9:32 AM on May 31, 2022 [4 favorites]
I too love the birkencroc. They say on surprisingly well, even when I've been on steep terrain. I think they are more comfortable than crocs, but I like regular birkenstocks too and I have a high arch.
posted by ice-cream forever at 9:35 AM on May 31, 2022
posted by ice-cream forever at 9:35 AM on May 31, 2022
These are made of recycled plastic and hemp, and they might be more spendy than what you're looking for, but the people who like them really like them (see the third recommendation from the end in the second link).
posted by virago at 9:48 AM on May 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by virago at 9:48 AM on May 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
If you like the Vans look, they have a croc-like shoe - I haven't worn it so I can't say what it wears like.
posted by matildaben at 10:03 AM on May 31, 2022
posted by matildaben at 10:03 AM on May 31, 2022
I quite like my "teva crocs". They're super lightweight, comfy, easy to put on with one hand. I've had them for a year - including using them for some walking-intensive vacations - and they've held up perfectly so far.
posted by mosst at 10:17 AM on May 31, 2022
posted by mosst at 10:17 AM on May 31, 2022
Maybe Natives? (I haven't worn them but they are really big with kids here.)
posted by vunder at 10:41 AM on May 31, 2022
posted by vunder at 10:41 AM on May 31, 2022
I love my LL Bean slip-on Rubber Mocs
posted by Sweetie Darling at 11:21 AM on May 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Sweetie Darling at 11:21 AM on May 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I also wear Keen Newport sandals, and I like them very much when I am going to keep them on for a while.
But for fast on/off, like going out to the grill in the rain, nothing beats Crocs. Mine are khaki-colored with a Great Wolf Lodge jibbit -- super "dad ugly" -- and I (heart) them.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:08 PM on May 31, 2022
But for fast on/off, like going out to the grill in the rain, nothing beats Crocs. Mine are khaki-colored with a Great Wolf Lodge jibbit -- super "dad ugly" -- and I (heart) them.
posted by wenestvedt at 12:08 PM on May 31, 2022
Target has knock-offs of the Birkencros for cheap if you can find them. In the super-bright colors they use, they are ridiculously cute!
posted by wenestvedt at 12:09 PM on May 31, 2022
posted by wenestvedt at 12:09 PM on May 31, 2022
Chacos are pretty great
posted by RajahKing at 12:30 PM on May 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by RajahKing at 12:30 PM on May 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
Waterproof Birkenstocks are amazing - comfy & durable. There are a few more styles out there than I see on this site so check other sellers as well.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:53 PM on May 31, 2022
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:53 PM on May 31, 2022
I find Hoka slides very comfortable. The only downside is the somewhat inconsistent sizing.
posted by Morpeth at 3:09 PM on May 31, 2022
posted by Morpeth at 3:09 PM on May 31, 2022
As an aside you can slice trenches across the outsole area of crocs to extend their useful life with functional traction, though that doesn't help with fit.
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:44 PM on May 31, 2022
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:44 PM on May 31, 2022
One can allegedly "shrink" crocs. So maybe that might be something to test out on your old pair. (I also find Crocs sizing tricky since they only come in whole sizes).
Tevas and Chacos with woven straps are great, but these straps will hold on to water to some degree.
posted by oceano at 9:25 PM on May 31, 2022
Tevas and Chacos with woven straps are great, but these straps will hold on to water to some degree.
posted by oceano at 9:25 PM on May 31, 2022
Why not something like the Keens that can also be slipped-on like the Crocs?
The Salomon Tech Amphib 4 are airy and lightweight and the can be worn like a "real" shoe and with the heel flipped down like a slip-on. Best of both worlds. (The heel flip down feature doesn't seem to be advertised well, but it is built into the shoe.)
posted by mmkhd at 7:27 AM on June 1, 2022
The Salomon Tech Amphib 4 are airy and lightweight and the can be worn like a "real" shoe and with the heel flipped down like a slip-on. Best of both worlds. (The heel flip down feature doesn't seem to be advertised well, but it is built into the shoe.)
posted by mmkhd at 7:27 AM on June 1, 2022
You can get croc sandals which I find fit much closer than the traditional clogs and their flip flops are great though don't have as thicker sole. I'd suggest checking out their website as they have a range of styles, also read the comments as the reviews give a pretty accurate idea if the sizing leans big or small.
Tevas if you get the medium sole or thicker feel very croc like and the straps are adjustable and easy to put on.
I know you said you were looking for crocs, but thanks to advice on here I got some Kizik sneakers, they slip on and off with no hands and are as comfortable as crocs, I use them as my house shoes like I used to use my crocs and got another pair for exercising.
posted by wwax at 1:19 PM on June 1, 2022
Tevas if you get the medium sole or thicker feel very croc like and the straps are adjustable and easy to put on.
I know you said you were looking for crocs, but thanks to advice on here I got some Kizik sneakers, they slip on and off with no hands and are as comfortable as crocs, I use them as my house shoes like I used to use my crocs and got another pair for exercising.
posted by wwax at 1:19 PM on June 1, 2022
I love Oophos recovery slides. Very comfy.
posted by bookworm4125 at 3:27 PM on June 1, 2022
posted by bookworm4125 at 3:27 PM on June 1, 2022
These Croc knockoffs I just purchased are great! They have arch support, and you can also remove the insoles. They are just as easy to wear as Crocs, and feel secure on my feet. They are my new favorite yard shoes.
posted by annieb at 6:33 PM on June 1, 2022
posted by annieb at 6:33 PM on June 1, 2022
Response by poster: I wound up getting another pair of crocs in a size smaller (all-terrain model this time, with adjustable back strap that helps refine the fit a little bit), and my feet were instantly happy to be back in the old familiar... Also considering getting a pair of EVA foam Birk style footbed sandals based on the number of recommendations here, as more a summertime going-off-the-property shoe to save me from having to make sure my new summer crocs are clean enough to wear off-property, but IME anything without a back strap just isn't secure enough for walking through mud and scrambling around in the woods.
posted by drlith at 1:26 PM on June 9, 2022
posted by drlith at 1:26 PM on June 9, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:31 AM on May 31, 2022