There's crocs everywhere (Crocs Cayman)

Member Name: Suzela

Product:	Crocs Cayman
Date:	13/11/07 (1863 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, light and above all else comfortable

Disadvantages: Jimmy Choo doesn't have to worry !

Welcome to the wonderful and bright world of Crocs where celebrity fashionistas, medical and care professionals, those on their feet all day, those who walk everywhere (that would be me!), those with problem feet - oh and the boating community for which this footwear was developed all live!

I am a convert. I couldn't see what all the fuss as about until I got given some (my sister bought my Mum the same pair as my Mum bought herself and as I have the same size feet as my Mum, I got them!). But from the moment I put them on (apart from bed and a couple of occasions when I have had to wear "proper" shoes) they have been my footwear of choice this summer and in fact I'm still wearing my more autumnal colours now.

The question posed on the website www.crocsfootwear.com is simple - WHY CROCS?

The 10 Reasons given (which I shall give my humble opinion on ) are as follows:

Reason 1 Nothing is softer or more comfortable
Well it depends on your definiton of "softer" but they are flexible and there are no hard edges or surfaces and they certainly are comfortable. The first time I wore them I walked 3 miles in them - no blisters. I always get blisters in new shoes so since that day I have bought 4 pairs of Crocs (I have bought some other shoes as well!). I was beginning to worry about winter footwear being too restrictive but as I am still wearing the Crocs in November that problem has been delayed!

Reason 2 Hardly there (less than 6 ounces)
I have weighed them and this is correct but you only have to put them on and you can feel how light they are. Great for taking abroad!

Reason 3 Air ventilation ports keep your feet cool and comfy
Now here is one of my first two problems with Crocs. The bottom of my feet do remain cool and comfy but I have found with all of my pairs that the top of my foot can get quite sweaty and I have had a couple of sweat rashes. It seems to be that this happens in the "molding" period as I don't get this now that I have worn the shoes in. It may be just that I have a very high instep. But it is a temporary glitch that can be very annoying (and itchy)

Reason 4 Non-marking soles
I have only tested this out on our laminate flooring but this appears to be correct.

Number 5 Resistant to bacteria and odour to keep your friends happy.
Crocs are made from a proprietary closed cell resin which that molds to your feet and is resistant to bacteria and odour. I am not a scientist and so I can't do culture samples to test this claim and as for the odour well in my experience it is true that they (the shoes) don't smell (although initially they do give off a smell of rubber/plastic) but that doesn't stop your feet from whiffing! That said when you are wearing them your feet don't seem to give off a smell but it is different when they are off. Again may be just me but this is another slight downside.

Number 6 Ultra hip italian styling with moulded foot support
Well they were/are ultra hip in as much as they were the big sensation of the summer - they have been seen on many a celebrity foot so I guess that lends them a kind of hip appeal )or may be not!) and they have smooth lines so I guess that may be attributable to the Italians. They do have a molded foot bed. And the inside has lots of lovely little bumps which feel fab on your feet.

Number 7 slip resistant
I had the misfortune of being caught up in the flooding over the summer and I can tell you that they are slip resistant when dry and to a certain extent when they themselves are wet but only if you are not running along a heavily polished wooden floor. Walking along it was fine - running was not.

Number 8 can be sterilized in water and bleach
I have not tried to bleach them. I'm sure it is possible and that this is why they are becoming a firm favourite with the medical and care professions (although there was a "static" scare issue with Croc wearing and medical equipment not so long ago).

Number 9 Easy to maintain
I have a top tip provided by a shop assistant . If they get really dirty, pop them in the washing machine with a little detergent on 30 degrees in a quick cycle. The come up like new. Or as I found out when my toddler nephew decided to clean everyones shoes with baby wipes, they work nicely too.

I have been told that you can buy a product from Crocs which you can use to protect them. Unfortunately I can't find any details of this but but I believe it is a cream protector.

Number 10 water and sand pass easily through vents (so go on and cross that river)
Again my flood experience has shown that this is quite right. Unlike flip flops (although Crocs do make flip flop styles so not sure if what I am about to say applies to them) and other footwear that you may wear in water or on the beach these provide the security of not floating off or getting caught in the mud or sand. You do get sand in them but this filters out quickly and is much better and you don't have quite so much to clean off.

Any other advantages?
Well the colours (and there are many) range from fun and funky to more subdued autumnal colours and at around £30 (varies between stockists) they are not cheap but certainly not as expensive as you could pay for an exceptionally comfortable pair of shoes. You can customise them with little flowers (easily available in the shops) that go into the vents but if you go to www.jibbitz.com you can see a full range. But at around £2 a go this could prove expensive (and probably not for the guys!).

They can be worn by men, women and children and are very good value for money for the whole family. The sizing is also universal so once you know your size you can just go and buy them. Crocs are aimed at all sorts of wearers - medical staff, people with problem feet caused by corns etc and illness, surfers, boaters, sportsmen and just us everyday walkers. I've just counted up 59 different styles from Wellington boots to flip flop styles. Some of the styles I must admit I wouldn't touch with a barge pole and I am a little dubious about the "mammoth" style - like a cayman (pictured) but with fur in - but this wide range of comfortable is indeed commendable.

Crocs also do clothing and accessories so you can get all Croc'd out if you really wanted to.

Any disadvantages?
Availability is an issue. The success of these shoes has seen shops cleared in a couple of days of stock and 3 week waits (in the case of my local shop) for my size (M6 /W8 which is the most popular for the ladies). You can of course buy on line but in my experience you still have the same stock issues. And despite the italian styling they are not the most attractive shoes in the world(and some of the styles as I mentioned above are not for me at all!) but they do a fantastic job!

All in all these are a superb buy - they may not be for everyone but they mostly do what they claim to do and do that rather well.

Summary: They may be crocs but they don't nip your toes like other shoes can