Crocs For Water Shoes: Is It A Good Idea?

Crocs have made a comeback recently. In 2020, Crocs saw a tremendous increase in sales. You’ve probably seen people wearing Crocs to the park, the pool, and even the grocery stores.

So, what are these shoes, and are they really the best choice for use in the water?

Crocs are made of an innovative material that allows them to be lightweight, comfortable, and durable. The material is waterproof and designed to allow water to flow easily in and out of the shoe.

Most people assume that Crocs are supposed to be water shoes, and there are some mixed reviews about their performance.

Are Crocs the best choice for water shoes?

Read on because this detailed guide will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about what Crocs are, the pros and cons of using them as water shoes, and whether an alternative shoe would suit you better.

What Are Crocs?

Crocs are lightweight, durable shoes that are designed to offer you comfort on both land and sea. The first pair of Crocs was introduced in Florida in 2002 at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.

These shoes were designed by Colorado natives Scott Seamans, Lyndon Hanson, and George Boedecker, Jr and were originally created to be an innovative pair of boating shoes.

The look and shape of Crocs were inspired by Dutch clogs, and the name comes from the amphibious crocodile.

As crocodiles are masters of both land and sea, the founders of Crocs decided to name their shoe after that animal because they wanted their shoe to be functional in both environments as well.

Each classic version of Crocs has exactly 13 holes for ventilation and to allow excess moisture to drain.

They’re made from a material that sets them apart from most land or water shoes. Instead of a plastic or artificial material, Crocs are made from a closed-cell resin called Croslite.

It’s a type of foam that is exclusive to Crocs. This material is supposed to offer comfort, support, and traction while remaining lightweight.

Are Crocs Good Water Shoes?

Crocs were designed originally to be an innovative pair of boating shoes, and the idea was that they could perform well both on land and in the water. Many people have used Crocs solely as water shoes, but there have been mixed reviews.

Here are the pros and cons of using Crocs as water shoes.

Pros Of Crocs

Using Crocs as water shoes comes with many benefits. Here are some of the positives of using Crocs as water shoes.

1. Low cost: Crocs are generally one of the most affordable options out there for water shoes. They’re more affordable than most of their competitors, which makes them a great option for those who are on a budget.

2. Lightweight: The Croslite material is created to be lightweight for the wearer. This can be very helpful in the water, as some water shoes can bog you down and make it difficult to move around freely.

3. Good ventilation: Every pair of Crocs has the same number of holes on top. Whether you’re buying a children’s size or adult men’s, each shoe has 13 holes. This is great for ventilation and will allow your feet to air out whenever you step out of the water.

"This can also help to prevent issues that you would normally see with fully enclosed water shoes."

4. Drains excess water well: The power of Crocs 13 holes doesn’t stop by providing you with good ventilation. It’s also great for draining excess water from your shoes. This can be especially helpful if you’re using Crocs to cross small streams or rivers.

5. Durable: These shoes are designed to be durable. You don’t have to worry about them becoming scuffed or torn in most situations. However, Crocs can and will wear out with repeated, rough use.

6. Odor-resistant: The Croslite foam is designed to be odor-resistant, which can be a relief. No one wants to be the person with smelly feet coming out of the local pond or river. You won’t have to worry about that with these shoes.

7. Comfort: Crocs are designed with your comfort in mind. The Croslite foam is low-impact and comfortable on your feet.

8. Easy to clean: Whether you’re trekking through mud or walking along a sandy riverbed, Crocs are going to be easy for you to clean when you get home. Their design makes it simple to hose them off or wipe them down, and the holes along the top mean that they’ll dry quicker than regular fabric shoes.

Cons Of Crocs

Despite all the benefits that Crocs offers, they have several drawbacks as well. Here are some of the downsides to using Crocs as water shoes.

1. Thin material: Crocs are made out of a special closed-resin material called Croslite. While this material is great for low-impact activities, it won’t protect your feet on rougher adventures. A particularly sharp rock or stick poking out of the bottom of a riverbed could tear through your shoe and injure your foot.

2. Not full coverage: Many water shoes offer full coverage options where your feet are securely enclosed and protected by material. Each pair of classic Crocs has 13 holes on the top which is great for ventilation and draining excess water, but it can allow a lot of sand or other debris to get into your shoe.

"This can cause blisters or injuries to your feet."

3. Not secure: Crocs are designed to be slip-ons, which means that they aren’t secured around your feet like most shoes are. This can be fine if you’re casually crossing a small stream or river but can be dangerous if you’re using them in rough water.

"Your feet are more likely to move around in these shoes which could lead to you slipping or losing your shoes."

4. No ankle support: These shoes don’t offer much in the way of support. Your feet can easily slip around in them, and they offer no support at all for your ankles. This can be very dangerous in fast-moving water and could cause injuries to your ankle.

5. Low traction: While these shoes do have some traction, it’s not enough to keep you secure in rough conditions. If you enter fast-moving water or a riverbed filled with rocks, then you could easily slip and get hurt.

What Makes A Good Water Shoe?

To determine whether or not Crocs are a good idea to use as water shoes, it’s important to understand what qualities you should look for in a water shoe.

Ideally, a good water shoe should have a hard, solid sole to protect the bottom of your feet. This is usually going to be made out of some type of plastic or rubber material, but any material that’s durable enough would work just fine.

The best water shoes should completely enclose your feet, usually with mesh on the top, to add a layer of protection. The mesh or top material should be quick-drying and allow water to escape the shoe easily.

A good water shoe should provide some support to your feet, and some water shoes are even designed to look and act as a type of sneaker, so they provide some ankle support as well.

In general, the best water shoes will have a hard, protective sole, quick-drying material, and offer support for your feet.

Are Crocs Good For Your Feet?

Crocs are made to be comfortable and offer sufficient support for your feet. But are they actually good for your feet? You may be surprised to learn that, despite all the benefits this footwear has to offer, it’s actually not the best for your feet.

Crocs can be comfortable and safe during casual water activities, and short walks, and you can even do a short hike in Crocs. Your feet won't suffer from wearing Crocs during these activities, but you’ll start to feel some strain if you try to use them for long or more intense activities.

Many people enjoy wearing Crocs because they’re convenient to slip on and off, and the Croslite material is very comfortable. However, wearing these shoes long-term can cause damage to your feet.

Crocs lack any significant heel support, which can lead to tendinitis, nail problems, calluses, blisters, and other problems.

This kind of damage can compound over time if you continue wearing the same shoe and can lead to long-term damage if you don’t take care of the problem.

These shoes are great for short or casual use, people who have excess edema, or who need extra arch support. They’re fine to use in intervals, but long-term use will lead to damage to your feet.

Can You Slip in Crocs?

One of the biggest concerns for using Crocs as water shoes is the possibility of slipping. The bottom of these shoes has a decent amount of traction, but that’s not all that you need to prevent you from slipping.

Crocs are easy to slip on and off, which is convenient, but not great for keeping your feet secure. The holes on top of these shoes allow plenty of water to work its way in and out of your shoe, which can lead to your foot sliding around in the shoe.

Aside from your feet slipping around inside the shoe and potentially slipping out of the shoe, there’s also the possibility of slipping while walking around. These shoes do have some traction, but they aren’t the most stable.

Walking around on uneven or particularly rocky terrain can be very dangerous in Crocs. There’s a high potential for you slipping and potentially injuring your feet or ankles.

Crocs are best worn for short 5 mile walks or hikes and in calm waters. They’ll keep you comfortable and provide a reasonable amount of protection in mild conditions.

Should You Wear Socks With Crocs?

If you’re wearing a pair of Crocs while you walk down to the local pool or hike through the woods to your favorite swimming hole, then you may be wondering if you need to wear socks while you’re walking.

The truth is that there’s no need to wear socks with Crocs. These shoes have traction on the inside of the shoes that are designed to grip your bare feet and keep you stable.

Wearing socks while wearing Crocs could actually cause you to slide around more as your bare feet won’t be able to interact with the grip on the inside sole of the shoes.

There are also holes along the top of Crocs that are designed to provide your feet with plenty of airflows to help keep them dry. Wearing socks will minimize the ventilation your feet receive and could cause blisters or other problems.

What Do Crocs Look Good With?

Whether you’re going for a short walk with your Crocs or headed to the local pool, you’re going to want to find an outfit that compliments and looks stylish with your footwear.

Of course, Crocs go well with any type of swimsuit, since they’re widely recognized as a type of water shoe. But what about when you’re going for a short walk?

Crocs will look great with dresses, skirts, shorts, or jeans that cut off around your ankle. These outfits will showcase your footwear the best and won’t get caught underneath them as baggy jeans or sweatpants could.

You should also avoid wearing flared jeans or anything that’s excessively baggy. They could get caught in your Crocs and cause you to trip. They’ll also cover up your footwear, so you won’t be able to show them off as well.

Do Crocs Wear Out?

Crocs are designed to be long-lasting and durable footwear. They’re made of a type of material called Croslite that’s lightweight, comfortable, odor-resistant, and easy to clean.

Crocs can last a long time if they’re properly taken care of- up to 7 years! However, just like any other footwear, they will wear out eventually.

If you use your Crocs very frequently and wear them for long periods at a time, then they’re going to wear out more quickly. Heavy use in rough conditions could cause your Crocs to wear out in as little as 3-5 years.

Are Crocs Waterproof?

A good water shoe should be waterproof so that it can dry quickly and last longer. The great thing about using Crocs as water shoes is that they fit this bill perfectly.

The material that Crocs are made of is waterproof, which means that you don’t have to worry about the material absorbing water and becoming damaged by it. These shoes will dry far more quickly than something that isn’t waterproof and is incredibly easy to clean.

Types of Crocs

Many people have an iconic image of Crocs in their minds. They think of the original model, “The Beach”, that brought Crocs onto the scene and into the limelight. But, there are actually several different types of Crocs, and they all have their own unique style.

Classic Crocs

The classic Crocs come in many different colors and designs. There are classic Crocs designed for men, women, children, and some that are unisex. These offer you all the benefits of Crocs with the original style. This style is what most people imagine when they think of Crocs.

Work Crocs 

Crocs also have a line of work shoes available. They are closed-toe and slip-resistant. The work shoe Croc offers still retains the style of the classic Crocs, but they’re designed to look more professional.

They’re mostly designed for restaurant workers who are on their feet for several hours a day and need something comfortable, lightweight, and slip-resistant.

This Unisex Bistro Clog and this Unisex On The Clock Clog are great for those who work in restaurants or hospitality. They’re very easy to clean and sanitize, which makes them great for those working in a hospital setting or care home.

Sandals Crocs

If you want the comfort of Crocs and the style of a sandal, then they’ve got you covered. This Crocs Unisex Sandal has the classic loop that goes over the top of your foot. It’s still easy to slip on and off and provides you with all the benefits of Croc’s unique material.

They also have this Men’s Mesh Sandal that’s more closed in than their original, which provides an extra layer of protection for your feet. These would be great for bringing to the beach or your local swimming pond.

Loafers

Did you ever wish you could wear your Crocs comfortably around the house? Now you can with these Crocs Men’s Loafers. These are made with the Croslite material that you love and are covered with soft canvas fabric to keep your feet warm.

Heels

For women that are hoping to get a little lift, Crocs offers a wedge heel shoe in a sandal style. These Crocs Women’s Low Wedge Sandal provides you with all the comfort of regular Crocs with a small height boost. They’re still lightweight, easy to slip on and off, and perfect for a casual night out.

Sneakers 

Crocs now have a variety of sneakers available. These Literide 360 Pacers Sneakers are the perfect shoe for everyday use.

They provide more support to your foot and ankle than the classic Crocs while remaining lightweight, comfortable, and easy to clean.

They’ll still provide your feet with plenty of ventilation, but the increased support makes them more suitable for long-term use.

Is Crocs LiteRide Pacers Good As Water Shoes?

The sneakers made by Crocs are great for everyday use, but can you use them as water shoes? As it turns out, the LiteRide Pacers are an excellent choice for water shoes.

Unlike the classic Crocs, the LiteRide Pacers offer increased foot support and a closed-in mesh around your feet.

This gives your feet an essential layer of extra protection and will help prevent the slipping and sliding around that can happen with their classic version.

The LiteRide Pacers have plenty of drainage holes, so you don’t need to worry about water getting stuck in your shoe. There’s still plenty of ventilation for your feet and these shoes are just as quick drying as the classics.

Overall, the LiteRide Pacers are the perfect option for someone who wants the comfort of the class Crocs with extra foot support and protection.

The Verdict- Are Crocs Good For Water Shoes?

The Croslite material that makes up Crocs is perfect for use on land and sea. These shoes are lightweight, easy to clean, and offer numerous other benefits. However, they also come with plenty of downsides such as a lack of ankle support and traction.

Overall, Crocs are good to use for water shoes in mild conditions. If you’re going to be wearing them for a short time in mild water conditions, then they’re perfect for giving your feet some protection and allowing you extra traction.

However, these shoes shouldn’t be used for an extended period of time, and wouldn’t be safe in rough water. You shouldn’t use Crocs if you’re going to be in a particularly rocky area or fast-moving water.

Alternative Water Shoes

Crocs do work well as a pair of water shoes, but they aren’t the only option. There are a ton of great choices for water shoes on the market, and some may perform even better than Crocs in rough conditions.

Here’s a list of some great alternatives to Crocs:

1.DLGJPA Men’s Lightweight Water Shoes

This pair of water shoes is a great alternative to Crocs. They have a lot of similar qualities to Crocs such as being lightweight, quick-drying, and comfortable. However, unlike traditional Crocs, there’s a mesh covering for your feet and they look more like traditional sneakers.

2. JOTO Water Shoes

If you’re looking for something easily affordable and incredibly simple in design, then you can’t go wrong with these water shoes.

JOTO water shoes are incredibly basic, but they’ll work to keep your feet protected and provide the traction you need at the beach or in the pool.

They come in a variety of colors and have options for men, women, and children.

3. UBFEN Water Shoes

The UBFEN water shoes are a great choice for someone who needs extra traction. They’re designed to look and walk like normal sneakers, so the traction is stronger than you’ll see on most water shoes.

They have several drainage holes that will allow water to escape as you walk and are perfect for activities such as fishing where you can expect to go in and out of the water frequently.

4. WateLves Water Shoes

These water shoes take it to the next level while retaining a very simple design. They’re easy to slip on and off and contain a tough rubber sole that will protect your feet from getting injured when walking along a rocky riverbed.

These water shoes also offer a good amount of shock absorption, which will reduce the impact on your feet and lower your risk of injuries. 

5. YALOX Water Shoes

YALOX water shoes are ultra-lightweigt and come in several different vibrant designs. They have the shape of a traditional sneaker, but perform well as water shoes with stretchy material that makes it easy to slip them on and off.

Rubber soles will prevent your feet from slipping while wearing the shoes, and they also have tough foam inserts for added arch support.

Final Thoughts

Crocs can be great for water shoes because they’re lightweight, easy to slip on and off and provide sufficient traction for casual water activities.

However, they aren’t the only option on the market, and they don’t provide adequate support for rough or fast-moving water.

Choosing the right water shoe is important, and if you’re just popping down to the pool or local swimming pond then Crocs are an excellent choice.

For more related guides read my other posts:

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