Are Crocs Good or Bad for Your Feet?
Updated February 26, 2024.
Everyone likes comfort, which is exactly why Crocs easily caught on as more people started to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forbes estimates that since its establishment in 2007, the company has sold up to 600 million pairs of shoes worldwide. This isn’t at all surprising.
Crocs provide a perfect alternative for people that would otherwise have gone barefoot on the beach, pool area, and in the yard. Beyond this, Crocs have become popular among different classes of people warranting use to even malls and supermarkets. It gets one wondering, how is it that Crocs are so popular?
What Should a Good Shoe Do for Your Feet?
There are four primary factors to consider when you’re trying to decide what a good shoe for your foot will be. They are;
- Comfort A good shoe should feel comfortable on your feet from your first wear.
- Support Your shoe should hold your feet in position and maintain the alignment of your foot as you walk. A god shoe should also support your foot arch.
- Fit Of course, your shoes should not be too tight (small) or too big for your foot. It must fit appropriately based on your foot length and size, giving your toes a little room to wiggle around.
- Cushioning Through the midsole, a good shoe provides a cushion for the feet. It also ensures efficient transfer of force through the foot.
If you find a shoe that conveniently ticks all the boxes, that’s a shoe you want on your rack.
Which Shoes Should You Wear?
Wearing the right shoes is necessary if you’re going to remain comfortable and avoid injury. Even after ticking all the boxes of comfort, support, fit, and cushion, the kind of shoe you should pick will depend on your preferred activity.
Sport Shoes
There are shoes for everyday life, and there are also shoes for sporting activities. Your choice of sporting shoe will depend on the kind of sports you like to perform. For example:
- Hiking shoes have deep lugs and raised heel soles to provide secure footing and reduce the chances of sliding when hiking on steep slopes.
- Soccer boots have studs to improve traction.
- Basketball shoes have a herringbone pattern in the sole that improves stability and traction.
You may need to seek an expert opinion from a podiatrist to determine the best type of shoe for your sporting activities.
Everyday Walking Shoes
Whether you take walks to stay fit or just stand for a long time daily, your shoes should provide proper cushioning and support to prevent soreness and limit fatigue. Generally, walking shoes should be lightweight, flexible, and have no flared heels.
Crocs may be good footwear, but they aren’t designed to cope with walking or sporting activities for extended periods. As such, you should consider getting proper footwear if that is your intention.
The Problem with Wearing Crocs All Day
Crocs make for excellent footwear because they are lightweight, comfortable, and easy to slip into and out of. They are also breathable, promote circulation, and have enough room to avoid compression of the toes.
Unfortunately, they are not ideal for everyday wear or long periods. Crocs were originally designed as waterproof boating shoes with non-slip soles and foamy material. By design, they are an excellent choice for the beach, pool, or waterpark and are ideal for short-term usage. However, people now wear Crocs everywhere; sometimes wearing them for the whole day, and even at hospitals, playgrounds, and malls.
When Crocs aren’t used as they were designed for, they place additional strain on the sole and the heel pad. Inadequate support would mean that the toes need to grip, leading to tendonitis or worsening any preexisting issues. You may also develop issues such as corns and calluses or other toe deformities.
Ideal Time for Wearing Crocs
Despite the wrong use of Crocs, they still help to eliminate plantar pain and any arch issues. This casual footwear does this by supporting the arch and cushioning the heels. Additionally, they also prevent compression of the toes by allowing room to move when you’re walking.
Without any doubt, Crocs will help you relieve any foot pain and are ideal for short-term usage. However, if you wear it for an extended period, Crocs can create more foot issues that can otherwise be avoided.
