Here's What Podiatrists Think About Your Crocs (2024)

FAQs

Here's What Podiatrists Think About Your Crocs? ›

Megan Leahy, a Chicagobased podiatrist with the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, told HuffPost. While she granted that they “offer nice arch support,” she added that the real reason you shouldn't wear them over long periods of time is that “these shoes do not adequately secure the heel.

That said, Crocs lack arch support, so exercising, walking for an extended period of time, or working in them is not recommended by foot specialists. The plastic construction may also lead to sweaty, stinky feet and even blisters.

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.

Some of my patients are fiercely loyal about their shoes! Among the brands I hear about the most from my patients are Naot and Birkenstock sandals, Hoka One One and the Swiss brand, On Cloud X shoes for running and walking plus the ever popular New Balance shoes for running and walking.

Rocha reimagined three Crocs silhouettes — the Classic Clog (the one you know and love), the Siren Clog (a mule with a tall block heel) and the Quick Trail shoes (a pull-on sneaker hybrid) — with pearl, crystal and jet-beading elements seen throughout the Spring 2024 collection.

Hospital leaders there cite safety concerns raised after a needle fell through one of the holes and inside the shoe of an employee at a hospital in Tampa.

Unless you wash them often, all your sweat just festers in there and when you're a devoted Crocs wearer, this can lead to serious conditions such as nail fungus and athlete's foot, in the long-term.

The bottom line is yes, you can wear socks with Crocs. The style is widely accepted, perhaps more so than wearing socks with sandals or flip flops. (C'mon, are we really still doing that?) Many people like wearing Crocs without socks, though, because it's comfy and cool on their feet.

When plantar fasciitis starts to become a problem for you, a good pair of arches will make all the difference. Crocs can be a great option because they provide comfort and arch support.

One of the main reasons nurses prefer clogs is the fact they have no laces. If you're assisting in surgery or carrying sharp instruments, it's difficult to see if your shoes are untied and this could cause an accident.

Why do podiatrists like Hoka? ›

Beloved by style-seekers and podiatrists alike, the brand has a wide range of models to choose from, all of which fit expert recommendations for supportive footwear: They won't fold in half if you try to bend them, they have removable insoles, and they have firm heel counters.

Sketchers DO NOT have appropriate stability in the upper fabric and the heel counter to complement an orthotic. As such, you will probably find the orthotic redundant, or in worse case contributing to the cause of injury. Remember, an orthotic does 50% of the work. The shoe does the other 50%.

But this is untrue. Since current-CEO Andrew Rees took over the company in 2017, it has undergone a genuine business transformation. Factoring out Crocs' acquisition of HEYDUDE, the Crocs brand increased sales by 15% in 2022, and management is expecting Crocs brand sales to increase by another 12–13% in 2023.

In addition to the economic downturn, fashion trends began to change. The bulky, brightly colored Crocs started to fall out of favor as sleeker, more traditional shoes regained popularity. The company attempted to diversify its product line by introducing new designs and styles.

After a few years of impressive sales, the allure of Crocs began to fade. First came announcements that the loose-fitting heel strap may cause foot issues. Then, consumers grew tired of the unchanged, no-frills design that originally seemed so sensible.

Older folks like them because they're lightweight (just 6 ounces) and comfortable, especially if you're on your feet all day, have arch issues or have feet pain. Crocs are made of a lightweight antimicrobial resin, called Crosslite, designed to mold to the wearer's feet.

”Crocs are soft, which make people's backs feel better,” says Dr. Frank Cobarrubia, a Bend podiatrist. ”The people who typically claim that their back pain is reduced stand all day.” He likens the benefit of Crocs to that of rubberized mats often used in work area where people stand for long periods of time.

Crocs are great for long operating hours and cover your feet entirely to avoid spillage of blood and tissue on to your feet during surgery.