Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Help. I am seriously considering buying some Crocs...

137 replies

MrsPuddleduck · 10/06/2008 12:06

I am off on holiday abroad in a month and am seriously thinking of buying a pair. I was thinking that if I bought a 'decent' pair I could travel in them then wear them on the beach and to breakfast etc and only have to take one other pair of shoes to wear in the evening.

Am I mad or is there a better alternative?

OP posts:
okeydokeygirl · 12/06/2008 18:44

My friend had crocs for years before everyone else had them. I hated them with a vengence. Then 2 years ago i tried on a pair, bought them, and think they are fab. THEY ARE MOST DEFINITELY NOT STYLISH but they are sooooo comfy and practical. I use them in the garden, as slippers and they are great for camping as is doesn't matter if they get wet and you can slip them on and off when you go in and out the tent. They are also great for when mopping the floor as it doesn't matter if they get wet. My feet absolutely don't sweat in them and they don't slip off when you run. They are brill. However, i have recently invested in a pair of Arizona Birkenstocks. I had a pair years ago and they lasted about 8 years of wearing all year round (slippers in winter). I eventually had to get rid of them as they wore so thin they were dangerous. But i understand you can now get them resoled. They are not as cheap (56.00 ish) but well worth the money and once worn in they are also really comfy and versatile. Although not as good as Crocs when your 3 year old pisses all over you!! have a great holiday whatever you decide to wear.

shopgirl · 12/06/2008 20:23

I soooooooooooo love my crocs !
and i dont look like i have clowns feet - i'm a size 4, i could understand it if some of you laaayydiiiiiisss have mahoosive plates of meat

thomsc · 12/06/2008 20:48

I have both the Havaiianas and the Crocs (ones with less holes). The Crocs win on comfort and not tripping me up every time! Go for the Crocs.

soames · 12/06/2008 20:49

Just a word of warning to all you pro- croccers out there... prepare to wake up one sneaky morning... look in the mirror, and find yourselves wearing navy blue zip up fleeces with wolves on the back...(silver ponies if you're the lucky)!!

thomsc · 12/06/2008 20:51

oh, and I had some Birkies too (don't ask, freak mould attack in damp cupboard). I also lost the Havaiianas in the same incident. I'll stick with the Crocs!

ancientgeordiegirl · 12/06/2008 21:24

never added a message before but feel I must add a pro-crocs message - I love them for comfort and pram pushing but acknowledge that they totally lack style - as long as you get a neutral type colour and avoid decorating them with flowery add ons (can't remember the silly name) then you'll avoid looking like a clown or 3 year old! If you can't bear to put your feet into crocs then I can also recommend fitflops which look much better and are also very comfy! You do however have to watch out for your toes when dealing with 3 year olds on scooters....Crocs do at least protect your toes on that front!

BexieID · 13/06/2008 09:51

Are the Alice Crocs really machine washable?

These came today in black!

LaundryFairy · 13/06/2008 10:01

I'm a bit worried by some of the comments on this thread - 40+ years of feminism and this is what we get: women still being told that they can't choose what they want to wear for whatever reason they want.

In particular, calling people twats and chavs and being repulsed by a family wearing them - what is that about?

We all judge people by what they wear - often wrongly: I made the mistake of tutting to myself the other day about a sloppily dressed woman feeding a brown sludge to her toddler - coke at such a young age I thought! As I walked past, I realised it was a super-healthy fresh fruit and veg juice. Shame on me!

We all need to question our own impulse to judge others on appearance and, this is where this thread gets to me, stop imposing our own prejudices on others.

There. I'll step away from the soap box now.

ps. I do have bright red crocs which I wear for gardening, but I may have to start wearing them out just to see what opinions I encounter....

Gemmacloud141 · 13/06/2008 11:10

I have this battle with my friends all the time! and I don't care what anyone says... I LOVE MY CROCS! I have 1 pair of traditional crocs which i wear an awful lot. Another pair that have no holes in the top, in black which i wore when i was at work (there was no dresscode btw!). I also have a pair of croc flip flops which i do live in. i wear them as slippers, to walk in, on the beach everywhere! and I also have a pair of the wedge crocs which i wear when i go out to give me a bit of height. I love them and wear them non stop. they are so comfy and even after a full days shopping pushing the pram my feet don't hurt. crocs are definately the way forward.
I would like to add that the friend i have the greatest battle with wears stilettos to childrens birthday parties

sazzerbear · 13/06/2008 11:48

Please don't buy them, they look like orthopedic shoes! Havianas much more stylish

elle23 · 13/06/2008 11:54

ok for children (under 5s) but not for adults...saw a couple (in their 50s) wearing matching crocs last week...with socks on! revolting. hideous. ridiculous.

mum2oandh · 13/06/2008 13:08

i am sat at my screen wearing croc's and socks, loud and proud, LOVE THEM!

DamnHisEyes · 13/06/2008 13:17

I have a pair of mock-crocs. They cost £3. I actually think crocs look neat in themselves. But agree they make an adult look like dimwits. But for a holiday, particularly on the beach and the practicality of walking around not too strenuously?

Hah. Havaianas look good but you'll get toe throb and the constant slap-slap-slap of the slipper is damn annoying. Also forget chasing a child effectively.

I have pair of Birkies and have had them for four years now and they are lovely. But I had blisters in the middle of my foot the first two years anytime I walked for more than 20 minutes. They would ruin your holiday. Unless you want a pair long-term and are willing to start breaking them in with blisters on holiday, forget it. Also you really don't want to get them wet.

Converse: Useless, useless, useless in rain. But do look goodish. In a teen queen sort of way. I'm not sure they add anything style-wise above crocs, though I admit they detract less.

reikizen · 13/06/2008 13:22

Thanks LaundryFairy for that, the horrible comments on this thread have been playing on my mind. Really, how angry are these people. Imagine calling another woman a twat for her choice of footwear! I love my crocs and it may surprise you all to know that I DON'T CARE whether you think I look like a clown or not. There is more to me than what I am wearing on my feet, I hope your children don't take the same nasty attitude in the playground as I have read on here!

KatieScarlett2833 · 13/06/2008 13:24

Crocs for indoors and hanging out washing.

Birkenstocks for outdoors.

My feet are extremely happy.

jellybeans · 13/06/2008 13:28

Laundry Fairy, totally agree with your post. I have never understood 'fashion' ie being told what you should wear by someone who sells/makes clothes. So throw out perfectly good stuff cos it is 'out' and get a load more to conform! Now that is sad. I wear what I like, don't care if it is 'in fashion' or judgec 'chavvy' or unsuitable for my age.

fullmoonfiend · 13/06/2008 13:32

I'll join the ''i don't give a fuck what you think of me'' brigade.
I have every kind of shoe for every kind of ocasion, from 'bedroom' shoes to wedges, to ballet pumps and two pairs of crocs.
Anyone who does as much walking/gardening/festivals/camping/boat-living as I do will know how fabulous it is to have 1 pair of shoes which are great for everything.

Nicola63 · 13/06/2008 13:48

I love my crocs at the beach, the beach we go to in the Meditteranean each year is quite rocky and pebbly, and the crocs are prefect, you can walk or dive right into the sea with them and they float if they come off. I would not go on holiday without them. I also have a pair of the fleecy lined ones I wear as slippers in the house and garden. I would not wear them in any other context, but I would not be without them in those situations!

asicsgirl · 13/06/2008 13:54

on the subject of comfortable flip flops i just got a pair of del mar ones from this site (scroll down to see) - flip flops with a birkenstock type footbed! lots of other styles under 'bathing sandals' too...

DarrellRivers · 13/06/2008 14:13

I have Alice crocs in blue
They are really cute and really comfortable.
(can they really be machine washed)

LolaLadybird · 13/06/2008 15:50

Only just discovered this thread. If you're solely after comfort, go with the crocs - seems like most MNers agree they're for comfort not style. Personally, I wouldn't wear them but I bought DD (3) a pair recently and think they're great for children (you just run them under the tap when they get dirty - how ace is that).

IMHO, Birkenstocks for travelling and the airport. I bought a pink pair last year and pretty much live in them in the summer (round here they have classy/quality image, not frumpy hausfrau).

sazzerbear · 13/06/2008 16:22

Once you try Birkenstocks you will never think about Crocs again!!

prideandprejudice · 13/06/2008 17:38

Oh dear - can this really be happening? Having been extremely anti-croc I have just looked at the alice ones and they look gorgeous. Am feeling tempted. Do they hurt or rub at all?

LuLuMacGloo · 13/06/2008 18:07

If you've got slim ankles go for flip flops. If your legs are on the chunky side (like mine) go for crocs - your legs will look lovely and slim in comparison!!

In fact forget all that - if you want to be comfy go for crocs - they're unbeatable in that department.

(would be tempted by Birkenstocks but have very naff 'mumsy' image in these parts..)

littlebrownmouse · 13/06/2008 19:09

So is the static shock effect just me? Have to add that we all have them in my family, often wear them all at the same time, have comfy feet and don't give a toss what we look like. Couldn't care less if you think I'm a grim word beginning with t and ending in wat, I'm just glad my feet are happy, healthy and not smelly. Clarks and Doc Martens are my shoe of choice for non-croc weather, so I'm probably a bit of a geek.