Our footwear expert explains why people (still) love Crocs
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Whether you've embraced them or shunned them, you've likely owned a pair of Crocs. In 2022 alone, Crocs sold 115.6 million pairs of shoes. That's almost four pairs a second, a pace that's only been increasing in the brand's 20-plus years of operation.
But why are Crocs—the instantly recognizable classic Crocs clog and an ever-expanding line of shoes, boots, and sandals—so popular?
Is it that Crocs are cool? You're asking the wrong question (although our reviewers would say they certainly are). The secret to Crocs' popularity isn't whether or not they're cool—the secret is that Crocs' unbeatable combination of cushy comfort and quirky style means they're a wardrobe staple that goes beyond the cool factor.
What are Crocs?
Crocs can refer to the Broomfield, Colo.-based manufacturer of lightweight EVA shoes—or any one of the dozens of styles Crocs manufactures. But what most people mean by 'Crocs' is one thing and one thing only: the classic, iconic Crocs Classic Clog.
Classic Clog
$49.99
The clog that started it all. The Classic Clog comes in adult sizes (men's 2 to 13, women's 4 to 12) and is also available for big kids (sizes 11 to 6) and toddlers (4 to 10).
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The lightweight Crocs clog with 13 (always and only 13) holes and a moveable backstrap has become a whole footwear category in and of itself. But there's more to Crocs than just the shoe that they're synonymous with.
From high-fashion collaborations to movie tributes (yes, there is a Shrek Croc clog) to adaptive styles, Crocs has something to offer almost every wearer.
How Crocs started
Crocs was started in 2001, when a Canadian manufacturing company called Evasol Plastics (now Foam Creations) created an injection-moulded sandal made of a lightweight foam. The sandal inspired three friends from Colorado—George Boedecker Jr., Lyndon Hanson, and Scott Seamans—who shared an interest in boating and business. The three men showed the prototype of the Crocs clog at the 2002 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in Florida, hoping the quirky style would appeal to other boaters.
However, the popularity of the lightweight clog rapidly surpassed its initial target market. All 200 pairs the brand created for the 2002 trade show in Fort Lauderdale sold out, and the founders started showing the brand at more mainstream shows.
By 2004, the company had purchased Foam Creations, and on February 6, 2006, the company went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. In 2024, Crocs reported yearly earnings of $4.1 billion.
Why Crocs are called Crocs
As the company tells it, Crocs are named after crocodiles since, like crocodiles, the shoes are at home in both water and on land.
What makes Crocs so comfortable
The combination of a foot-friendly shape and lightweight, easy-to-wear material is what gives Crocs shoes their uniquely comfortable feel.
Croslite, a proprietary foam, is made of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). It's soft and springy and provides shock absorption with each step. EVA is no newcomer to the footwear world—it's what the midsole, or cushioning, of almost every major running shoe is made of. The Crocs innovation was making an entire shoe out of the material.
EVA can be injected into moulds to create a variety of shapes—in this case, a clog with a moulded footbed with arch support for comfort as well as a roomy toe box. The characteristic wide, bubble-shaped profile of the Crocs clogs gives toes room to flex and spread while you walk and stand—critical for good foot health and comfort.
The clog shoe design itself has been a comfort shoe staple for hundreds of years. The oldest design ever found dates from the early 1200s, and researchers think they go back hundreds of years at least before that.
How Crocs should fit
Crocs clogs are meant to be easy fitting, with plenty of room in the toe box for toes to wiggle. That being said, you don't want to buy them too oversized: Well-fitting Crocs will feel loose and will be easy to slip on and off, but you shouldn't struggle to keep them on your feet as you walk.
How to clean Crocs shoes
How to clean Crocs is an FAQ on the Crocs' website, and most Crocs can be easily cleaned by brushing off any large clumps of dirt, mud, or other unwanted material, then washed with cold water and dish soap (or a similarly gentle soap). Stubborn stains can be attacked with a sponge.
Another option for styles made entirely of Croslite or Croslite with fleece is to run them through the gentle cycle of a washing machine.
Crocs should always be air dried—heat can cause the Croslite material to warp or even shrink.
Crocs shoes in the wild
You don't have to look very far to find Crocs clogs out in the world.
Not only are they still hugely popular in the boating market they were first destined for, they are a mainstay for gardens, pools, parks, and on the street.
They've been popular with students from daycare age to preteens to high schoolers. Gardeners, beachgoers, competitive swimmers, chefs, and even fashionistas count them as mainstays.
Crocs are also a favorite of celebrities. Post Malone has collaborated with the brand, as has Lil' Nas X, Justin Bieber, and Bad Bunny. They've been worn by Questlove, Nicki Minaj, and Pharrell.
Crocs has collaborated with pop culture icons and fashion brands, including Christopher Kane and Balenciaga that debuted in 2018 and has continued through 2024 most recently and has been worn by Madonna, Teyana Taylor, and Offset.
Crocs to shop
Classic Clog
$49.99
The clog that started it all. The Classic Clog comes in adult sizes (men's 2 to 13, women's 4 to 12) and is also available for big kids (sizes 11 to 6) and toddlers (4 to 10).
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Crush Clog
$64.99
An oversized two-inch platform with sweeping lines elevates (literally) the classic Crocs clog into something special.
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Bae Clog
$64.99
If you really want to reach for the top, the Crocs Bae clog is ready: A sculpted 2.4-inch platform and textured elements on the strap and around the collar and heel make this eye-catching Croc style a fashion win.
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Crocks on the Clock Slip Resistant Work Slip-on
$49.99
Beefed up with additional arch support, slip-resistant treads, and an enclosed toe and heel, this is a work-ready show aimed at nurses, hospitality workers, and anyone else who needs a shoe that can stand up to tough conditions.
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Classic Lined Clog
$59.99
A cozy, furry lining turns the Classic clog into the shoe you want to wear in cold weather or anytime you need a dose of warm fuzzies.
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Crocs Slide
$24.99
The Crocs slide has all the same Croslite benefits of the classic Clog (waterproof, lightweight, springy) in a sleek slide style.
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Brooklyn Buckle
$59.99
Who says you can't have style and comfort? The Brooklyn Buckle sandal has a chunky, on-trend 1.9-inch platform and two bold straps that can be adjusted for the perfect fit.
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Echo Wave
$69.99
This streetwear-inspired slip-on is digitally sculpted with a wave-like pattern that gives this collection its name. It's very similar to Merrell's Hydro Moc.
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Getaway Shimmer Strappy
$44.99
The lightweight Getaway style is designed specifically to be as comfortable as wearing nothing, with soft and seamless upper straps that keep feet comfy.
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Classic Floral Cut-out Clog
$54.99
The Crocs Classic Floral Cutout Clog updates the classic clog model with pretty and delicate flower cutouts scattered over the upper.
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Just over half of adolescent girls and young women aged 15-29 years with mental health or substance use disorder accessed formal healthcare support in 2022, according to a study by Statistics Canada. Some sociodemographic groups within this population were more likely to seek support than others, and some derived more benefit from the support than others. Cost and lack of awareness about where to seek information were among the barriers that prevented many patients from seeking care. 'In recent years, the prevalence of mental health disorders has increased among youth in Canada, and this is particularly true of girls and young women,' study author Kristyn Frank, PhD, a senior researcher at Statistics Canada in Ottawa, told Medscape Medical News. Kristyn Frank, PhD The study was published on May 21 in Statistics Canada's Health Reports . 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These barriers include long waitlists, complicated referral procedures, the costs involved with accessing services, and geographic distances (because many services are in urban areas). 'When it comes to young people, we have set up our services in a way that does not mirror the realities they face. They are very siloed. For example, a service might treat depression, but not if the person is also using cannabis. This becomes problematic because we are organizing services according to diagnoses, but, particularly among young people, it is often unclear what they are. We really need to have a much more holistic way of organizing services,' Iyer said. In 2014, Iyer started ACCESS Open Minds to address gaps in the mental health care system, especially for Indigenous, remote, and underserved communities. 'We need services catering to a range of mental health presentations, instead of filing them by diagnoses that can often change for young people.' She also called for services that help patients with work, school, and housing: 'Services that we could offer under the same roof that might make it a bit more engaging for young people.' Shortening wait times, educating more mental health counselors, and creating youth-friendly walk-in facilities in community settings can make accessing supportive care more accessible for younger people, Iyer advised. She also stressed that the first point of contact for evaluation for mental health support does not need to be a psychiatrist. Requiring the first point of contact to be a psychiatrist 'causes a bottleneck because we don't have as many specialists. We have shown it is possible to train a range of mental health workers, including social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, and counselors. We need to see young people right away and in a friendly way, meeting them at home or in a coffee shop, providing a safe, engaging, and rapid evaluation of their needs,' Iyer said. 'The goal is to increase young people's awareness of when to seek help, where to go, and how to get help, but you also want to give them a friendly face. Make it simple for them. They don't need to fill out forms. They can call or walk in. We need the message to be simple.'
