Your ultimate guide to Crocs: Everything you need to know

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Your Ultimate Guide to Crocs.

Crocs. A household name across the globe, this revolutionary shoe brand is known for its comfort, practicality and appearance (that some may say has divided the nation for decades!).

Never afraid to cross the boundary between relaxed style and flamboyance, it’s easy to see why Crocs is such a divisive brand in fashion circles today. Whether you’re ‘Team Crocs’ or a part of the ‘Stop Crocs’ crew, we’ve created a complete guide to answer everything you’ve ever wanted to know when it comes to this functional footwear titan.

From Crocs sizing and what they’re made of to how to clean them and where to buy a pair, keep reading to learn more about what makes these shoes a worthy addition to your shoe rack.

What are Crocs?

Originally created for boaters, Crocs are clog-like shoes designed to be waterproof and provide good grip, especially in wet conditions. Crocs are springy, soft and pliable, as well as light on the feet (a pair weighs a mere six ounces!). This, combined with features such as a no-slip sole and its distinguishing, aerating holes, means that the shoe is now worshipped by nurses, doctors, gardeners, decorators – the list goes on.

If you’ve ever wondered why Crocs are called Crocs, it’s because these practical beauties are proven to perform well on sea and land, so the brand took inspiration from the prehistoric, multi-environment beast: the crocodile.

pair of classic pink Crocs.

Who invented Crocs?

Crocs’ story started with three friends – Lyndon Hanson, Scott Seamans and George Boedecker – who were planning a boating trip to Mexico. It just so happened that at the time of this holiday, Scott (an inventor and boating fanatic) was developing a foam clog with a Canadian shoe company called ‘Foam Creations’.

A style that was slip-resistant, comfortable and (most importantly) didn’t sink was a boating shoe revelation, and drew the attention of the friends who spotted a major opportunity. They developed this clog by adding a strap to the back, noticing that the shape looked like crocodile snouts from the side – and hey presto, Crocs was born.

The first model (given the name ‘The Beach’) was unveiled in 2002 at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in Florida, where the shoe sky-rocketed to success and all stock sold out. Crocs have only kept growing, with a staggering 850 million pairs sold globally since doors were opened.

Are Crocs cool?

Crocs have found stardom across all four corners of the world (85 countries to be exact) – and not just among the average consumer. They’ve been sported by various famous characters, such as celebrities like Rihanna and John Cena, and those in high places such as George W. Bush, Kate Middleton and Prince George. Even designer label Balenciaga have shown this unique clog approval, only adding to the reasons why Crocs are so popular.

Not only that, but the brand has some impressive statistics in its back pocket. Crocs has a combined social media following of 5.3 million and an eye-watering 7.1 billion views on TikTok for videos using the hashtag ‘#crocs’. If you’re still wondering if crocs are fashionable, take a look at the graph below, which shows a huge increase in demand for the footwear in 2022 – likely driven by its newfound social media popularity.

A graph showing the search interest for ‘Crocs’ over the last five years, according to Google Trends.

Crocs sizing guide

Crocs typically fit true to size – so you don’t need to worry about sizing up or down. If you’re asking yourself ‘what size Crocs should I buy?’, stick to your normal sizing. If you’re a half size, it’s best to order the next size up as Crocs are only available in half sizes. Unlike shoes made from fabric or leather, another bonus is that Crocs shoes do not stretch, so you can keep wearing yours for years to come and they’ll still be as comfortable as the day you bought them! If you need help finding your shoe size, why not visit our guide on how to measure your shoe size?

Browse the Crocs size charts for men, women and kids below to find your perfect fit:

UK

EUR

USA

CM

2

33-34

4

20

3

34-35

5

21

4

36-37

6

22

5

37-38

7

23

6

38-39

8

24

7

39-40

9

25

8

41-42

10

26

9

42-43

11

27

UK

EUR

USA

CM

3

36-37

4

22

4

37-38

5

23

5

38-39

6

24

6

39-40

7

25

7

41-42

8

26

8

42-43

9

27

9

43-44

10

28

10

45-46

11

29

11

46-47

12

30

12

48-49

13

31

13

49-50

14

32

14

50-51

15

33

15

51-52

16

34

16

52-53

17

35

UK

EUR

USA

CM

2

17-18

C2

9.8

3

18-19

C3

10.7

4

19-20

C4

11.5

5

20-21

C5

12.3

6

22-23

C6

13.2

7

23-24

C7

14.

8

24-25

C8

14.9

9

25-26

C9

15.7

5 1/8

27-28

C10

16.6

5 ½

28-29

C11

17.4

5 7/8

29-30

C12

18.3

13

30-31

C13

19.1

1

32-33

J1

20

2

33-34

J2

20.8

3

34-35

J3

21.7

4

36-37

J4

22.5

5

37-38

J5

23.3

6

38-39

J6

24.2

How should Crocs fit?

According to Crocs, their ‘Classic’ clogs should fit differently to ordinary shoes. You want them to be fairly snug to your feet so there’s minimal sliding when you walk. Your heel should rest securely when the shoes aren’t in ‘sport mode’, and the sides, roof of the shoe and arch area should comfortably hug your feet. There should also be wiggle room at the front and back of your Crocs (about a cm) – a good test is that you should be able to get your finger between the strap and your heel.

It’s also worth mentioning that Crocs do offer three different fit options: roomy, relaxed and standard fit. The original clogs are roomy fit, while full-shoe styles with laces and straps typically fit into the ‘relaxed’ or ‘standard fit’ categories. So, whether you have narrower feet or wide, you’ll find the perfect fit for you.

How to clean Crocs

If you’ve just treated yourself to a new pair of Crocs and are keen to keep them looking their best, we’ve gathered a few top tips around how to clean them:

  • Avoid exposing Crocs to heat or sun: this can cause them to shrink or even warp – so if you’re wondering if you can put crocs in the washing machine, the answer is no!
  • Never use harsh chemicals such as detergent, alcohol and solvent cleaners, as these will remove the shine from any patent shoe and could destroy the glue used to attach the sole
  • Classic Crocs: simply hand-wash them with cold water and a mild soap
  • Metallic or leather Crocs: clean more delicate styles gently with a slightly damp rag, soft rubber sponge or brush, and apply a leather polish to keep your shoes in good condition. Find how to polish leather shoes in our dedicated guide.
  • Patent leather Crocs: gently wipe with a clean, damp cloth or use patent-restoring polish to make the most of the shine
  • Platform Crocs or Classic sandals: a damp cloth is usually all you’ll need to remove most dust and dirt
Crocs are a piece of cake to keep clean.

Frequently asked questions about Crocs

Crocs were originally produced in Canada, however their production has expanded worldwide, so the shoes are now made in China, Mexico, Vietnam and Bosnia.

Styling Crocs can be tricky, but the addition of socks is completely up to you. The spacious front end of the shoe gives you space for socks, while the comfortable interior also allows you to wear barefoot. The world is your oyster!

Crocs are made from a foam-like material called Croslite™. Exclusive to the Crocs brand, the substance is a resin that is neither plastic nor rubber. This unique material shows high resistance to bacteria and UV radiation (resulting in almost no odour), and is able to form to the wearer’s unique foot shape. It’s even said to offer medical benefits, according to many podiatrists.

Crocs ‘Classic’ footwear prices range from £25 to £90, however, their designer collaborations can reach extraordinary prices of up to £450. At Wynsors, we aim to be slightly more affordable than Balenciaga, so you can find a whole selection of popular styles with money off RRP in our collection. 

Contributing to their rise in popularity, Crocs are known to be incredibly comfortable footwear thanks to their foam sole and smooth interior. Some styles, such as Crocs RX, offer an even higher level of comfort and are designed specifically for those who are on their feet all day or who experience poor circulation.

Crocs offer a basic level of arch support and a breathable surface for better circulation. However, some podiatrists recommend that you avoid frequently wearing Crocs for long periods – unless you’re wearing a style that has been designed specifically for this purpose.

In addition to being comfortable, Crocs are great shoes to drive in thanks to their sole having plenty of grip, as well as the ankle strap for security. Though, we wouldn’t recommend driving in chunkier styles like platform Crocs, as it’s important you’re still able to feel and control the pedals safely.

Most Crocs shoes are made from Crosliteâ„¢ which is vegan and made from recycled materials, but it is important to note that the brand still uses leather in some of their design variations.

Where to buy Crocs?

Here at Wynsors, we have a range of hard-wearing, comfortable and colourful Crocs for the whole family. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of kids’ Crocs to enhance their fun on the beach, or want to use this functional footwear style for its intended purpose on your own boating trip, you’ll find your perfect pair right here.

We hope our guide to Crocs has helped answer your burning questions. If you have any questions we haven’t answered, please get in touch on our Facebook or Twitter and our friendly experts will be happy to help!  For a great choice of Crocs for the whole family, browse our online collection for incredibly affordable prices.

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