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If you have seen an increasing amount of brightly colored plastic shoes everywhere you go, you are witnessing the land invasion of Crocs. Crocs have been spotted on nurses in the hospital and mothers at the grocery store. Teenagers are often spotted with these clog like plastic shoes but this is no teen trend. Crocs can be found on all types of individuals and at all types of events. The Crocs have moved onto the land and it does not look like they are going back to the water anytime soon.

Crocs are plastic clog like shoes with a heel strap. They have openings throughout the toe of the shoe which makes them perfect for boating or other water activities. In fact Crocs shoes were first introduced at the 2002 Fort Lauderdale boat show where they were a hit. Crocs are not selling because of their style. They are in no way sleek or attractive. They bring to mind garden clogs, but in brighter colors. What makes Crocs so popular is that they are extremely comfortable and reasonably priced. Comfort, not style is once again proving to be the key element for success in the footwear industry. Hopefully the industry is paying attention.


Crocs are made from a molded foam resin, Croslite. The shoes are slip and smell resistant. They are lightweight, dry quickly and have a non-marking sole. Created by a Canadian company called Foam Creations, these shoes were marketed by a group of Boulder, Colorado men who struck a licensing agreement with the Canadian company and renamed the shoes, Crocs. By 2003, Crocs had moved beyond the boating crowd and had become popular throughout the shoe marketplace. Analysts expect over twenty million pairs of Crocs to be sold this year in the United States and foreign markets.

Comfort is the key to these shoes and it is comfort that is selling this product to men, women and children. The wide toe box does not contort the foot as many shoes do and the heel provides for a more natural step. The American Podiatric Medical Association has called them a healthy alternative to flip flops and has given its' Seal of Acceptance for two of the Crocs' models in the Croc Rx line. Yes Crocs has a line of shoes geared toward diabetics and those with foot ailments. This line of Crocs looks like the regular line of Crocs but are slightly modified to accommodate the foot problems of a Croc Rx buyer.

Doctors also approve of the holes in the shoes since they create a anti-bacterial and anti-fungal environment for the foot. In fact the Croslite does not even allow bacteria or fungus to grow due to the "closed cell " nature of the material. This clean environment is a plus for all those who wear Crocs, not just those with specific foot ailments. I have to wonder if the Doctors know of the increasing use of socks with the Crocs. See Crocs can get a little chilly in the colder regions of the world and socks make those Crocs usable all year round. I am sure if you wear the right type of socks with your Crocs, your foot will still be safe from fungus and bacteria. If not, the other medicinal pluses of Crocs make the shoes attractive to those with foot problems and those buyers seeking to prevent foot problems.

Luckily, Crocs has expanded their product line to include an ankle boot called the " all terrains" that is perfect for cold and wet weather. This is a manly boot though it does come in a variety of colors. The " endeavor" an enclosed toe Croc is also targeted to cold weather wear. A full sized boot, the " georgie" is also available though only for women and children. Made from the same material as the original Crocs, this boot is currently only available in black, red, and blue.

As the Crocs continue to invade, more styles and imitations become available. A visit to Croc.com will allow you to view the different styles and other products available from the company that has put Crocs on the feet of millions around the world. Crocs are carried at a variety of retail outlets including sporting good stores, shoe stores and department stores. For many, these shoes may need to be tried on to be believed. The style alone will not sell many shoe buyers unless you revel in unattractive shoes. It is the comfort level of these shoes that have resulted in the explosion of sales. Comfort is the new buzz word in shoes and these shoes are gaining new converts every day.

It is an interesting fashion phenomena that comfort is winning over beauty. This is particularly interesting in the female shoe market where shoes are coveted for their beauty and style, not comfort. While I appreciate a well crafted stylish pair of shoes, I look at them as an art form, not a foot covering. I have come to this viewpoint because I physically cannot wear high heels or anything but extremely soft, flat shoes. I read about women who wear heels in spite of pain and I marvel at their devotion to fashion. I personally know of a woman who has had foot surgery due to her devotion to heels, yet she continues to wear them inspite of the continuing damage she is causing her feet. I love looking at her shoes but I am certainly not going to follow her lead. I have heard the saying, beauty is pain, but I have to wonder if beautiful footwear is worth the long lasting permanent pain it causes.

We know women have disfigured themselves for the sake of fashion. Chinese women used to bind their feet because small feet were beautiful. These women lost the ability to walk. I wonder if the modern woman is not pulling away from the pain of beauty and trading style for mobility. It may not even be that conscious of a decision. It may be an increasing number of women can no longer physically withstand the pain that beauty demands we endure to wear stylish shoes. The modern woman cannot spend her life in a chair, displaying her perfect small feet. She needs to be able to walk and in today's fast paced world, even run. Running in strappy high heels can get a little difficult.

Crocs allow today's women to live in today's busy world. Crocs, along with several other brands, are selling comfort not style. It could be the increasing consumer demand for comfort in footwear is evidence of a large scale movement of women rejecting the pain that most experience when wearing beautiful shoes. It may just be a short lived trend. Whatever the cause and effect, more and more comfortable shoes are on the market. I for one, am excited about the shopping possibilities