I'm in love. Size down.
My average-width feet are 10-3/8" long; I typically wear a size-10 shoe. Per the advice of other reviewers, I sized down to a size-9 W Croc, and the fit is perfect. If you'd asked me a year ago if I'd ever own Crocs, without hesitation I would've said: Nope! In a farm & homestead setting, the popular style of Crocs— riddled with holes like Swiss cheese— admits far too much dirt and debris to be practical. (Speaking from experience after farmsitting for friends who have been using pop Crocs as their outdoor chores.) But when I learned about these specialist versions— without all the holes— it was an aha! moment. I've been wearing my Crocs daily since April (approx. 6 month), and they are PERFECT for my application. I live in the country and need an easy solution for frequent transitions from indoor slippers to outdoor slippers. I want a comfortable and durable outdoor slip-on that covers my toes, provides decent traction, and keeps my socks clean and dry no matter what I get up to outside. Every day I use these clogs for gardening and light-duty homestead chores (and sometimes heavier projects), and they keep my socks clean & dry, even when I accidentally slosh water all over myself. (I'd recommend changing into proper work boots, however, if you're walking in exposed/loose soil, as deep/fluffy/dusty dirt can creep in over the open heel of a clog.) These specialist Croc clogs have been a big improvement over my former go-to outdoor slip-ons: Muck boots. The boots will come out again for winter, but for spring–fall they can be a bit overkill and hot. (I don't mind sweaty socks if I'm hard at work, but when the sweat creeps up your legs it's a little less comfortable!) The Muck boots also aren't as easy to slip on/off, so sometimes I'd skip pulling them on if thought I was only stepping out for something quick & easy, only to return later with my so-called house slippers wet and dirty. The easy on/off of a Crocs clog has helped me kick that bad habit. The Mucks are also more expensive— at least twice the price— so the wear & tear you put on them from crouching positions comes at a greater cost. Although I take care to store them inside (out of the sun, duh people!) between uses, I've definitely been hard on my Crocs— sometimes getting too comfortable and wearing them for intensive projects that would've been better suited for a genuine work/hike boot. Plenty of time spent crouching over tasks on the ground has imparted a permanent crease over the top that will probably crack open someday. But when that day comes, I'll replace these clogs with the exact same Crocs. These specialist Crocs have also been excellent camp shoes— keeping my feet cozy and protected from errant twigs and forest floor debris, and keeping my socks clean & dry while handling camp chores. A big improvement over flip-flops, which used to be my go-to camp & casual outdoor footwear. Fun fact: I consciously realized I was "sold" on these Crocs after dreaming that I'd worn a high-heeled version of them to a block party in a big city (pfff! as if! LOL), and— having taken them off at some point— I refused to leave the party until I found them. When I found them, someone had vomited into one and taken a bite out of the other, and I was still like: Nope— these are coming home with me! When I woke up from that bizarre scenario I had to admit to myself: I'm in love with my (specialist) Crocs! Read more
