Our footwear expert explains why people (still) love Crocs

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.

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