I thought Crocs were just camp shoes and since camp to me is usually a wide spot on the trail to sleep on, I figured they weren’t much use. Then I read this article on the Happy Feet blog that said people are running marathons in them.
I’m investigating Crocs. Can anyone answer these questions? Does anyone have first hand experience long distance hiking in Crocs? What is the best style for hiking? How many miles does a pair last?
Crocs make my feet really happy. Pick up a pair and answer those questions for yourself!
Yeah, I read the testimonials on their web page; people like them and they are comfortable.
Do you hike long distances in them?
My opinion is that if you want to be pain free, less is more. I think that Crocs have too much cushioning and will lull your body into a false sense of security. Too much cushioning might make your feet happy but will change the way you walk and can have adverse affects on things like your joints, knees, etc.
Myself, I wouldn’t bother with Crocs… I am more interested in going the minimalist route with bare feet or huaraches (http://www.barefootted.com/) or FiveFingers (http://www.vibramfivefingers.com), or something along those lines. Once you build up the foot strength, long distances are very doable (I am not speaking from experience, but there are people running 40+ miles with minimal footwear). Porters in Nepal and other parts of the world have been doing it for years carrying much heavier loads than we are accustomed to.
I used to poo-poo Crocs and the people who wore them but I’ve become a convert. I got a pair as a gift and brought them along on a backpacking trip as camp shoes. They were remarkably comfortable and even proved to be adequate footwear for the rock scrambling we did near our campsite.
On our next hike, a 14.5 mile loop through the Three Ridges Wilderness in Virginia, I wore the Crocs as primary footwear and packed the boots. I was sure I’d be changing them out as soon as the terrain became challenging but they stayed on my feet the entire time. No blisters, no sore feet.
Of course, your mileage may vary. My advice is to go buy a pair as it’s worth the price to have them even if you don’t use them for hiking. Then pick a stretch of trail that provides a good average for one of your normal hikes and wear them for a few miles. They’ll take a mile or two to get used to but I think you’ll find they’ll make your feet happy.
Warning: There’s a dark side to your beloved clown shoes.
http://www.slate.com/id/2170301/
Also, several people had Crocs on our 5 day rafting trip last summer. The Crocs began falling apart around day 2.