Are Crocs Closed Toe Shoes? 5 Facts You Should Know About Crocs

From being listed in the 50 worst inventions in 2010, to becoming a lifeline in recent years, crocs have always been the talk-of-the-town among other shoes.

Every crocs owner before they buy crocs wonders whether are crocs closed-toe shoes. Also, if you’re considering getting one, you should know if crocs have an open or closed-toe shoe for you.

Crocs are available in both open and closed-toe shoes variants. They are extremely lightweight, long-lasting, waterproof, and comfortable. Crocs are extremely durable and have a wide range of sizes. Croc’s closed toes add an extra layer of protection to the foot. They are versatile and may be worn anywhere.

But despite this old reputation, some people still can’t figure out whether crocs are closed-toed shoes or not. So, what exactly defines a closed-toe shoe? And do the holes make crocs only open-toed?

Let’s clear all your queries regarding crocs and closed-toed shoes.

What Is A Closed-Toe Shoe? Are Crocs Closed Toe Shoes?

As the name indicates, a closed-toe shoe is a type of shoe that can cover toes, entirely.

Owing to its protective nature, many people use it for safety purposes. Whether you work at a factory, gym, or have surgery to perform, replacing closed-toe shoes with any other would give you hard luck.

Apart from giving safety, closed-toe shoes add grace and professional touch to the attire. Moreover, due to their covering nature, they have even become top-notch choices for surviving winters

But can they be fashionable yet professional at the same time? Yes! Closed-toe shoes come in a wide variety. Oxfords, sneakers, pumps, mules, and whatnot shoes are covered in this type! In fact, there’s a type for every season.

For example, if someone is willing to try them in the summer, then Perforated closed shoes will be a perfect choice! The holes around them will allow feet to breathe, without exposing the toes. Check here to find the current price for crocs closed-toe shoes.

Read more on: Why are Crocs So Expensive?

Are Crocs Open Or Closed Toe Shoes?

Crocs is an American company, which was once famous for making foam clog shoes. Later, the foam was replaced by a more durable material for greater comfort. These shoes are made from Crosilite, a material embedded with closed-cell resin.

Due to their punctured and curvy style, these shoes were then called crocs and hence gave the company another name. The crocs are actually boat-shaped shoes, having holes on their surface. 

Crocs can be both open and closed-toed. 

Traditionally, crocs came up with closed-toe shoes first. Thus they are often mistaken for being only that. But being a company, Crocs took a further step and launched its open-toed shoes. They were launched due to the demand of people concerned with having smelly feet by wearing closed-toe crocs for hours. Grad your favorite closed-toe crocs today click here.

How To Differentiate Between Open And Closed Crocs Shoes?

So, now we know that Crocs can be both open and closed-toe. But how can we identify on our own? It’s not that hard actually.

Both of them have the same basic structure i.e a boat-shaped style, having an open-heel strap, with or without a perforated upper surface. The difference lies in the toe-box. A toe-box is the front part of any shoe that covers the toes.

So, an open-toed traditional croc has perforations on the entire toe-box. Some of them don’t even have the toe-box. But a closed-toe croc won’t have it on the entire toe-box. The best example of this type of crocs is Literide.

They have 13, yet tiny holes on their surface, giving them a more aesthetic appearance than regular wide-holed clog crocs. The holes on the upper shoe surface have nothing to do with being closed-toed, as both of them can have them.

You can even find semi-closed-toe crocs on their main website. These crocs have one or toe holes just at the end of the toe box.

But the Crocs didn’t limit themselves to clogs. To expand the comfort of Croslite lovers, the company launched flip flops, sandals, flats, etc. This extends the list of open-toed crocs.

What materials are used to manufacture crocs?

As discussed earlier, crocs are made from Croslite. Croslite is actually a proprietary form of closed-cell resin. We don’t know what exact elements the company uses to make their Croslite, but many say that their Croslite is considered to be a type of polymer called EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate). 

Being an organic polymer, EVA is actually carbon-based and is derived from crude oil, and has both rubber-like and plastic properties. Because of this reason, it’s a common sole material in shoes around the globe.

So, the croslite (combined with EPA) is injected through a molding machine, which takes the shape of crocs when poured hot. Now, when a lot of other brands are using EPA to make their shoes and soles, what makes croslite and hence crocs stand out from others?

Benefits of Using Croslite in Crocs

There can be several reasons why the company prefers croslite over traditional EPA in making crocs.

1. Low maintenance 

One reason why crocs have high popularity is that they are easy to wash with soap and water.

The closed-cell resin in croslite doesn’t allow water to be absorbed inside the shoe, giving crocs a low-maintenance property.

2. Resistant to bacteria and odor

Because of the water-resistant and closed-cell nature of croslite, crocs have a very low tendency of microbial contamination. Due to this, they hardly give any bad smell when worn, and any dirt or germs causing that can be easily washed off.

3. Prevent soaking of feet

Wearing non-croslite shoes might let water penetrate through the shoe surface and make your feet turn soggy or take ages to dry. Hence, crocs turn out to be a better alternative in such cases.

4. Lightweight Yet Firm

Like rubber, croslite is very light in weight and makes crocs easier to carry. However, unlike rubber, croslite provides a stiff nature to crocs, making it more durable at the same time.

Why Do Crocs Have Two Sizes?

Crocs use US sizing for their fitting. But when you buy a pair of crocs, you would see two numbers or two sizes at the bottom. So why are there two numbers for just one pair, even though they only use US sizing standards?

Well, both numbers represent sizes for both genders, as crocs are mostly unisex. So, e.g., in an adult croc of size 7/9, the size 7 is for men and 9 for women. 

However, at times, the initials M (for men) and W (for women) are also mentioned underneath the croc’s sole.

Pros And Cons Of Wearing Closed-toe Shoes

Pros	Cons
Offers Safety And Protection Closed-toe shoes have become a necessity in workplaces like labs and factories to ensure the complete safety of feet. They also offer protection against cold weather, blisters, and dirt.	Toe Pain Even though they are meant to protect the toes, wearing closed-toe shoes for longer terms creates pressure on the toes. This pressure, combined with friction, makes you tired and later causes pain.
Perfect For Long Walks Footwears that provide lesser coverage are subject to forming more blisters when worn for hours. Thus, closed shoes provide a more comfortable experience when going for long walks.  Not only do they protect from blisters, but they also produce a better grip and shock absorbance for comfortable trekking.	Bad Odor Due to the closed environment inside, closed-toe shoes allow moisture to build inside. Due to this build-up, bacteria multiply and cause a bad odor. Thus, wearing closed-toes for a longer time (especially without socks), makes them smelly.
Athlete-friendly & More Professional Looking We all can agree how funny we’ll look if we wore open-toed shoes to school. Similarly, closed-toed shoes are a part of professional attire. That’s why closed-toe stilettos at work are still a trend among most women. When going for strenuous activities, choosing the proper footwear is the most crucial decision for any athlete. So, would you choose your sandals for kicking a ball or taking a high jump in such a case? Obviously, no. Therefore, closed-toes will not only provide the necessary protection and support to your feet but will also boost their strength for activity.	Callus Formation Wearing tight closed-toes causes callus to form on your toes. A callus is a thickened form of skin that occurs due to recurring rubbing, irritation, friction, and pressure on the skin.

How Long Do Crocs Last?

Crocs are famous and expensive because of their long shelf-life. And of course, croslite is the reason behind that.

For many people, if used properly, they last for around five years.

However, every user has a different story.

For example, reviews on forums like Disboards show that the treads in crocs tend to wear out after a few months, though the shape remains firm.

What is a tread? It’s the part of the shoe that remains in close contact with the ground. 

Thus, if you plan to buy crocs for long-term use, you must be prepared to replace its worn-out treads when needed.

Read more on: Are Converse True to Size or Not

Are Crocs Durable And Comfortable?

Yes! Crocs are highly durable and comfortable to wear.

As discussed earlier, the croslite gives them a longer expiry and thus makes them very durable in use.

But how are they so comfortable? Well, they actually:

• Are Light in weight
• Are easy to wear and remove
• Provide better support to feet
• Are spacious but don’t let your feet slip.

In an interview given to WebMd, many health care professionals agreed that crocs are the comfiest choice for working in clinics. Plus, due to their antibacterial and roomy nature, crocs are also highly recommended for diabetic patients.

But crocs can cause blisters too. It’s because the feet are more prone to moisture and friction.

Read more on: Are Crocs Supposed To Be Loose?

Why Do Crocs Have 13 Holes?

There’s no logical reason why crocs have exactly thirteen holes in them. This number is just a part of their oldest design, which is still followed today.

Thus, ignoring the number 13, let’s explain why crocs have these holes.

• The holes allow your feet to breathe by offering a good amount of airflow through them.
• Due to the immense airflow, they also prevent moisture from accumulating inside the crocs. In this way, it allows crocs to become more odor and bacteria-proof.
• If any sand, stones, or any other irritating objects enter the crocs, it’s easier to remove them through these holes. Comparatively, this task is a bit hard in shoes without holes.
• Allows complete washing of crocs.

Should You Size Up Or Size Down Crocs?

In general, crocs fit according to their mentioned size and run true to it.

So, before buying your crocs, you should first come up with the exact size along with that of your feet. You can either measure the size through footwear-sized tables or follow the crocs size chart.

However, they don’t come in half sizes. So, e.g., if your foot size is 71/2, you should go for 7 or 8. In such cases, most people agree that taking a size up brings a very loose-fitting, especially for classic crocs.

Therefore, you should go for a size down for a more firm fitting. 

But this may vary from person to person, so it’s better to choose the perfect size by trying them on and ensuring that the toe doesn’t touch the front part of crocs.

Do Crocs Stretch Over Time?

Yes, they do. Crocs offer a lot of types of fits. For example, some give a very roomy or spacious fit. Others provide a more secure fit, with a shape that perfectly fixes your feet.

Whatever the fit is, the croslite inside makes the crocs stretch and increase in size over time.

But why? It’s because when a non-heat-resistant material like croslite is provided with heat, it expands. 

Thus when exposed to higher temperatures, crocs tend to expand and stretch. So, you can protect them from stretching by not wearing or leaving them in the sun for long hours.

Sometimes, even wearing them for many years reduces their tightness and stretches them out.

Read more on: Can Basketball Shoes Be Used For Running?

How To De-stretch Crocs Then?

If the sun’s scorching heat couldn’t help itself from stretching your crocs and giving a loose fit and straps, try this shrinking method:

1. Carefully switch on your clothes dryer by setting the timer to 15 minutes and the temperature to medium.
2. Wrap your crocs in a wet towel to prevent them from damage due to heat
3. Place the wrapped crocs into the dryer and let them complete their cycle.
4. Open the dryer after 5 minutes and carefully check the crocs. If they are hot, take them.
5. Leave them to cool for some time; until they become lukewarm.
6. Wear them carefully and allow the warm croc foam to take the shape of your feet for resizing.

Wrap Up: Are Crocs Closed Toe Shoes?

Crocs can be both closed and open-toed. They are made from croslite which offers high durability and comfort.

When choosing the correct size it’s better to stay with the size that perfectly fits the feet. Crocs can stretch over time, but the phenomenon is reversible.

Moreover, crocs can last up to 5 years, but during this time, they can shed their treads.

Related Articles:

• Are Vans Good For Skateboarding?
• Are Converse True To Size?
• Are Ariat Boots Good?
• Are Frye Boots Waterproof?
• Are Chacos Waterproof or Not?
• Do You Wear Socks With Hey Dudes Shoes?