10 October 2023 , 12:01
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Love them or hate them, Crocs are here to stay. The distinctive shoe has continued to grow in popularity since they first burst onto the scene in 2002, with people praising their laidback style and comfortable fit.
Crocs have found fans in a range of consumers, including fashion's cool crowd, Gen Zers and celebrities of all ages, including Justin Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Bella Hadid.
But there seems to be a little-known side-effect that comes with wearing Crocs on a regular basis. An Irish woman has now claimed that wearing her Crocs 'all summer' made her feet 'expand' and 'change size'.
Leah, 23, who posts as Leahsickofthis on TikTok, took to the social media platform to share her experience. "So everyone's been talking about how they've been wearing Crocs so much that their feet have started expanding and their feet are a lot bigger… Let me tell you guys I wore Crocs all summer in 2019," she explained.
"I was originally size five, I wore Crocs all summer in 2019 for three months straight when I was in America. I came home and none of my shoes fit me, I went from a size five to a size six. So just putting that out there. I don't wear Crocs that often anymore, in fact barely ever, and I've stayed a size six. So use that information for whatever purpose you want."
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People were quick to comment on her post. "Crocs give your feet the space they need to form in their natural state again. Most shoes we wear make our toes squish together," one person noted. A second echoed: "They don't make your feet bigger, normal shoes actually restrict your feet whereas whilst wearing Crocs your feet are relaxed."
A third shared: "This makes so much sense. I grew up in Crocs and now have massive feet!!" And a fourth joked: "Crocs healing ur feet and y'all complaining!" The Mirror has reached out to the company for comment.
But what do the experts think? "Unfortunately Crocs are not suitable for all-day use," Dr. Megan Leahy, a Chicago-based podiatrist with the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, told HuffPost. While she granted that they "offer nice arch support," she added that the real reason you shouldn't wear them over long periods of time is that "these shoes do not adequately secure the heel".
"When the heel is unstable, toes tend to grip which can lead to tendinitis, worsening of toe deformities, nail problems, corns and calluses. The same thing can happen with flip flops or any backless shoes as the heel is not secured."
It comes after Crocs released a brand new style of shoe in celebration of 'Croctober' - the Classic Cowboy Boot. The company fulfilled its fans' wishes to combine country music style with comfort - but not everybody is onboard with the unique style choice.
A spokesperson said: "This starts today, with the reveal of one of the most widely requested Crocs shoe designs in brand history – the Crocs Classic Cowboy Boot! For years, the buzz around a Crocs-inspired cowboy boot has been building, creating a genuine fan-fueled movement trending across social media.
"The boot is embellished with unique metallic Jibbitz charms and a first-of-its-kind spin-able spur charm attached to the backstrap of the shoe," the spokesperson added. "On the rivet detail, the iconic black and white Crocs logo of Duke, the brand's beloved crocodile mascot, has gone country, sporting his very own cowboy hat."