First, let me offer the following personal research before I rave about the cros cayman/classic. In my opinion Amazon.com is the best place to shop and to read reviews prior to purchasing, particularly when looking for the 'cons' in a particular product. I have found that my negative feedback about a particular style croc did not get published on the croc website, and I think that is grossly unfair to the consumer. That implies to me that they are more interested in selling their product than listening to consumer complaints and thus modifying or correcting/improving their product. What you may or may not know is that crocs are manufactured in several different countries including Italy, Mexico, Canada, and here in the US, and that sizes and material used between styles vary greatly.I have done a great deal of research about children's footwear, and unanimously pediatricians say "barefoot is best" because the bones in children's feet are soft and growing until they are 13, if I remember correctly. However,footwear is necessary to protect feet from the elements or from injury. When shopping for crocs or any other shoe for our granddaughter, the very first thing I do is to pick up the shoe and try to flex the sole. If it is 'stiff as a board' it will impact the way your child walks. I have personally tested this with our granddaughter, and this is what I found: With a soft, flexible sole she can walk normally in a striding motion, exercising the foot and leg, which is critical to muscle development in the foot and leg. With a hard, inflexible sole, she didn't walk normally--rather she picked up her feet and set them down in a 'clomping' gait. Not good. You won't go wrong with the crocs Cayman/Classic, imo. I purchased these crocs classics in pearl white for our 2 year old granddaughter, and she has worn these for everyday almost exclusively this summer--they are that good. What I love about the Crocs Cayman Classic is the soft, flexible material used, thus making it a soft, flexible shoe--particularly the sole--perfect for growing feet. Equally important are all the vents around the perimiter of the shoe, allowing adequate ventilation which is important in a shoe made of manmade materials. This shoe is easy to clean and still looks almost brand new. This particular croc 'runs large'. Our granddaughter wears an 8/9 in this style, but an 8/9 in a couple of the other styles was smaller. There are two other styles in crocs that you couldn't give me because of the material used, the inflexibility, and the lack of ventilation. I won't mention those here because I am critiquing the cayman classic. I contacted crocs to express my concern about the differences in material used and was told that the best solution was to visit a store that sells crocs and to personally examine them. That is my advice to you. If you aren't in proximity to anyone who sells crocs, I would order the crocs Cayman/Classic. I'm even ordering this style for winter wear. For any other croc style, I would order from a vendor who accepts returns.
UPDATE: JANUARY 31, 2013: Still buying these crocs, and our granddaughter is approaching the 12/13 size. I still give this croc rave reviews.
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I ordered two pairs of Crocs one pair of thongs and one pair of cayman crocs. I used the sizing chart provided and ordered both pairs in M5/W7. However, when they arrived, while the Thongs fit perfectly, with room to wiggle, the Caymans were way too small (I'd almost say a full size too small). The Thongs were "made in China" and the Caymans "made in Mexico". I went to my local store and discovered that they receive Croc orders which are often made in multiple countries. It would appear to me that there is no "standard" mold used. So beware just because you have tried them on in a store and think you have the correct size you may end up getting a larger or smaller size, depending on where they are manufactured.
Best Deals for Crocs Unisex Classic Clog
At first I didn't know what to make of this shoe/sandal... it's lightweight, comfortable and "convertible", which is a nice feature that I've never seen in a sandal before. First, I'll break down the benefits, then give the low-points.
"LIGHTWEIGHT & COMFORTABLE"
This is probably the most attractive feature of the CROC, because it adds to the comfort and makes you feel like you're walking on air. By far the most comfortable things I've ever worn and I'm a picky shoe person. I have only owned 1 pair of sandals for the past 6 years and have hated every other sandal I've tried on, so these CROCS are definitely special.
"CONVERTIBLE"
You can turn the "sandal" into a "shoe" simply by pushing forward the strap. In "shoe" mode, it's a tighter more snug fit, so you don't have to worry about it coming off your feet. In "sandal" mode, it's easy to slip on and off (although it has a tendency to cling to the bottom of your feet), for that quick trip outside to take out the trash, or pick up your cell phone that you left in the car.
PROBLEM: "SWEATY FEET"
One problem I have with the CROC is that it doesn't ventilate very well. Sure, it's got holes. But the material is such that it traps heat so you're feet end up sweating in warm weather.
PROBLEM: "HOLES ALLOW DEBRIS IN"
Another problem is that the holes allow all sorts of debris into the sandal while you're walking, such as loose rocks, wood chips at the playground, sand and dirt (when you're not at the beach), and rain water (puddles in the parking lot). This means that you're feet get dirty rather quickly and can be uncomfortable at places where there is a lot of debris eg, playgrounds.
"SIZE & PRICE"
Sizing is a bit weird. I'd recommend going to a store first to try it on and see what size you are. It's hard to find a good selection at a store, so it's best just to dip in for sizing and then purchase the one you want on Amazon. Turned out to be the best thing for me, as I was able to score Army Green Caymans from Amazon, while searching at numerous stores I've only been able to find blue and black Caymans in sizes way too big. For $29.99 I think it's a bit pricey actually, but if you're picky about sandals like me, there's nothing you can do about it.
"STYLE"
One other thing you'll have to get used to is how aesthetically disgusting it is. Let's be frank: it's a damn ugly shoe and there's no way getting around it. It's not the prettiest thing to wear, but it's hands-down the most comfortable. Just be careful where you tread. Definitely not an all-terrain/purpose sandal. Good for beach and casual sidewalk/short trip walking.
"DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BEACH AND CAYMAN STYLES"
None. Except that the sizes for Beach version are "ranges" and are more roomy for your feet. Cayman sizes are exact and are more narrow. Try on before you buy as the versions are not the same.
Honest reviews on Crocs Unisex Classic Clog
I love these things. My daughter (who's in the medical field)turned me on to these. She, as do I, has a need for arch support because they're so high. She also knew my arches has been falling due to age (I'm in my late forties)and I need inserts in my work shoes. She's been wearing her pair since last fall (2006) and picked me up some of the Croc "glides?" in March.
I liked them so much I ordered these Caymans for myself. Amazing support for "difficult" feet. I wear them whenever I'm not in my work shoes. I may look somewhat foolish (they're marketed at a much lower age bracket than myself), but I'm comfortable so I don't care.
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I bought navy blue size 8 in mens because they didn't have size 10 navy blue womans and they fit perfect. The nice colors are hard to come by especially this time of year. Amazon was handy for that because they do the looking for you. I would definately buy these shoes if your looking for comfort and easy on and off shoes, they're great on uneven terrain. As far as looks, they grown on you!
