Are Crocs Good for Flat Feet (The VERY Complicated Truth)?

Crocs, Flat Feet, and Me: Read My Story First

I’ll never forget making my first trip to the podiatrist as an adult. I was shocked.

“People with flat feet just shouldn’t run. It does more harm than good”.

The pain had gotten nearly unbearable by then.

I’d been trying to find a good exercise shoe for years. Nothing worked. I basically stopped hiking, walking, jogging, and even working out.

You have no idea how much it sucks to hear that from a doctor, especially being obsessed with soccer and lacrosse in school. When I was young, I just gritted it out - excruciating heel pain be damned.

But, like everything else when you get old, it just kinda started to hurt more.

OH, IT GETS BETTER…

I work on my feet at a local nursing home, sometimes 12 hours a day.

Anyways…

One day, someone suggested Crocs workwear for my flat feet. They said the extra arch support and soft cushioning were life changing.

I was skeptical…until I started working in my Bistro Clogs.

I was honestly floored. The difference was night and day. 0 aches and pains…aside from normal “old age feet” things.

Am I a track star again? No. Am I jogging with my dog for an hour in the Bay like an Apple Commercial? Also no.

But did Crocs help my flat feet? 100%, without a doubt, YES.

The Complicated Truth About Crocs And Flat Feet

Flat feet - also called fallen arches - are basically when you aren’t lucky enough to have a “normal arch” like others.

Instead of a standard arch, my feet are basically two cutting boards attached to my ankles. This causes extra stress on places it shouldn’t be, resulting in aches and pains that most folks don’t get.

OK, so how do Crocs help?

Crocs are amazing shoes for reducing aches and pains caused by standing on your feet all day at work. They are endorsed by major ergonomic associations and even podiatrists (foot doctors) too. Some foot doctors even sell the shoes directly in their offices.

As someone with flat feet, those aches and pains were like double or triple for me. It left me incapable of doing anything other than chilling on the couch when I got home.

So now, in year 5 PC (Post-Crocs) my feet don’t hurt after work, which now gives me WAY MORE RUNWAY for doing post-work activities.

So, while they didn’t “cure” my flat feet, they’ve made it easier to live a normal life with flat feet.

Make sense?

I definitely don’t work out or play sports in them, but now that I work in them, I’m able to do moderate exercise in “normal” workout shoes without screaming in agony. And trust me, you need to get the RIGHT PAIR. Classic Crocs probably won’t cut it. The heel isn’t snug enough.

Also, if you have a case of severe flat feet, you need to get off this article right now and go talk to a doctor. Stop messing around.

1) Arch Support

Crocs designs many of their shoes with extra arch support for people on their feet all day.

That’s actually why they’re so popular with waitresses, baristas, nurses, and other restaurant or hospitality staff.

If you’re on your feet all day, these “work Crocs” will help keep your foot in line and shield your arch from the blow. This greatly reduces aches and pains.

2) Shock Absorbing

Crocs are incredibly shock absorbant due to their Croslite material. Croslite is some futuristic Space Age material Crocs created to make their shoes as comfortable as all get out.

All this extra cushion shields your feet, ankles, knees, and back from the shock of walking on hard floors all day.

So, while you shouldn’t be jumping up and down or doing any strenuous exercise in Crocs, if you’re walking indoors for 6-8 hours shifts (sometimes more), they’re perfect for reducing pain.

3) Ample Toe Room

Typical workout shoes or professional shoes squish the toes. In these shoes, the toe area is almost “pointed” in a way. There’s just not much room at all in there.

This just adds to an already unbearable level of pain when you’ve got fallen arches.

Crocs are lightweight, breathable, and have plenty of room for the foot digits.

The Best Crocs for Flat Feet

Class Crocs Clogs are probably not the best if you’ve got flat feet, and I definitely don’t recommend any of their “work flats”. You need something with more support and shock absorption.

I recommend anything in the Crocs at Work line, particularly Bistro Clogs or On the Clock Crocs. I’ve also heard great things about Crocs Women's Neria Pro Embellished Clogs.

When looking for a shoe for flat feet, make sure you get:

As long as you don’t do anything too strenuous, you’ll notice a massive difference.

Verdict - Are Crocs Good for Flat Feet?

Yes, Crocs are good for flat feet as long as you get the right pair.

Crocs are not going to cure your flat feet. However, they will make working or walking all day with fallen arches a lot less painful. And when you don’t have that all-day work pain, it’s easier to exercise after (moderately) or AT LEAST enjoy being outdoors more.

Now that I don’t feel like I’ve been tortured all day at work, I feel like I’ve gotten my groove back a bit. I walk more. I hike more on weekends. I’ve even got back in the gym.

So, yes, Crocs are good for flat feet. Just don’t expect a total cure!

Q: What should people with flat feet avoid?

A: People with flat feet should avoid shoes with little to no arch support, no cushion in the heel, and no room for the toes. This includes shoes with flat soles, flip flops, most high heels, and sandals.

Q: Do Crocs have any arch support?

A: Yes, there are many types of Crocs with arch support, especially Crocs made for work like Bistro clogs. The Rx Relief Crocs used to be the best Crocs with arch support, but they’ve been discontinued.

Q: Do foot doctors recommend Crocs?

A: Yes, foot doctors or podiatrists recommend Crocs for certain professions like waitresses, baristas, and nurses, and even for people with plantar fasciitis.