Crocs are the ugliest footwear I’ve ever seen in my life. They’re an insult to good taste. I recently bought a pair.

Not real crocs though. Spending ~$28 on a pair of rubber sandals seemed excessive. They’re $6 Wal-mart discount bin knockoffs. But I think they’ll do the job. Turns out, Crocs are really good as a second pair of outdoor footwear (first pair being your boots). They work in a lot of conditions. What they have going for them is that they protect your toes, will let you get your feet wet but dry out almost instantaneously, and stay on your feet, like sandals. I hear real crocs are pretty comfortable too.

What would I use these for?

- Backpacking. Because of the nice thick sole, they make great camp shoes. Better than the flipflops I used to carry. The knockoffs weigh about 210 grams for the pair. Real crocs weigh about 350 grams, which was way too much weight for a second pair of footwear. (I backpack ultralight, and every gram matters). They’re a little bulky, but I can just strap them to the outside of my pack.

- Travel. They make good shower shoes for grungy hostels. I don’t really wear them much while walking around and exploring, I prefer boots, but these seem durable and they’d probably be good for casual walks.

- Portaging. On canoe expeditions. Don’t want to get your boots wet? Crocs won’t get swept off your feet by the current when you pull your canoe in, dry out quickly, and work reasonably well when walking. Little bits of dirt and rock will get in through the holes, but it’s manageable.