Crocs Crocband Flip Review

Our testers loved this flip flop for the same reasons they love the original Croc. It's big and bulky, and comfortable and easy to wear. Like an old favorite pair of sweatpants, you're always psyched to put them on but hesitant to wear them in public.

Performance Comparison

With high scores in comfort and durability, but relatively low scores in style and traction, the Crocband averaged out for a middle of the road score when stacked up against its more traditional competitors.

Comfort

The Crocband flops have a simple fit with the only real noteworthy aspect being that they are wide, and thus accommodate a wider foot well. The footbed is stiff and has middle of the road arch support, which we did not find to be a problem - even with high arches. The massage pods on the footbed feel good under foot and the sole is thick enough that we couldn't feel sharp rocks while walking on rocky trails. The one issue we really noticed with the comfort of these flip flops is that the thong is made of the same TPU material as the strap and can feel stiff and almost painful between the toes. It might be that this piece breaks in over the years; with a test period of three months, we can't be sure. If you're in the market for a more traditional flip flop with a cloth thong that won't break the bank, perhaps you'll want to take a look at the Reef Phantom.

Versatility

The Crocband can go anywhere, but then again, you can take any flip flop anywhere; the question is, how well it the model going to do in different environments? We found this flop excelled most as a house slipper and around town sandal. Easy to slip on and off, comfortable, and durable, they performed well for daily chores, duties around the home, and walks to the lake. The Croc material does well in the water and is quick to dry, making the Crocband lightweight and relatively low profile. Thus, this contender is also a decent choice for a pair of travel flops. The only place we felt that other models far surpassed these were in the mountains while approaching the crag or walking off rock climbs. If its important to you to have a flop that'll do those things well, we recommend that you check our our award winners.

Durability

The Crocband scored well in the durability category with very few signs of wear and tear showing - even after several months of heavy use. The only place we noticed wear was on the tread of the sole, which can be expected on any sandal without a rubber compound tread. This contender should last for years, as evidenced by the number of people wearing the more traditional Croc for the better part of a decade - before replacing them. Although the pair we tested were blue, we've heard that the models with the white racing stripe have issues with that stripe falling off; while this is purely cosmetic, we found it worth mentioning. The Crocband earned an above average score of 7 out of 10 in this metric, and there was a couple in our fleet that scored better, such as the Chaco Flip Ecotread, OluKai Ohana, OluKai Hiapo, and Teva Pajaro.

Style

These flops did not score super high in the style metric, though it could be said that this is subjective. Think "flip flop version of a Croc, " and you'll know what we mean. Broad and bulky, with a thong that really stands up and out, these Crocs scream "urban dad" more than "hip surfer or mountain person". However, here at OutdoorGearLab, we try not to judge style too critically; we also will admit that we enjoyed wearing these flops around town - just keep your head high and go forth with confidence. In all seriousness, the Crocband does come in a multitude of colors and styles, sometimes with fancy racing stripes that help win its minimal style points. That being said, we did test a lot of stylish flops, such as the OluKai Hiapo, which takes the cake for being the most stylish.

Traction

With a sole made from the same trademarked Croslite foam, the Crocband just couldn't do better than earning a modest score. The tread pattern on the sole is aggressive enough to handle loose dirt trails, but the foam material itself is notoriously slippery on rocks of any type. We tested several pairs of flops with much better traction, including the Chaco Flip Ecotread, the OluKai Ohana and the Teva Pajaro, among others.

Best Applications

We used the Crocband for a wide variety of activities but found that its performance around the house as a slipper, for gardening and house chores, for grocery runs and walks to the lake for a swim, was where it truly excelled. If you have a wide foot, it might be an ideal choice for you. If you are a dedicated Croc supporter and you're looking for the same comfort and style in a flip flop, you've found your match. If you want a more traditional flop that'll perform better for the activities of an adventurous lifestyle, you might seriously consider upping the ante and buying a pair of Chaco Flip EcoTread flops, they'll get the job done anywhere and will last a decade.

Value

These beauties retail for $30, but a quick Amazon search reveals pairs that go for far less - though we can't be sure for how long. Like their original Croc companion, we expect these flops to last for years, making the bang for your buck ratio quite high.

Conclusion

The Croc Crocband is a great flop with a simple design. No frills and nothing fancy, these flops are easy to slip on and even easier to wear. They're comfortable and won't let you down in all but the most extreme circumstances. We were impressed with how they did when they were soaked, and they seemed to ward off the dreaded flip flop slime. This model by Croc is indeed unique; in fact, none of the other flops we tested are comparable, though the Chaco Flip comes to mind as a good alternative that comes complete with a more traditional look.