Reviews > Footwear > Camp Shoes > Crocs Cayman Shoes > Owner Review by Russell Curry

OWNER REVIEW
CROCS CAYMAN FOOTWEAR
August 15, 2005

OWNER INFORMATION:

Name:                   Russell Curry
Age:                       58
Gender:                 Male
Height:                  6' 0" (1.83 m)
Weight:                 190 lbs (86 kg)
Email:                   mrqcace@yahoo.com
City, State,
Country:                Orange, Texas, USA
  

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND:

My hiking experiences began in the 1960's.  My experiences include hikes in Europe, the Mediterranean, Canada, Alaska, and most Eastern and Western states in a variety of terrain. I hike in all seasons, in temperatures as low as 5 F (-15 C) to as high as 110 F (43 C), in rain, shine and snow and from desert to forest to mountain.  My pack weights vary from 25 lbs (11 kg) to 8 lbs (4 kg).

PRODUCT INFORMATION:

Manufacturer:               CROCS
URL of Manufacturer:   www.crocs.com
Year of Manufacturer:   2004
Model:                           Cayman
Size:                               Men's 12 (46 1/2 Eur)
MSRP:                           $29.99 to $39.99 depending on size
Warranty:                       Manufacturer warrants this product for 180 days from receipt of product
Weight:                           Not listed on the maker's website 
Weight currently:            15 oz  (425 g)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Crocs are a clog type, lightweight, slip-on shoe that is waterproof, featuring a molded one piece foot bed and upper from flexible PCCR (Proprietary Closed Cell Resin) material. This material is not rubber or plastic. The shoes feature a strap that can be worn against the heel, or rotated over the instep for open-back wear. The Cayman model contains multiple holes for ventilation and for quickly expelling water.  The material used for the shoes is non-slip and non-marking.  The shoe was originally designed to be worn as a boating shoe, due to its anti-slip properties.  The material is bacteria and odor resistant, can be sterilized in water and bleach, and is easy to clean.  There are currently seven models of Crocs available, in several colors and styles.

Sizing - Croc shoes are designed to fit large.  For the Cayman model, they run a half-size large, so my size 12's are really a 12 1/2.  The design is to eliminate any hotspots.  The sizing information on the website indicates, "The sides of your foot should not really touch the sides of the shoes. Your toes should never make contact with the front of the shoe. In other words the fit should be loose".  Unlike other shoes with bindings, the strap on this shoe is purposely designed to not pull the foot into the front of the shoe.

  
Croc shoes have a slightly odd appearance, but feel good on my feet

Comfort - per the information on the manufacturer's website, "The shoes are designed with built in arch support, circulation nubs, and an orthotic heel cup to support and protect the heel.  In addition, Crocs are ventilated for cooling and filtering purposes, as well as slip and marking resistant"

FIELD INFORMATION:

I have used these shoes for every hike that I have been on since I purchased them.  I use them mostly for camp shoes at day's end, but I have used them to cross creeks while wearing my pack, also for hiking around streams and crossing boulders, logs, and under other wet conditions. I have also hiked in them in desert terrain, on mountain trails, at my local beach, on forest trails, and use them anytime I am working outdoors in the yard, cutting grass, lawn maintenance, etc.

FIELD EXPERIENCES:

Being a frequent hiker, I was always on the lookout for a waterproof, lightweight multi-purpose camp shoe, creek crosser, backup hiking shoe, outdoor gardening shoe, and all around comfortable shoe to wear that would work under all these conditions and more. Having tried shoes from my local discounter, high dollar Chacos, homemade flip-flops, beach shoes and more, I was at first skeptical about the Croc shoe, given its slightly odd appearance.  It had been well reviewed on retailer websites, so I sprang for the discounted price of $30.00 when on sale and decided to give them a try.  This turned out to be one of the best purchases I have ever made for footwear.

The shoes are incredibly comfortable. The foot bed is cushioned, but not too soft. The inside of the foot bed contains a pattern of very small ridges that grip the bottom of my feet.  In addition to this, it actually feels like I am getting a foot massage with every step. The foot box of the shoes are wider than other shoes that I have tried, but this works to let my feet breathe at the end of a long day backpacking. I prefer to wear them with the strap against my heel, but I can move the strap up and over my instep if I want to wear them open-backed.  The light weight of the shoes works with my ultra-light system of backpacking, and I can easily attach them to my pack. When backpacking, I generally average 16 to 20 miles, (26 to 32 km) per day.  At day's end, the shoes feel great on my feet and allow me to get a foot massage while walking around camp, or go to a nearby creek and soak. 

I found early on that the shoes run a half-size large. My size 12 (46 1/2 Eur) feet have a little extra room in the shoes, and on first putting these on, I was thinking I needed to send them back.  However, when I put my winter fleece socks on with the shoes, I get a good fit also. I decided that the 1/2 size larger was not a problem for me and decided to keep the shoes. The anti-slip properties of the material not only keep my feet from sliding around in the foot box, it works exceedingly well on slick rocks, boulders, boat decks, and other slippery surfaces.  The ultimate test for me wearing these shoes came on a hike to the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area of the OHT trail, when I crossed Hurricane Creek after it had been raining and the water was up to my knees, wearing my pack and these shoes. The anti-slip properties kept me upright on the slick rocks underfoot, and the shoes stayed secure to my feet.   I had a problem on one hike when the strap came loose from its pinning, while on a difficult trail. I was able to press it back on its pin, and have had no other failures of this type. I would like to see a more secure pinning system for the strap.

The manufacturer indicates to replace the shoes once the treads on the outsoles began to show a lot of wear. I have had these shoes almost 2 years, and while I can see some wear on the outsoles, they still do a good job of gripping any slick surface that I walk on.  I have had to clean them many times, usually just hosing them down, but after using them in the backcountry, I always use bleach water to clean the shoes. I cannot discern any damage to the shoes from using the bleach water.

 
First picture is the ribbed nodules on the interior of the shoe, second is the tread after two years of everyday use and many hikes

LIKES:

Very comfortable shoes
Easy to clean
Lightweight
Excellent anti-slip properties
Many colors and models to choose from

DISLIKES:

Pinning system that secures the strap to the body could be better designed and more secure. Manufacturer can ship a repair rivet or strap if needed


The strap came off once during a strenuous hike, but I was able to
repin the strap and continue using the strap against my heel. The little
molded pin that is used to secure the strap is the weak link on these shoes

SUMMARY:

I have found these shoes to excel as outdoor footwear. I use them mostly as camp shoes when hiking, and have also used them for hiking in wet and slippery conditions.  They have been very durable, and have held up to everyday use for almost two years now with very little signs of wear.        

Reviews > Footwear > Camp Shoes > Crocs Cayman Shoes > Owner Review by Russell Curry