Birkenstocks or Crocs?

[ASC1951]

I can't decide whether those [Vibram Five Fingers] are creepy or hilarious.

Both - but very comfortable. I have flattish feet and distorted toes and thought I should try a pair to see if they made any difference - "Why bother now?" said the physio - and they certainly do. I'm still at the adjustment stage ie only running on grass in them and only for three or four miles. Only grouse is that they are a silly price and the nearest supplier is 40 miles away, so I have had to begin with a 'pre-loved' pair from Ebay.

Round the house and up to the shops - Crocs. But not the absurd £30-45 officials, when every shop sells versions which are functionally identical. Mine are £4.99 Lidl jobbies and have given three years of constant use. I don't know what polymer they use but it is dry and grippy in all conditions and I'm generally a Sweaty Betty in sandals: I can't wear flipflops even if I wanted to.

 

[Fnaar]

Trainers or (on the beach) 'shoes that you can go in the water with' (got them from Lidl for a holiday in Stony-Beach Land. Still have them 5 yrs later.
I'd probably wear flippety-floppeties, but I have ugly toes.

 

[iandg]

Did I say grandad sandals? Although made by Clarks, they look a bit like Aperitif's Timberland ones - Oh, I wouldn't be seen dead wearing socks and sandals - knotted hankie on the head and string vest maybe - but socks and sandals is a big NO NO

 

[Aperitif]

I can't decide whether those are creepy or hilarious.

@thom uses these. He's a bit of a bunter who doesn't get around much, can't cycle for toffee - 'all show and no go' sort of character - but he might have a view...

Morning, thom

 

[MontyVeda]

Personally I can't stand wearing sandals, but wear them if you must. Just don't do that British thing and wear them with socks!

don't be a sheep.... wear socks with those sandals if you want to

 

[Piemaster]

I can't decide whether those are creepy or hilarious.

How about 'odd conversation starter'? And stupidly comfy, which I can't see applying to some of the shoes being paraded down the catwalk.
Glad to see I'm not the only weirdo wearing VFF anyway, despite the stupid prices.

OT: Odd thought, why when at the seaside (thinking of Bridlington here) do you see people going 'ooh, aah, ouch' as they cross the bands of pebbles after a walk on the beach, then put their shoes back on as soon as they get to a nice smooth, clean pavement?

 

[Saluki]

TMI

Thongs are flip flops. I lived in Aus for a while (twice) and the term kind of stuck. Like 'brekky' and 'convo', 'arvo' and a whole host of other colonialisms that really wind my family up.

 

[thom]

@thom uses these. He's a bit of a bunter who doesn't get around much, can't cycle for toffee - 'all show and no go' sort of character - but he might have a view...

Morning, thom

Morning Tif ;-)
I wear Birks or flip-flops to wander around in, occasionally my vibrams which I normally run in but never to creep around in…

I did puncture my foot running in Vibrams once when I landed on the stub part of the bottom of a broken bottle, quite a messy thing requiring the good services of an A&E. But this didn't put me off buying a new pair, so you could say I quite like them.

 

[Aperitif]

See? Build it and they will come...
Afternoon, Thom.

 

[AndyRM]

Crocs are an abomination.

 

[Beebo]

my uncle turned up at my brothers wedding in a linen suit and crocs.
Just plain wrong.

 

[asterix]

Sandals are for the Romans.

 

[Sara_H]

I bought a pair of Croc Pro's in 2005 to wear at work and they are still going strong - they've now been retired to round the house/garden shoes as I gave up clinical nursing a year ago.
When I bought them I had a herniated disc and found they made the 13 hours on my feet at work much more comfortable

In summer I've got a couple of pairs of merrells that are never off my feet. Have some birkensocks but hardley wear them anymore. I also have a pair of ballerina crocs that I use for camping as they go nicely with summer dresses etc but are more practical on the campsite.

 

[the_mikey]

I can't deal with flip flops, they keep falling off or I keep tripping over and fail to walk comfortably, these problems go away with crocs, no irritating straps, no sore toes and I can walk properly.

 

[Aperitif]

I just had a terrible thought.
If one wears 'Crocs of Gold', you'll never end up walking where you said you were going...