London - They have long divided opinion between those who love their comfort and others who cringe at their ugliness.
But now experts have warned that Crocs may not even be good for your feet.
Doctors say the rubber shoes should not be worn for extended periods, because they do not provide enough support and can cause pain and even deformity.
Podiatrist Dr Megan Leahy, of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, told the Huffington Post: “Crocs are not suitable for all-day use. These shoes do not adequately secure the heel. When the heel is unstable, toes tend to grip which can lead to tendinitis, worsening of toe deformities, nail problems, corns and calluses. The same thing can happen with flip-flops or any backless shoes as the heel is not secured.”
Dr Alex Kor, the president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, told the site that they are the primary cause of arch or heel pain in his croc-wearing patients, who come in with these complaints on a daily basis.
Certain people may benefit from wearing them, such as those who have a very high arch or suffer from excessive edema of their legs and ankle, says Kor.
In summation, Crocs are suitable for short intervals but should not be worn for long walks and “under no circumstances should they be worn for 8-10 hours a day.”
The news will come as a shock to the Croc-believers.
One Amazon reviewer unwittingly commented: “I have so many problems with my feet, Crocs are like walking barefoot on a soft cushion. I love them.”
But a more clued-up buyer wrote: “I use these for slippers in our Florida home. Walking the tile floors barefoot was killing my feet. These were recommended to me by my orotho doctor since I have a very high instep. Very, very comfortable and ugly as hell. I still think it should be illegal to wear them in public.”
Medical misdemeanors aside, they have sold more than 300 million pairs in 90 countries.
Daily Mail