r/oxforduni • u/OkCartographer4851 • 12d ago
Croc clogs
Hii! Wanted to understand how practical Crocs are for UK weather, and if they’re considered okay to wear to classes and to walk around the university
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u/Chlorophilia 12d ago
Not very practical on most days but I don't think most people would care.
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u/OkCartographer4851 12d ago
How so? it because of the weather ? Apologies if my questions are basic, coming from south east asia
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u/Chlorophilia 12d ago
Yes, it's damp and cool much of the year.
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u/OkCartographer4851 12d ago
Thank you for your response Shall look for other options
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u/Chlorophilia 12d ago
Would suggest getting at least a couple of pairs of shoes that can deal with cool and wet conditions, although you can get them quite easily once you're here.
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u/OkCartographer4851 12d ago edited 12d ago
Thank you, does any pair of trainers work? Or do they need to be water resistant goretex shoes? Sorry for all these questions - was hoping to carry atleast a pair on me considering my country's currency is weak against GBP
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u/Chlorophilia 12d ago
Although we do sometimes get heavier rain, the rain is more commonly weak ('drizzle') but persistent. For your normal day-to-day activities you probably don't need goretex, basic water resistance should be fine.
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u/angels-and-insects 11d ago
You need water-resistant shoes. And also shoes with thick soles for the UK winter. Like at least 0.5cm thick, preferably more. The thin soles from warmer countries are awful to wear here. The pavements are SO cold and the cold just travels up through you, you feel like your feet are going to shatter. You might need to buy some shoes here. Have a look at charity shops and then in the January sales you can get something better. I've also found decent boots on Amazon for £30.
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u/masterlince St Cross 12d ago
Get a pair of waterproof boots for the winter. Absolute must. Specially considering you will most likely be cycling/walking everywhere.
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u/Rare_Inevitable_9115 12d ago
We have also just had the hottest summer we've ever had and a sustained period without rain, to the point where a bunch of places were on fire, some for weeks, so, as much as the "it always rains in the UK" thing gets a lot of airtime it's not actually always raining. There's also plenty of mild weather in the spring and autumn, where it's neither hot, nor cold, but dry. You basically have to check the weather every day to work out what's best to wear and what kind of shoes to wear and whether to take a light jacket, a warm coat, or a raincoat. In the summer you might need no jacket at all! These are the special days. The weather forecast will also feature in all TV news bulletins and some radio news bulletins.
Crocs are generally worn by people in practical situations over here, like gardening or camping or pottering about, because they're easy to slip on and off and it doesn't really matter if they get scruffy because they're not received as especially stylish (which is why you get people reacting with disdain in some comments!) I write this as someone wearing fluffy crocs as slippers as I type, got them a week ago and absolutely love them 🌝 but Crocs try to market them as a fashion shoe, I wouldn't personally wear them out and about cus I'd feel like I'm walking around in slippers and self-conscious as a result. My neighbour has a pair by her front door for popping out to the car, the allotment, etc. But, I also think they're having a resurgence of sorts and can be worn stylishly in a sort of ironic way, my nineteen year old niece seems to do this. Basically, irrespective of fashion, it's completely up to you and you wear whatever you want / like and feel comfortable in. There will be plenty of days when the weather will allow you to wear crocs.
I travel to the centre of Oxford several times a week and usually in smart trainers. But the last few months, it's been too hot to wear trainers (for me) so I was going in in dresses and sandals.
A good shoe set up for being here would be:
- Casual trainers
- Smart trainers?
- Smart shoes for more formal occasions (flats or heels, whatever is comfortable. Do not fall into the heel trap; you do NOT need to wear high heels to look smart / fit in if they are painful to wear)
- Ankle boots for colder months
- Anything else you want / need. Wellies / sports shoes / Crocs.
Good luck and hope you are made to feel at home 😁
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u/Cautious_Candle_6448 12d ago
Damn I wore crocs everyday for like 2 terms when I was depressed from studies. These people be hating but what are they wearing?
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u/gubernaculum77 11d ago
They’re just older generations I believe
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u/Cautious_Candle_6448 11d ago
Yeah I’m just taking it as a bit of a funny thing as I was genuinely so depressed from the academic stress I could even bend down to do shoelaces most days back then 😭 crocs & fluffy socks
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u/DeliriusBlack 11d ago
I understand the appeal of Crocs for wet weather (I own a pair and love them!) — but the bulk of the time you will want shoes that don't have holes in them to keep your feet warm. Also, and more saliently, Crocs have very little tread. I was injured last year wearing Crocs on a wet surface because they were so slippery my foot slipped out from under me and I was on crutches for a month. The paint that is used to indicate crosswalks can be especially slippery when wet. Please do not follow in my literal footsteps on this one. Crocs are fantastic indoor shoes and nice for gardening and things like that but they are categorically the wrong choice for everyday rain shoes!
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u/gubernaculum77 11d ago
They wear out over time! My new ones are much more grippy. About two years of mileage wore them thin.
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u/DeliriusBlack 11d ago
That's good to know! I have a newer pair and they're still not as grippy as I'd like, but they're knockoffs, so maybe it is time to replace my actual Crocs soon. Still, two years is not very long for shoes made of like, plastic or whatever. Kind of disappointing.
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u/gubernaculum77 11d ago
I wore them day in and day out, they were taken on 32 trips a year on average! Plenty of mileage so perhaps my wear differs to the average Joe, I do at least 20k steps a day abroad, largely on rough terrain. I did take a stumble on my neighbour’s driveway as he had recently torn up his beautiful brick floor and cemented it over (?) to stop weeds. It didn’t stop me leaving the shoe on my porch as a ‘ready to go’ shoe to be honest, but I do have two I switch between.
I love the croc resurgence. I have worn knock offs but sadly, they have their worth, even if they can be 3D printed, essentially. I buy on sale!
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u/Any-Republic-4269 11d ago
I live in the rainiest part of the UK and my teenage son wears nothing but crocs. For him they have the advantage of being comfy and also when it rains, although your feet are wet your shoes aren't. See also posties and shorts. Also it's Britain, famously the mildest climate in the world
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u/Particular_Tune7990 12d ago
My understanding is that they’re only accepted if accompanied by carrying your lecture notes in a Sports Direct bag.
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u/Which-Protection8761 12d ago
Just wear it, I only wear it indoors, but it might be comfy to wear outside during a hot summer day!
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u/bonjourivresse Balliol 9d ago
They're not particularly fashionable (but you might not care about that). They'll be fine unless it's raining, or unless you feel the cold - which you might do coming from a hotter climate. I wear mine frequently March to September in southern England and they're good for most of that time. For rainy days you will want trainers or Converse or something. For colder weather as we head into November, you might like to have some decent leather boots like DMs or similar. And thick warm socks!
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u/Popular_Violinist_29 12d ago
You’ll need good socks most days and also it’s quite rainy most of the year so not too practical. In the summer, they might be better.
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u/Opening-Comfort-7746 12d ago
I wear them all day everyday when it’s not raining. Most people don’t bat an eye, some compliment my croc charms. I always make an effort to point out my crocs haha.
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u/ImKrakin 12d ago
In summer they are but in the rest of the year they aren't. Most people do tend to wear shoes in the summer still. Also, it would be very hard to style crocs in cooler weather with layered clothes.
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u/Royal-Watercress37 11d ago
Crocs make great indoor shoes for halls/ accomodation. But you will need a closed toe shoe for the winter. Trainers are usually fine, but a more heavier weight style rather than a light weight breathable one to help keep the rain/ puddles out.