Because Classic Crocs are so comfortable and easy to wear, many people like to work in them. But what about the safety aspect? Are Classic Crocs slip resistant?
No, Classic Crocs are not slip resistant. Although I personally have found them to provide adequate traction for casualwear, they are not made with a certified slip-resistant outsole. If you need a slip-resistant work shoe, you will need to choose a different type of Crocs.
The good news is Crocs does make several types of non-slip clogs that can be used on the job. Here is a list of non-slip Crocs:
- Crocs Bistro – Open heel and closed toe with no holes. Slip resistant outsole. (click here to view)
- Crocs Bistro Pro – Same as above, but with adjustable strap and softer insoles. (click here to view)
- Crocs On-the-Clock – Enclosed heel and toe, no strap. Slip-resistant outsole. (click here to view)
- Crocs On-the-Clock LiteRide – Same as above, but with extra soft insoles. (click here to view)
- Crocs Neria Pro – Women’s slip-resistant enclosed toe, enclosed heel work clog. (click here to view)
- Crocs Neria Pro Literide – Same as above, but with extra soft insoles. (click here to view)
- Crocs Mercy Work – Women’s slip-resistant, taller heel, closed toe clog. (click here to view)
In this article, let’s take a closer look at why Classic Crocs are not slip-resistant, and discuss what types of Crocs clogs do use a slip-resistant outsole, and how the design differs.
Are Classic Crocs Slip Resistant?
No, Classic Crocs are not slip resistant. Although I personally have found them to provide adequate traction for casualwear, they are not made with a certified slip-resistant outsole.
If you need a non-slip work clog, you will need to choose a different type of Crocs.
Why aren’t Crocs Classics Slip-Resistant?
Crocs Classics aren’t considered slip-resistant because they do not have an outsole that has passed the certain safety testing requirements needed to receive a slip-resistant certification.
ASTM International testing is used to certify slip-resistant footwear. For example, ASTM F2913-11 is the designation number used for the “Standard Test Method for Measuring the Coefficient of Friction for Evaluation of Slip Performance of Footwear and Test Surfaces/Flooring Using a Whole Shoe Tester (source).”
You will see this ASTM designation number used in the product description of many types of slip-resistant footwear. There may also be other types of safety codes and certifications associated with safety footwear. You will need to speak with your employer to know exactly the type of certification your footwear needs.
Again, the Crocs Classics are not certified as slip-resistant and just have the traditional Crocs tread. They do not have the special slip-resistant outsole.
Here is the tread pattern on my Crocs Classics:
And here is the certified slip-resistant outsole that comes with my Crocs Bistro:
As you can see, the slip-resistant outsole on the Crocs Bistro covers the sole to the edges of the shoe. It has a specific design which helps channel water (and other liquids) out from underneath the shoe and keeps the liquids from trapping under the shoe and creating a slip risk.
Here is a close-up look at the slip-resistant pattern:
It is important to understand, that just because a shoe isn’t certified slip-resistant, that doesn’t mean it won’t make sense for everyday use. For example, I find the Crocs Classics to provide me with the adequate traction I need when I just wear them around town.
But to be certified as slip-resistant safety footwear, a shoe is tested to make sure it can hold up to certain workplace conditions, and the Crocs Classics are not certified as slip-resistant safety footwear.
Which Types of Crocs Are Slip Resistant?
As we discussed earlier in the article, there are several different types of non-slip Crocs. Here is a list of options:
- Crocs Bistro – Open heel and closed toe with no holes. Slip resistant outsole. (click here to view)
- Crocs Bistro Pro – Same as above, but with adjustable strap and softer insoles. (click here to view)
- Crocs On-the-Clock – Enclosed heel and toe, no strap. Slip-resistant outsole. (click here to view)
- Crocs On-the-Clock LiteRide – Same as above, but with extra soft insoles. (click here to view)
- Crocs Neria Pro – Women’s slip-resistant enclosed toe, enclosed heel work clog. (click here to view)
- Crocs Neria Pro Literide – Same as above, but with extra soft insoles. (click here to view)
- Crocs Mercy Work – Women’s slip-resistant, taller heel, closed toe clog. (click here to view)
The Classic Crocs are not slip-resistant, but many of these slip-resistant Crocs do share similarities to the Classic Crocs. Below, I want to discuss some of my favorite non-slip Crocs that I own.
Crocs Bistro
The Crocs Bistro is designed to be a work clog. That means it has specific design details which help it meet certain workplace standards. Yes, one of those design details is that it has a slip-resistant outsole:
The Crocs Bistro also has a closed-toe design (no vent holes), has extra metatarsal support compared to the Crocs Classics, and also has a taller heel cup. Here is the heel cup of my Crocs Bistro (right) compared to my Crocs Classics:
I did find the Crocs Bistro to fit a bit larger than the Crocs Classics. To read more, visit my article about the sizing of Crocs.
Crocs Bistro Pro
The Crocs Bistro Pro LiteRide is similar to the Crocs Bistro from above in that it has a closed-toe design (no vent holes) with a taller heel cup than the Crocs Classic, and extra metatarsal support. And, yes, it also has the slip-resistant outsole.
Here is the outsole on mine:
But the Bistro Pro differs from the Bistro because this Bistro Pro clog has an adjustable heel strap, which might be perfect for you if you prefer a more secure fit. And one other major difference is these Crocs Bistro Pro clogs have the extra soft LiteRide insole (Classic vs LiteRide).
Crocs On-the-Clock
The Crocs On-the-Clock clog takes the design up a notch with a completely closed-heel design. For some job, the open heel doesn’t meet certain safety standards, so Crocs has created this On-the-Clock clog as a closed-heel solution. The Neria clog also has a closed heel.
This Crocs On-the-Clock Clog does have a slip-resistant outsole. Here is mine:
One design detail I like about this clog is it has a removable insole that makes it easy to swap or clean the insole when needed. The drawback is these do weigh more than other types of Crocs.
Other Safety Features Besides Slip Resistant Outsole
There are other potential workplace standards that your employer may require your shoes to meet. These requirements can vary from job to job. Below we discuss some of the other design features that Crocs has implemented which help meet some of these workplace standards.
Closed Toe
Many workplaces require a closed-toe shoe, which offers protection against spills. This is often quite common in food service and certain production-floor jobs.
Crocs Classics is not a closed-toe shoe because it has numerous ventilation holes across the front of the shoe. But Crocs does offer a wide range of closed-toe options. To read more, visit my article about closed toe Crocs.
Closed Heel
Some employers require a fully closed heel. Obviously, Classic Crocs do not have a closed heel since they have the open, pivoting heel strap.
As we discussed earlier, Crocs offers the Crocs On-the-Clock clog and the Crocs Neria clog which are closed-heel clogs.
But some employers may allow a taller heel cup to suffice. This can vary by employer. The taller heel cups provide some support behind the heel, but still have that open-heel concept. The Classics Crocs do not have the taller heel cup (Crocs Bistro do).
Extra Metatarsal
Certain types of Crocs clogs will also have a thicker metatarsal area which can provide extra support against spills. This thicker metatarsal area is not crush proof, however, so don’t think of it like a safety guard.
The Classic Crocs do not have a thicker metatarsal area.
Safety Toe
Some jobs require a safety toe. A safety toe can either be steel toe or composite toe. These safety toes offer crush protection. Currently, Crocs does not offer a safety toe clog.
Adjustable Strap
The pivoting heel strap of the Crocs Classics makes it easy to slip your clogs on and off without hassle. But one drawback is the fit won’t be as secure as a lace up shoe.
If you need a secure fit, perhaps a Crocs clog that uses an adjustable strap will be a better option. For example, the Crocs Bistro Pro clogs come with both a slip-resistant outsole, and an adjustable heel strap (and a closed-toe design with taller heel cup).
Are Classic Crocs Good for Work?
Classic Crocs are comfortable, breathable, waterproof, and easy to slip on and off. This easy-to-wear comfort is what we all love about Crocs. But many of these features don’t play well on the job.
Crocs Classics are best used as casual footwear. If you need work shoes, choosing a Crocs clog designed to be used at work is your better option. To see options, visit our article about Crocs designed for the workplace.