At first I thought that all Croc-style shoes were hideous. They reminded me of the thick, brown “earth shoes” so popular in the 1970s. Extremely comfortable, but fashionably questionable.
In the summer of 2006, more and more of my friends showed up with both Crocs and Airwalks (the less expensive “generic” version of the Croc). These shoes came in bright yellow, bright green, and bright tie-dye. Now, I have no problem with bright shoes, but they are just not my style. Every person I spoke with raved about these shoes, and how comfortable they were.
Over the winter, I happened into a Payless Shoe store at a local mall with a Gift Certificate in my hand. Lo and behold, there was a display of Airwalks in subtle brown, blue and black varieties. Still not convinced that these Croc-style shoes were for me, I decided to try a pair on just for the heck of it.
Wow. They were the most comfortable shoes I have ever put onto my feet. It really felt like I was walking on air. I was instantly won over by their comfort. (The color was acceptable to me, but the “earth-shoe” style still turned me off a bit.)
I decided to do a little research into the difference between the Croc and the Airwalk.
Crocs have been around for a few years, but the company’s sales really took off beginning in 2003, when the Croc phenomenon began. Originally designed as an outdoor or boating shoe, the Croc was created to be slip resistant.
Since that time, the Croc product line has blossomed exponentially. You can now buy Crocs designed for specific medical conditions (diabetics, those with bunion pain, and those with impaired circulation). You can buy Disney crocs, and styles from Cayman, Metro to all terrain. Crocs has a wide variety of styles, colors, and designs.
Crocs are six ounces, with vented holes to allow for air circulation. The soles are non-marking and slip resilient. These shoes are resistant to bacteria and odor, and can easily be disinfected with a little bleach water. The regular, plain old Croc will run about $30. For specialized Crocs, you’ll pay a few dollars more.
Airwalk shoes can be found at discounted shoe stores such as Payless. The Airwalk company has been around since the mid-1980s, and makes surfing and skateboarding footwear. Payless carries basically the Airwalk “clog”, or the basic form of a Croc-like shoe. Coming in at $15 or $20, the Airwalk price is significantly less than the Croc price.
Some people are die-hard name brand buyers. They buy Crocs just because they have the Crocs label on them. I honestly don’t care what label is on my shoe, just as long as the “no-name” shoe I’m buying will work just as well as the name brand.
I’ve found that the Airwalks work just as well for me as a Croc. I have to admit that the Crocs are a little softer. They are flexible and bend quite easily. The Airwalk construction seems to be a little stiffer, and doesn’t bend quite as effortlessly.
You won’t get the variety with Airwalk as you do with the Croc line. Payless offers a few variations to its general clog theme, such as Mary Jane and Compel styles. I was disappointed that the more traditional Airwalk colors that I like (brown/black/blue) are $5 more expensive than the tie-dye and brightly colored shoes. I suppose that Payless knows their market, and know that people like me would be willing to pay a bit more for a traditional color.
I’ve been wearing my Airwalks for more than six months now, and love them. Even in the dead of a Midwestern winter, my Airwalks are more than comfortably warm with a pair of socks. Then clean up fast and easily with just soap and water. I’ve even purchased a number of “jibbitz” to stick on the holes on the top of my Airwalks.
I was suspicious that the Airwalks would last long, especially over the winter. They have, however, withstood the test of time.
The Croc brands still call to me, though, especially the wider variety of styles. Perhaps the next time I walk past a display, I’ll try another pair on, just for fun. Another $15 or $20 doesn’t seem like too much of a price to pay for a shoe that will last, and comes in a style I like.
