What’s up Crocs family? In today’s article, I’m going to show you how to stretch Crocs right at home.
But why would you want to stretch your Crocs when you’ve bought the right size for you?
You may want to stretch your brand-new Crocs if they fit a half size smaller and you don’t want to return the shoes.
Also, Crocs are made of this material that tends to shrink when the shoes are:
- Exposed to high heat in a hot car.
- Left on the beach or in the porch under the sun.
- Washed in the dishwasher.
Right after that, we’re going to discuss what makes Crocs really comfortable and touch a little bit on how everything started with Crocs.
Then, we’re going to wrap things up with the most asked questions about Crocs.
Without further ado, this is how you can stretch your Crocs…
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How To Stretch Crocs
If you’ve ever found your Crocs a bit snug and wanted to make them bigger for a more comfortable fit, the first hack you need to try when trying to loosen your Crocs a bit is to dip them in hot water.
1. Stretch Crocs with boiling water
All you need are a pair of socks and a pot capable of handling boiling water. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you stretch your Crocs to perfection:
- Step 1: Remove the Jibbitz
Start by popping out the Jibbitz from your Crocs. This ensures they won’t get damaged or melted during the stretching process.
- Step 2: Boil Water
Boil a pot of water. Ensure your pot is suitable for handling boiling water without any issues.
- Step 3: Dip Your Crocs in hot water
Place your Crocs inside the pot and carefully pour the hot water over them, fully submerging them in the hot water.
- Step 4: Flip and Press
Flip your Crocs and press them down into the hot water using a utensil. Ensure both shoes are fully immersed.
- Step 5: Repeat the Process
Repeat the process of pouring hot water and flipping until your Crocs become noticeably more flexible. This step is crucial for achieving the desired level of stretching.
- Step 6: Sock Up and Slide In
Put on a pair of socks and slide your feet into the warm Crocs. Stand in them to allow the shoes to mold to the shape of your feet. The warmth will aid in the stretching process.
- Step 7: Walk It Out
Keep walking in your Crocs until they cool down. This allows the material to set in its newly stretched form. If you still find them too tight, don’t worry—simply repeat the process until you achieve the perfect size.
By following these easy steps, you can customize the fit of your Crocs to suit your comfort preferences. Enjoy your newly stretched and perfectly fitting Crocs!
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2. Stretch Crocs with a hair dryer or a heat gun
If you’re looking for a targeted approach to stretch specific areas of your Crocs, the hair dryer technique is a game-changer.
Here’s what you’ll need: a pair of socks and either a hair dryer or a paint-stripping heat gun (but handle with extreme caution due to its higher temperature).
- Step 1: Set Temperatures
Set your hair dryer to its highest setting or, if you’re using a heat gun, start it at the lowest setting. Again, be particularly cautious with the heat gun due to its higher temperature.
- Step 2: Wave and Warm
Begin waving the hair dryer or heat gun around the Crocs, ensuring continuous movement to evenly raise the temperature of the Croslite material. This method allows you to focus on specific areas that need stretching.
Step 3: Test the Flexibility
Once the Crocs feel sufficiently loose, it’s time to put on some socks. Slide your foot into the Croc as far as it will go, taking advantage of the enhanced flexibility in the material. Repeat the process until your foot comfortably fits inside the shoe.
- Step 4: Precision Stretching
The beauty of the hair dryer technique lies in its precision. If you have specific areas, like bunions, that need extra room, focus the heat on that particular section. Slide your foot in gradually until you achieve the desired space for your comfort.
Is your Kids’ Crocs strap a bit short?
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3. How to stretch Kids’ Crocs strap
When your kids’ growth spurts outpace their beloved Crocs, leaving behind the telltale marks of an outgrown back strap, it’s time to stretch those shoes for a comfortable fit that lasts the entire season.
Kids adore Crocs, but the clog-style design can pose challenges without proper ankle support. Fear not, as this simple hair dryer technique can make all the difference.
- Step 1: Assess the Fit
If the back strap is leaving marks on your child’s ankles, it’s time for a stretch. Gather your trusty hair dryer for this kid-friendly Croc customization.
- Step 2: Aim and Heat
Position the strap at the back of the shoe and aim your hair dryer directly at it. The heat will work its magic, making the material more pliable and ready for stretching. Be patient and ensure even heating for consistent results.
- Step 3: Stretch and Cool
As you heat the strap, gently stretch it to accommodate the needed length. Once you’re satisfied with the stretch, leave the Crocs to cool. You’ll be amazed at how significantly longer they become, ensuring a comfortable fit for your child’s growing feet.
With this simple technique, your kids’ Crocs will fit far better, offering the support they need for an entire season of play.
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Why Crocs are comfortable
The Croslite material Crocs are made out of is a proprietary closed-cell resin with very unique properties.
- It’s very good at leveling the loads across the bottom of the foot.
- It’s very good at absorbing shock.
Some Crocs styles are even certified by the U.S. Ergonomics Council and the American Pediatric Medical Association meaning the certified shoes effectively spread the load out as the person stands and walks.
Croslite has the ability to take the high-pressure points away from your foot and spread them out over a broader area.
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Open Cell vs Closed Cell Foam
Another thing that makes the Croslite material unique is its ability to perform both as an open cell and a closed-cell foam.
A typical open-cell foam is very lightweight, very soft, very flexible, and comfortable to the feel.
The problem with it is it compresses very easily and it absorbs water.
So, when you put this material in a shoe, it very quickly gets wet, has a tendency to grow bacteria, and isn’t the ideal material to have in contact with your foot.
When you go to a closed-cell foam, the benefit is that you get a material that’s much more durable and solid and doesn’t absorb water. The problem is it’s not as comfortable to the feel and it doesn’t compress.
Neither of these are ideal in and of themselves for footwear.
So, typically, when people make footwear, they combine both a closed-cell and an open-cell foam.
The problem with that is you still have an open-cell foam against your foot which then absorbs water and grows bacteria.
The magic of Croslite material is that it has the characteristic of an open-cell foam in that it is compressing and soft and light but also has the durability and the hygienic aspect of not absorbing water like a closed-cell foam.
Every time your heel hits the ground, you have the shock that goes up through your skeletal system.
That’s why walking and standing causes your back to hurt, your head to hurt, and your knees to hurt because you have the shock going up through your system.
The Croslite material is really what makes Crocs shoes unique.
So, when we talk about Croslite, we’re talking really about the science that goes into all of their shoes.
How Crocs Started
They took over the shoe industry and now Crocs have become super popular, especially after the lockdown.
While they have recent partnerships with Justin Bieber and Post Malone as well as many high fashion collaborations, there was a time when this all seemed impossible.
But the brilliant story of Crocs shows how they defied all the odds.
Two Boulder, Colorado entrepreneurs named George Boedecker and Scott Seamans shared a love for sailing, which led them to discover a new boating clog.
The clog used a unique resin for the shoe meaning they were lighter than other rubber shoes and molded to your foot for a perfect fit.
The friends began discussing improvements and shortly after, they launched Crocs with Lynden Hanson.
Originally made with boating in mind, Crocs ignored all design trends instead, focusing on doing its job.
Soon, Crocs became an essential part of the uniform for nurses, chefs, and many others.
The mainstream took hold of the versatile Crocs shoe and never looked back.
Crocs – FAQs
How do you reverse the shrinkage of Crocs?
If your Crocs have shrunken under the sun or they fit you a half size smaller, you can actually stretch them to where you can wear them comfortably again.
Put your Crocs inside a pot full of boiling water and let them get loose. Put some socks on, slide your feet inside the shoe, and walk in them until they get cool. This is how you can shrink them really easily.
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Why do Crocs shrink?
Crocs are made of a Croslite material that tends to shrink when the shoes are exposed to high heat in a hot car, left on the beach under the sun, or when washed in the dishwasher.
If your Crocs are exposed to high heat, they’ll shrink, they’ll get too small, and you’ll have to unshrink them again to get them to fit your feet.
Do Crocs shrink in the sun?
Absolutely. If left under the sun, Crocs shoes definitely shrink to where they get unwearable.
Can Crocs be stretched?
Absolutely. It’s easy to stretch your Crocs. You can use the boiling water method or the hair dryer method to get your shoes loose and conform to your foot.
Do Crocs mold to your feet?
Yes, they do. The Croslite material tends to mold to the contours of your foot, which makes the shoes even more comfortable to wear.
Can I wash my Crocs in the washing machine?
You can wash your Crocs in the washing machine, but the problem is when exposed to heat, your Crocs will definitely shrink and so you’ll have to unshrink them again.
Should Crocs be too big or too small?
Crocs should not fit too big or too small. Most Crocs shoes fit true to size. They should fit snug enough to where they stay secure on your feet and roomy enough to where they let your feet breathe inside the shoe.
Should Crocs be worn with socks?
You should be fine wearing your Crocs with or without socks. But because the Croslite material tends to grab on the foot a little bit, some people prefer to wear Crocs with socks.
Are Crocs supposed to be tight?
No shoe is supposed to fit tight. If you get the right size, the strap, the sides, the arch, and the toe box of your Crocs should conform to your feet comfortably. They should not be too tight and your feet shouldn’t swim inside the shoe.
All in all, your Crocs will shrink if you leave them in the car in the hot sum or if you leave them in the porch and the sun beats down on them due to the Croslite material they’re made from.
I hope you’ve learned how to stretch Crocs the easy way. If you have a better technique, please let us know down below.
As always, stay safe and see you in the next one 🙂
