We recently returned from five days in a prime tourist section of San Francisco during record warmth. We began noticing on Day 2 that we had not seen anyone wearing Crocs. By the time we left, we still had not seen anyone wearing Crocs. These are depressingly ubiquitous on the east coast; are they not popular in the west?

I live in a California beach town. I very very very rarely see anyone wearing crocs. I see far more people wearing Uggs.

People I know who live in the suburbs (Walnut Creek and environs and the South Bay) wear them and have their children wear them. Or I should say the suburban people I know were wearing them last spring. I may have seen children in them last year in the city. I don't know any adult in SF who wears them, including and especially me.

Not that there's anything wrong with them.

Hi Ackislander, I live in the southern end of the Sacramento Valley (n/e of SF) and I have never seen anyone here wear a pair of Crocs. As soon as the weather gets a tad bit warm it seems like flipflops are the footwear of choice.

I see Crocs here in Seattle. Maybe the people of San Francisco, simply have better taste?

they were big about a year ago... are they really that great? More comfortable and supportive than a good pair of trail running shoes?

I don't see them that often here in the South Bay area of L.A. County, either. I only see them occasionally on health care workers. I don't think they were ever "big" here, among kids or adults.

Hi Ivk...I own two pairs of Crocs. But I am a flip flop person during the summer! I don't see the tennis crowd wearing them at the beaches here in LA, but I know plenty of people who wear them. In my granddaughters pre-school class the kids and Moms wear them. You are more refined on the hill...lol

Ackislander, we were in SF last month, and I wore my Crocs on the plane with socks, easy to take off and throw in the bin at security, but I did not see them in Union Square.

Hi MBNancy!

I guess I shouldn't have generalized about the whole South Bay . It's funny, on a trip to Bethany Beach, Delaware last summer, they were everywhere. My friends' teen daughters had several pairs along with the accessories. My 13-year-old daughter and her friends seem to have no interest in them at all. DD is very "refined", preferring her $2 Rite-Aid flip-flops or her martial art shoes.

Sportychick:

Yes, they are that comfortable! Ugly, but very comfortable!!

They sure are popular in Denver, not surprising since they're headquartered nearby. I am so not into paying $30 for a pair of rubber clogs. They're very popular with the nurses at the hospital where I work - they look good with the different color scrubs!

Popular here in SW Colorado too. I bought a pair, they are comfortable with socks, but I find my feet sweet without socks.

I don't think I've seen more than 2 or 3 people (ever) wearing them in my inland Northern CA town. And I've never seen them in SF city.

Maybe this is a rare case of the East Coast being ahead of the West Coast? Here in Massachusetts, after seeing more & more folks wearing them, and hearing their praises sung, I finally bought a pair at the end of last summer (on sale), although I was dubious before trying them on. I was immediately hooked. For basic wear and short-range walking around, these are by far the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. Great support, ease of putting on and off, easy transition between quick slides or something with more heel security for walking. They are so lightweight and comfortable, with good ventilation for wearing barefoot, but can go into fairly cool weather with the addition of some socks (is that a fashion faux pas?)

My only complaint is that these are not really good walking shoes for any distance. After less than a mile of walking, the top rubbed against the upper part of my foot and irritated it. Wearing socks mitigated this somewhat. But they are perfect for wearing around the house, gardening in, and wherever you might get your feet wet (pool, boating, etc.).

I'm not sure why the OP considers their East Coast ubiquity "depressing" - there's a reason they are so popular!

I don't think this is a case of the east coast being ahead of the west coast. I have seen people wearing them out here for awhile - they just aren't that common. I think this is more of a case of different things catching on in different areas.

Sara, the OP thinks they are pretty hideous looking. But each to his/her own taste. Your mileage may vary.

I once saw a pair of shoes in a window display that I thought were sooo ugly, I HAD to try them on, for a hoot. Well, I am now the proud owner of those shoes, b/c while they were indeed ugly, they were also sooo comfy. They're not Crocs, but to each his own, I say.

My pet peeve is people who don't know where shoes like this belong--knocking out your daily errands, yes; anything more formal, no way.

I asked my 13yo daughter why she doesn't think they are popular here. Her typical teen exasperated response was "Mom, they are rubber clogs. With holes in them." (Insert "hello!" or "duh" look here.)

I can't say that I disagree with her.

I'm with you Ackislander.

I have a buddy who broke his ankle by tripping. The cause: CROCS! The doctor told him he's had several people with serious ankle injury and they all were wearing crocs.

I do not have any Crocs, but I just came back from a rugby tournament in Dubai and there was a stand selling Crocs + Croc jewelry (basically pins in various shapes that attach to the holes). They were QUITE popular with the under 13 set of kids....girls and guys!