Are Crocs Safe - in Wet Cold Weather?

My cousin is a physical therapist and says no one should wear crocs, ever! Same thing with my MIL's physical therapist who did therapy on my MIL for a ruptured achilles tendon. She made my MIL promise she would throw out her crocs. From what I have heard, the support is not there, and they slip and slid around. I second the merrel, slip on moccasin type shoes.

My husband, 4 year old son, and myself have Crocs and wear them often (my husband most of all) and we havent found them to be slippery on the outside (if his foot gets wet the inside can get a little slippery but you said you were getting the lined one so you should be good). They are easy and fun. You might try looking for a knock off pair (target, walmart) to save some of the cost since his feet will only get bigger.

What's wrong with velcro shoes? Those are the greatest!! We call them "easy shoes" in my house. My sons have worn them since they were young and have no problem slipping them on and off. (they are 8 and 5 now) My 8 year old has no issues tying his shoes now and I am sure that when my 5 year old wants to learn it wont be an issue either. But for now...easy shoes it is!

I think it's probably fine and personally, I'd opt for crocs over flip flops, it is winter! I just bought a pair for both my kids b/c we go at least once a week to the indoor pool during the winter and I was tired of schlepping a pair of flip flops for the shower and then a pair of regular shoes, so now they just wear the crocs in the shower and then I dry them off and put their socks on too! It's great...so I think it'd be fine for your situation too.

If ONLY using it for Karate... then that is fine.
Just don't let him wear it on escalators.
My son, ON an escalator, had an accident with Crocs. It got stuck into the 'teeth' of the escalator as he was about to exit the escalator.
But he wore it elsewhere. And it was fine.

I think any shoe... can have the potential to be 'slippery' in rain/snow.wet weather.

My daughter takes Karate... and all the kids just wear flip-flops.
THEN, you can keep another type of shoe... IN your car... for after wards... for when/if you go someplace else, after Karate.
But for just going to Karate.... even flip-flops are enough.
They don't wear shoes anyway, in Karate class.

all the best,
Susan

My son wears his in every kind of weather! He's been wearing Crocs constantly for 2 years now (he does wear other shoes, but Crocs are his favorites). His little brother loves them too. Neither of them have ever fallen or gotten hurt because of the Crocs. My oldest had a lined pair last year, but the lining was SO nasty! He regularly wears his Croc sandals with socks now. It was 27 degrees this morning and I suggested his hiking boots to him, but he wanted socks and Crocs! He swears his feet weren't cold, so if he's happy -I'm happy. I just make him wear socks in the fall and winter with them.

If you want something different, Merrell, Land's End and Bass sell slip on shoes for kids (usually called "mocs" or all-weather moccasins):

http://www.landsend.com/pp/WeatherMoccasin~210257_1055.ht...

Try a pair of Merrells. They have great suede slip on shoes with shearling lining. I found a pair in Marshalls on sale. I'm sure you can find them online, too.