Crocs vs. Natives: My Children Put the Beloved Kids’ Shoes to the Test

When looking for the best kids’ shoes or the best toddler shoes, you’re essentially looking for a unicorn—something both you and your children find appealing, something you can keep clean, something that’s available at one of the best kids’ online clothing stores and something they won’t grow out of in 30 days or less. (Don’t remind me about the $70 high tops I bought my son that—because he couldn’t tie them—he wore twice before they went in the donate bin.) It’s no wonder then, that once the dust has settled, two shoe brands emerge that can speak to the above: Crocs and Natives. Though neither shoe provides the support or warmth you need for cold weather or serious physical activity, both are true waterproof workhorses for the everyday active kid. I had my children (ages 7 and 9) test them out. Here are our findings.

Crocs have been around longer (since 2002) and were initially embraced as a utilitarian shoe for nurses, restaurant staff and other folks who have to be on their feet all day. (It’s all about that squishy support: more on that later.) It’s only been in the past decade or so that they’ve been embraced by kids as a mainstay of childhood dressing. Native, meanwhile, was founded in 2009, with the goal of making a casual fashion shoe lighter and more weather-proof. Though both brands have multiple kids and toddler offerings, I considered their most popular styles: the Crocs Classic Clog and the Native Jefferson.

Over the years, my kids have owned multiple pairs of Natives and Crocs, so I had more than half a decade of experience to draw on. Currently, both children own Jeffersons and I also borrowed a friend’s son’s Crocs for a weekend so my daughter could try them out.

I tested each pair for the following criteria: comfort, versatility (could they be worn to multiple events and activities?), cleanability, style and ease-of-use—by which I mean how painless it was for my kids to get them on and off. I also considered how the shoes held up over time and if they could become hand-me-downs down the road.

Both brands offer shoes for baby-hood to tween-dome, and both have split their sizes into “child” and “junior” categories. Crocs start smaller than Natives—at a size C1 for kids under 1 year—while Natives begin at C4. Child sizing for both goes up to C13 (C13.5 for Natives), at which point kids transition to J sizing. (Native offers half-sizing, while Crocs does not.) In regards to fit—as I said, Crocs are generally wider, and I’ve found Natives to fit true to size while Crocs run just a hair large.

First of all, it’s Jibbitz™ to you. And secondly: sorta. Jibbitz are intended to be a Crocs product, and the holes on Natives are notably smaller and not made for bedazzling. That said, if you really jam one in, it’ll probably work.

As with most clothing and footwear for the under-10 set, it depends on how your child uses them, and how hard they are on their shoes. I’ve found both Crocs and Natives to offer about two summers of constant use, after which they’re pretty scuzzy and discolored. Because they have a thicker bottom, you might get a bit more time out of Crocs, but at the two-year mark, it’s doubtful you’d want them much longer.

Ultimately, both shoes are waterproof, comfortable and great for both toddlers and bigger kids as an alternative to sneakers. I prefer Natives, mostly because I’m a snob, and I think they look less dorky, but also because I think they’re better for all the sporty activities my kids enjoy. With either shoe, you’ll get a reliable, wearable option that your kid can play in and you can keep looking (relatively) clean. And as a mom, is there really anything more you can ask for?