A t its best, a summer shoe is simple, unobtrusive and relatively well-fitting. It’s hardy enough to withstand a bike ride or a walk downtown, and it looks good peeking out from under a pant leg. Rarely, however, does it resemble plastic Swiss cheese a month post-expiration, like the Crocs I recently sported against my will for a shoe review. Crocs seem to be the footwear of choice for moms, nurses and gardeners - in short, people whose lives are dedicated to the care and feeding of others and who spend all day on their feet.

They’re also acceptable, maybe even marginally cute, on children. When the shoes first entered the picture a while back, I figured that, like most hideous trends (gaucho pants!), they’d be on their way out within a few months, if that. After all, people - fashion-conscious or not - consistently react violently to them. Need proof? There’s a good chunk of web space dedicated solely to the elimination of Crocs (check out ihatecrocs.blogspot.com, just to start).

A Concord Monitor Article