For Doogie Sandtiger, the colorful and comfortable footwear from Crocs is more than a fashion statement; it’s a symbol of healing and a lifelong dream fulfilled. In November 2024, Sandtiger was certified by Guinness World Records for having the world’s largest collection of Crocs, a record he had to keep secret until last week.
Growing up in the foster care system in Connecticut, Sandtiger faced many challenges. At 16, he didn’t know how to tie his shoes and was too embarrassed to ask for help, so he wore slip-ons. That changed one day when he saw a woman wearing a pair of lavender Crocs.
“I didn’t really know anything about them other than that everyone thought they were ugly, but I saw art in them,” said Sandtiger, who now works for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. He bought his first pair, a plain black one, that day.
From that moment, his passion for the footwear blossomed. One of his initial goals was to collect 366 pairs—one for each day of the year, including a Leap Year day. “You don’t want to get to February 29th and not have a pair to wear,” he said.
Beyond the daily comfort, Sandtiger’s quest to build his collection was driven by a childhood dream. He was a fan of the Guinness World Records books as a kid, finding them easy to read and inspiring. He never imagined that his name would one day be in the book, let alone for his unique collection of Crocs.
Sandtiger’s collection has grown to more than 3,800 pairs, and he has been dubbed the “Croc King” by his followers. For Sandtiger, the collection is a form of healing. “I missed out on so much of my life and it’s like I’m rewriting my life now as an adult and reliving what kid me couldn’t.” He hopes to one day display his collection in a “Crocseum.”
