What are clogs: materials, origin and how to choose yours

A clog is a shoe with a thick sole, traditionally made of wood, with an upper made of leather or another material. The Spanish Royal Academy defines the zueco as «a shoe made of a single piece of wood» and also as «a leather shoe with a cork or wooden sole». Today many clogs have a lighter resin base, and they're worn in summer and winter alike.

Here's where they come from, what they're made of, how they differ from mules and how to choose yours.

Where do clogs come from?

The Spanish word zueco comes from the Latin soccus, a low, light shoe. For centuries, in many rural parts of Europe, the clog was a work shoe: a wooden sole that kept out the cold and damp from the ground. Dutch klompen, French sabots and Asturian madreñas, which the Spanish Royal Academy lists as synonyms of zueco, belong to the same family.

Over time it moved from the fields to the street. The basic shape has stayed the same (a firm base, a leather upper and often visible studs), but the materials and the height have changed.

Zuecos or suecos?

In Spanish it's spelled zuecos, with a z. Sueco means Swedish. A fun fact: the Spanish expression hacerse el sueco (to play dumb) has nothing to do with Sweden. According to the Spanish Royal Academy, it comes from the same Latin soccus as zueco.

What are clogs made of?

A clog has two parts: the base (the thick sole) and the upper (the part that covers your foot).

At Tuilus, our wooden clog is the Campiña, and all the others have a resin base. We explain the difference in detail in wooden or resin clogs.

Clogs or mules?

They look alike, but they're not the same. A mule is any backless shoe, with a thin sole or a heel. What defines a clog is its thick base, made of wood or resin.

Many clogs are open at the back, like a mule, but not all of them: some have a heel strap, like the Rio Strap or the Cullera Strap, and some have Velcro or a buckle to adjust them to your foot.

Are clogs for summer or winter?

All year round. In summer, open clogs and lighter styles work best. In autumn and winter, leather, suede and pony hair clogs, as well as booties with the same base. Wear them with socks and they're even warmer. You'll find ideas in how to wear clogs in winter and all the seasonal styles in winter clogs.

Are clogs comfortable?

It mainly depends on four things:

• The weight of the base. Resin is lighter than wood, and you'll notice it at the end of the day.
• The insole. A cushioned insole makes a big difference. Ours have a cushioned gel-effect leather insole.
• The height. If you'll be walking a lot, a moderate height is best.
• The fit. A clog that slips around on your foot is more tiring. If you have narrow feet or will be walking a lot, look for one with a strap, Velcro or a buckle.

How to choose your clogs

1. By height

If comfort comes first, have a look at our comfortable clogs. If you want height, our heeled clogs.

2. By material

For all year round, smooth leather: you'll find every style in leather clogs. For autumn, suede. For the cold, pony hair.

3. By size

Our clogs come in EU sizes 35 to 41, and some styles go up to 42. Bolonia is true to size. Cullera and Comillas fit small: if you have wide feet or are between two sizes, go one size up. Check the size guide before you choose.

And if the size isn't right, exchanges are free in mainland Spain on orders from €100: we send you the new size and collect the old one in the same delivery.

Our clogs

All our clogs are designed in Valencia and handmade in Spain and Portugal. Browse the whole collection in women's clogs.