Buying Chef Shoes
Working in a commercial kitchen is tough. Chefs in the catering industry will spend hours on their feet every day, often on hard or slippery floors. Sometimes they will spend around 16 hours a day perfecting their craft, which is why it's so important to choose the best chef shoes for the job.
Professional chef shoes are about far more than just appearance. Of course, they need to look smart and complement your staff uniform. But they also need to offer supreme comfort and protection against hazards in hot, steamy and busy kitchen environments.
BROWSE ALL CHEF SHOESTypes of Chef Shoe
There are several types of kitchen shoe available, all designed to suit different roles within the hospitality industry. To find the best chef shoes for your duties, consider what you need them for and the type of conditions you will be wearing them in.
Chef Clogs
The preferred choice for many catering industry professionals, chef clogs feature a backless design and don't have laces. This makes them far easier to slip on or take off than standard shoes, while still offering the same protection and comfort.
Safety Shoes
They may look like everyday shoes, but these safety shoes are far stronger. They're made from tough and robust materials, with added safety features such as heel and toe caps to protect feet from drops or impacts. Available in shoe or sneaker designs, these are a great choice for staff who alternate between back and front of house duties.
Chef Boots
If you require additional ankle support, chef boots are the choice for you. They have all the safety features of shoes or clogs, but offer even greater stability. These boots are particularly useful if you encounter lots of steps, staircases or uneven ground.
Safety Features to Consider
Chefs need dependable kitchen shoes that are designed with a variety of useful functions. Being comfortable enough to withstand extremely long shifts on your feet is only the beginning of the list of attributes the best chef shoes should have. Whether you need extra grip, hardened toes or just plain comfort, there are shoes out there to meet your needs in the kitchen. Here are five of the most important features to consider.
Anti-slip Soles
One of the most important factors of good chef shoes is the ability to grip the surface of a kitchen floor - particularly if that floor is slippery due to drops or spills. Timing is of the essence in a busy kitchen, and chefs need to be quick on their feet without worrying about sliding or slipping. As a result, they require stability and confidence. Choosing chef shoes with anti-slip technology means the sole will covered in tiny spurs, raking backwards from the tip of the shoe. Some soles will offer anti-static protection too.
Laces
Chefs almost universally prefer to wear chef clogs over traditional lace-up shoes for one simple reason - with no laces, there's no chance of your shoes becoming untied and tripping you up at crucial moments. You don't need to tie or untie clogs, so you or your co-workers won't be endangered by loose laces.
Toe Cap Protection
Toe cap protection will keep your feet safe from impact or compression. These can be steel toe caps or composite toe caps, which are made from non-metal materials such as TPU or carbon fibre. Many are strong enough to protect against a 200-joule impact without breaking. This keeps feet safe from dropped items such as cast iron pots or sharp knives, as well as protection against stubbed toes on sharp and hard corner units.
Breathability
Commercial kitchens can be a hot place to work in. In the hottest environments, providing your feet with a greater airflow will help keep you cooler and more comfortable. Choosing lightweight footwear with extra breathability such as perforated or mesh designs will help your feet breathe.
Footbeds
A good footbed will not only feel luxurious, but will also provide additional support for your feet. It should have excellent shock-absorbing qualities, and be able to mould itself to the shape of your foot.
Chef Shoe Brands
Birkenstock
For all-round strength, protection and comfort, Birkenstock chef shoes are among the most popular on the market. Birkenstock clogs are made from leather with a cork and latex-cored suede covered foot bed. They have a shock-absorbing EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate) sole, as well as a toe bar, arch support and deep heel cup.
Slipbuster
With a range of lace-up and slip-on options, Slipbuster shoes are designed to offer safety, strength and comfort to those on their feet all day. Made from durable leather with oil and slip-resistant anti-static soles and additional toe protection, Slipbuster is a tried and trusted choice among kitchen staff.
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