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Kitchen and Cooking Footwear/Shoes

schaem

By schaem
in Kitchen Consumer

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Pitter

Pitter

Posted
Posted

I never found clogs practical while working in professional kitchens because I always feared I'd lose one while running up and down the stairs all day carrying heavy (and sometimes very hot) loads. For me, Birkenstocks -- never! While kind to the arches and posture, I need all over support. Danskos are fine for those confined to smallish spaces -- the line during service, for instance.

The most comfortable, skidproof shoes I ever owned were purchased at a doctor/nurse uniform store. They were black, ugly as hell, expensive and durable. I wore them for 5 years. You have to figure, if they are good enough for an RN in an emergency room, they should be good enough for a kitchen worker.

Money should really not be a concern when buying work shoes. There is so much at stake with our backs, necks, potential falls. Two visits to the chiropractor equals one pair of really good shoes.

As for wearing flip-flops, I gave that up after I broke my big toe because I was wearing them, and I was in the confines of my apartment.

chow guy

chow guy

Posted
Posted
I've never found a pair of clogs that was remotely shaped like my feet.

I loved Danskos... briefly. I have wide,very flat feet with a high instep. I loved the support and the extra height Danskos gave... BUT in no time at all my feet streched them out of shape so badly they slipped and slid and caused strange callouses. I have switched to waterproof Merrills. They have better traction and give great arch and heel support.

andiesenji

andiesenji

Posted
Posted
I've never found a pair of clogs that was remotely shaped like my feet.

I loved Danskos... briefly. I have wide,very flat feet with a high instep. I loved the support and the extra height Danskos gave... BUT in no time at all my feet streched them out of shape so badly they slipped and slid and caused strange callouses. I have switched to waterproof Merrills. They have better traction and give great arch and heel support.

I have a pair of Merrills that I wear in the winter, alternating with a pair of Blundstone "Tug" shoes that are also extremely comfortable. Tug shoes

Occasionally I go through an episode of ankle swelling and I have a pair of Caterpillar high tops, style Mystifi, (I think) that are very comfortable and keep my ankles from ballooning. They are made to look sort of like wrestling boots and the soles are not as thick as the others so they are not good for extended standing, but for a change-off from my regular shoes, they are great.

Mystify by Caterpillar

(I can't stand to wear the stockings, I invariably end up tearing them off after an hour or so because they make my legs itch.)

And for those looking for extra wide shoes the Skidbusters come in extra wide and sizes up to 14. One of the guys in my diabetes support group is a Samoan (very large) who wears a 13 xtra wide in the oxford style. His doctor approved of these.

skidbuster shoes

"There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!" Terry Pratchett

 

SweetCaroline

SweetCaroline

Posted
Posted

Hi all, 1st post, long-time lurker, I have several question about workplace footwear. Concerning the Calzuros... being vinyl - what about feet sweating, even w/ those holes? And has anyone tried the Sanita brand featured in Chefwear? My main fear at work are the slick floors so of the Dansko and Birks - which are better tractionwise?

TJHarris

TJHarris

Posted
Posted
My main fear at work are the slick floors so of the Dansko and Birks - which are better tractionwise?

I have always found Dansko to be far superior. IMHO :biggrin:

Tobin

It is all about respect; for the ingredient, for the process, for each other, for the profession.

SweetCaroline

SweetCaroline

Posted
Posted

On another chef site someone said they thought Shoes for Crews were made by the same as Dansko - only diff were the soles - maybe even more skid resist. Can anyone verify? I didn't see an open back clog on Shoes for Crews - I was kinda leaning that way.

chefdg

chefdg

Posted
Posted

Anywears, thirty seven bucks and they go in the dish washer.

"He could blanch anything in the fryolator and finish it in the microwave or under the salamander. Talented guy."

SweetCaroline

SweetCaroline

Posted
Posted

I ordered the euro clog from shoesforcrews - they arrived today. I decided on them b/c they seemed to have the best (IMHO) slip-resistant sole and can't overlook the price compared to Dansko or Sanita. They are an attractive shoe but I think they're gonna need a little breaking-in time. I'll let ya know how they do.

SweetCaroline

SweetCaroline

Posted
Posted

These shoes are GREAT (shoesforcrews) EuroClogs. The break-in time was very short - I expected a longer period of time. I have not experienced the slip-resistant situation as of yet - I hope they do well, as that is the dominant reason I purchased these.

Chef A

Chef A

Posted
Posted

I've got birks and they're comfortable enough, get me thru 12 hours...But,put oil or anything on the floor and I'm on my ass.

I'm 5'10 and the danskos make me feel too tall. Nike Air needs to make shoe for us.

Hey, I've got an even better idea! How about you get a smaller spoon? The other one actually, kind of hurts. But, hey! It hurts in a GOOD kind of way.

Okbrewer

Okbrewer

Posted
Posted

Anyone familiar with the Modellista brand of clogs? They are similar in style to the Dansko and Euro-clogs, but less expensive. I'm just wondering if they run true to size? I normally wear a Euro size 44, but in Dansko, I have to go to the 45. Any help on these? Thanks!

Bob R in OKC

Home Brewer, Beer & Food Lover!

dumplin

dumplin

Posted
Posted

Do the danskos mark up linoleum floors? Some of my black soled shoes leave marks and others don't. I need a new pair of fall shoes, and I would love to have something I can stand in all day and cook in the kitchen. I messed up my lower back when I fell off a horse onto a tree stump. I want to make sure my back doesn't get any worse with age.

it just makes me want to sit down and eat a bag of sugar chased down by a bag of flour.

Majra

Majra

Posted
Posted

Okbrewer, I have a pair of Modellistas that I love. I find them more comfortable than the Danskos due to the cushiony insole. Not sure what to recommend re: sizing. In American sizing I wear size 7.5, and my Modellistas and Danskos are both size 38. Be sure to check out Sierra Trading Post online for good deals--sometimes they have Modellistas for as little as $15!

mighty quinn

mighty quinn

Posted
Posted

just received my new dansko sport clogs. the soles look more like a hiking/crosstraining shoe. bought for $89 shipping included at pegasusfootwear.com.

"Ham isn't heroin..." Morgan Spurlock from "Supersize Me"

chicagowench

chicagowench

Posted
Posted

I have multiple pairs of Modellistas, and find the sizing really varies from style to style. For open backs, they do run fairly true to size. The closed back ones, though, all depends. The raindrop style (little cutout pattern on top) seems a bit tighter than the regular solid material style.

What do you mean I shouldn't feed the baby sushi?

Okbrewer

Okbrewer

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the info on the Modellistas. They appear to be comfortable, I have seen them only on the 'net, with the Tempupedic cushioning I would expect them to be very comfortable. I went ahead and ordered a pair, they should arrive this week so I will relate how they fit. I purchased them from a vendor on ebay for $32 + shipping. I'll let you know what I think about them!

Bob R in OKC

Home Brewer, Beer & Food Lover!

ghostrider

ghostrider

Posted
Posted (edited)

For all of my fellow hobbitses - check this link - it certainly improved my life:

Hitchcock Wide Shoes for Men

(Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in this company. I simply have lots of their shoes because I can't find such a selection of 4E-6E sizes anywhere else.)

New Balance also makes a # of styles in 6E. You can find them at places other than Hitchcock, sometimes for less $$, if you look around.

Edited by ghostrider (log)

Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea? How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea!

- Sydney Smith, English clergyman & essayist, 1771-1845

Okbrewer

Okbrewer

Posted
Posted

Received the Modellistas yesterday. They are very comfortable, the Tempurpedic insole is cushiony-soft yet supportive, and the sole is sturdy but has a spring to it. They do, however, seem to run a bit on the large size. I wear a 10.5 normally, and since these don't seem to run in half sizes, I got the 11. I can wear these, but I probably should have gotten the 10. Though the Modellista name might suggest otherwise, these are not European made, and don't use Euro sizing. The company is actually a Boston area company. I purchased the Professional model which has the smooth black leather that can be cleaned easily. The toe box area fits me fine, but the heel area is rather boxy and wide. Perhaps a heel cup/cushion will be all that is needed to make thes fit better. Regardless, at $36 not a bad buy.

Bob R in OKC

Home Brewer, Beer & Food Lover!

The_Rookie

The_Rookie

Posted
Posted

I bought a pair of the "James" style Modellistas (they are closed at the heel). I contacted the company selling them first because I wear a size 11 1/2 and he said to buy the 12. I'll post my review as soon as they show up.

Okbrewer

Okbrewer

Posted
Posted

The "James" is what I got. Where did you buy yours? My thinking exactly on the sizing, since I wear a 10.5 I went with the 11, but it seems a bit big. Lemme know how yours fit!

Bob R in OKC

Home Brewer, Beer & Food Lover!

  • 8 months later...
Daniel

Daniel

Posted
Posted

Besides Mario Batalli's ability to be at the forefront of the culinary world, is it possible those airated orange clogs that he is synonymous with are about to be New Yorks next Ugg?

I am sitting at my desk today in a pair of the more comfortable shoes i own.. Actually, they are second only to the other pair of the same brand shoes, except these are black and those are bright orange..

I am talking about my Crocs , A foamy airy all purpose shoe, that looks rather space agey. I have recently started seeing them all over Manhattan and have said to myself, these things are ugly enough to be trendy.. After looking at the price tag of 20 bucks, I couldnt resist so i bought two pair. Today is my first day wearing these things and my feet could not be happier.

Thank you Mario!

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