Chefs Need Proper Footwear To Keep up With the Demands of a Fast-Paced Kitchen. Here Is Our Roundup of the Best Shoes for Chefs in 2024.
As chefs, the importance of finding the right footwear should not be overlooked. We work hours on our feet all shift long while trying to traverse the gauntlet of crouching servers, hot behinds, sharp corners, and slippery surfaces.
Proper tools are essential in the back-of-house. You wouldn’t work with dull knives, so why settle for uncomfortable shoes?
Finding a comfortable, durable, non-slip pair of shoes is not as hard as you might think! We took the time to research the best chef shoes available this year—all you have to do is add to cart.Â
Crocs
Crocs on the Clock Slip Resistant Work Slip-On
$49.99
Wearing Crocs every day was not on my 2024 Bingo card, but as I get older, I care less about style and more about comfort and arch support. It’s a sad realization of how debilitating back pain can be and how much of an influence poor footwear can have on my body and mindset.
The Crocs On The Clock line is meant for healthcare and service industry professionals who spend hours on their feet every shift. These slip-ons are reinforced with enhanced arch support, fully enclosed to protect your toes and heels, and heavily treaded for maximum slip resistance.
These budget-friendly Crocs are extremely lightweight but can withstand the pressure of cooking on hard, cement floors for hours.
Mozo
Grind Vegan Men’s Slip Resistant Chef Shoes
$89.98
If you prefer a more traditional sneaker style rather than clogs, the Mozo Grinds are the way to go. By default, these come with elastic lacing to make them easy to slip on, but they offer optional laces for a more classic Converse-style look. The waxed canvas makes the shoes water-resistant, and the rubber soles are designed to keep you from slipping on oily or slick surfaces.
Like classic sneakers, these chef shoes have three-hole ventilation at the arch for breathability—hopefully alleviating some of your stinky feet issues after working a double!
To top it off, the Mozo Grind comes standard with gel insoles, delivering comfort and shock absorption.Â
Mise Footwear
$139
The Mise Standard shoes combine style and practicality. Designed specifically for culinary professionals who are constantly on the move, these kitchen shoes are equipped to meet the demands of the job.
The high-quality leather on top resists oil and water. At the same time, the polyurethane non-slip sole provides a higher tolerance against splitting and cracking, making it more durable than average rubber soles. Their signature modular design features removable insoles and shells, so you can easily swap or replace them.
These are extremely easy to clean. Simply wipe or toss into the dishwasher, then air dry.Â
Dansko
XP 2.0
$150
The old tried and true. Things remain classic for a reason. The Dansko XP 2.0 is no exception because it stands up to the laborious day-to-day grind of kitchen life.
Known for their comfortability, the leather-covered footbeds offer major memory foam arch support thanks to their patented Dansko Natural Arch® technology. These shoes are highly durable and provide a lot of traction, keeping you secure as you quickly round corners or lift 50-lb bags of flour.
Did you know that the XP’s leather tops are treated with 3M Scotchgardâ„¢ protector for ultimate stain resistance, making them super easy to wipe clean after a long day?Â
Birkenstocks
$155
She is beauty, she is grace. These Super Grips have the classic Birkenstock shape but feature a backstrap to help keep your shoes from slipping as you run around the kitchen or maneuver stairways. The footbed is made of cork-latex that uniquely contours to your feet to support you throughout your long shift, and it only gets more comfortable with more wear!
The tops are made of natural smooth leather, allowing for breathability and durability. The sole is made of a non-slip, oil and grease-resistant rubber to absorb shock while offering a nice amount of traction.
If you are easily influenced by celebrities—these are kitchen shoes that Carmy and Sydney wear on FX’s The Bear. She has them in white, which is so ballsy to wear on a line.
When searching for your next pair of chef shoes, check if the material is easy to wipe or rinse off. You don’t want shoes that can’t stand up to everyday grease and oils. Another consideration would be to find shoes with cushioned insoles to combat lower back, ankle, or leg pain.
Finding durable, comfortable, and non-slip footwear can seem daunting, but there are really great options available if you know where to look!
