Chefs are in constant on-the-job danger. They use knives of all sorts, and can potentially cut themselves handling sharp utensils as well. Then there are the ovens and burners, boiling liquids, steamy pots, and all kinds of other potential ways to get burned. Irritated purchasers are another worry for professional chefs – your customers have to be content so they will keep coming back. On top of all that, chefs also have to stress about standing on hard floors all day. Standing all day can be hard on the feet, ankles, knees, hips and back, so they must be careful in their choice of comfort clogs.
Standing all day without supportive, cosy shoes could cause permanent harm to your body. It might take years, but finally, chances are that you will suffer from plantar fasciitis, varicose veins, joint discomfort or back stiffness. Most of the conditions due to standing on hard surfaces in wrong shoes are treatable, but why experience the discomfort to begin with if it can be avoided? Even if you’re just starting your career, select your shoes for work conscientiously. You want shoes for chefs that offer a firm foundation, lots of support, enough cushion for comfort and a upper assembled from a protecting material. Most states and organizations have safety rules, anyway, but when you look for shoes to wear to work, safety should be a high priority.
Kitchens almost always have tile or concrete floors for simple clean-up. Those surfaces are indeed straightforward to scrub, but they’re also extremely slick when wet. Since dishes must be washed, pots of liquid moved, drinks prepared, ice dropped and the entire thing unavoidably spilled, apart from the floor being mopped or washed regularly, kitchen floors will be wet at least part of the time. In the kitchen, a fall could be particularly damaging. Imagine falling while slicing, then landing on a tough tile floor. Non-slip shoes are essential for folks who work in kitchens.
There are a few brands of chef shoes easily obtainable in stores and on the internet. One popular brand that makes and sells a widely recognized chef shoe is Dansko. Dansko cook shoes feature a non-slip bottom to keep you on your feet instead of sliding to an injury on the floor. They also have leather uppers so the head of your foot is protected from objects or hot liquids falling on them. The back of the shoe is firm and supportive to give your foot stability and protection, and the lining is cushioned to provide comfort.
There are many other types of chefs shoes, but when you are shopping you should search for the fundamentals: comfort, support, protection, and a non-slip sole. Work can be tough enough without adding physical agony to the equation. Keeping yourself healthy and agony free is one of the keys to a long and successful career in the kitchen.
If you’re a chef, make your job a little safer and less unpleasant by giving the most comfortable mens shoes a try. Your back and neck will instantly thank you for trying Dansko!
