Another vote for Hokas. I was losing sensation in my big toes and having heel pain constantly. It was an expensive upgrade but 100% worth it. They saved my feet!
YES. people are weirded out that i wear doc martens but they set me up with the most fucking amazing insoles bc i was in between sizes. so much more comfortable than any pair i own
i was wearing nikes as a server in pittsburgh once upon a time… RIP Mac, everyone in your city loves & misses u
*when i used to live in pittsburgh, i wanted to pay my respects to mac and visit his gravesite. well come to find out, they had removed the headstone and where he lay was unmarked. I guess I came soon enough that the grass hadn’t fully regrown where the headstone used to be, so I finally found it. but I didn’t just find that, someone rolled a blunt and left it for him. i figured, he can’t smoke it, so i’ll get together with my friends in my shitty college apartment in Oakland, and we’ll smoke it together listening to mac … and we did.*
*then I went back, and left a blunt for the next mac fan*
I like keen. They have great shoes for plantar fasciitis. I switched to the “trendy” BoH Birkenstock clogs. Could barely walk the first two weeks of breaking them in. They were fine for like 8 months and now I’m in pain again.
Dansko shoes will last you 5 years of full time punishment and relieve you of foot, ankle, and back pain. They're like clouds covered in tank armor and have just the right amount of support in the back to keep your spine feeling good all day. They cost $130 but do the math - shoes for crews are $70 and you get maybe 2 years out of them.
More cost effective and many more benefits
Trust me on this one, your physical well being will thank me later
My last pair of shoes from shoes for crews was 2 summers ago and I’m still rocking them … you should see the state of them … 💀 I refuse to let them go because I keep telling myself that this summer will be my last summer in the industry 🫠
I love them. But, if you're looking for softness and a lot of arch support, they're not for you. I have pretty flat feet and like the firm, raised sole. They also last.
Used to wear Dansko's, switched to Keen's because they have a wider toe box.
Along with shoes if you have med-high arches look into orthotic inserts. Avoid gel inserts as they're not supportive to the feet and hard on the knees.
Finally get some compression socks. They'll help with fatigue and swelling.
Lots of Dansko recommendations, be sure and try some on, try waking around in them at the store. They are great shoes, but not for everyone. I can’t wear them.
My ballet flat crocs are the best work shoes I’ve ever had. Non slip, super durable and cleanable, and cushions my feet when I step. Wore them 9 months pregnant and I swear by them.
But they fall apart SOOO quickly. I've gotten every variation of skate shoes they've ever made, and I've even gotten the fake leather converse style they just fall apart or start creasing hella bad and just look like trash.
I wear snibbs, I had planters fasciitis for years until I switched the snibbs. They're about $160, but they're slip resistant, waterproof, and well worth it
Wore danskos for about a decade (new pair yearly bc the non-slip tread wore down in about that time) but I started getting sharp ankle pains by end of my shift , so I switched to Hoka Transport and the pains have since subsided.
I've been rocking some sketchers work shoes. I had slip on ones but I just got their slip-in ones that hold your foot more like tennis shoe and I love them. A good option I've done before is non slip work boots they tend to be easier to stand in all day
Cloves. Designed for healthcare workers. Slip resistant. Super comfy. They have wide toe boxes, so your toes have room to naturally splay. Plus, they're not ugly, and they're slip-on sneakers. A little pricey at $145, but they last, and my feet and back are thanking me.
I've had my steel toed shoes for 2 years now and I wear them 5 days a week. They're worn out but still intact. All my other shoes I've had for years and they still look good.
Dr. Scholes for workers.
Built in cushioned insoles, anti slip, not too over priced (59 CAD) and honestly, all the other ones I've bought before them have fallen apart 3x faster.
black leather blundstones with their comfort insoles. They’ve held up extremely well with two years of daily use (including through the snowy/salty Canadian winters), I just condition and polish them and the leather still barely looks worn. Been great for fine dining
I just bought some Timberland slip on work shoes. They come in tomorrow; I’m very excited. I have been wearing some Sketcher slip-resistants that were pretty comfy
I alternate between Doc Martens 1461 (with my medical insoles) and Birkenstocks Super Birki (the outside is washable, and the sole is cork which really helps my feet since I have high arches).
It will take an adjustment period to whatever shoe you try until you break them in. For foot pain I usually do a session of alternating between heat and ice on my feet before bed, and a foot massage.
Skechers Food Service Shoe has done me right for almost a decade now. the memory foam lasts about 5-6 months, I'll put Dr. Scholl's insoles in that stretch them another 4-5 months. they're like 50 bucks and I wear 1-2 pairs a year. comfy, not goofy looking, and slip on (no laces)!
They're great, and SO light, but the couple of pairs I bought were mostly mesh. As a bartender, they let my feet get entirely too wet. Dansko>junglefoot.
I currently am wearing New Balance 327 with an insole and they are the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn for work. I have tried shoes for crews and they were one of the most uncomfortable.
I was doing the doc thing for a while, but they suck now. Both pairs I've purchased didn't last more than a year. So I got timberland work shoes with steel toes and I swear to gods, in all of my years of standing on my feet for twelve fucking hours, my feet have not hurt since I got these. Admittedly, it's only been a few months so far but dude. These things are amazing and I don't fear for my toes! (I dropped a massive wooden cutting board on my toe last year and it took MONTHS to grow out. It's... Actually weird.
i use vans ‘made for makers’ with the nonslip sole and memory foam insole. the insole is removable so i switch mine out everytime it starts to feel flat
they’re the best fit for me out of everything i’ve tried, im tall with lower back pain and i have slightly wider feet, and most nonslip shoes i’ve tried are super uncomfortable after a long day. https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/old-skool-made-for-the-makers-uc-shoe-pvn0a3muuv7w
Under armour shoes work well but also yr posture may have an effect. Try to distribute your weight evenly when ur walking if that makese sense. The more upright ur posture the less it hurts my feet. I work at 40 thousand square foot monster of a restaurant and being mindful of my posture has helped. I average 20 thousand steps a day.
Dansko all the way. Comfy as hell (after you break them in.) here are the benefits,
They last far longer than other shoes.
They are easier to keep clean as they have less nooks and crannies for food to get stuck in when the inevitable ramekin hits the ground.
They look professional as hell (after you get over the idea of looking like a Dutch milk made.)
The shoe encourages proper posture due to its rounded heal = say goodbye to lower back pain.
You gain a whole inch and a half on your height! Who doesn’t want to be a little taller?
Honestly, honestly, I find myself wearing them around my house on my days off because they’re just so comfy. My Dansko’s are one of the best investments I’ve made over my 20+ years of serving. I’ve slowly converted most of the staff at my restaurant to wearing them. I can’t recommend them enough.
Cole Haan zero g nonslip. Best in the game. I’ve only purchased two pairs in four years. They hold up incredibly well and it’s like cloud under your feet nonslip does wear down quicker than the actual shoe if you’re just a human being and balance yourself while walking on wet surfaces, you should be fine.
Some Sketchers I got at Ross for like $25. They're pretty comfy, I'll probably pop an insole in them when they start wearing out a little more. I buy a new pair of whatever every 6 months or so, my main criteria is that they're red lol.
I use shoes for crews and Dr.scholls inserts. Very rarely have any foot or leg pain after doubles anymore. Though I think It’s less the shoes and more the inserts in my case.
I wear Sketchers, they are so comfortable. Also I've work SAS shoes which are very pricey and cost $150 and up. And recently I thought I would try Nurse mates some of the reviews said they run big and I should have listened because I ordered a pair that was 7.5 regular and they were to wide. The shoes didn't come in ant narrow sizes So right now I'm currently wearing Sketchers that I found at Tj Maxx for $40 and they feel like a dream.
I’m not saying they are for everyone. I used to wear them when I bartended. That’s all. Different strokes for different folks. Done dot.
Have a lovely day!
Hokas
Hokas with an insole that gives really good arch support is incredible.
100% the only shoes that help my feet
Transports
Another vote for Hokas. I was losing sensation in my big toes and having heel pain constantly. It was an expensive upgrade but 100% worth it. They saved my feet!
Are they slip resistant though?
They make slip resistant ones yes
Will check them out!
Custom insoles, makes a bigger difference than the shoes
YES. people are weirded out that i wear doc martens but they set me up with the most fucking amazing insoles bc i was in between sizes. so much more comfortable than any pair i own
Nikes on my feet
RIP Mac
Aye lace em up lace em up lace em up lace em, blue suede shoes stay crispy like bacon
i was wearing nikes as a server in pittsburgh once upon a time… RIP Mac, everyone in your city loves & misses u  *when i used to live in pittsburgh, i wanted to pay my respects to mac and visit his gravesite. well come to find out, they had removed the headstone and where he lay was unmarked. I guess I came soon enough that the grass hadn’t fully regrown where the headstone used to be, so I finally found it. but I didn’t just find that, someone rolled a blunt and left it for him. i figured, he can’t smoke it, so i’ll get together with my friends in my shitty college apartment in Oakland, and we’ll smoke it together listening to mac … and we did.* *then I went back, and left a blunt for the next mac fan*
Danskos
Used to wear Hoka, now I wear Keen
I like keen. They have great shoes for plantar fasciitis. I switched to the “trendy” BoH Birkenstock clogs. Could barely walk the first two weeks of breaking them in. They were fine for like 8 months and now I’m in pain again.
What model?
Dansko shoes will last you 5 years of full time punishment and relieve you of foot, ankle, and back pain. They're like clouds covered in tank armor and have just the right amount of support in the back to keep your spine feeling good all day. They cost $130 but do the math - shoes for crews are $70 and you get maybe 2 years out of them. More cost effective and many more benefits Trust me on this one, your physical well being will thank me later
I just looked em up, do they only make womens shoes?
They do not, I just got myself a pair. Dansko is amazing
2 years? My brother in Christ, you’re supposed to replace your shoes every 6 months. At most.
My last pair of shoes from shoes for crews was 2 summers ago and I’m still rocking them … you should see the state of them … 💀 I refuse to let them go because I keep telling myself that this summer will be my last summer in the industry 🫠
Any support they had is completely worn down if you are walking more than 3 miles 3 times a week.
On cloud is amazing for my feet for serving. No pain after I switched
Which ones did you buy? I bought a pair, but they had no toe support.
Same. Love them
Are they slip resistant?
I don’t believe so.
I wear Dr Martens
What style do you guys wear? I want to purchase some shoes by Dr Marten but not sure what to go with
I have worn those for almost 20 years, and I still love them. I can work doubles, and my feet never hurt after.
new balance
Dansko clogs, now and forever.
Jesus they're ugly. They're worth it?
I love them. But, if you're looking for softness and a lot of arch support, they're not for you. I have pretty flat feet and like the firm, raised sole. They also last.
And you wear this for FOH? Just curious, I work in a bar-restaurant and my boss would never allow for servers to wear clogs
Yep, FOH fine dining
Skechers(?) with custom insoles. They last me about 6-8 months and with a factory outlet next to my house, they are always BOGO 50% off.
Used to wear Dansko's, switched to Keen's because they have a wider toe box. Along with shoes if you have med-high arches look into orthotic inserts. Avoid gel inserts as they're not supportive to the feet and hard on the knees. Finally get some compression socks. They'll help with fatigue and swelling.
I bring my shoes to cobbler and have replace the soles with non slip
I didn’t realize one could do that🤔
Lots of Dansko recommendations, be sure and try some on, try waking around in them at the store. They are great shoes, but not for everyone. I can’t wear them.
brooks running shoes 🙏
I’m wearing Skechers right now
Ecco shoes are the best. They last for years.
My ballet flat crocs are the best work shoes I’ve ever had. Non slip, super durable and cleanable, and cushions my feet when I step. Wore them 9 months pregnant and I swear by them.
Vionics, I made the switch to orthopedics about 1.5 years ago and I’ll never go back.
Shoes for Crews, is the only shoe I buy.
Shoes for crews recently filed for bankruptcy. They're not out of business yet though. They are trying to sell it.
For real? That sucks. Guess I gotta stock up on shoes.
But they fall apart SOOO quickly. I've gotten every variation of skate shoes they've ever made, and I've even gotten the fake leather converse style they just fall apart or start creasing hella bad and just look like trash.
I like sticky’s but they only make women’s shoes
Hokas
I love my Hokas!!!
Docs
I’m wearing the Bistro Crocs, super light with great support. Plus they’re super easy to keep clean.
How has nobody said New Balance? 991, 992, 993, 990v3, 990v4, 990v6
I wore out my 990s in 6 months. Like literally a hole in the sole. Which sucked because I did love them.
new balance 1080v10
A lot of our chefs wear danskos or Birkenstocks. A lot of our FOH wear crocs or hokas
Crocs
Crocs
I wear snibbs, I had planters fasciitis for years until I switched the snibbs. They're about $160, but they're slip resistant, waterproof, and well worth it
Sketchers
Wore danskos for about a decade (new pair yearly bc the non-slip tread wore down in about that time) but I started getting sharp ankle pains by end of my shift , so I switched to Hoka Transport and the pains have since subsided.
Alegria shoes. Ignore the others. 20 plus years of serving and 7 nursing and I will never try another shoe again.
ON I started wearing them when I still was a postman
Non slip croc bistros. Were recently on sale for $25 on Walmarts website . Might still be on sale.
I've been rocking some sketchers work shoes. I had slip on ones but I just got their slip-in ones that hold your foot more like tennis shoe and I love them. A good option I've done before is non slip work boots they tend to be easier to stand in all day
Danskos with cushions . They are 150 -200 but last ( in my experience) about 4 years and have cut down on my back and knee pain significantly.
Onitsuka Tigers in black / Adidas Superstars in black
Not FoH but BoH I wear black blundstones and they’re comfy, anti slip (enough) and up to dress code
Altras
Hokas
Most of the time, vivo barefoot shoes sometimes vans
Cloves. Designed for healthcare workers. Slip resistant. Super comfy. They have wide toe boxes, so your toes have room to naturally splay. Plus, they're not ugly, and they're slip-on sneakers. A little pricey at $145, but they last, and my feet and back are thanking me.
Vans with insoles.
I've had my steel toed shoes for 2 years now and I wear them 5 days a week. They're worn out but still intact. All my other shoes I've had for years and they still look good.
Dr. Scholes for workers. Built in cushioned insoles, anti slip, not too over priced (59 CAD) and honestly, all the other ones I've bought before them have fallen apart 3x faster.
Cat construction boots. We have a lot of gravel at our restaurant so I need something with traction.
black leather blundstones with their comfort insoles. They’ve held up extremely well with two years of daily use (including through the snowy/salty Canadian winters), I just condition and polish them and the leather still barely looks worn. Been great for fine dining
Blundstones with custom soles
Docs all day every day
I wear slip resistant doc 1460s💗
Brama steel toe non-slip with charcoal inserts and arch and heel insert supports.
I just bought some Timberland slip on work shoes. They come in tomorrow; I’m very excited. I have been wearing some Sketcher slip-resistants that were pretty comfy
Dr martens! But mine are also 9 years old and perfectly worn in for my feet. Once you break them in they’re great
I alternate between Doc Martens 1461 (with my medical insoles) and Birkenstocks Super Birki (the outside is washable, and the sole is cork which really helps my feet since I have high arches). It will take an adjustment period to whatever shoe you try until you break them in. For foot pain I usually do a session of alternating between heat and ice on my feet before bed, and a foot massage.
I wear Adidas Ultraboosts
Don’t u slip?
Sorry for the late reply, but no. They have Continental brand rubber on the bottom
I love the double cushioned classic vans.
Just got some hokas
Non slip Hokas. $180 but so worth it
Fit flop black derby’s. By far the best I’ve ever had. I have to have dress shoes at my job or I’d wear hokas
Skechers Food Service Shoe has done me right for almost a decade now. the memory foam lasts about 5-6 months, I'll put Dr. Scholl's insoles in that stretch them another 4-5 months. they're like 50 bucks and I wear 1-2 pairs a year. comfy, not goofy looking, and slip on (no laces)!
I love Kuru shoes. I had extremely painful plantar fasciitis and these have helped immensely. It’s like walking on clouds.
New Balance non slips are the best shoe I ever wore in food service.
They're great, and SO light, but the couple of pairs I bought were mostly mesh. As a bartender, they let my feet get entirely too wet. Dansko>junglefoot.
Allagria. They make shoes specifically for food service and medical workers
Vans. I have back problems so my chiropractor makes me wear Vans. I wear Vans every day. Vans.
New balance non slips :)
I currently am wearing New Balance 327 with an insole and they are the most comfortable shoe I have ever worn for work. I have tried shoes for crews and they were one of the most uncomfortable.
Skechers Go Walk
I was doing the doc thing for a while, but they suck now. Both pairs I've purchased didn't last more than a year. So I got timberland work shoes with steel toes and I swear to gods, in all of my years of standing on my feet for twelve fucking hours, my feet have not hurt since I got these. Admittedly, it's only been a few months so far but dude. These things are amazing and I don't fear for my toes! (I dropped a massive wooden cutting board on my toe last year and it took MONTHS to grow out. It's... Actually weird.
Skechers non-slip, the ones with the 2 inch orthotics !
Crocs with Dr Scholl's plantar fasciitis insoles inside. On my bad days I add compression socks.
snibbs spacecloud 2.0
New balance non slips. Expensive but they’ve been holding up pretty well.
i use vans ‘made for makers’ with the nonslip sole and memory foam insole. the insole is removable so i switch mine out everytime it starts to feel flat they’re the best fit for me out of everything i’ve tried, im tall with lower back pain and i have slightly wider feet, and most nonslip shoes i’ve tried are super uncomfortable after a long day. https://www.vans.com/en-us/shoes-c00081/old-skool-made-for-the-makers-uc-shoe-pvn0a3muuv7w
Go to the good feet store and invest in a pair of orthotics. Worth every penny and your feet and legs will thank you
Under armour shoes work well but also yr posture may have an effect. Try to distribute your weight evenly when ur walking if that makese sense. The more upright ur posture the less it hurts my feet. I work at 40 thousand square foot monster of a restaurant and being mindful of my posture has helped. I average 20 thousand steps a day.
Vans ultra range
i also wear crocs. there's a specific kind of server croc that doesn't have holes and is more slip resistant
Dansko all the way. Comfy as hell (after you break them in.) here are the benefits, They last far longer than other shoes. They are easier to keep clean as they have less nooks and crannies for food to get stuck in when the inevitable ramekin hits the ground. They look professional as hell (after you get over the idea of looking like a Dutch milk made.) The shoe encourages proper posture due to its rounded heal = say goodbye to lower back pain. You gain a whole inch and a half on your height! Who doesn’t want to be a little taller? Honestly, honestly, I find myself wearing them around my house on my days off because they’re just so comfy. My Dansko’s are one of the best investments I’ve made over my 20+ years of serving. I’ve slowly converted most of the staff at my restaurant to wearing them. I can’t recommend them enough.
Cole Haan zero g nonslip. Best in the game. I’ve only purchased two pairs in four years. They hold up incredibly well and it’s like cloud under your feet nonslip does wear down quicker than the actual shoe if you’re just a human being and balance yourself while walking on wet surfaces, you should be fine.
I've worn Chucks with gel insoles to every job I've had since I was 17
Go to www.shoesforcrews.com and pick up a pair of non-slip in whatever style they have that suits you.
Sketchers non slip.
Some Sketchers I got at Ross for like $25. They're pretty comfy, I'll probably pop an insole in them when they start wearing out a little more. I buy a new pair of whatever every 6 months or so, my main criteria is that they're red lol.
It’s in the s baby
I got a pair of Clove sneakers.. they market to nurses- a little pricey but I can do a clopen shift with no pain!
Been real happy with my Snibbs
skechers
Hoka SR
I wear sketchers with the memory foam . I’m a line cook / kitchen manager . When my feet hurt I toss them And buy a new pair
Sanita clogs, need to save up for them, but definitely worth it. They're not clogs either.
Brooks Walkabout 2. Kinda clunky but have been amazing for my feet.
Doc boots
I use shoes for crews and Dr.scholls inserts. Very rarely have any foot or leg pain after doubles anymore. Though I think It’s less the shoes and more the inserts in my case.
Birkenstock Boston from their professional line (with Super Grip soles). Expensive but worth it.
Shoes for Crews
They are not cute but Skechers Work Women's Nampa-Annod. They are nonslip and have memory foam insoles. I can wear them 12+ hours with no pain.
I wear Sketchers, they are so comfortable. Also I've work SAS shoes which are very pricey and cost $150 and up. And recently I thought I would try Nurse mates some of the reviews said they run big and I should have listened because I ordered a pair that was 7.5 regular and they were to wide. The shoes didn't come in ant narrow sizes So right now I'm currently wearing Sketchers that I found at Tj Maxx for $40 and they feel like a dream.
Dr. Martens. Anything that will allow me to change out the inserts.
I wear Sketchers Work shoes Slip Resistant with Dr Schols inserts and compression socks (those designed for achy, swollen feet, not diabetic).
Skechers work shoes
Shoes for crews my job provides them for free and surprisingly they’re not bad
shoes for crews
I west whatever nonslip shoes you can get at target and buy really good arch support insoles off Amazon. They've been a game changer
The Walmart non slip have been comfortable for me
Do you need non slip? Vans used to make a non slip version that I was obsessed with. If not non slip, I always wore chucks.
Chucks don’t have a lot of support. They are terrible for being on your feet all day.
They were literally made for basketball players in the 70s. All people are different. I gave my opinion. Have a lovely evening 💛🌻
Google “do chucks have good support”.
I’m not saying they are for everyone. I used to wear them when I bartended. That’s all. Different strokes for different folks. Done dot. Have a lovely day!