Crocs

[jonas]

I'm thinking about getting a pair of crocs to wear in the kitchen. I hear they are really comfy and my feet always hurt after work...

But, how do crocs prevent from knives falling etc? They aren't kitchen safe, are they?

I see so many chefs wearing crocs, but besides being non slip, they aren't steal toe and they aren't steal bottomed.

Do managers not care or is there something I am missing? Are crocs resistant to kitchen accidents?

[justwingit]

You might want to ask your manager, I personally cannot stand crocs. I switch between kitchen clogs (no toe cap) and my kitchen shoes which I picked up last year while in Scotland. These are slip on with a a back strap, non slip and have a resin toe protector.

Hope this helps,

Tom

[lebelage]

I personally am not a fan.

They're popular because Batali always wore them.

[cheztom]

I wear them, but you're right - they won't stop a knife or a heavy object.

But then again I just swan around and do nothing that would require me to wear real shoes. At least I don't wear those bermuda short things like Mario.

[lockport]

i love them but you do have to be careful

[SaraCooks]

But then again I just swan around and do nothing that would require me to wear real shoes.

What exactly does it mean to "swan around?"

[chefelle]

I hate Crocs but Gerard loves them. I guess it is a matter of opinion.

Like Tom--I wear a very comfortable kitchen clog. A chef I worked with a few weeks ago told me his secret was to switch his shoes three times a shift and his feet never hurt. He bought his clogs in Denmark.

[cheztom]

"Swan around" - you know - that's where you breeze into the midst of absolute chaos and calmly patrol the area looking not unlike a majestic swan plying the waters of a pond. And just about as useless and helpfull, too.

However, my swanning around is relegated to about the first 2 minutes of me hitting the door where I say good morning to everyone - then I'm right into the chaos with the rest the crew. The big time swanning around is done by the GMs, catering manangers and the supervisor boss-types.

[Blueicus]

I wear crocs, but I'm fortunate to not have a knife stick out of my foot yet, or spill gallons of hot oil on the ground.

Unfortunately due to the place where I worked (the place was lined with stone floors, even in the kitchen which made it incredibly annoying to clean and walk on) I would've preferred clogs that had more of a cushioning for my feet. Also the non-slip thing really didn't work well on that floor and wore out pretty quickly.

[sunny_mcd]

They're popular because Batali always wore them.

Mario wears Calzuros -- Italian nursing clogs that used to be 1) insanely expensive and 2) virtually impossible to get in the States. Ah, the trickle-down buying power of Food Network.

I used to wear Crocs at the wine bar, though not for kitchen shifts -- they were great for post-shift paperwork, vendor visits, inventory, etc. Plus you can throw them in the dishwasher.

[bohica]

I just asked one of the kids what crocs were, and was told that they are a sandal type of shoe with lots of holes in them. Why, WHY would anyone where such a dangerous shoe in a work place to begin with?

[Lorraine]

Why, WHY would anyone where such a dangerous shoe in a work place to begin with?

Some local hospitals have recently banned staff from wearing them.

[cheztom]

The ones I have don't have holes in them and the soles are non-skid...I know better than that.


The holey ones are for recreational use only and totally inappropriate for any kind of work place.

[chefjohn1955]

My Croc experience.
First pair were made in Canada XXL nice wide still use them - but thought Hey I should get a back up pair.
Looked for second pair found some made in Mexico not wide enough.
Kept looking found some made in China 13 (I think) narrower sole has worn smooth.

Future purchase - I don't know.

[Harborwitch]

I tried on a pair of "Traps" (like Crocs) yesterday at Famous Footware - I have a very high instep so they don't fit the top of my foot - but they were so comfortable I thought long and hard about them. Non skid bottoms, soft supportive cushy insides - but I got a pair of their "flip flops" instead (just for home), they have little massaging dots, great arch support, lots of cush, and Traps are available in wide widths and at 29.95 they aren't too bad.