!!!!Chef Shoes!!!!

[shurry]

hey chef's

what's on your feet when you're in tha kitchen?

as a new student...i'm on a budget...and i really don't want to pay over 100 dollars for shoes....but is it worth it?....

what do you suggest?
kind/brand?
how long do/did they last?
where did you get 'em?
at what price?

i read a horror story...that a cutting board cut off someone's toes....dang, sounds sooooo scarey....so,

is steel toe better?....

clogs?

hmmmmm......

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[roger ramjet]

You are going to be on your feet all day, you'll be treading through oil, water, hot liquids, calamari guts. You'll have flour, boiling pasta water, beet juice, burning sugar (and yes, cutting boards) drop onto your feet. You'll be sweating. You'll be be on your feet all day (did I mention that??)
Does a pair of $20 shoes seem like they'll be up to the job?

I saw someone break their toes off a cutting board, and that night I went and traded my runners for proper work shoes with a steel toe. Yes, you'll spend up to $100 (or more) for proper shoes. But they should last you for quite a while (I change mine once every year, but I know people who have had theirs for years and years). Think of it as investment in your safety.

I'm not a fan of clogs, but I think I am in the minority when it comes to that...lots of people swear by them, but they are not steel toed.

[shurry]

Dang!

i wasn't sayin' i'm lookin' for 20 dollar shoes.......just not over $100...i'm a new student fresh outta a 4 year college, and looking for a better career avenue...shoot!
...even my regualr shoes cost over $20!

DAMN, you're comin' on strong...but i appreciate your info and response!


thanks.

[pastrygal]

Actually, he's telling it like it is. You'll drop all kinds of crap on your shoes and the one thing you probably WON'T do is sit in them. It's a tiring job...

I did go to Payless and get a butt-ugly pair of shoes (w/some kind of reinforcement in the toe) to wear during classes and they worked out fine for a little while. However, they were not leather and they didn't breath. Also, if I rubbed one shoe up against the other, it made a hideous patent-leather-like squeek!

The exec chef at my job wears a tired old pair of Chuck T's and he's got knee problems. I think he's nuts. Everyone else wears crappy tennis shoes and they're always doing squats and stretching like they are extremely achey. I'm TWICE the age of some of these kids and I don't have those problems.

I know Roger doesn't like clogs but I really appreciate mine. I bought Dansko brand clogs that have backs to them (as opposed to the kind our mom's wore in the 70's where the heel was out in the open.) They make clogs for working people like cooks and nurses. I believe I paid $95 for them TWO years ago and the treads look like I've just bought them. In fact, the upper part will wear out before the bottom does. They're AWESOME. I suggest you give those a whirl. Check out the website by the same name dot com.

Then again, I work in the pastry section so I'm not dropping big sides of cow and buckets of ice on my feet...

Good luck

[chefkerrie]

Well....at the moment I'm wearing my Doc Martens combat boot-type things. Pretty sturdy and comfy. I would like to invest in the nice clogs though.

A few students I know got them though, and complained that they hurt. I'd rather find a place where I can go try them on, rather than order via internet....but that's just me.

[roger ramjet]

Sorry shurry if you thought I was being harsh...it's all the truth, my friend!
There was a question similar to yours here a while back.
Check this out:
http://chef2chef.info/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=students&Number=39453&page=5&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1

you'll get a lot of info here - the posts are much nicer than mine

Good luck in your search...

[NHChef]

i recently bought some sketchers worker shoes but they irritated my feet. i jsut ordered some shoes from a website i found in the marketplace here. i cant wait for them to come in!

[Shawn-NC]

Evening, Here is a site you can check www.shoesforcrews.com I have the ones on the right of the first page that comes up after the info page. They are very comfortable, and reasonable. And are NO SLIP. had a friend put cooking oil on the floor at his work and tried to slide in the oil. he about fell on his face as he came to a screaching halt. they don't even slide on ice. you have to really try. and then it is poor at best... So they are good shoe.. all leather..Shawn

[Limey]

I've tried 2 pairs of Doc Martens, but had bad experience with both. Coz of the chemicals we used to use on the floor, they both split under the ball of the foot and let water in. Good thing is though, that Isent them both back and got a free pair in return. NOw I'm just in regular army boots. I figure if they're good enough for the amount of work those guys do, then they'll do for me...although they aren't non slip
Personally, I just can't deal with clogs. They feel as though they're just going to fall off at any time (although I haven't actually tried those with the backs) Suppose it's just 'once bitten, twice shy'?

[Tricia]

I have a pair of doc's, and a couple of pairs of clogs. Love clogs, backless, you get used to them and they are a dream. Easy to kick off, padded soles. I have an old Bastad ( the name NOT a swearword) pair, steel toe , so safe from chopping boards, but they are ugly. I also have a pair of Sanita ( Danish) clogs, my favourite. So comfortable and sexy looking too!

[kbkenyon]

Don't forget, socks are important too. I have a pair of chef shoes that I love but will only wear them with these really thick, moisture sucking, soft as ever socks. I'm not used to wearing "heels" but my shoes are a higher than usual and are clogs but there is no other way to survive in the bake kitchens at school - I've tired wearing my hiking boots and man I could not function the next day - no leg strength and my feet hurt so bad!!!! Invest in good quality shoes, they are extremely important!

Karianne

[Pugs]

I recently bought a pair of Sanita clogs with backs and stell toed and I love them, they cost me about $110 but they were worth it. You should also check with you school to see if there are any shoe stores you get a discout at, I know at the CSCA we get a discount at a bunch of places in Pasadena.

HTH
Jason

[roger ramjet]

after all my rantings, I must say that Sanitas are the only glogs that LOOK cool...

[chefelsner]

I wear Rocs and Ecco. The Rocs were about $90 on sale. The Eccos will run twice that but if you're feet are good then so is the rest of you. I also recommend that you don't wear the same shoes everyday but if you do, keep them polished to prevent them from drying out.

[Tricia]

Yep, look cool and keep my feet cool too. With a thick pair of sockies my feet stay dry, always find closed in shoes make my tootsies really hot.