How To Choose The Best Slip Resistant Shoe?

How To Choose The Best Slip
Resistant Shoe?

One of the most needed but often overlooked requirements for many jobs is wearing slip-resistant shoes. Too many restaurant industry accidents, healthcare, or even construction and packaging accidents are preventable if only workers had the proper shoes.

For many, the problem is simply picking the perfect pair of slip-resistant footwear, as there are many factors to consider when choosing the right non-slip shoes, from grip performance to groove depth, durability, and even comfort. Another issue is that the market for slip-resistant shoes isn’t well-regulated, so many brands advertise their “non-slip” or slip-resistant products, although they’re not.

There isn’t a perfect slip-resistant shoe, but there are several that can be your favorites for any job. Let's first talk about why slip-resistant shoes are so important, and then we’ll share some of our favorites.

Schedule your
free foot analysis

What Makes Slip Resistant Shoes
Different?

Unlike everyday, regular shoes, slip-resistant shoes should do one thing well above all else: not slip. They achieve this by using soft rubber soles that incorporate grooves or tread that help the shoe grip onto most surfaces even when stepping on oil, food, water, ice, or other materials that might cause slips and falls.

But being non-slip is the bare minimum. There are overall three main factors that distinguish slip-resistant footwear from regular shoes.

Foot Protection and Injury Prevention

Imagine you’re a restaurant worker running back and forth from the kitchen to the tables, carrying knives, forks, boxes, heavy trays, hot liquids and plates, and other dangers that can easily injure your feet or toes. That’s why the first thing to look for in slip-resistant shoes for work is how well they protect your feet and prevent injury. Slip-resistant shoes must also be sturdy, thick, durable, and protect against a broken toe or a third-degree burn. Many slip-resistant shoes promote style over safety, to the detriment of a restaurant, hospital, or construction worker.

Anti-slip Outsoles

The outsoles are the key to making slip-resistant shoes effective. They are almost always made out of soft rubber, helping to alleviate the impact with every step.

Workers in the food service industry are 60 percent more likely to be injured at work than workers in other industries, according to a study by Emory University. Slip-resistant shoes are a requirement in most restaurants for this reason or are highly recommended. In fact, if your workplace doesn’t require them despite being in food services, hospitals, or construction, demand they make them mandatory or consider finding another job.

Arch Supports

A shoe supporting your arches is vital in any situation, especially for restaurants and healthcare workers who stand for or spend long hours on their feet. Food service workers and employees average 23,000 steps daily, or 10 miles while working. Add to that the thousands of pounds of stress our feet must bear with every step, and it’s clear a non-slip shoe must also deliver on arch support.

Excellent arch support is vital not just for providing safety and health but also for comfort during those long shifts at the hospital or restaurant. You also prevent sprains, twists, fallen arches, splints, and other foot ailments that come from poor arch support.

How To Choose the Right Slip
Resistant Shoe?

So, good arch support, traction on the soles, and protection are the three main aspects of a slip-resistant shoe. But how to choose the right one for you? Here, we walk you through the key considerations.

Tips for Finding The Best Anti-Slip
Shoes That Fit

Footwear selection has to consider several factors in addition to slip resistance, such as comfort, durability, and any other safety features required, such as toe protection. The final choice may have to be a compromise.

Value Comfort & Function Over Looks

Here’s a tip that might seem strange but works; purchase shoes after a full of day of working when your feet are swollen. That way, if you still feel comfortable when trying on a new pair of shoes, that means you’ll feel comfortable with them throughout the day. Moreover, make certain your toes have enough wiggle room in the toe box (the front of your shoes.)

And forget about personal style. We're not talking about casual shoes and heels. We’re talking about footwear for work, so comfort and not slipping on the job should be your priorities; if you find a fashionable pair of adequate slip-resistant shoes that are also comfortable, more power to you. But that shouldn’t be your priority. Also, ensure that the shoe is water-resistant and hard at the top. Your shoe must protect against burns and toe injuries, not just prevent a slip. Pick comfortable work shoes made out of black leather or polyurethane, which is both durable and easier to clean.

Always Get The Best Arch Support

It’s not enough for your shoes to prevent a slip. Some of the most common injuries for workers who walk and stand all day come from sore feet because of shoes that fail to deliver adequate arch support.

Without a good insole and midsole, our feet will pronate too much during those long hours of walking around in a hurry. When a foot pronates, our weight shifts towards the inside edge of it, and too much of that distorts the biomechanics and the distribution of pressure across the foot. This imbalance can lead to foot deformities like bunions, hammertoes, arch and heel pain, shin splints, tendonitis, and even knee and back pain.

A neat trick to check whether a shoe has good arch support or not is to try and bend them in half. If it doesn’t bend, that means it's sturdy enough to support your feet’s arches throughout the day.

Consider What Kind of Floor You Are Most Often Walking On

The floor you will be walking on the most with your new slip-resistant shoes is also important. Some non-slip shoes that work better against water might not be suitable for surfaces with a lot of oil (like an auto shop) or spilled food, which can block the cleats or grooves on the soles of the shoes.

Always ask first what each non-slip shoe is best for, and check how deep and spaced out the grooves are on the soles and the material. Most top-selling and well-rated slip-resistant shoes have this information available on the site or box.

Bring Your Own Shoe Inserts

If you usually wear shoe inserts, always take them with you when trying out new shoes, especially slip-resistant shoes for work. You need to be as comfortable as possible while being safe, including being with your inserts all day long. Look for a suitable footbed too, not just your insole, to support your arch. It must be made either of memory foam or an EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) anti-compression insole.