If you're looking for the best restaurant shoes, non-slip shoes are essential to have for a restaurant worker’s personal safety arsenal. Slips and falls on slippery surfaces are the number one cause of workplace injuries for restaurant workers, and preventing these incidents with slip resistant shoes for women and men's slip resistant shoes, can help servers, bartenders, cooks, and dishwashers preserve their physical health both on and off the clock.₁

But, when you’re looking for a new pair of work shoes or trying to find a pair of shoes in your closet that has slip resistance, how can you tell which kicks cut the mustard?

If you’re wondering, “How to tell if shoes are non-slip”, we’ll teach you just what to look for to be able to tell if your shoes qualify. We’ll explore product labeling, tell-tale signs, safety testing, and where to ask for advice when you’re stumped on finding the best non-slip shoe. With this primer, you’ll be able to find your perfect pair of restaurant non-slip shoes before your next shift.

Check The Product Description Or Tag

Whether you’re considering wearing a safety shoe you already own or you’re combing local retailers for a new pair, a work shoe won’t always obviously look non-slip at first glance. While non-slip shoes of the past had more of a quintessential look, today’s slip resistant shoes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

The first place to look for details in a slip resistant shoe is the product tag—or the product description if you’re shopping online. If you’re examining a pair of shoes in person, there are two places you can look for information when looking for the best safety footwear shoes for you:

• 1 A product tag inside of the work shoe
• 2 A brief description inscribed into the rubber sole or the tongue

In one of these places, you’re likely to find the shoe size, the material that the slip resistant footwear is made from (which can also help you determine their non-slip potential), their slip resistant rating, or cleaning instructions.

Look For Tell-Tale Signs

If product labeling or online descriptions don’t offer any hints for the non-slip safety footwear, you can look for a few key signs of slip resistant shoes. These usually include:

• Rubber soles– While a lot of non-slip shoe soles are usually made from rubber or a synthetic rubber alternative, polyurethane outsoles are a top choice for restaurant workers due to their high quality slip resistance and cushioning that doesn’t diminish over time.₂
• Thick soles – The soles of non-slip safety shoes are typically thicker than ordinary shoes. Thicker outsoles provide additional protection from stepping on sharp objects and increase foot support for long periods of standing and walking.
• Tread patterns– Non slip shoes always feature intricate and numerous treads that offer excellent traction. It’s important to ensure you are cleaning these treads consistently, as trapped grease and food can diminish the slip resistance. Maintaining the quality of the treads while you’re working on a slippery surface, can prevent you from any accidental falls.

While slip resistant shoes come in a variety of styles and colors now, all-black designs still dominate the market. So, if you’re studying a pair of shoes that meet the qualifications above and they’re all-black, you’ve likely found a non-slip pair.

Test Them Out Safely

If you’re trying to determine whether a pair of shoes you already own will keep you upright on your workplace's greasy kitchen floor, it is best to test out your shoes in a controlled environment before donning them for dinner service. Since it’s not often you will have access to testing in a controlled environment, here are a couple tips to keep in mind when testing the slip resistance on your own:

• 1 It is always best to test slip resistant soles by comparing them with a different pair of shoes, with an alternative sole. This comparison will help to understand traction levels for different shoe sole materials.
• 2 If you have access to test your shoes on a wet surface, or an ultra shiny or polished surface, it is important to be extra cautious as to not cause any accidental falls. Be mindful of how your shoes feel on a shiny surface, the traction, as well as the stability of your foot.

If you feel the urge to slip when testing out your shoes, it is likely they won’t keep you from slipping while you’re on the clock. But, if your shoe shows that it has a better grip ona a smooth or wet surface, and you feel secure during the test, you’re probably safe to try out the pair on your next shift.

Ask A Shoe Retailer

If nothing is printed anywhere on your shoes, you’re not sure if the tell-tale signs are apparent in your pair, or you’re not confident after an at-home test, it’s time to ask a professional for advice.

Pop over to a shoe retailer in your area for their opinion. Your local shoe expert has seen thousands of pairs of shoes, and they’ll likely be able to tell right you away about the key features of non-slip footwear and if your shoes will keep you safe on greasy dining room, kitchen, and bar floors.

Boot World: your #1 source for restaurant work shoes since 1975

Before you stroll into the kitchen to run plates or walk behind the bar to start prepping or mixing, you should be as confident as possible that your shoes are slip resistant. Now that you know how to tell if shoes are non-slip, you’re one step closer to achieving optimal workplace safety. Knowing how to clean work shoes is also important, especially if they are slip resistant. This can slow down the wear and tear process and make sure your shoes can have a longer shelf life.

If your existing shoes won’t keep you upright, or your trusty pair of non-slips are finally ready to retire, it’s time to visit Boot World. We’ve been helping restaurant workers, construction experts, and everyone in between find the perfect shoes for work—and play—since 1975, and we have the know-how and the inventory to equip you with the industry’s best (and safest) work boots and shoes.

At Boot World, our team of experts knows just how important it is to wear the appropriate gear while you’re on the clock. Let us help you find your perfect pair.

A Final Boot World Advantage Tip: In today’s modern world, there are no shoes that are entirely slip-resistant. Instead of searching for the most slip-resistant shoe possible, the trick to remaining on your feet is working in an environment that is frequently cleaned of contaminants that could lead to accidents, like water and oil. Other forms of debris like small rocks, glass and loose food can become lodged in your work shoes increasing the likelihood of an accident occurring and turning even the best slip-resistant shoe into a slip-and-slide.

Sources:

• 1 National Library of Medicine. Workers' experience of slipping in U.S. limited-service restaurants.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20552500/
• 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Slip-Resistant Shoes.
  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/newsroom/feature/slipresistantshoes.html

Reviewed By:

Ed Stone brings over 45 years of footwear knowledge and passion to his role as President of Boot World, a family-owned company and an industry leader in safety and occupational footwear. A second generation "shoe dog” Ed's footwear knowledge is unparalleled, serving as an informal advisor for some of the worlds largest footwear brands including Wolverine, Timberland PRO, and Reebok Works.

A lifelong Southern California resident, and ardent conservationist, Ed enjoys hiking and open water swimming.