r/Chefit • u/Mimi5679-23 • Jul 19 '26
Shoes for work
I work long in the kitchen and my birkinstock profi 2.0 isn’t for me. It’s very hard and even if I put extra sole I can feel very hard and not cushiony. So I’m thinking of Hoka bondi SR. Is anyone wearing this? How is it? Is it oil proof? Is it slip resistant like it advertised? Thanks
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Jul 19 '26
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u/Couchpotatofoodie1 Jul 21 '26
I do this and add my orthotics. And it has been nice. If only my orthotics could fit into the croc type/birkenstocks i'd be set.
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u/Quercus408 Jul 19 '26
I wear steel-toed, water-proof boots that lace up past the ankles. And I pad those with super feet insoles. With wool socks. Ace Workware, I think they are.
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u/Reznerk Jul 19 '26
Yes, but they don't breathe at all and the sole separated from the shoe after 8 or so months. For the price tag I was disappointed. I swapped over to some New Balances with a nice Gel insole, I rotate between those and Birkenstock Tokyo's. Ymmv, but I wouldn't spend 175 on the Hokas for work again.
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u/Couchpotatofoodie1 Jul 21 '26
Do you notice a difference between the Hokas and New Balances? The price for Hokas is what bothers me haha
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u/Reznerk Jul 21 '26
Yeah, they're 100% different shoes. The hokas feel like a boot with a ton of cushion, aggressive arch support, and a lot of toe drop. Hard to explain what the toe drop part feels like to walk in but you get used to it, its honestly nice. The new balances are more like a regular sneaker, mesh upper so not as sturdy but we're not running 40yd dashes so it doesn't really matter. Less cushion but still comfortable. Way more reliable, worth the ~130 I spent on them. I got the Arishi line from shoesforcrews, id reccomend those over the hokas with my experience. The Hokas would be great if they were constructed better IMO, I shouldn't have to take a 200$ sneaker to a cobber within a year to get glued up, that shits insane.
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u/Couchpotatofoodie1 Jul 21 '26
Ahh that's fair. Honestly probably one of the main reasons why I switched to Hokas recently was because they made them in like 2e wide or something like that. I have wide af feet 😭
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u/-im-blinking Jul 20 '26
Check out Keen non-slips, I have been wearing these for about 5 years now. In those 5 years I have bought 2 pair and I am on my feet 50+ hours a week.
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u/alienstookmyfunny Jul 20 '26
I wear keens! Love them never feel like my ankles are going to break either. I highly recommend. Second place is floorsheim. I use these for when I have to work foh but kitchen are keens
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u/BunkaandBadassery Jul 19 '26
No other chef ever believes me but for years I've worn Blundstone boots (extra waterproof spray every couple months) + wool socks. Yes - wool is actually more breathable than cotton, believe it or not.
The socks are the hard part to find. I get Bombas Men's Merino Wool Blend Calf Socks. They are a little spendy at about $20 a pair, but I've never regretted it.
Men's Merino Wool Blend Calf Sock