When you’re a bartender, your feet are on the line. You can’t afford to have sore feet or blisters when you’re working behind the bar. The best shoes for bartenders should be comfortable and durable.
There are many types of shoes that may work well for bartenders. They can be made from leather or fabric and come in a wide range of colors and styles. Here are some factors to consider when choosing your next pair of shoes:
Comfort – A good pair of shoes will keep your feet happy all night long. They shouldn’t have any uncomfortable seams or straps across the top of your foot since you’ll be standing on them all night long. If they don’t fit right, they’ll rub against your heel or pinch at the ball of your foot which could lead to blisters and sores later on.
Durable – You’ll be walking around behind the bar in these shoes all night long so they need to be sturdy enough to handle it all without falling apart quickly or falling apart at all! In addition, you’ll probably be carrying drinks back and forth from the bar area so they should also be able to withstand being dropped on the floor once in awhile!
Best Shoes For Bartenders
Bartenders are always on the move, and if you have ever worked a shift behind the bar, you probably know the feeling…
Quite often not a minute goes by when you’re not on your feet.
This goes to show that having the right shoes for the job can be the difference between a fun and easy shift… or a hellish, and in some cases, painful few hours.
Regardless, we don’t want anyone to learn about the importance of good, comfortable shoes the hard way. As a result, we’ve done some research and came up with the Top 10 brands for bartending shoes, as well as some suggestions for each of these brands.
One thing that is universally agreed upon in the bartending world is that you need shoes that fit. Being constantly on the run, any extra room for your feet to move around in your shoes will have a compounding effect on the pain you feel after a long shift.
Statistics show that 80% of men wear shoes that don’t fit, and with women it’s up to 90%. When you boil it down, especially at your work, there should be only two shoe sizes – right and wrong.
Now for the main event..
THE TOP TEN BEST SHOES FOR BARTENDING
10. SKECHERS
Starting things off, we have the household brand of Skechers.
You’ve heard of them, and while you may not own a pair, I’m sure you know someone who does.
Skechers is the epitome of “getting what you pay for”, and their shoes for bartending are no exception.
Pros:
- Cheap price
- Many have memory foam
- Comfortable (Though overtime this becomes less and less the case
- Slip resistant
Cons:
- Break down easily, and have cheap adhesives
- Not much arch support
- Not quiet shoes and known to “squeak”
- Most aren’t very stylish
9. NEW BALANCE
A brand that is more known for its athletic shoes than work shoes, New Balance actually does a pretty decent job in this sphere. Their shoes – though not the greatest quality – serve as a good alternative for those looking for a decent work shoe at a good price. If you want something that lasts, we recommend one of the shoes ranked higher. But if you’re just looking for a temporary shoe, New Balance should do the job.
Pros
- Relatively Cheap
- Styles
- Slip resistant
Cons
- Quality
- Comfort
8. KEEN
This next one might be surprising for some. When it comes to paying more for higher quality, this brand’s bartending shoes falls a little short. They are great boots, but aren’t quite up to par to the other boots on our list. And with a price that matches or even exceeds them, we list KEENon the lower end of the list.
Pros
- Boots
- Variety
- Comfortable
- Slip resistant
Cons
- Cheaply made (for the price)
- Expensive
- Other brands do it better
7. MERRELL
After testing Merrell, we felt that it falls a little short for its very high prices. We absolutely love their MOAB but understand it’s not for everyone. That being said, if you are a fan of durability and have wide feet, these are definitely the shoes for you.
Pros
- Durable
- Great for wide feet
- Variety
- Slip resistant
Cons
- Very Expensive
6. BIRKENSTOCK
Next up we have Birkenstocks. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can’t deny they deliver. Where the divide comes is in how they look. Just like our next shoe in the list, these shoes may receive some odd looks when worn in public. The good news is you will be spending most of your time behind the bar, so you should be good.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Well Made
- Slip resistant
Cons
- Expensive
- Not stylish
- Not always Slip Resistant
5. CROCS
Oh boy. The notorious Crocs. They will never not be vilified, and that pretty much comes with the territory. You know you’ll most likely have to be dodging insults if you walk outside with these bad boys on. What you might not have known is how great they can be for working behind the bar. They are light, comfy, and slip-resistant—as well as being extremely cheap. So aside from the look (and the lack of good airflow to your feet when wearing them) these are actually great shoes for bartending.
Pros
- Feet won’t hurt (surprisingly)
- Very easy to clean
- Reliable
- Won’t break down
- Cheap Price
- Comfortable
- Slip resistant
Cons
- UGLY
- Lack of airflow
- Can get smelly
4. RED WING
Next up we have our two favorite boot companies. As we mentioned earlier, KEEN isn’t a bad alternative. But Red Wing and Dr. Martens seem to give you a better bang for your buck, which is why we rated them higher. It really was toss up between the two, but we gave the edge to Dr. Martens as the superior work shoe. Still, Red Wing offer solid shoes for the bartender lifestyle in you and will last a long time.
Pros
- Durable
- Steel-Toe
- Superior quality
- Slip resistant
Cons
- Not the most fashionable
- Expensive
3. DR. MARTENS
The world-famous Dr. Martens arrive at number 3. Combining style with practicality, they’ve been doing it right for over 60 years. When it comes to utilizing their shoes in the bartender workplace, they push all the right buttons. We understand their look and price are not for everyone, but those who choose them will not be disappointed.
Pros
- Stylish
- Iconic
- Durable
- Steel-Toe
- Superior Quality
- Slip resistant
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy
2. SHOES FOR CREWS
If there is one brand that comes to mind when figuring out where to buy shoes for the non-stop worker, Shoes For Crews is that brand. Combining style with a plethora of options – all on the relative cheap – Shoes For Crews does it right. They have shoes for every type of job and environment in the workplace.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Renowned in the “workplace shoes” field
- Cheap
- Good Quality
- Many Options
- Slip resistant
Cons
- Not always the most stylish
1. DANSKO
There was much debate amongst the BLH team for this last one, but after much trial and error, Dansko rose to the top as the brand we recommend most to any bartender looking for comfort and style. Dansko’s are well crafted and will last for a long period of time. People who buy Dansko products often fall in love with the brand, and it’s this customer loyalty that gives them the top spot in our best shoes for bartending.
Pros
- Extremely Comfortable
- Renowned in the workplace field
- Once you go Dansko, you don’t go back
- Stylish
- Safe
- Slip resistant
Cons
- Can be pricey
