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

Which ones we recommend:

• Skechers for Work Men’s Felton Slip Resistant Relaxed-Fit Work Shoe
• Skechers for Work Men’s Flex Advantage Slip Resistant Mcallen Slip On

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

Which ones we recommend:

• New Balance Slip Resistant Fresh Foam 806
• New Balance Steel Toe 627v2 Leather

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 KEEN on the lower end of the list.

Pros

• Boots
• Variety
• Comfortable
• Slip resistant

Cons

• Cheaply made (for the price)
• Expensive
• Other brands do it better

Which ones we recommend:

• Keen Men’s Braddock Waterproof Mid (Soft Toe)
• Keen Women’s PTC Oxford
  

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

Which ones we recommend:

• Merrell Men’s Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe
• Merrell Women’s MOAB 2 Mid Tactical Waterproof Boot

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

Which ones we recommend:

• Birkenstock Birki’s Super Birki Unisex Clog
• Birkenstock A-630 Alpro

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

Which ones we recommend:

• Crocs Unisex Bistro Clog
• Crocs On The Clock Work Slip-On

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

Which ones we recommend:

• Red Wing Men’s Iron Ranger 6″ Boot
• Red Wing Heritage Women’s 6″ Moc-W Boot

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

Which ones we recommend:

• Dr. Martens Hynine Steel Toe
• Dr. Martens Work Bolt ST

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

Which ones we recommend:

• SFC Men’s Freestyle Li Sneaker
• SFC MOZO Men’s Floyd Food Service Shoe
• SFC MOZO Women’s Maven Food Service Shoe

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

Which ones we recommend:

• Dansko Men’s Wynn Black Smooth
• Dansko Women’s Ellie Black Leather

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Shoes are important in people’s daily life, and the same applies for the life of a bartender. The problem is most people don’t give their selection of bar shoes the same amount of importance they give to their everyday shoes.

Use this guide to find a pair that works for you, and stand out from the crowd – all while making your life of serving up drinks a little easier.