Since working at a coffee shoppe usually means that you are on your feet for hours on end, often times on very unforgiving floors, I was wondering if anybody has a pair or brand of shoes that they simply could not make it through a shift without? Any thoughts or suggestions as to how to make this aspect of the job a bit more endurable?

I have been a barista for years, but need a new pair of shoes, so I thought I would look for suggestions. :)

Cheers!

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Running shoes are the way to go...I started getting significant arch/leg/hip/back pain when my hours went up at our shop (standing/cafe-scuttling on concrete all day.) Fortunately one one of our baristas used to work as a podiatrist's assistant and gave me some tips. I'm using Brooks "stability running" shoes, with posting (a supportive material-thing); they're fantastic. Especially with Super-Feet inserts. If you go inserts, don't be afraid to shell out $40 or so for a good pair--and don't get soft jelly ones, they feel great for the first hour but then accelerate bad posture/weight distribuition issues. The inserts I have are hard, they cup my foot to the right standing position, and after a few days of breaking them in my pains went away and, 9 months later, still haven't returned.
vans; authentic or era [i switch it up].
I also have been a Chef for many years and I have gone from Doc Martens to Nikes. These days I alternate between a few pairs of sneakers. After a 16 hour shift my feet are really sore, (I have arthritis in my feet), actually for me standing is better than sitting then standing. The sneakers and Aleve seems to work best for me.
chucks..... My favorite pair have been through the mountains of El Salvador, on the shores of all 3 coasts and in most major cities in the U.S.....i wouldn't trade them for anything...character over comfort i guess. I think I'm about 20 miles away from walking completely through the soles though.....it'll be a sad day.
Ecco is my personal choice, you can get their Trek's which are waterproof, good if your clumsy. One of the most comfortable shoes around, I have 3 pair, one is a boot that I used to wear every day and they are still going strong. When I wear tennis shoes, my feet don't really do that well, they feel too constrained.
Minnetonka Moccasins
If you're not too style oriented, Crocs are always a great and most comfortable as well as slip resistant choice- especially since we're dealing with liquids all the time. Another good option is Shoes for Crews, they have lots of choices and styles to pick from. And if that doesn't work for you, go to your local chiropractor or piediatrist (sp?) and get some custom insoles for your shoes- it's like heaven, costly, but heaven. If you can't afford custom try the Dr. Scholl's brands. Compression socks also help if you're having any sort of aching in your legs.Good luck and hope your find some cozies for your feet!!
Keens all day every day. They come in a wide variety of styles and are great for people that have wider feet.
chucks:) always....
Honestly I wear heels or flip flops most of the time, but Im a tough one when it comes to cute shoes! However I have foud that hiking compatible shoes as well as boat shoes work great for work because they are made to absorb shock and are water resistant and skid proof.
I usually wear my Earth shoes or my Chacos hiking sandals. Both have great arch support and are ergonomically made to give your feet great support. Granted, my feet are still tired, but what can I expect when I'm on my feet for an 8 hour shift? However, these shoes don't make my legs ache.
I should probably look into different shoes, but I usually just wear Adidas Sombas, to be honest. I also have a pair of Mizuno shoes that I'll wear a lot if I know I'm going to be working more than 8 because they are extremely light.

I guess shoes just aren't that high on my list. I think the real problem is that we need to actually take breaks. Let's admit it together, we should probably actually sit down once in a while where, if we were to be honest, most of us do not.

-bry

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