SIKA shoes are great too. I have a pair with the wooden soles, my back NEVER hurts anymore. Ever.

i have birki's. i bought them as a floor sample at a trade show so i got a steal, but i love them. they are proto-clogs, but they have removable insoles.

Currently, the shoes I wear for cooking are these weird looking Nike sandals that my sister gave me because they were too small for her.

They leave some parts of my foot exposed, which breaks the rule of protecting your feet in case of splashing hot liquids or whatever, but here in Texas where it's hot - I'll take the trade-off of cool feet.

The main thing is that they have great support! Much better than my tennis shoes. I don't know what I'll do when they die (which is definitely starting to happen).

Hands down, Dansko clogs.

Doing lab work, I'm on my feet for hours at a time. Between that and spending quite a few years as a dancer, my body SCREAMS when I don't wear proper supportive shoes. My pair of danskos have basically saved my life and enable me to get our of bed the next day. I couldn't reccomend them more.

I wear Birkenstocks in the kitchen always. They don't cover my toes like the Birki's do, but it's my home kitchen so I can be dangerous like that. :)

I'm a bit amused by anyone calling Dansko "expensive" though, approx $105-$120 for a really good pair of shoes that'll last you a long time isn't a lot. It's a great investment, especially if you work in them. I work p/t in a shoe store and am always shocked by professionals (chefs, nurses, etc) who work on their feet every day and are too cheap to invest in good foot wear. Take care of yourselves people!

I have had good luck with Merrill shoes.

Dansko clogs are the best. You need something hard that covers your toes in case you drop something sharp, hard or hot. You'll see a lot of professional restaurant kitchen workers wearing them too.

They also provide great arch support for those with flat feet.

Anything Keen. I am on my feet on concrete floors most of my waking hours, and Keen are my go-to shoe, always. SO comfortable and supportive and really durable. I'm partial to their flip flops or the other neoprene/nylon webbing sandals like the H2's because I can throw them in the washing machine when they get slopped on or skunky.

Ditto on the Danskos. Absolutely wonderful! I have concrete floors and have to wear orthopedic sandals to cook in (I don't wear shoes in the house.) Danskos are about $115 a pair, but mine last about 5 years, so it's definitely worth the investment.

I second Daisy11's comment on Merrell. They have excellent support and padding, are really durable for the kitchen, and they last for years and years. REI often has sales.

I've worn my Danskos for 8 or 9 years now. They are just now starting to look worn. So that comes out to something like $15 per year. Pretty cheap, actually.

Whenever I have to stand on concrete, it's the Danskos for me. Not only are they cushioning, but in winter, my feet are warmer because they're off the concrete.

At home, though, I cook barefoot, or in slippers. I have a wood floor in my kitchen, and rugs at the spots I stand the most, so it's comfortable for me.

Tom's! They won't protect from hot liquids, but dammit if they aren't just like walking on pillows. My hairdresser swears by them, and she's on her feet all day long. But get black, navy or the charcoal gray if you don't want them to look dirty.

d4kk1tt3n, that is very very privileged sounding. Not everyone has $115 to spend on shoes.

That being said, dansko rules. As a college student walking around campus a ton with extremely flat feet, danskos have certainly helped.

I swear by Merrells. I have mules (with covered toes) that I prefer to use in the kitchen, otherwise slides.

I used to be a huge Danskos fan, but then there was some weird patent-expiring issue, so then Dansko moved production to China, and everyone I know who bought shoes from them after that had quality issues with them. When I needed to replace my old Danskos a couple of months ago, I went with Sanita, the company who originally owned the patent and who was now continuing production in the old Dansko factory. I've been thrilled with them. They're the same price as Danskos but last several years. They are what I wear whenever I know I'll be on my feet for a while. Especially while doing dishes!

More accurate info about that crazy patent story can be found elsewhere, I'm sure.

@WesternMA12, I think her point was that it's worth it to save up for them. Paying $20 for a pair of shoes that will last, at most, a year and won't give you the support you need for your knees, back, hips, etc. is silly when you can save for a while and get good shoes that will last for five years or more and WILL give you the support you need. You get what you pay for with shoes and if you're on your feet all day you should be willing to spend that money.

I've always had good luck with Danskos. I love my Mephistos, too.

Are you kidding?! Barefoot cooking is the way to go! Then when your feet and kitchen get messy step on two papertowels and skate around!

@WesternMA12: I work two jobs to support two teenaged kids.. I am *anything* but privileged. However, I am very aware that the health of your feet is related to your health in general and know that if you don't treat them right it can have some pretty horrible results. After struggling with a wicked case of plantar fasciitis for a year, $120 for a pair of shoes that'll keep me pain free for years is a hell of a good deal.

Thank you Tiamat for knowing exactly what I meant :)

@Tiamat_the_Red : Unfortunately, saving up for shoes isn't like saving for a vacation. You have to put something on your feet while you are trying to save... so you get cheap shoes... which need to be replaced frequently... vicious cycle.

When I was staging, I was looking for comfortable shoes but did not want to go the way of Dansko's or Crocs. What may surprise you (it did me), is Keen released a line of "work" shoes last year. They have two models, one slip-on and one laced, both black. I have the former and they are very comfortable, even when you're on your feet all day long. Go check them out at the Keen website. They are under the Blvd line and are called PTC Slip-On and PTC Lace

I wear Klogs USA, I love their Naples klogs. Similiar to Danskos, but for me a much better fit and they are very comfortable, and great on my back after a long day on my feet.

Wow, so many great tips and resources. I knew you folks were the ones to ask. Thank you all — my feet thank you, too!

Personally I want one of those squishy mats that the checkers at the grocery store stand on. I have a feeling they are even more expensive than a good pair of shoes though. :)

Danskos FTW! They are also exceptionally popular amongst the teachers at the school where I work. I've had a pair for about five years that I picked up second-hand for $10 (!!!), that are finally starting to show their age - but only superficially, not at all structurally. Also, I'm currently 8 months pregnant and have been wearing them basically every day for several months now.

Chek out the Dansko Outlet:

http://www.danskooutlet.com/

Much cheaper here, anywhere from $60-$85.

What @cptmoll said is true - I got a pair of Sanita's in December (Reyer's in Sharon, PA, baby! outlet prices, they were less than $100...) and they've been fabulous so far, I got the oiled black. The arch support is wonderful. The only thing is, they are high off the ground, as the picture above indicates, so you do have to get used to that so you don't twist your ankle.

I also like my Birkenstock clogs, which I actually got at that same outlet, so, go outlet pricing! ;)

I have heard the same story about Dansko/Sanita. Read comments on zappos...customers are buying multiple pairs from them and "mixing & matching" Dansko clogs to get the same fit on both the right and left foot.

I worked for an outdoor retailer several years ago. I ordered a pair of Dansko clogs. One size too large :( They literally fell off my feet... I was not able to return them as they were direct from the manufacturer. Anyone need a pair of oiled brown in size 39? ha ha. I tried to wear them... didn't work.

My good friend, a chiropractor, just got a pair of Dansko clogs to wear while working...she LOVES them. She said the height of the shoe took some getting used to.

I see waitresses and others who are on their feet all day wearing them. That's good enough for me.

As for Keen's: I find them to be quite wide. I have really average feet (size, width, height) and I swim in them. I tried those, too, but no luck. And I know a lot of people who really love them.

mizrobot, you can get the squishy mats cheap from Uline. I got two of their best quality mats and the order came to about $70, including shipping. The cheapest mats I've seen in stores were about $100 each. And I've been really happy with my mats--they're not gorgeous, but the gorgeous stone kitchen floor I have is just hell on my feet, legs, and back. The mats make cooking much, much more comfortable and I just sweep them off when I sweep the kitchen floor.

I know most people want shoes that cover your toes and such in the kitchen, but as someone with a disabling chronic nerve pain condition, I can't wear most shoes and also can't stand for that long.

Still, I love to cook, and for me the best thing are these ultra squishy flip flops ("floaties") from Sugar Shoes: http://cgi.ebay.com/Womens-Sugar-Floaties-Red-orange-/290417321732?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Women_s_Shoes&var=&hash=item895ed11546

They are like walking on marshmallows and really make a huge difference in how long I can stand and walk around. I wear them always for cooking and other house keeping. They're also pretty cheap to buy, come with a repair kit for if/when the plastic cracks, come in a huge variety of colors, and are easy to clean.

Otherwise I recommend Clarks Privo line, which have great insoles, or just adding some gel insoles to whatever shoes are most comfortable for you. Even getting an extra five minutes of standing time makes a huge difference to my quality of life, so I know my foot comfort.

Merrell is my favorite, also like Born and Chaco. You need to try on different makes to find your best brand. I found Dankso at the thrift shop for a friend who works in food service. Another food service friend declined them because the height caused her to turn her ankle, so she prefers to work in good sneakers.

Thanks for this-- really helpful info!

This is a very helpful post! To the Merrell fans, did you guys have the specific kitchen ones--I believe they are Encore Groove Pro? I bought the Jungle Primo from Marshalls or TJ Maxx and managed to avoid a messy fall from puddles in a new kitchen I am working in. I just fear I might not be so lucky next time! Just wondering if I should spring for the more expensive kitchen line. Also, for Kate (NC), which Born do you use for the kitchen? I picked up a pair of those from Marshalls, too, but they look too nice and are too high for me to wear in the kitchen. They seem to slide my feet too forward.

I'm just now "upgrading" from my Bistro Crocs, which are great but don't offer much in the way of support or height. Let's face it, the kitchen favors the tall.

Thanks, everyone!