Find the ideal water-resistant work shoe for the hospitality industry at SFC

Have you ever wondered whether water-resistant work shoes are necessary for your staff? Are you still not quite sure why they are needed and which specific shoe is suitable for your employees? 

Don't worry, our experts at Shoes For Crews have summarised the most important points in this new article—and selected three examples of water-resistant work shoes. 

Splish, Splash, I’m not taking a bath—or why water-resistant work shoes are important in the hospitality industry 

Why is a water-resistant work shoe so important in the hospitality industry? The reasons can be divided into two major “exclamation marks”: safety and comfort! 

The reasons that fall under safety are fairly obvious. Hazards in the kitchen—as well as in dining areas or at events—include the spilling of potentially hot or harmful substances (such as aggressive cleaning agents). To keep your staff’s feet protected, they should wear water-resistant work shoes or work shoes with waterproof uppers whenever possible. The latter can help prevent scalding injuries in particular. However, you should always check the relevant certifications for each shoe.

The factors in the comfort category should not be underestimated, either. Spilled wine, for example, will not burn the foot, but your event manager will have to spend the rest of the working day with wet feet —not a particularly pleasant prospect. A water-resistant work shoe can prevent this, allowing your employees to enjoy dry feet all day long! 

I’m working in the rain—with these water-resistant work shoes, that’s no problem 

Now that we have looked at why water-resistant work shoes are important and recommended in the hospitality industry, we would of course also like to introduce you to a few specific models. 

Since not every shoe is suitable for every area of work—especially when it comes to style—we are now presenting three different models. They are all water-resistant, but differ significantly in appearance. 

For casual waiters and waitresses: Fergus 

Depending on the image your hospitality business wants to project, waiters and waitresses can also look a little more casual. After all, your employees’ workwear should reflect your company’s corporate image, as we learned in the article “Dress for success: workwear in the hospitality industry”.

This is where Fergus comes in. This S3 category safety shoe is not only a casual shoe that can be selected in denim or black leather, depending on your preference, but above all a safe shoe. 

It impresses with safety features such as a composite toe cap and a penetration-resistant outsole. It is also equipped with our certified slip-resistant outsole, which features our proprietary TripGuard design to further reduce the risk of trips and falls. 

Fergus gets its casual look from the previously mentioned waterproof leather or denim upper and its modern design. 

The philosophy behind the various materials used is also modern: the removable cushioned insole is made from recycled EVA, while recycled polyester is used for the

lining

. For elegant event managers: Cambridge ST

For event managers who want to look elegant despite wind and weather, the Cambridge ST is exactly the right choice! 

This S2 category safety shoeshows that water resistance and safety can absolutely go hand in hand with elegance and a high-class attitude. Let’s take a closer look at how the Cambridge ST combines these qualities. 

In terms of design, the smooth, waterproof upper made from recycled microfibres creates classic lines that pair perfectly with a suit or with a jacket and chinos—depending on how formal the event is!

For this model, the toe cap is made of steel, as is the midsole, which provides penetration resistance. The previously mentioned elegant leather upper protects the foot with its waterproof properties. 

And although the design of the Cambridge ST is rather classic, it is also keeping up with the times when it comes to recycled materials. This way, you can do something good for your staff’s feet and the planet. 

For sure-footed chefs: Brandon 

And what would any hospitality business be without chefs? 

For optimum protection for your kitchen staff, we recommend the Brandon, an S3 category safety shoe. This water-resistant work shoe should minimise your nightmares about boiling-over pots, falling knives and accidents caused by slipping. How? Let’s take a closer look now. 

Like all safety shoes, the Brandon has a toe cap, which is made of composite in this model. In accordance with safety category S3, it also features a penetration-resistant and slip-resistant outsole. We have also equipped this outsole with our TripGuard design to further reduce the risk of accidents. 

An important feature Brandon offers for the kitchen is that the microfibre upper is not only waterproof but also easy to wipe clean. This ensures greater hygiene and cleanliness in the kitchen. 

Like the other two models, Brandon is also a sustainable shoe, which is why the removable cushioned insoles made from EVA, the polyester lining and the microfibre upper are made from recycled materials. What’s more, this water-resistant work shoe is vegan!

Would you like to learn more about our water-resistant work shoes? Or do you still have questions about our technologies, such as the TripGuard design? Then contact us at any time. We are happy to help!