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Dansko Professional Review – A Classic Clog for the Kitchen

The Dankso Professional is an iconic style from an iconic brand. There was even an ode to the Dansko Professional in the New York Times (In Praise of an Aggressively Unfashionable Shoe). So we couldn’t wait to put them to the test in the kitchen. Though they’ve become a fashionably unfashionable footwear choice, they endure as workhorse clogs in kitchens around the world.

Pair of black box leather Dansko Professional clogs for chefs, nurses, and maximum comfort

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Being on your feet all day in sometimes wet, sometimes greasy, sometimes hot conditions is not easy. Having a shoe that can keep you comfortable, safe, dry, and cool is essential to making it through the day without damaging your feet, legs and back. Dansko designed the Professional to provide comfort and safety in these conditions and it succeeds brilliantly. It’s no coincidence that the Dansko Professional clog/mule has endured as one of the top choices of chef shoes for so long, even after the introduction of the Dansko XP and Dansko XP 2.0.

One thing you do need to pay attention to is the style you choose. As the Dansko brand has crossed from a pure work shoe to a fashion statement, various styles and leather choices have cropped up. Some of these are suited for wet and greasy conditions while others are not. In particular, if you are using these to work in the kitchen avoid the Cabrio leather options and instead go for Box leather. These will stand up to grease and water and will be easy to clean.

Fast Facts about the Dansko Professional

  • Leather uppers.
  • Also, a 1-inch platform with 1.75-inch heels.
  • Next, a rounded toe box with reinforcement.
  • Memory foam footbed (not removable, look to the XP 2.0 for a removable insole).
  • Padded instep collar (the part that goes across the top of your foot).
  • In addition, a PU outsole for shock absorption and flexibility.
  • Finally, approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Performance of the Dansko Professional

Dansko is one of the most trusted brands in the market for clogs, sandals, and shoes for people who work on their feet all day. Founded in 1990, Dansko pursuies its mission of improving the quality of life through passion and commitment to great products. Chefs around the world support Dansko, making it one of the most popular brands because of their cult-like devotion to Dansko clogs.

Their is something of a rite of passage to getting used to your first pair of Dansko professionals. They wear a little differently than most shoes. Your heel should supposed move up and down while you walk. This provides greater lateral stability, breathability, and comfort over a long shift in hot conditions. They even have a video on how you are supposed to wear the Dansko professional clog.

One thing you need to watch out for with the Dansko professional is the leather upper. There are several options for type of leather (as well as color), and not all of them are ideal for wet and greasy conditions that you might run into in a kitchen. In particular, the Cabrio leather is not ideal for the kitchen. You’ll want to go with the “Box” leather options. If it isn’t obvious from the product listing, you can tell the difference by the amount of shine: Cabrio has a very dull finish, while Box leather has a little shine (without being completely reflective).

Cushioning and Comfort

One of the most important aspects of any shoe purchase, and particularly a chef shoe, is comfort. As we mentioned above, the Dansko Professional allows some movement of your heel, so you want to order a half-size up. This takes some getting used to, but once you adjust, this heel motion helps with comfort.

Another nice feature that helps with the comfort of the Dansko Professional Clog is the roomy toe box reinforced with thermoplastic. Shoes that squish your toes start to hurt after a few hours. Further, without a reinforced toe box, the repeated exposure to water and heat inherent to chef work causes the toe box to deform.

Although the memory foam footbed provides great arch support for flat feet, you cannot remove them. So if you need custom orthotics, the Dansko Professional won’t work for you. You can check out the Dansko XP 2.0 though!

Value and Cost

The Dankso Professional is definitely one of the more expensive options on our list of the best chef shoes. However, given the quality of the materials and construction these shoes will last a really long time. Also, the excel in keeping you comfortable throughout the day, so a few extra dollars up front will definitely pay off in terms of keeping your feet, legs and back injury-free.

Details of the insole and outsole of the Dansko Professional chef shoes

Dansko Professional: The Pros

  • Super Comfort. For those who learn how to move around in the Dansko Professional, allowing their heel to move up and down inside the shoe, these are some of the most comfortable and stable shoes you are going to find.
  • Roomy Toe Box. Reinforced with thermoplastic, the toe box provides plenty of room for your digits, and the solid construction means it won’t shrink or deform over time.
  • Padded Instep Collar. The Dansko Professional is supposed to fit snuggly around the top of your foot, and the padded collar does an excellent job of keeping the shoe in place while preventing rubbing on the top of your foot that might lead to blisters.

Dansko Professional: The Cons

  • Tight Fit. If you have wide or large feet these may be too tight for you. The most frequent complaint on the fit of these shoes is that they are just too tight around the top and sides of the foot. Do be sure to order a half-size larger than normal though so that your heel can move up and down in the shoe.
  • Adjustment Period. It takes a little practice to walk around in the Dansko Professional properly. Once you get the hang of letting your heel move up and down, it is great, but some people never like this feel.

Our Verdict

Having the right shoe or clog in the kitchen means having a shoe that will keep you safe and keep you comfortable. Failure to meet both of those conditions is a real deal-breaker in shoes for chefs. Luckily, the Dansko Professional does an excellent job at both.

Available for Men at

Available for Women at

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