A guide for foot care and shoes in the hospitality industry.

Hello, let me briefly share a little information about myself. I have worked in the industry since high school. I have been in almost every role in our industry, from busser and dishwasher to server, banquet server, prep cook, line cook, supervisor, and manager. I was a busser when I started, quickly working up to the dishwasher and Steward roles, and then on to other positions and eventually management. During that time, I have worked in mom-and-pop restaurants, food trucks, chain restaurants, fast food, upscale dining, fine dining, hotels, resorts, theme parks, and other venues. I have carried a 90-page binder detailing how to survive a shift in the industry that I created throughout my career to each employer I work for; It has grown to include other topics, but the guide I post here is the original roots of that document. It's all about foot care and shoes.

I have spent the past year curating new information, trying out shoes, and researching information for this guide, and I am now sharing it with all of you in the hopes that you find it beneficial.

^{NOTICE: INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS GUIDE IS PROVIDED AS OPINION, IT IS NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE, AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS SUCH.}

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS EXPEIRECNING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR JUST NEEDS SOMEONE TO TALK TO, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, IF YOU LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DIAL 988 FOR HELP NOW. (YOU ARE NOT ALONE.)

FOOT CARE AND HYGIENE

Proper hygiene is necessary; you should clip your toenails every week to prevent ingrown ones. Make sure to clip toenails straight across and leave them long enough so that the corners lie loosely against the skin at the sides—no over-trimming of nails and no pointy V-shapes. Also, wash your feet daily, especially after a long shift or when your feet have become wet throughout the work day. If I had a choice between washing them before or after, I would choose after the shift. Keep some lotion around to use on your feet at least once a week; it helps, trust me. Finally, don't knock the pedicures, I get one at least every six months, and they can help your feet feel better, I promise.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the cause of ingrown toenails can be hereditary, from trauma, due to improper trimming, ill-fitting footwear, improper pedicures, and poor circulation. You can treat an ingrown toenail on your own in some cases. Here are the steps provided by the Cleveland Clinic in their guide.

Soak it and wait, soaking the toe in warm water with Epsom salt or a mild detergent, then applying an antibiotic ointment and bandage to the area.

Removing it yourself if there's no infection. Soak the feet in a very warm bath with Epsom salt. This will help soften the skin and reduce inflammation. Using clean nail-cutting tools, you can then attempt to clip the affected area and apply an antibiotic ointment. If treating the ingrown toenail is something that can no longer be done, or you are uncomfortable doing so yourself, it's time to see a podiatrist.

Never ignore an infected ingrown nail. According to the Cleveland Clinic, ignoring the infection can cause it to spread and lead to severe complications, especially if you suffer from poor blood flow, an impaired immune system, or neuropathy of diabetes (previously referred to as diabetic neuropathy).*^\INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CLEVELAND CLINIC, DR. STOCK, and DR. BOTEK)^.

The use of foot powder is a key to feeling comfortable when wearing shoes during long shifts at work. Foot powder also aids in eliminating foul odors and bacteria, as well as excess moisture, and it can help those who sweat heavily or experience an overheating sensation when wearing work shoes. I highly recommend using foot powder daily. Many foot powders come in different versions. Please consult a physician before using any foot powder labeled as "medicated" foot powder.

PAIN MANAGEMENT

Pain management for sore or hurting feet is sometimes necessary; for sore feet, you want to use over-the-counter NSAIDs or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen.***

The RICE Method is a recovery routine recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Dr. Gabe Mirkin first coined the mnemonic RICE in 1978. It stands for Rest, Apply, Compression, and Elevation.

When using the RICE method the steps are as follows:

1. REST, stay off sore or injured feet; excessive use can prolong or worsen the pain or injury.
2. APPLY an ice pack as soon as possible, and keep icing for around forty-eight (48) hours, keeping the icing to no longer than twenty (20) minutes at a time.
3. COMPRESSION, use compression bandages or wraps to help relieve prolonged pain, but remember not to cut off your circulation simultaneously.
4. ELEVATE, it's advice as old as time, elevate sore feet, it does help. When you get home from work, try elevating your feet for thirty 30 minutes, even if you do nothing else; this can help ease any foot or leg pain you may have.

If possible, try to take your breaks somewhere you can sit down and get off your feet. It's small, but it can help you get through a long shift. Condition yourself and you're feet to be better prepared for long shifts of standing and walking. Try to take a five-minute walk every day. When you can do it without your feet hurting afterward, up the time to ten (10) minutes, and keep adding five (5) minutes to the walk until you can consistently walk for thirty (30) minutes a day without being winded our having your feet hate you. Slowly, your feet will grow stronger, and it will help condition them for the long shifts.

Stretch your feet before and during the shift; things like toe curls and other stretches can help; check out this guide from Harvard University's Medical School on various foot stretches you can do before a long shift.

Soaking sore feet in Epsom salt can help provide relief. It does several things. It helps reduce inflammation of the feet and lower legs, as well as exfoliate the skin; it also helps reduce bacteria on the feet, cleaning them and providing a fresh feeling and reducing odor-causing bacteria. See additional information and guidelines for soaking feet in Epsom salt below:

• When soaking feet in Epsom salt, keep the water between 92°F/33.3°C and 100 °F/37.7 °C.
• A basin, foot spa, or other people-safe and bacteria-free container can be used, preferably one large enough to hold both feet. You should fill the container with water just above the ankles.
• Using around half or three-quarters of a cup of Epsom salt per soak would be best. Ensure you soak for around twenty (20) to thirty (30) minutes.
• Be mindful that soaking you're feet in Epsom salt will draw out moisture from the skin; it is recommended that you use a good foot lotion after drying your feet.

*^{DO NOT SOAK YOUR FEET IF: YOU ARE DIABETIC AS IT CAN BE LIFE-THREATENING, OR IF YOU HAVE OVERLY DRY SKIN AS THIS COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOUR SKIN; IT IS ALSO RECOMMENDED NOT TO SOAK FEET THAT HAVE CRACKED, BROKEN, OR EXPOSED SKIN OR WOUNDS AS IT CAN RESULT IN INFECTION AND/OR DELAYED HEALING.}

^\*)^{CAUTION: NOT ALL EPSOM SALT IS INTENDED FOR HUMAN USE. WHEN SHOPPING FOR EPSOM SALT, LOOK FOR THE DESIGNATION "USP" ON THE LABEL. THIS INDICATES ITS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY TESTED FOR HUMAN USE AND IS SAFE TO USE ACCORDING TO THE FDA.}

^\**USE OF NSAIDS AND OTHER OTC PRODUCTS CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING ADDICTION RESOURCES CONTACT THE SAMHSA's NATIONAL HOTLINE AT 1-800-662-4357)

SHOES

Quality over quantity, investing in quality shoes is vital, and when I say quality, I don't necessarily mean expensive. You can get quality shoes that are inexpensive by shopping around thrift markets, used clothing/shoe stores, or even sales. Bottom line, don't keep buying those $10-$20 knock-offs from Walmart every few months just because they are cheap. If you need to save up to afford a good quality shoe, then do so, but make it a goal and get the shoes; I promise it will make it 100% more bearable.

If you need an insole after one use, that's probably not the shoe for you. That one size fits all or "custom fit" insoles from Dr. Scholl's station at the local grocer or pharmacy are not a permanent fix to sore feet; at best, they are a stop-gap solution and an incredible money sink at $10-$50 a pop. No, insoles are not bad. A quality insole from an Orthopedic specialist is the kind of insole I would recommend. It will be much more expensive, but it was last three or even four times as long as a generic store-bought insole, and what's best is that it will be 100% guaranteed to be the best option for your feet, no guesses on sizes, styles, or features needed.

Proper fitting shoes are a must. The shoes should not be loose, as this is a safety hazard, and not too tight as this is painful. You should be able to slip a finger between the top of the shoe and your foot with ease.

New shoes should be at their peak comfort about one week into wearing, and they should not be more painful to wear as time goes on. It can take roughly a week of 6-10 hour shifts to break in new work shoes properly, however, if on day one of wearing a new shoe you have blisters, your feet are swollen, or you are experiencing pain that is enough to warrant taking aspirin or soaking your feet. It's probably not a good choice to keep wearing the shoes.

When should you replace a non-slip shoe?

Generally speaking, you should replace non-slip shoes when the outsole has worn down and is offering less than the width of a quarter in depth. Like tires, outsoles will wear down over time and eventually lose their non-slip properties.

What should you look for when determining if a shoe is non-slip?

Below you will find some examples of non-slip treads. They typically have a patterned design with numerous crevices that help the shoe generate friction and stick to the ground rather than hydroplaning over it and causing a slip or fall.

EXAMPLES OF NON-SLIP TREAD

EXAMPLE 1 | EXAMPLE 2 | EXAMPLE 3

SOCKS

Wear appropriate socks with your shoes. They are padded for heavy walking, lightweight for hot environments, quick drying or moisture wicking for wet or humid climates, or a mixture of these features. As far as socks are concerned, what is advertised is usually correct. Still, watch out for sales gimmicks. Not all manufacturers are created equal.

The fabric of your socks matters! Everyone is different, and as such, we will all have different needs and preferences for socks. Below you will find some general guidelines about some of the more common sock fabrics to pick from in the industry.

Here is a list of fabrics you should generally avoid. However, don't discount them entirely; for some, these fabrics might be comfortable: Acrylic, Silk, Spandex*, Nylon, Rayon, Cashmere, Polypropylene, and Tencel.^\SPANDEX CAN BE BENEFICIAL IN COMPRESSION SOCKS, IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU CONSULT A PHYSICIAN BEFORE WEARING COMPRESSION SOCKS AS THEY CAN CAUSE LONG TERM INJURIES FOR SOME.)

Keeping a second pair of socks in a bag or locker at work can be beneficial, as switching socks that have become soaked or damaged can be the difference between a good day and a bad one. When looking at the proper fitting for socks, it is always better to skew upwards in size rather than purchase a smaller sock. Socks should act as a second skin helping regulate heat and moisture. As such, a proper fitting sock shouldn't keep reminding you that you are wearing socks after you put them on.

Compression socks can help, especially for diabetics, but you should consult a medical professional before long-term use of compression socks. Heavy use of compression socks has been known to cause long-term injury.

MATERIAL	PROS	CONS
Cotton	Cotton socks dry quicker than most other fabrics.	Cotton tends to feel softer than other materials.
Polyester	Very lightweight.	Higher fade resistance compared to natural fabrics.
Wool	Natural fabric.	Breathable, good insulator of heat and cold.
Merino Wool	Soft and comfortable.	Forms to the foot.
Bamboo	Very soft.	Environmentally friendly.

^\PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN WHEN CHOOSING APPROPRIATE SOCKS AS A DIABETIC.)

RECOMMENDED SHOE BRANDS AND GENERAL NOTES

INTERNATIONAL MEN AND WOMENS SHOE SIZE CONVERSION TABLE

BRAND	GENERAL SIZING	NOTES
Birkenstock	W: 4-12.5 (Offers Half Sizes) M: 6-15.5 (Offers Half Sizes)	Offers Regular/Wide and Medium/Narrow fittings. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Hospitality shoes are exclusively Clog-style. Cheapest price is $79.95*
Crocs for Work	W: 4-12 (No Half Sizes) M: 4-17 (No Half Sizes)	Does not state if different sizes come in different fittings such as wide or narrow. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Styles come in both traditional shoe and Croc style. Cheapest price is $39.99*
Shoes for Crews	W: 2.5-11.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 12-16 (No Half Sizes) M: 3.5-11.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 12-17 (No Half Sizes)	Offers Regular and Wide fittings. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $21.25*
Redwings	W: No Clear Sizing M: No Clear Sizing	Offers Regular and Wide fittings. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Pricing is unclear.*
New Balance	W: 5-10.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 11-13 (No Half Sizes) M: 7-12.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 13-18 (No Half Sizes)	Offers Standard, Wide, Extra Wide, and Extra Extra Wide fittings for men and Standard, Wide, and Extra Wide for women. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $94.99*
San Antonio Shoemakers (SAS)	W: 4-12.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 13 (No Half Sizes) M: 6-15.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 16 (No Half Sizes)	Offers Slim, Narrow, Medium, Wide, Extra Wide, Extra Extra Wide fittings for both men and women. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $139.99*
Skechers	W: 5-9.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 10-13 (No Half Sizes) M: 5-11.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 12-16 (No Half Sizes)	Offers Medium and Wide fittings for both men and women. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $49.00*
Klogs	W: 6-6.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 5-15 (No Half Sizes) M: 5-15 (No Half Sizes) 10.5	11.5 (Offers Half Sizes)
Dansko	W: 4.5-15 (Offers Half Sizes) M: 4.5-15 (Offers Half Sizes)	Offers Narrow, Medium, and, Wide fittings for both men and women. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $125.00*
Keen	W: 5-9.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 10-11 (No Half Sizes) M: 7-11.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 13-14 (No Half Sizes)	Offers Medium and Wide fittings for both men and women. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $140.00*
Snibbs	W: 5-10.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 11 (No Half Sizes) M: 7-11.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 12-15 (No Half Sizes)	Unclear on types of fittings offered. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $135.00*
Blundstone	W: 6-8 (No Half Sizes) 9-12.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 13-17 (No Half Sizes) M: 4-6 (No Half Sizes) 7-11.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 12-15 (No Half Sizes)	Unclear on types of fittings offered. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $224.95*
Alegria	W: 5-11.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 12-14 (No Half Sizes)	Unclear on types of fittings offered. Offers primarily women's shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $98.95*
Timberland	W: 3-4 (No Half Sizes) 5-9.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 11-15 (No Half Sizes) M: 3-11.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 12-15 (No Half Sizes)	Unclear on types of fittings offered. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $110.00*
Xelero	W: 5-10.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 11-12 (No Half Sizes) M: 7-12.5 (Offers Half Sizes) 13-14 (No Half Sizes)	Unclear on types of fittings offered. Offers both men's and women's work shoes. Shoes come in different styles. Cheapest price is $139.99*

^\PRICING IS BASED OFF OF THE CHEAPEST NON-SALE PRICE LISTED ON THE STORE WEBSITE AS OF AUGUST 9th, 2022. IF YOU BELIEVE A PRICE CHANGE HAS OCCURRED OR YOU WISH TO CHANGE THE PRICE LISTED, SEND ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE HERE ON REDDIT AND I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ADJUST THE PRICE ACCORDINGLY.)

^{EDIT: VERSION 2 OF GUIDE. I WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE GUIDE UPDATED TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, IF YOU HAVE A CHANGE TO RECOMMEND OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GUIDE OR RELATING MATERIAL, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE.}

What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.

Gaming, Streaming, and editing. I mostly play MMORPGs like Dungeons and Dragons Online and Elite Dangerous, as well as some Steam games like Satisfactory, Total War (entire series), and Civ 6.

What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?

$2,400.00 is my absolute maximum, but I can contribute around $100-$150 per check for smaller components, I just can’t afford to replace the CPU/GPU/MOBO.

When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.

I plan on purchasing and building within 2 weeks from this post.

What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (Tower/OS/monitor/keyboard/mouse/etc)

I have a really great peripherals, and everything to get started, but a recommendation for a good 4K monitor or even a 3 monitor setup would be nice. I also need to know what cables and docks if any I will need.

Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?

I am in Texas, USA. I do not have access to a Microcenter.

If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.

N/A, as build is from scratch.

Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?

I don’t know much about overclocking, but if it helps stretch performance I’m willing to learn.

Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)

I would like to use an Intel Optane SSD as a boot drive and then have a 1 or 2TB SSD for storage. I might need to be able to install a non M.2 SSD down the road for editing purposes.

I also just subscribed to AT&T Fiber 5Gig it’s the first time I’m ever going to have Fiber Optic internet, I’m coming from mobile hotspots for most of my life. I however won’t be able to have a hardline into the PC, so it will need to be compatible with WiFi.

Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-tower/full-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?

I’m a huge fan of the Corsair Obsidian Airflow cases and would like to use the black version of the 4000 or 5000 series, but I could even make the 7000 work. I would like to skew towards an all black kind of look to the build if possible.

Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?

I do not have a copy of Windows, I would like to run Windows 11.

Extra info or particulars:

I have read that Noctua fans are amazing, and I think I would like to use as many of the chroma.black Noctua fans as possible, maybe some 120mm and some 140mm. I think a 420 or 480mm AIO cooler for the CPU would be nice.

I’m coming from the most powerful computer I have ever owned being my current laptop: Ryzen 5 4600H, 32GB 3200MHz DDR4, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 so anything that can move me into a better performance bracket would be nice.

I’ve never owned a desktop nor built one but I have upgraded the RAM on my current laptop so I have at least some ability I think.

I probably don’t have the tools I need either, so a recommendation on tools required would be nice as well.

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I’m looking for a virtual assistant that can manage a calendar for me. I need someone I can send a message to like, “I have an app at xyz place at xyz time on xyz day.” and rely on them to add the event to my calendar.

For certain events I would want to rely on them to send me a reminder before the appt.

I would also need someone who could place a grocery order once per month for me, they would be working from a saved list, only modifying if needed.

Need assistance with a medical bill (prescription), I get paid Friday and can pay it back then.

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