A popular choice among many nurses and doctors, these clogs may be the answer to your feet and leg pain after a long shift.

The Professional Clog is by far the most popular version from Dansko’s line and is offered in several colors and both men’s and women’s sizing. Despite their popularity, some healthcare providers say they would never be caught dead in them. But is the non-traditional style worth it for the supreme comfort that their fans claim?

First Impressions

Some healthcare providers I work with say they would never be caught dead in a pair of clogs, but I think the Professionals look very…Professional? Something about the look of a leather shoe just seems more polished than wearing a running shoe or trainer. I chose the Antique Brown color as you can see in the pictures and it just looks nice. Taking them out of the box, the smell of fresh oiled leather is pleasant and the clogs really look similar to pair of nice dress shoes. Putting them on my foot, I could immediately feel the “anatomically contoured PU insole” that Dansko advertises. It felt a lot harder than my running shoes that I was previously wearing but not so much that it was uncomfortable. I knew from reading reviews that it would take about a month to really break them in so this didn’t worry me too much.

Construction

The upper in these clogs is made of leather that comes in several different color options. The leather is stapled onto them molded, dual-density, contoured EVA midsole/footbed. The shoes feels very solid when first putting it on, if not a little stiff. But it definitely feels like something that will hold up for a long time.

Comfort

This category is tricky because if you just slip on a new pair and expect a high level of comfort, you will likely be pretty disappointed. Dansko clogs have a “break in” period that they don’t necessarily advertise but everyone who is in the “know” knows that you need to slowly integrate these into your regular wear until they are broken in and your foot becomes molded into the midsole/footbed. I used advice from a friend and wore my brand new pair for half a shift (~6 hours) at a time, until they were comfortable enough to extend that to the whole 12 hours. I highly recommend this strategy in order to properly break these in while also avoiding any unnecessary pain/aches during that process.

Durability

I had always been told that a pair of Dansko’s would last a lot longer than a pair of traditional sneakers. The construction of these shoes and the high quality materials seem to lend themself to a durable shoes. I have had only one issue with my clogs so far that has not necessarily changed my mind on them but is worth mentioning. Some of the staples that hold the upper onto the midsole near the ball of the foot have slowly begun to “push out” from the shoe. Refer to the picture below to see what I’m talking about. To fix this, I usually just take my trauma shears and use them to “tap” them back into place. This hasn’t affected the function of the shoes at all, but it was a little disheartening after spending a good amount of money on a high quality pair of shoes. I never tried to warranty the clogs but I’m sure Dansko would be receptive to replacing them had I sought that out. Aside from that, the shoes seem indestructible and are the easiest shoes to clean while at work, no matter what gets splashed onto them throughout the shift.

Sizing

Dansko uses Euro sizing for all of its shoes. While their website has a conversion chart to US sizing, I highly recommend measuring your foot as accurately as possible in order to prevent getting the wrong size. With the Professional Clog, you will want to have plenty of room behind the heel, as the shoe is designed to allow your heel to move freely with each step. It might feel like it’s too big at first, but you will want that extra room (about a finger width) to prevent them from squeezing over the top of your foot or on your heel. Always buy from a website where you can easily exchange for a different size just in case it doesn’t work out.

Conclusion

These are my go-to shoes that I recommend to anyone new nurses and I wear them daily while working in the ICU. Once broken in, the molded in feeling is fantastic and I never have to worry about my feet or legs hurting at the end of a long day. Have any thoughts or experiences with the Dansko Professional Clog? Let us know below in the comments!

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