Also known as safety shoes, slip-resistant shoes are those shoes that are made with soles that are designed specifically to resist slippage. These shoes come in a huge array of different types. There are loafers, sneakers, sandals, and many more types of slip-resistant shoes. These shoes can be made specifically for men, women, and children.
The sole of slip-resistant shoes is most often made of a durable rubber. When the rubber is molded to meet the specific shoe's design, the added feature of traction support is created as a part of the sole. The outer sole is where the traction or slip-resistant quality actually can be thick or thin dependent upon the design and purpose of the shoe. The upper portion of the shoe can be made of a variety of materials, from mesh to leather, plastic to suede.
Slip-resistant shoes come in loafers. They also come in the traditional oxford style and the overlay toe oxford, lace-up styles. There are even slip-resistant sneakers in both high-top and low-top designs to prevent falls.
Winter shoes are commonly designed with a slip-resistant sole. These types of slip-resistant shoes will often feature a heavier sole and added insulation to keep the foot of the person wearing it insulated from the frigid temperatures common in the colder months.
Dress shoes also can be found with a slip-resistant sole. These types of fancy shoes are often worn by those who have had trouble with sure footing or simply do not want to risk the slippery sole of a leather shoe. The slip-resistant shoes that are chosen for dress verses casual wear range greatly in price, largely dependent on the designer whose line they are featured in.
Slip-resistant shoes are very popular within the hospitality industry, especially for those who work as wait staff in restaurants. These shoes are favored by this type of worker due to the fact that they are in and out of the restaurant kitchen, where spills and leaks are commonplace. The health care industry is another workplace where slip-resistant shoes are favored and often even required by some employers. Within the health care industry, there are often fluids on the floor, creating an unforeseen danger zone for those working around them. Those in the gaming industry as well as in grocery stores and in maintenance positions often wear these shoes. The injury due to a slip is something to be avoided, and so these shoes are a popular choice of footwear.