How To Tell If Shoes Are Slip Resistant (Non Slip) - Pasunautre (2024)

Did you know the first thing that people subconsciously notice about you is not your face, your clothes, or even your mannerism? But, your shoes. So, if you walk in with a pair of stilettos or oxfords, you have already made a fashion statement for yourself.

This is probably why, those same trendy flip flops on a beach, look so tacky in a typical office environment. But, isn’t it better to walk in a meeting wearing those sandals, instead of falling on your face while looking pretty in those heels?

Well, of course. But, as clumsy as I am, I have sprained my ankles even in joggers. And believe me, when I tell you, it is even more embarrassing when you slip in your flats.

How to Tell if Shoes are Slip Resistant?

So, I went through this whole research of ‘how not to trip over actually nothing’, and turns out slip-resistant shoes are a real thing. I can now look at the sole of a shoe and tell the angles from where the shoe owner will tumble from.

I know all about “The right shoes to fall down” and that helps me avoid that right shoes.

Here, I got pro-tips on how to tell if shoes are slip resistant or not:

Check Out the Label

Did you know, they do make labels of the slip-resistant shoe, typically engraved on the lower side of your shoe sole. But here is the catch. There is no such thing as a standard SLIP-RESISTANT label. Because, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has no defined standards for what qualifies as non-slip material. Anyone who claims otherwise is Scamming you, just like phrases ‘number one toothpaste’ or ‘chefs approved’.

Check The Sole Patterns

The whole idea is that anything with patterns will help you with the friction. So, yes, you guessed it right! Patterned soles will help you not slip. Although, engraved patterns help with friction. But engravings might trap water, making it slippery whenever it rains. So, it comes down to grooves.

I mean the pattern that looks like its tiny mountain-range on your sole. These grooves don’t trap liquid at all, giving you extra grip.

Now, the kind of pattern doesn’t matter. But, the smaller and more intricate the pattern, the higher the grip. This is because the friction is higher for high surface area.

Checking Of Material

This is a tricky one. The rubber usually gives grip by sticking to the ground. Though, I personally cannot get by with the squishy sound.

The rule of thumb is that a rubber sole thicker than 1.5 inches, will usually turn into that gummy spongy sound, and chances are it will even soak in too much water that grip will loosen up within weeks.

On the other hand, the leather soles don’t make as much noise and are usually durable, but not good enough if you like hiking. So, I suggest you look for Polyurethane (PU), the best one for all scenarios.

But, if you mind plastic, a wooden sole is your answer. But the last I checked (which is just 2 minutes ago- not kidding), it usually comes with a vinyl-kinda-sheeting. So Yeah, it is plastic coated.

Unless you are a traditional Japanese or enthusiast, I don’t think you will go for “Japanese Geta Shoes”. Just for the record, walking in Geta will provide adequate grip to walk in heavy rain.

Walk in a flat-edged sole and you won’t slip! Right?

This one assumption has claimed countless victims.

I tell you why! The people walking in shiny gleamy flat-edged soles will always be extra vulnerable. Especially when it rains. The flat part doesn’t entrap liquid at all, allowing it to flow streamline below.

So, with total flats, You go with the Flow, and quite literally.

The only thing closer to a flat that hasn’t failed anyone ever is probably loafers. Works everywhere, from office to parks, and still makes you look smart and invincible (also if you are into fashion weekly, they are a thing nowadays). Unfortunately, you cannot run in loafers. Of course, sneakers are usually slip-resistant with their grooves.

But are they really? So, I raise a huge question.

Are Running Shoes Non Slip?

You would assume they are. Then, those joggers you thought would take you nice places, just took you to the hospital because you didn’t double-check. I suggest few things to check. First, the sole of a trainer should be rather lightweight. Not only does a heavyweight shoe takes extra effort, but the sole also flattens over time.

The manufacturers avoid this trench by engraving patterns instead of forming distinct grooves. Personally, the hexagon-shaped engravings give soggy sounds, so I recommend the parallel patterns.

Make sure the inner side is cushioned and fits you nicely. Put a silicone pad inside if you must. Don’t let your shoe dangle on, otherwise, you will roll-over and slip anyways.

However, it comes down to the purpose of shoes. What kind of thing do you want to do wearing those shoes? For a footballer, Adidas or Nike is the most obvious choice. Owing to the grooving patterns under their soles, both these shoes are perfect for running on grass. But, not all shoes need that kind of specificity. This leads us to:

Are Vans Non Slip Shoes?

Vans are one of the most durable shoes that don’t slip, even in extreme rain. They are perfect for skateboarding. The rubber sole grips so hard that you won’t trip while doing a kickflip.

You can always jog in Vans. But they don’t have any arch support. So, in case you are going hiking? I suggest you don’t use your Vans.

Are Converse Non slip Shoes?

I have wondered if I should buy those All-star chucks and let my obsession with regular vans go away. People tell me there is not much difference, anyway. Converse are probably a bit expensive due to the iconic Chuck Taylor signatures.

Well, if you are making a fashion statement then wearing Chucks is your thing. I recommend you don’t wear those in rain. The canvas on toes is ruined with the lightest of rains. Though, it won’t count as slipping. I have found my Converses best go with bouldering.

Are Skechers Non Slip Shoes?

As a student, Skechers are as comfy as one can get. They are light, breezy, and easy to walk in. They don’t make those silly noises when it rains. Yet, they turn slippery over time because the sole compresses. over-time.

So, it’s a total no for hiking. However, if you are into buying new boots every fortnight, Skechers is your type. But, make sure you take care of the sole and you won’t embarrass yourself by falling over.

So, what’s the real test?

Ever heard the phrase “Walk a mile in my shoes”?

I know that’s quite philosophical but, in this case, take it quite literally. You can define everything from types of soles to the kinds of terrain you will walk, even the substance of shoes. But you will only find out if a shoe slips once you walk in it. So, a shoe that doesn’t fit you, will make you slip over.

A shoe whose sole is loose from the front will make you trip face down and the one with a loose back will trip you sideway. But, in both cases, you fall. right?

So, Should I leave the shoes of my dreams if those are not so non-slips? The answer is simply no.

If you fancy a shoe that slips, there are ways to make it slip-resistant.

How to Make Shoes Slip Resistant for Restaurant

If you buy new shoes those must be slippery because of new sole, You need to do some stuff to your shoes to make them non slip. You need to rough the sole, use liquid glue, puff paint, slip resistant soles and slip resistant spray for shoes.

How to Make Shoes Non Slip:

There are many easy and effective ways to make your shoes Non slip.

Check out the 5 most effective ways :

#1. Roughing the Sole:

Roughing up the surface will give you friction and yes, friction means no tumbling over. You can do this by using sandpaper (I recommend 50-grit sandpaper). You can also do this by dragging your shoes on a rough surface such as concrete or rocks.

#2. Nail foil

I know it sounds a bit over. But it has worked for my ankle platforms. Try to foil your shoe sole in a parallel line fashion. I used this in combination with nail paint on the sole. It worked wonders for me.

#3. The liquid glue:

I suggest you put that in small polka dots-fashion. It will form grooves on the sole of your shoe, making them non-slip. This works for marble floorings and road alike. Though I don’t recommend doing this to a 4-inch heel cause then it may change the balance of your feet.

#4. Hair spray, masking tape, or Puff paint:

Yes, it works but only for few hours. All these require regular replacing.

#5. Grip Pads and Non Slip soles:

The special grip pads are available on Amazon. You better buy them from the same brand as your shoes. They cost around $10. However, you can buy non-slip soles and separately attach them to your shoes, and guess what, they work wonders.

Bonus Tip: No don’t try to put chalk or any powder under your feet, they make the shoes slippery by taking away all that friction.

Conclusion:

Now that you know how to tell if shoes are slip-resistant. You can easily decide if the beautiful vans you are thinking to buy would hold in rainy weather. Remember, the slip can be made into non-slip, but the most important thing is that you are comfortable in your shoes. I hope this helped you decide on those shoes, you always wanted to buy, be it wedges or be it regular flats.