Best Shoes for Nurses in Canada: 12-Hour Shift Picks

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This guide is for nurses, care aides and other healthcare workers in Canada who are on their feet for 12-hour shifts and need shoes that grip a wet floor and wipe clean after a spill.

The quick answer: if you want a sneaker you can wipe down between patients, look at the Clove Classic. If you want a cushioned leather sneaker with a water-resistant upper, look at the HOKA Bondi SR. If you like clogs and work around oily or wet floors, look at the Dansko XP 2.0. If you want a shoe you can throw in the washing machine, look at the Skechers Work Max Cushioning Elite.

All four shoes are sold as slip resistant. Only one, Clove, names a specific slip-resistance standard on its own site. We explain below what that means and what it does not.

Quick Picks

• If you need a wipe-clean, fluid-resistant slip-on sneaker: Clove Classic
• If you need a cushioned leather sneaker with a water-resistant upper: HOKA Bondi SR
• If you need a slip-resistant clog for wet and oily floors, with room for orthotics: Dansko XP 2.0
• If you need a machine-washable lace-up with a roomy toe: Skechers Work Slip-Resistant Relaxed Fit: Max Cushioning Elite
• Who should not buy any of these: anyone whose workplace requires CSA-certified protective footwear with a toe cap or puncture protection. None of the sources for these four shoes list a toe cap or a CSA rating. Our guide to CSA safety boot symbols explains what those labels look like.

Comparison Table

“Not listed” means the value was not on the source page we used. HOKA’s own product page could not be loaded for our research, so the Bondi SR specs come from the Fleet Feet retailer page.

What “Slip Resistant” Means on a Nurse Shoe

Every shoe here is sold as slip resistant, but the makers describe it in different ways.

ASTM F3445 is a standard from ASTM International. Its full name is the Standard Specification for Performance Requirements when Evaluating Slip Resistance of Footwear using ASTM F2913 Whole Shoe Tester. In plain terms, ASTM says it covers minimum slip resistance requirements for the performance of footwear, checked with controlled lab tests. ASTM adds a caution worth knowing: the controlled lab tests used for it “shall not be deemed as establishing performance levels for all situations.” Clove says all its shoe models are certified as slip resistant according to ASTM F3445.

“SRO rated” is how Skechers labels the outsole on the Max Cushioning Elite. Skechers describes it as a slip-resistant outsole for traction on wet, dry, and oily surfaces. Our sources do not define the SRO label further, so we are not going to interpret it.

Dansko describes the XP 2.0 outsole as a patented slip-resistant rubber outsole suitable for dry, wet, and oily/wet surfaces.

HOKA’s Bondi SR, according to the Fleet Feet listing, has a slip-resistant rubber and tread design that is tested on surfaces with water, oil and soap. The listing does not name a standard.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) notes that footwear is marked to show its level of slip resistance, and that the marking may be on the packaging, the shoe or the product sheet. If your unit or employer has a specific rule, check that marking before you buy. Skechers gives the same advice: if your workplace requires slip-resistant footwear, check the product page for outsole details and confirm the style meets your workplace requirements.

No shoe is slip-proof. Even Clove, which names a standard, recommends exercising caution and reasonable care on wet or slick surfaces.

Quick Terms: Drop is the height difference between the heel and the toe of the shoe. Clarino is the microfiber fabric Clove uses; Clove says it mimics real leather. APMA is the American Podiatric Medical Association; Dansko lists the XP 2.0 as accepted by it.

Clove Classic

Who it suits: nurses who want a light slip-on sneaker that wipes clean after a spill.

Clove says the Classic was initially created to meet the needs of healthcare professionals. The upper is Clarino vegan leather, which Clove describes as fluid-repellent and easy to clean, and the product page says you can wipe the shoe clean of any fluids while on the job. It also lists the shoe as squeak free and odor fighting.

On grip, Clove’s help centre says all Clove shoe models are certified as slip resistant according to ASTM F3445. The outsole is rubber that Clove says is soft enough to grip smooth surfaces such as hospital floors. Fine slits called sipes are cut into the outsole lugs to help traction in wet conditions, and grooves channel liquids out from under your foot.

The specs that matter for long shifts:

• Weight: 10oz per shoe, the lightest listed weight in this guide.
• Drop: 10mm, with a 36mm heel cushion.
• Closure: adjustable, elastic no-tie laces, so it slips on and off.
• Insole: Clove says its Contour Comfort insoles can go in the wash.
• Widths: Regular Fit and Wide Fit.

Sizing: Clove says the Classic fits true to size. If you usually wear wide shoes, Clove recommends going up a half size in this style or choosing its wide fit collection. Clove also says the Clarino upper will stretch slightly over time and mold to your feet.

What buyers say: the product page shows 11100 reviews, but no star average or review themes were readable on the page when we checked, so we cannot summarise them.

HOKA Bondi SR

Who it suits: nurses who want a cushioned sneaker with a water-resistant leather upper.

The upper is full-grain leather and water-resistant. The midsole is EVA foam and the outsole is slip-resistant and non-marking. The retailer lists its use as working and walking.

The specs that matter:

• Weight: 11.5 oz for the women’s and 14 oz for the men’s. That is the heaviest listed weight here.
• Drop: 6 mm.
• Widths (women’s): Regular (B) and Wide (D).

What buyers say: the Fleet Feet page shows 4.2 out of 5 based on 65 verified reviews. Its review summary says the shoe earns high marks for comfort and stability for people standing or walking long hours, though some note it feels bulky or can have durability issues.

One honest limitation: HOKA’s own product page could not be loaded for our research, and the retailer page does not name a slip-resistance standard. If your employer needs a specific rating, confirm it on the shoe’s label or ask the seller.

Dansko XP 2.0

Who it suits: clog wearers who work around wet or oily floors and nurses who use their own orthotics.

Dansko calls the XP 2.0 its #1 occupational shoe for healthcare or hospitality. Its outsole is a patented slip-resistant rubber outsole that Dansko says is suitable for dry, wet, and oily/wet surfaces, with a wide heel strike to help stability.

The specs that matter:

• Toe box: roomy and reinforced, with “wiggle room” for your toes.
• Footbed: removable, dual-density PU with Dansko Natural Arch technology and memory foam. Dansko says the XP 2.0 accepts most standard and custom orthotics.
• Midsole: lightweight EVA.
• Upper: leather with a padded instep collar. Waterproof leathers are used on select styles, such as the Black Waterproof Pull Up colourway.
• Heights: 1.7 in heel and 0.98 in platform.
• Widths: Regular and Wide.
• APMA: accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association.
• Care: wipe with a damp cloth.

Fit is different from a sneaker. Dansko sizes its shoes in European (EU) whole sizes. Its fit guide says a closed-back clog may feel slightly snug when you step in, your toes should not touch the front, and your heel should move up and down freely as you walk.

A note if you are choosing between Dansko models: the classic Dansko Professional clog is listed with a PU rocker bottom and APMA acceptance, but its page does not list it as slip resistant. The XP 2.0 page does. If grip on wet floors matters for your unit, that difference counts.

What buyers say: Dansko’s product page shows a 4.4 rating from 3863 reviews. No review themes were readable on the page, so we are not summarising them. The Black Waterproof Pull Up colourway showed as out of stock on Dansko’s site when we checked.

Skechers Work Slip-Resistant Relaxed Fit: Max Cushioning Elite

Who it suits: nurses who want a lace-up with a roomy toe area and a shoe they can machine wash.

Skechers lists this shoe as ideal for standing and walking for extended periods of time. The outsole is described as a slip-resistant (SRO) rated outsole for traction on wet, dry, and oily surfaces.

The specs that matter:

• Fit: Relaxed Fit, which Skechers describes as a roomy comfort fit at the toe and forefoot.
• Insole: Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam.
• Upper: mesh and synthetic, with a lace-up front.
• Heel height: 2-inch.
• Care: machine washable.
• Widths: Medium and Wide.

The trade-off is the upper. Skechers lists mesh and synthetic, and it does not describe this shoe as fluid-resistant or water-resistant. If you work where splashes are common, the Clove or the HOKA lists a better-suited upper. If you would rather wash the whole shoe at the end of a week, this is the one that says it can go in the machine.

What buyers say: no review text was readable on the product page, so we are not summarising buyer reviews.

How to Choose for Your Shifts

Start with your floor and your spills. CCOHS lists the type of walking surface and conditions such as wet or oily floors among the factors in choosing work footwear. On a unit where fluids hit the floor and your shoes, a fluid-repellent or water-resistant upper (Clove, HOKA) is easier to keep clean. Where oily or wet floors are the main concern, look at how each maker describes the outsole: Dansko and Skechers both name oily surfaces.

Shop at the right time of day. CCOHS suggests trying on new footwear around midday, because feet normally swell during the day. Then walk in the new shoes to make sure they are comfortable before a full shift.

Bring your socks and inserts. CCOHS recommends making allowances for extra socks or arch supports, and trying on new footwear with the socks or supports you usually wear at work. If you use custom orthotics, the Dansko XP 2.0 is the shoe here whose maker says it accepts most of them.

Mind the width options. All four shoes come in a wide option: Clove’s Wide Fit, HOKA’s Wide (D) for women, Dansko’s Wide, and Skechers’ Wide. Clove adds that wide-foot wearers in its regular fit should go up a half size.

Expect clogs to fit differently. If you have only worn sneakers, the Dansko heel moving up and down will feel new. Dansko says that is how the clog is meant to fit.

Check your shoes as they wear. CCOHS advises inspecting footwear regularly for damage, such as cracks in the soles. A worn outsole will not grip the way a new one does.

Compare work clogs too. If you are weighing a lighter moulded clog, our Crocs Classic vs. Bistro guide explains which Crocs styles carry published slip-resistance certification and which are everyday clogs.

Quick Takeaway: Pick the upper for your spills, the outsole for your floor, and the width for your foot. Then check the slip-resistance marking against your employer’s rule.

Who Should Buy What

• Nurses who want a light, wipe-clean slip-on: Clove Classic
• Nurses who want a cushioned, water-resistant leather sneaker: HOKA Bondi SR
• Clog wearers, orthotic users and anyone on wet or oily floors: Dansko XP 2.0
• Nurses who want a machine-washable lace-up with a roomy toe: Skechers Work Slip-Resistant Relaxed Fit: Max Cushioning Elite
• Anyone whose job requires CSA toe or puncture protection: none of these; see our best work boots for Canadian job sites instead.