Dansko Professional Review

The Dankso provides significant support for those long hours standing and walking around. A full leather upper provides comfort and safety from spills, and a slip-resistant rocker sole maintains traction on all surfaces. The hefty shoe does take some time for the leather to break in and mold to your foot, but it provides a more custom and comfortable fit. With a contoured footbed and padded midsole these durable shoes should last you quite a while.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The Dansko Professional stands out as a unique option in our walking shoe lineup. At first glance, the leather slip-on clog might not seem all that comfortable. However, over time it molds to your foot, providing a custom fit. With a 50-millimeter heel stack and a 26-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, these can take some time to get used to, especially if you are not used to a clog. However, the rocker bottom facilitates a smooth transition from heel strike to to-off. As a Nurse Practitioner spending many hours in the hospitals, I appreciate the thick heel stack, particularly when standing upright for hours on end.

A very comfortable shoe, the padded insole forms to your foot over time and the padded collar helps protect the instep when walking. I appreciated the arch support and firm sole to keep my feeling fresh when standing for prolonged periods of time. The toe box is large enough to allow for toe spread and foot splay with long use and foot swelling. The sole is not cushioned like other walking shoes but still provides good shock absorption.

Shoe Exterior Shoe Interior

The Dansko Professional fits true to size but may feel strange to a first time used. By design, the toes should not touch the front of the shoe, and there is some space between the heel and the back, a pinky width per the manufacturer. The heel is meant to move up and down freely with walking but still maintain stability. Since the shoes are made of leather, they require a break-in period. Don't be discouraged, though, the break-in period is not too long, and the leather forms to your foot, increasing the comfort and custom fit. Another note about leather is its breathability. The leather of the shoe protects wearers from spills, but because they are enclosed leather, they are not very breathable.

The Dansko couldn't get any easier and convenient to use. Walk up and slide your foot in, it is as simple as that. There are no adjustments, laces, or straps with these shoes, and that is by design. Taking the shoes off is just as easy as putting them on, lift your heel and step out. The convenience of a slip on seems silly, but we really like that characteristic.

Support

The rigidity of the sole relates to the support, and the Dansko Professional was the stiffest in the group. During the flex test, there was no movement in the sole, unlike the other shoes, which flexed at the toe box. Since the Dansko doesn't flex the rocker design keeps things moving forward. Lateral movement is where the learning curve comes into play, as the ankle can roll laterally or outward if someone is unfamiliar with the shoe design. The Dansko is a true hands-free design that's slips on and slips off. There is no lacing for this shoe and we have to admit, it's nice to be able to slip them off for a few minutes at work when sitting down.

Our twist test examines the shoe's ability to resist torsion, the better the resistance the better the support. Similar to the flexibility test, the shoe has no give which means it provides plenty of support for the wearer. I can attest that the shoe is indeed stiff and provides great arch support.

These shoes would be best used by those with a neutral gait or a pronator who needs extra stability. A person with a low or normal arch would also benefit from this shoe with the added stability. A higher arch requires a softer, flexible shoe, which is not found here.

Traction

The Dansko Professional sole is made of slip-resistant polyurethane and has a thinner zigzag or herringbone design traction on the heel and toe edge and a wider design in the middle. The sole design is meant for dry or wet surfaces containing oil or water and still provide decent grip.

I found these shoes to provide great traction on many hard surfaces like tile, pavement, carpet, vinyl, and linoleum, and I no issues when the surfaces were wet. Despite the decent grooves the shoes didn't have the same grip on gravel and dirt as they had in the work environment, but they still performed fine.

Weight

The weight of the Dansko Professional is where their superior performance makes a screeching halt. These shoes were the heaviest in the testing group, weighing 18.5 ounces per shoe for men's size 10.5. With a solid leather upper and thick polyurethane sole for support, it shouldn't be a surprising fact.

The shoes feel weighty in the hand but not so much on the feet. We quickly adapted to the weight of the shoes and didn't seem to notice the fatigue we noticed with some of the other shoes tested. The reasoning may be due to the amount of support and stability they provide, which helps to limit other stressors to the joints and muscles. During the first few uses, they can feel bulky, especially if you are used to wearing tennis shoes. However, we think the transition break-in period is well worth it.

Durability

The Professional may be the definition of buy once, cry once when choosing a shoe that lasts. We understand the price tag might be a little high, but there is good reason. The leather construction and polyurethane sole performed remarkably during our well over 10,000 steps. The black leather didn't show any wear and the soles so no evidence of wear, cracking, or wrinkling. The lighter color options are known to show scuffs, but that adds to the character of the shoe. Construction of these shoes is also top-notch with well-bonded materials and evenly stitched seams with no loose ends. I have had personal Dansko clogs at work for many years and have not had any issues with material failure or wear.

Should the shoes become soiled and need attention, cleaning is rather straight forward. Wipe with a clean and dry cloth and apply leather conditioner as needed. If the clogs are the oiled leather design, a damp, soapy cloth or sponge should be used with care not to oversaturate the leather. Leather restorer should be applied to keep the leather supple.

Should You Buy the Dansko Professional?

The Dansko Professional is a unique shoe that has solidified its position in the workplace. Known for their support and durability, the stable platform is ideal for healthcare or service workers who spend long hours standing. The shoes can be used as a walking shoe in urban environments as well, though we don't recommend them for extensive outdoor use.

What Other Best Walking Shoes for Men Should You Consider?

If you are looking for a hands-free walking shoe, then the Kizik Lima provides comfort and support in a slip-on shoe. Those who seek a flexible, lighter walking shoe should examine the easy-to-use and comfortable On Cloud 5, which is another workplace favorite but doubles as a great travel shoe. The Hoka Transport also provides a comfortable and supportive option that's simple to use.