Reasons Why Women’s Clog Sandals are Preferred as Nursing Shoes

Whenever we think about women’s clog sandals, especially nursing clog sandals, our thoughts immediately get inclined towards the growing popularity of these shoes as they are being quickly taken up by nurses, worldwide. 

Owing to their popularity and the benefits they provide, doctors and a number of medical practitioners have begun wearing them

Women’s Clog Sandals

Clog sandals for women are a type of footwear which are made from wood and are worn by people all over the world.

Conventionally, these pieces of footwear were worn by workers as protective gear that prevented them from hurting their feet. These workers were mostly the ones who worked in the fields of agriculture, factories, or mines. 

Over the past few decades, the type of materials which are used for making women’s clog sandals have undergone a tremendous change.

 

What has not changed however, is their shape which continues to remain the same, albeit a few modifications that have been made to suit everyone’s choices and preferences and to make the wearer stand out in the crowd.

Why do Nurses Prefer Women’s Clog Sandals

Nursing requires comfortable shoes as the nurses have to be on their feet, the whole day. 

Most of the people associated with the nursing industry have work shifts which typically last over twelve hours. 

In these twelve hours, the nurses are always on their toes as they have to run every few minutes, attending to patients and doing other duties which need their attention. 

In such situations, clog sandals prove to be the best recourse, and as a result, a number of hospitals have taken up clogs as their working shoes.

These hospitals have their own designs which are in tandem with the requirements of the insurance industry. 

 

Advantages of Women’s Clog Sandals

Apart from providing immense comfort, there are a number of other advantages which clog sandals provide, some of which are as follows –

• Nurses are compelled to work on different surfaces, of which, some are rather slippery. It is important that they do not slip as they carry lifesaving drugs, IV sets, and syringes. They are able to continue doing their jobs smoothly when they wear clogs.
• The soles of the clog sandals, when compared with other hard shoes, are rather soft and thus, do not leave behind any footwear marks on tiles. Shoe marks are one of the prominent reasons why floors get damaged.
• Clog sandals do not have any laces which need to be tied. All you need to do is slip your foot in and you are ready.
• They are lightweight and yet durable, because of which, they can be worn for long hours without hurting the feet

Clogs for Men- Footwear Perfection Crafted for Ultimate Comfort

The limited variety available in men’s shoes and the lack of quality shoemakers who are experts in their craft have led a lot of men to stick to just one brand and one or two types of shoes. Experimentation is not really men’s forte, especially when it comes to their footwear. Clogs for men epitomize bespoke style and classic appeal and are the perfect choice for those men who wish to get out of the monotony of the same old shoes they have been wearing since boyhood.

Made with leather, suede or Nubuck, and crafted from the wood of alder and/or lime trees, clogs represent the ideal work shoes for men and women of the past and the present. In the pre-industrial era, these humble shoes were seen on the feet of every man as well as woman. They provided unparalleled comfort and protection to the feet from external factors like harsh weather conditions, sharp objects and uneven terrain.

When it comes to bespoke shoes for men, it is common to find people making a beeline to the showrooms of high-end brands. Best quality leather imported from Germany, France or Italy, suede imported from England or Cordovan from the States are used to make such shoes and their price bracket is such that these shoes become too extravagant for the normal man.

Clogs for men have turned out to be the best alternative for their high-end bespoke counterparts.

Depending on the structure of men’s feet and the common shapes, each piece of clog shoe is precisely crafted and shaped to provide the best fit for every size. All orthopedic requirements that are generally overlooked by most shoemakers are taken care of and fulfilled in the best way by clog makers.

Men with large feet face a common problem- constricted toe boxes that are too suffocating and uncomfortable for daily wear, especially to wear to work.

Moreover, the required support for the spine as well as the arch of the feet are not provided by most men’s shoes.

These two aspects are effectively addressed by the anatomic design and shape of clogs for men.

Wooden clog shoes have larger toe boxes as compared to the other types of men’s footwear and the curved shape of the bottoms made of dehydrated alder or lime wood, coupled with the rolling motion of the wood make for a great fit and exceptional comfort, rarely experienced in men’s shoes.

Things that you didn’t know About Clog Dancing

Clog dancing, which is better known as clogging is mainly associated with stomping of the foot. It is a part of folk dancing which involves synchronization of the dancer’s feet to the sound of the music which is playing. Initially, bluegrass was one of the most sought after music pieces when it came to clog dancing. The reason why it was so popular is because dancers were comfortable with it when performing the dance steps such as foot shuffling, stomping, and tapping.

Today however clogging has undergone a radical change in which teenagers have increased the tempo and made the moves more precise.

Clogging is a Very Precise Art

At its simplest, clogging is done by double tapping the toes by making use of one of the wooden clogs at a time. These clogs can be worn both by women and men. The step is initiated with the left foot by moving the left toe to and from and making continuous tapping sounds in the process. After this, the same sounds are made with the balls of the left foot. Once this has been done, the same movements are done with the right foot. Thus, it needs to be remembered here that first, the left foot is to be used for tapping forward and backward and then the right.

The prime consideration here is to learn how not to put too much weight on the feet when performing the steps. Once that is done, you can easily try out new variations of the steps on your own. You can even try out freestyle routines once you have more flexibility in your knees and a better balance of your body. You can perform with a partner, solo or as part of a troupe. It is this very versatility of clogging using wooden clogs that attract both women and men the most.

Clogging can be Done Anywhere

The modern form of clogging does not depend on any specific location and can be performed almost anywhere, be it the cities or the villages. However, the modern form of clogging done using wooden clogs can be rather tough in the first instance. This is because it is very organized and is done in local groups and under the supervision of certified instructors. Such local groups make use of every real estate they have access to for their practice sessions. These include ballrooms, churches, civic centers, garages, gymnasiums and even schools. The members of such groups are no novices but are rather experienced and many of them including women have taken part in regional and national clogging events.

Finding the Best Wooden Clog Boots Made Easy

 

Clogs have been the in-thing for a couple of years now. The credit of bringing them back into people’s eye from being brushed under the carpet can be accorded to Chanel and Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer collection of 2010. Since then wooden clogs haven’t gone out of fashion, and from the looks of wooden clog boots, seems like they’re here to stay.

There has also been some debate about the benefits and troubles caused by Clogs. A reason as to why people face troubles with clogs is probably because they’re wearing wooden clogs that are not built for them. Therefore, finding a pair (or plenty!) wooden clog boots that suit you is crucial. So, how can you find the appropriate wooden clog boots?

Inquire what goes into Crafting Wooden Clog Boots

It’s important to get to know what all goes into the making of your footwear, especially when they’re wooden clogs.

• Know what kind of wood it’s made out of
• Ask whether they’re orthopedic
• Inquire about the type of adhesive being used
• Get to know if the wooden clogs that you’re buying have staples or nails
• Which material for clog boots is good for you – leather or suede?
• Check whether the boots are designed to be sturdy and not just stylish

Do your Clog Boots Come with a Set of Special Care Instructions?

If your wooden clog boots come with a set of special care instructions then you can breathe a sigh of relief. This means that your clog’s manufacturers care about your boots as much as you do.

Their care manual would include instruction about taking care of the wooden part of the heels, maybe how to clean it when it gets dirty. Or which material (sandpaper or cotton cloth) to clean it with.

Instructions should also cover how to take care of the upper – suede or leather – because just the wooden part of the boots is not prone to damage.

A Pair of Good Wooden Clog Boots should be Able to Live up to Certain Expectations

• The bottoms of the boots should be designed in a way that promotes even weight distribution across each foot.
• There must be an arch support and raised heels in order to support your feet and legs and reduce lower-back strain.
• Wooden heel boots should be noiseless to walk in. An ideal shoe bottom should be made of thick PU sole.

Tracing the Footprints of Traditional Wooden Clogs

Modern clogs come in multiple forms for both men and women. From high heels to low, from open heels to closed, from sandals to shoes – modern clogs are famous not only because of their diverse types, but they’re a unique set of footwear crafted with wooden soles, and these wooden clogs are extremely comfy and durable.

What many of us don’t know is that clogs are not a novel invention. They’ve been in use since time immemorial. Clogs were used as protective footwear in parts of Europe and Asia. Indeed their appearance has changed in today’s time, but the essence of traditional wooden clogs remains the same. Let’s trace the footprints of wooden clogs from all around the world:

Træsko from Denmark

The oldest traces of clogs in Denmark are found in lime paintings that date back to 1100. Therefore, we can assume that medieval people wore clogs as a part of their attire. It was also a commonly used by peasants as protective footwear.

Clogs from the Netherlands (Klomp)

Traditional clogs from the Netherlands were entirely made of wood and covered the whole feet. They are still manufactured (approximately three million pairs a year) and sold throughout the country. A large part of the klompen are bought as travel souvenirs. Some Dutch market gardeners and farmers still wear traditional wooden clogs for their primary purpose – protection of feet.

An interesting fact about Dutch clogs being manufactured today is that they’ve been officially accredited with the CE mark as safety shoes.

Clogs from the United Kingdom

The earliest use of wooden footwear in the UK can be traced back to the Roman times (possibly prior to that). People who were too poor to afford proper shoes supposedly wore wood (directly against the skin) – the clog seems to have found its birth in the UK, partly made of wood (at the bottom) and partly with leather (at the top).

With the eruption of Industrial Revolution, the use of clogs became more apparent in the Britain, as industrial workers required strong as well as cheap footwear. Men wore laced clogs and women wore clasped clogs. This was the heyday of traditional clogs in Britain, though they were associated particularly with Lancashire.

Forms of Dance Associated with Traditional Clogs

• A Northern English step dance.
• A Dutch style of dance known as Klompendansen.
• A form of English folk dance known as Morris dance is sometimes performed wearing clogs.

Swedish Wooden Clogs as a Fashion Accessory for Men and Women

Clogs have been in and out of fashion since the 70’s. Made mostly from wood, the use of clogs dates back to the 1940’s when they were used by peasants, laborers and factory workers who used to work in wet and harsh conditions. These sandals became popular with labor folk since they kept the feet dry. As they were made of wood completely, they didn’t get soiled from dampness as leather did.

Later, clogs found themselves a place in fashion with hippies. Clogs were worn during dancing and became very popular in the Victorian era among the working class. The hard wooden soles allowed the dancer to create a rhythm by tapping against the cobbled streets with their heels and toes.

Evolution of Wooden Clogs

Clogs have evolved as a stylish fashion accessory post the 1960’s and were worn not only by women but also by the males. Men for the first time started wearing shoes (clogs) without socks. Though clunky and heavy, it became an instant hit with men. Clogs became vastly popular with both the sexes when the Swedish-styled clogs hit the market. They were made with different materials and colors but retained the wooden sole.

During the 80’s and 90’s, clogs dominated the footwear market. New materials such as leather, rubber, fur, wool were used to make the clogs more fashionable and comfortable. Clogs also came out in various designs ranging from platform clogs to high heel clogs. They were also available in the strap or strapless options.

Types of wooden clogs

Wooden clogs are generally made up of three kinds of wood-European willow, tulip poplar, and yellow poplar. Clogs are crafted entirely by hand by specialized artisans. Let’s have a look at the different types of wooden clogs:

Wooden Upper Clogs

These shoes are usually made by scooping out the wood to make a hollow and combine the upper and lower portions. The two variants are:

• Whole foot clogs: They cover the whole foot and are usually worn as a protective gear for the feet.
• Half open clogs: In these shoes, the covering is just over the toes or slightly further up the toes. They come with leather straps.

Wooden-soled Clogs

These clogs use wood only for manufacturing the soles. They come with different uppers like:

• Complete uppers: These clogs have their uppers covered completely with leather or similar type of materials. For protection, they have steel toe caps.
• Open clogs: These clogs usually resemble the Japanese traditional footwear "geta" and look like flip-flops. They have an elevated wooden base and hold the feet with a fabric thong on the upper side.

Clogs have become popular with the nursing fraternity since they provide better support and keep knee, foot, ankle and back pain at bay. Some clogs are highly fashionable like the Swedish wooden clogs, but provide little comfort to the wearer. Clogs have become a fashion accessory but if they don’t provide good comfort, then it’s only a matter of time when they will be thrown out of the fashion limelight by stilettos or espadrilles or boots.

How popular were wooden clog sandals in the early 20th century?

Wooden clogs were vastly popular among the peasant folk throughout Europe in the 20^th century and were worn to provide protection and comfort to the feet. Though considered a footwear for the labor class, wooden clog sandals came of age and became a fashion accessory towards the end of the 20^th century.

 

These wooden clog sandals had their roots in Holland and eventually spread into France, England and Scandinavia. During the time of Industrial revolution, clogs became the most preferred shoe for workers. The all-wooden shoe was manufactured from a single block of wood and were called by different names in different countries. In Netherlands, they were called Klomp, in Germany, Klompen and in France, Sabots. The Dutch clogs were made entirely of wood whereas the French clogs were made of wood and leather.

 

Wooden clog sandals were popular among both male and female peasants since they provided warmth and protection. Wooden clogs kept the feet in good stead and so were worn by miners, agricultural workers and construction workers. The clogs protected the feet of agricultural workers from mud and from injury caused by sharp tools used in the field. Farmers used to wear specially decorated clogs to attend church on Sundays and also on holidays.

The working clogs were just simple ones and devoid of decoration. However, clogs which were worn to church or to weddings were painted and carried embellishments on them. Red, black and yellow were the only colors used on the clogs. The wooden clogs also didn’t carry any decoration but to make them look a bit fancy and give a leathery feel, the upper portion featured laces and lace holes.

Wooden clog sandals are made from three types of wood- European willow, yellow poplar and tulip poplar. These woods are hard and resistant to water. After the tree is felled, the wood is cut and made into clogs. No other material is used to manufacture these shoes. Wooden clogs were traditionally made entirely out of hand by specialized artisans though nowadays the shoes are carved by machine.

A clog is made from a single block of wood. The logs are first debarked and sawed into rectangular blocks. Then a machine called shaper, shapes the exterior of the wood into a shoe by rotating its two blanks in opposite directions which help in carving a left shoe and a right one simultaneously. The interior is then carved by a boring machine which scoops out the wood blocks according to the required dimensions.

Next, the shoes are placed in a refiner which trims and chisels any excess wood to give the shoes a smooth finish. The shoes are then left to dry for three to five weeks. After the shoes are completely dry, the clog worker sands them inside out. The clogs are now ready to wear.