The Best Non-Slip Shoes of 2024 (2024)

It should be a given that all shoes must be slip-resistant, but the truth of the matter is that many shoes are designed for aesthetics over functionality. This is especially true of feminine styles and dress shoes, where appearance often takes priority over everything else. While no one wants to slide around as they walk, for those who are older and/or have physical disabilities, wearing slippery shoe soles can be especially hazardous.

Luckily, more brands than ever sell sturdy shoe soles as part of their designs. Whether you’re looking for comfortable and professional shoes for working long hours, lounging around the house, or heading off for a night out, there are some great non-slip options out there for you. Here are some of the best slip-resistant shoes for different occasions.

Editor's Note: The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

What Are Non-slip Shoes, and What Makes a Shoe Non-slip?

Many shoes claim to be non-slip, and others function well for non-slip activities but don’t advertise this particular element. Such irregularity can make it extremely difficult to find a shoe you love that also provides the safety, stability, and security you need. Before jumping into the world of non-slip shoes feet first, take a look at some of the best ways to tell if a shoe is truly non-slip before buying it.

Rubber outsole

When shopping for a pair of slip-resistant shoes, start by looking for shoes that feature a rubber sole. This type of sole provides the best traction and grip, making it ideal for those who are unsteady on their feet and/or work in slippery environments.

If you aren’t sure if your shoe has a non-slip sole, you can always ask a store associate or look for the product details online where the material will generally be listed. Many brands list rubber soles as a key feature of a pair of shoes because they know it is a positive for many shoppers.

Durable but flexible

While you want the depth and strength of a sturdy rubber sole, it’s important to look for shoes that have some flexibility to them as well. Lightweight, softer rubber provides better grip and encourages you to walk with your normal gait over heavier, clunkier options. This helps you stay on your feet safely wherever you’re headed.

Examine the tread

One of the easiest ways to tell how slip-resistant a pair of shoes will be is by looking closely at the tread. This step is particularly helpful when shopping online, as many retailers provide a picture of the bottom of the shoe for precisely this purpose.

When looking for a solid tread, you should find one that easily lets water pass under and through its surface with the indentions that have been created. It should be a deep enough tread that it can grip around slippery and oily substances.

The best treads often have smaller shapes in their patterns, utilizing lines in a variety of directions, so the wearer has grip from every angle. Just make sure that, if you’re wearing the shoes somewhere muddy or snowy, the tread isn’t so tight it easily becomes coated in mud, rendering its slip-resistant qualities ineffective.

Take a look at the two shoes below that I pulled from my own closet. Both pairs have only been worn a few times for short amounts of time. With the heel on the left, you can see the tread began as barely a texture at all and has already worn nearly flat after just a few hours of use.

Note the band of smooth sole that encloses the tread. Because of this border, water has nowhere to escape from even if it is caught by the tread of the shoe, essentially trapping the substance beneath your feet and encouraging slips.

On the other hand, the boot on the right features depth and variety in the tread that lets slippery materials like water and mud get caught without impeding the security of steps. Because it has no border, the interlocked pattern lets water escape and move out from under you, thus helping you maintain balance.

Standards and certifications

Although some workplaces may require “slip-resistant” or “non-slip” shoes, there isn’t a labeling standard when it comes to rating a shoe’s slip resistance. This means there is technically no one regulating when companies use these terms or how accurate they may or may not be. Just because a pair of shoes shows up when you Google the term, or even because it has the term printed on its label at a department store, doesn’t necessarily mean the shoes truly have high slip resistance.

If you’re looking for a professional’s take on slip resistance, you should seek shoes that are certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials, most commonly with the indicator ASTM F3445-12 certified. Unlike the more general terms, a brand can only put this certification on its shoes if the product meets specific qualifications. However, because this is still a relatively new certification, not all great non-slip shoes have it.

Other certifications and seals you might see include SRC, APMA, and other ASTM standards. These signify slightly different tests, but each is designed to gauge a shoe’s ability to hold up in uncommon conditions.

Where to Buy Non-slip Shoes

Because non-slip shoes are a requirement for so many workplaces, many retailers have them. Your favorite shoe store probably has a section (though it may be small) devoted specifically to this need. If you want to step outside the black aesthetic offered by many slip-resistant work shoes, you may have to do some sleuthing in an average store to find the best non-slip variety of your favorite footwear.

Staples like Target, Walmart, and Amazon all have a solid selection of shoes to choose from. Certain brands are also known for their high comfort and slip-resistant qualities, such as those from Dansko, Dr. Scholl’s Shoes, and Crocs. Thanks to the internet, you can also find stores dedicated directly to this need, such as Shoes for Crews, and any store specializing in uniforms for jobs such as nursing or restaurant workers.

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Anna Wenner

Contributor (She/Her)

@Anna_Wenner

Anna Wenner is a freelance writer and photographer with nearly a decade of editorial experience. Anna's work always has one thing in common: helping her readers live safe, fulfilling lives.