Something to think about before you purchase your next pair of shoes...

The reason you always hear culinary instructors tell students to buy good shoes is... you can always replace a cheap or broken knife but you can never replace your feet! So take care of them from the "get go" and buy good shoes! When you get into the real culinary "working world" you will be working many 12 hour days, or longer, standing on your feet! In this industry, your feet, back and legs will definitely take a beating because you are always working on very hard and slippery quarry tile or concrete surfaces.

We first started in this business under the name Rocky Support Systems (RSS) back in the early 1980s. We were buying shoes from other manufacturers and reselling them to chefs and their staffs in the hospitality industry. In 1995, we decided to build our own product because we realized that a better shoe was certainly needed in this industry. We constantly heard chefs complain that their backs, legs and feet were always hurting. So we talked to hundreds of chefs and consulted with podiatrists and orthopedic doctors. Through this research we came up with the features we wanted in our KM brand of shoes. We told our designer, "don't skimp," use the best materials and build it with the chef and cook in mind.

Kingston McKnight shoes are manufactured using very high quality materials. We started from the ground up as the outsole is our foundation. It is super critical both in the internal construction as well as the design of the bottom of the outsole. It has to be strong enough to support your weight for long periods of time without breaking down internally.

We get better slip-resistance test results because there is more surface contact on the floors from our large flat pads on the bottom of the outsole. Through extensive testing we proved that our breakthrough concept outperformed the other designs that are available today.

Our wide "V" channel grooves on the bottom of the outsole will not trap food particles and our design allows liquids to move away more efficiently while walking. The biggest problem with small circles or tight crisscross designs is they impact food easily and are very hard to keep clean. This impacted food gets embedded and once it starts to decompose those shoes will develop a pungent odor. Most importantly, as food particles build up in these small spaces your shoes lose their slip-resistance!

Our slip-resistant rubber outsole is made from the best Goodyear Type II pure nitral rubber compounds available on the market today. This also gives you great durability and our outsoles will outlast and out-perform any outsole on the market.

We have chefs that have worn the same pair of KM shoes for more than 3-4 years working 6 days a week. Our leathers are USA Premium Grade hides tanned in one of the premier tanneries in Mexico. This same tannery is used by many of the most expensive shoe manufacturers in the country where they demand the very best.

We did not stop there...as our shoes are fully lined inside using DuPont's Drilex® "Starlite" fabric. It is the lining of choice for premium work shoes, including the US armed forces assault combat boots. Its abrasion resistance has the #1 industry rating while keeping your feet cooler and drier.

Our insoles are made with a combination of EVA and rubber which offers good support, comfort and long life. We added Poron® pads at the heel and forefoot areas on the bottom of the insoles for additional comfort.

We will never compromise on the quality of the materials we use in our shoes. If it's not the best -- we don't use it. There is a market for low priced shoes but why compromise the health of your feet and other safety issues.

So now it is up to you -- do you buy 2-3 pairs a year of the cheaper products out there? Or do you buy one pair of Kingston McKnights that can last you 2-3 times longer if you take care of them?

Give us a try...we're sure that you'll be happy with your decision.

The quote by Yvonne Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, says it all:

 

"Quality creates allegiance. Quality will always win!"

 

 

 

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