Clove is the shoe that answers one very specific hospital problem: you want the shape and lacing of a sneaker, but you need an upper you can wipe down like a clog. Running shoe mesh soaks up whatever lands on it. A Clove does not, according to Clove, because the upper is a smooth synthetic leather that repels fluid, and even the laces wipe clean.
The short answer: the Clove Classic is worth it if you work somewhere messy (OR, L&D, the ER) and want a closed, laced shoe you can clean with a hospital wipe. Buy the Wide if your feet are wide or swell by hour ten. If you want the softest possible ride for miles of walking, a cushioned running shoe like the HOKA Clifton is a better fit, and you can keep a Clove or a closed Crocs as your splash pair.
How we chose: Clove’s own product page and help center for materials, fit, slip resistance and cleaning, and occupational health guidance from CCOHS and NIOSH for what a work shoe needs to do. We have not worn or tested these shoes ourselves.
The short version
4 picks- 01 The Clove to buy Clove Classic Amazon
- 02 Wide feet Clove Classic Wide Amazon
- 03 More cushion, less wipeable HOKA Clifton $146.30 Amazon
- 03 More cushion, less wipeable HOKA Clifton Amazon UK
- 04 Cheaper splash pair Crocs On-The-Clock Work Slip-On $44.99 Amazon
- 04 Cheaper splash pair Crocs On-The-Clock Work Slip-On Amazon UK
What Clove actually is
Clove makes shoes only for healthcare workers. Its line includes several models (the Classic, Strada, Forte, Solo and the breathable Alto among them), but the one you will find on Amazon is the Classic, so that is the one this guide covers.
Here is what Clove says goes into the Classic:
- Upper: Clarino vegan leather that Clove describes as fluid repellent and easy to clean. Its help center calls the material on the Classic, Solo, Strada and Forte liquid repellent and stain resistant.
- Laces: Elastic, no-tie laces, so the shoe slips on and off like a loafer but still pulls snug across the top of your foot.
- Sole: Soft but supportive foam underfoot and what Clove calls an extra-grippy, quiet outsole.
- Fit: Clove says the Classic fits true to size and comes in Regular and Wide.
- Podiatry: The product page says the Classic is accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association.
The point of all that is simple. It is a sneaker for people who would otherwise wear a clog for the clean-up, or a running shoe for the comfort, and are tired of choosing.
Is the Clove Classic good for 12-hour shifts?
It depends on what your 12 hours look like.
Canada’s workplace safety centre, CCOHS, says a good work shoe should hold the heel firmly, leave the toes room to move, and fasten across the instep so the foot does not slide forward with every step. A Clove ticks those boxes on paper: it has a closed heel, and the elastic laces cross the instep. That is a real advantage over an open-back clog if you pivot a lot or have rolled an ankle before.
Where a Clove is not trying to compete is maximum cushion. A HOKA Bondi or Clifton has a tall stack of soft running foam. The Classic is a lower, more conventional sneaker. If you walk miles on a med-surg floor and love a soft, bouncy ride, a running shoe may suit you better. If you stand in one spot for long cases and mostly need a shoe that stays clean and grips, a Clove makes a lot of sense.
CCOHS also points out that hard floors are the least comfortable surface to stand on, and that shock-absorbing insoles help when you cannot change the floor. If the Classic feels a little firm for your feet, an insole is the cheap fix before you give up on it.
Clove Classic
A sneaker you can wipe down like a clog, laces included.
A slip-on healthcare sneaker with a fluid-repellent Clarino vegan leather upper, elastic no-tie laces and a foam midsole. Clove says every model is certified slip resistant to ASTM F3445.
- Upper
- Clarino vegan leather, fluid repellent
- Laces
- Elastic, no tie
- Fit
- True to size, per Clove
Best for
Anyone who wants a laced, closed sneaker that cleans like a clog: OR, L&D, the ER and any unit where things land on your feet.
Worth knowing
The upper does not breathe like running shoe mesh, and Clove says not to machine wash the whole shoe. If you usually wear a wide width, Clove suggests half a size up in this style, or take the Wide.
Are Clove shoes slip resistant?
Clove’s help center says all Clove models have been certified slip resistant to ASTM F3445, the US standard for slip-resistant footwear. It credits three outsole details: a rubber compound soft enough to grip smooth floors, fine slits (sipes) that help on wet surfaces, and grooves that channel liquid away. That is Clove’s claim; we have not seen the test reports.
Grip matters more than it sounds. NIOSH calls slips, trips and falls the second most common cause of lost-workday injuries in hospitals. No shoe makes a wet floor safe, and Clove itself advises care on slick surfaces, but a tread with real grooves gives you a better chance than a smooth fashion sneaker.
Clove sizing and the wide fit
Clove says the Classic fits true to size. Its product page adds that if you usually wear a wide width, you should go up half a size in the regular Classic. The better answer for most wide feet is the Classic Wide, which Clove describes as a true EE width with extra toe box room.
Two things to know before ordering:
- The upper does not stretch much. Running shoe mesh gives as your feet swell over a shift. A smooth synthetic upper gives less. If you are between sizes, or your feet swell a lot, err toward the roomier option.
- Check the toe box at the end of a shift, not the start. Feet swell over a long day. Try the shoe on in the evening, with the socks you work in.
Clove Classic Wide
The same wipe-clean Classic, cut in a true wide.
The Classic in what Clove calls a true EE wide width, with extra room in the toe box and the same fluid-repellent upper and elastic laces.
- Width
- EE, per Clove
- Upper
- Clarino vegan leather, fluid repellent
- Laces
- Elastic, no tie
Best for
Wide feet, bunions or feet that swell by the end of a 12-hour shift.
Worth knowing
A smooth synthetic upper gives less than knit mesh, so if you are between sizes, check the size chart before ordering.
For more wide-fit options, including running shoes in true wide and extra wide sizes, see our guide to the best nursing shoes for wide feet.
How to clean Clove shoes
This is the whole reason to buy one, so do it right. Clove’s own cleaning advice:
- Wipe the upper after shifts with a damp cloth, and use mild soap on stubborn spots. Clove says hospital disinfecting wipes are fine on the Clarino material.
- Do not machine wash the whole shoe.
- Air dry. Keep them away from high heat, which can break down adhesives and materials. That means no radiator, no dryer, no hot car dashboard.
- Wash the insoles separately. Clove says its Contour Comfort insoles are removable and machine washable.
Always follow your own unit’s infection control policy for shoes, especially after a large spill or an isolation room.
Clove vs HOKA, Dansko and Crocs
| Clove Classic | HOKA Clifton | Dansko Professional | Crocs On-The-Clock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper | Wipe-clean synthetic leather | Breathable mesh | Leather | Closed foam |
| Fastening | Elastic laces | Laces | Open back, no laces | Slip on |
| Cushion feel | Moderate | Soft, tall foam | Firm footbed | Light foam |
| Wipe clean | Yes | No | Yes | Yes, can rinse |
| Best for | Messy units, people who want a sneaker | Walking miles, soft-shoe lovers | Long standing, firm support | Cheap splash pair |
Clove vs HOKA. A HOKA is softer and more breathable. A Clove is cleaner. Many nurses who love HOKAs keep a wipe-clean pair for messy shifts, and a Clove is one of the few options that still looks and laces like a sneaker.
HOKA Clifton
The shoe you see on half the unit, for a reason.
A lightweight, thickly cushioned road shoe with a rocker sole that rolls you forward, which is why it turns up on so many hospital floors.
- Type
- Neutral cushioned running shoe
- Feel
- Soft, light, rocker sole
- Widths
- Regular and wide
Best for
Long shifts on hard floors when you want soft cushioning without a heavy shoe.
Worth knowing
The mesh upper is breathable but not fluid resistant. Wipe it down, and keep a second pair for nights out.
Clove vs Dansko. Both wipe clean. The Dansko is firmer and many owners get years from a pair, but the open back can let the heel slip. A Clove holds your heel in. We cover the clog side in Dansko vs HOKA for nurses.
Dansko Professional Clog
The classic nursing clog. Firm, wipeable, built for years.
A leather clog with a rocker bottom and a firm, supportive footbed. Fluid wipes straight off, and many owners get years from a pair.
- Upper
- Leather
- Sole
- Rocker bottom
- Clean
- Wipe clean
Best for
People who like firm support, need a wipe-clean shoe, or have worn clogs before.
Worth knowing
Heel-free clogs can roll an ankle if you are not used to them, and some units require a closed back. Check your dress code.
Clove vs Crocs. The closed Crocs On-The-Clock is the cheap way to get a fully washable shoe you can rinse in a sink. It is light, but it has less arch support, so many people add an insole. If your budget is tight, it does the splash job for much less.
Crocs On-The-Clock Work Slip-On
Closed, slip resistant, and hose-down clean.
A fully closed Crocs work shoe with slip-resistant tread, made for kitchens and hospitals where holey Crocs are not allowed.
- Material
- Croslite foam
- Tread
- Slip resistant
- Upper
- Closed, no holes
Best for
OR, L&D and anywhere things get splashed. A cheap, light second pair.
Worth knowing
Less arch support than a running shoe. Many people add an insole.
Which units suit a Clove best?
- OR: Long periods of standing still, and things land on your feet. A wipe-clean, closed shoe is ideal. Compare it with clogs in our OR shoe guide.
- L&D and the ER: Fluids, fast movement and pivoting. A closed heel and laces help, and so does an upper you can clean.
- Med-surg and long walking floors: A Clove works, but if you walk miles and your feet like soft foam, a running shoe may be kinder. Our best shoes for nurses guide covers the cushioned picks.
What to skip
- Machine washing the whole shoe. Clove says not to. Wipe the upper and wash the insoles.
- Drying them on a heater. High heat can damage adhesives and materials.
- Buying the regular fit if you always buy wide. Go for the Wide, or follow Clove’s half-size advice.
- Running them past their tread. Once the grooves wear smooth, the grip goes, whatever the label says.
Can I wear compression socks with Clove shoes?
Yes. Try the shoes on with the socks you will wear at work, since a thicker sock takes up room. See our guide to compression socks for nurses for picks.
Follow your unit’s dress code and infection control rules, which always come first. Persistent foot or heel pain is worth a visit to a podiatrist.