What Are the Best Shoes for Gardening?
Gardening is…well, it's the bomb. If you're a long-time follower of this blog, you're probably well aware of how much I love spending time in my garden.
But what to wear?
Sure, you might not be dressing to impress. But the fact of the matter is that many gardeners have an entire wardrobe just for the task, consisting of lightweight, durable clothing. You need to be comfortable out there!
But what are good gardening shoes?
The best shoes to wear in the garden depend on your personal needs but often have some of the same characteristics, including being waterproof, durable, and slip-resistant. Popular styles include clogs and boots that are easy to slip on with no laces needed.
This article is a guest post written by our friend Jessica R. It will discuss ten excellent options for gardening shoes, including their pros and cons. It will also explore some of the characteristics of what makes a good garden shoe. Read on for everything you need to know about choosing your garden shoes!
**J&R Pierce Family Farm is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to allow sites to earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. I often link to Amazon when recommending certain products, and if you choose to purchase, I may earn a small percentage of the sale. It costs you nothing extra, and all recommended products are ones that I personally vouch for.**
What Shoes Should I Wear in the Garden?
When choosing shoes for the garden, there are many excellent options. While comfort and safety are the obvious first choices, you can’t go wrong with choosing a pair that also offers style. These shoes fit all these categories:
Bogs Patch Ankle Boots
Sloggers Rain and Garden Shoes
Amoji Garden Clogs
The Original Muck Boot Company Women’s Muckster II Mid Boot
The Original Muck Boot Company Women’s Muckster II Low
Naturalizer Marianne Loafer
Xtratuf x Salmon Sisters Legacy Boot
Evercreatures Women’s Rain Ankle Boot
Hisea Ankle Rubber Gardening Boots
Hunter Women’s Original Short Boots
If you’d like more information on how to choose the best gardening shoes for your needs, you can watch this video:
What Makes a Good Gardening Shoe?
When choosing the ideal gardening shoes, you must consider several factors. While one may be more important than the others, depending on your needs, we’ll explore what to look for with each category.
Slip-Resistant
When choosing a slip-resistant shoe, you’ll want to find deep tread. Sometimes, your garden may be muddy or have residual ice and snow if you live in a northern hardiness zone.
You’ll want to be prepared for any conditions you may face by having a deep tread that keeps you on your feet. Wet and slippery surfaces will be no match for you when your feet are ready to go.
Durability
Another factor to consider is how durable the shoes are. After all, you will be working in the mud and dirt. When you purchase your shoes, you’ll want to ensure they’re of high quality and will last through the long hours you’ll put in working in the garden or yard.
Best Men's Shoes for Gardening and Yard Work
The best men’s shoes for gardening and yard work will have a focus on comfort and functionality. Whether you’re tilling, chopping wood, or planting a garden, you’ll want to ensure your feet are the most comfortable they can be to keep you going longer.
In addition, they’ll need to be durable shoes that last through the hazards these tasks put them in. You’ll also want to consider a deep, defined tread to prevent slips and stay on solid footing.
Women's Garden Shoes With Arch Support
Having arch support is essential when you have problems with foot support. This feature offers plenty of garden shoe options, making your comfort a top consideration. You can ensure you get the most out of your time in the garden by buying shoes with arch support.
Waterproof Garden Shoes
One of the most critical features of garden shoes is being waterproof. While many gardeners will reserve a pair of old tennis shoes for their outdoor work, the problem is they allow water to seep in, drenching their feet.
While this is uncomfortable, it can also be dangerous to your health. Choosing waterproof gardening shoes will prevent this problem from happening, ensuring your feet stay warm and dry.
Garden Clogs for Women
Clogs are a nice alternative to tennis shoes and boots. They’re easy to slip on and offer more flexibility. While they don’t offer the most water protection like boots, they can be waterproof and come in many great styles.
For those who don’t want to tie their laces every time they go into the garden, clogs are an excellent option for footwear.
What Should I Wear on My Feet for Gardening?
While there are many great gardening shoes to choose from, we’ll take an in-depth look at ten of the more popular ones. Each one will include the pros and cons of choosing the specific pair of shoes.
Bogs Patch Ankle Boots
If you’re looking for the ideal shoe for cushioned insoles, the Bogs Patch Ankle Boots are what you need. They offer excellent comfort and support after long hours in the garden and feature a helpful handhold on the side for easy sliding on and off.
While the soles are thick, they’re highly flexible, allowing for exceptionally easy movement. With the low ankles, you’ll enjoy easier motion around the legs. They’re so stylish you’ll want to wear them everywhere.
Pros:
Durable construction
Dependable insole support
Flexible soles
Cons:
Strong rubber smell
Can be extremely hot in the summer
Not available in half sizes
Sloggers Rain and Garden Shoes
For all-day comfort with solid but flexible soles, you’ll want to invest in a pair of Sloggers Rain and Garden Shoes. While these shoes don’t come in half sizes, they do come with a half-sizer insole that helps make up for the difference.
This shoe is not ideal for arch support, and they heat up quickly in the sun. However, they are closed-toed and waterproof, offering your feet excellent protection. With the thick, durable tread on these shoes, you can safely enjoy hours in the garden.
In addition, they’re easy to maintain, as all you need to do is hose them off before bringing them inside, and they’re clean.
Pros:
Comfortable
Closed-toed
Waterproof
Cons:
Heat up in the sun
No arch support
Amoji Garden Clogs
The ultimate breathable garden shoe option is the Amoji Garden Clogs. They’re made of waterproof material but feature many tiny holes to allow airflow. While this is great for keeping your feet cool, you’ll have to avoid letting in water.
These shoes come in several different colors, offering you the option of picking the one that best suits your style. In addition, the holes on the top of the shoes are smaller than many alternative brands, decreasing the amount of soil that enters through them.
They’re excellent for slipping on and heading out to the yard. They also hold up very well against gardening and yard work hazards.
Pros:
Breathable
Easy to clean
Durable
Cons:
Not waterproof due to the holes
Does not feature any straps
The Original Muck Boot Company Women’s Muckster II Mid Boot
If you’re interested in versatility in your garden boots, consider The Original Muck Boot Company Women’s Muckster II Mid Boot. You can wear it as a mid or low-level boot, depending on what you need for the day.
In addition, they have a deep tread that will keep you on your feet in the slipperiest conditions. The downside to this is that muck, rocks, and dirt are all heavily attracted to the spaces between the tread, needing more attention to clean it out.
The shoes’ exteriors are relatively easy to clean, as a simple hosing will remove the debris. At the same time, they will keep your feet completely dry, even if you choose to hose them off while wearing them.
You may find they are somewhat smaller around the calf area, especially when worn with jeans. What works best about these boots is that when they begin to heat up, you can roll them down to allow more airflow.
Pros:
Convertible from mid to low
Deep tread
Highly waterproof
Cons:
Shaft may be too tight around the calf for some
On the heavier side
The Original Muck Boot Company Women’s Muckster II Low
For those who love the slip-on style of shoe, The Original Muck Boot Company Women’s Muckster II Low is ideal. While the shoe is lightweight and flexible, it also has a sturdy feel to it.
As a waterproof shoe, wearing socks will help reduce the amount of sweating you experience. The shoes come with mesh lining and a footbed insert, which reduces the presence of odors.
The downside to these shoes is a lack of arch support and stiff soles. This combination results in an inability to squat comfortably or kneel for extended periods. They feature a tight fit around the ankle, which is good for keeping out dirt but can be tough to slip on.
Pros:
Waterproof
Slip on
Tight fit to prevent debris from entering
Cons:
No arch support
Stiff soles
Naturalizer Marianne Loafer
For the ultimate arch support, turn to the Naturalizer Marianne Loafer. Your feet will thank you after long hours in the garden. In addition to the arch support, they also feature a removable insert, ensuring you get the most comfort from your shoes.
They offer great traction, extreme comfort, and a high level of breathability. In addition, you may find you don’t want to dirty them in the garden, choosing to wear them for other daily activities instead.
These shoes are not waterproof or water-resistant, making them much harder than alternatives to keep clean. You’ll have to take some time and effort to scrub them with mild dish soap to keep them looking nice.
Pros:
Excellent arch support
Breathable
Stylish
Cons:
Not waterproof
Harder to clean
XTRATUF Salmon Sisters Legacy Boot
If you prefer mid-calf boots, the XTRATUF Salmon Sisters Legacy Boot is ideal. It’s entirely waterproof and features excellent traction, even in the wettest, muddiest areas. While the tread is great, it does take some extra care to clean.
These boots also feature a good bit of arch support to keep your feet comfortable throughout the long hours in the garden. While they can become slightly warmer and aren’t very breathable, they have a special lining that helps keep feet dry.
One minor issue is the appearance of an oily coating that can appear on the boots after receiving them. Wiping them down restores their shine, but you may want to consider storing them away from anything this coating could affect.
Pros:
Excellent waterproof protection
Highly comfortable with great arch support
Can be slightly rolled down when you need to cool off
Cons:
Tread can be hard to clean
Oily coating
Evercreatures Women’s Rain Ankle Boot
When your primary goal is to find a waterproof pair of shoes, consider buying the Evercreatures Women’s Rain Ankle Boot. They feature a cotton lining and waterproof rubber soles to help keep your feet clean and dry.
The tread is thick and sturdy, ensuring you have the best traction no matter where you’re at. They’re lightweight without the bulky feel of many other options.
These shoes are very comfortable; however, they are no longer breathable as the temperatures start rising. Despite this, odors are not a problem. In addition, they are easy to clean with a simple hosing off.
Pros:
Waterproof
Thick, sturdy tread
Easy to pull on
Cons:
Not very breathable
The interior of the shoe is not easy to clean
Hisea Ankle Rubber Gardening Boots
If you need a reliable pair of men’s shoes for gardening or yard work, the Hisea Ankle Rubber Gardening Boots are a great option. It’s entirely waterproof and made to insulate your feet in the winter while cooling them in the summer.
These boots have a breathable liner that allows free airflow to help keep your feet drier than many alternatives on the market. In addition, they feature memory foam insoles with extra arch support for extended hours in the garden.
Pros:
Memory foam insoles
Durable, slip-resistant soles
Completely waterproof
Cons:
Heavy
Not very stylish
Hunter Women’s Original Short Boots
The Hunter Women’s Original Short Boots have a natural rubber construction with a rounded-toe formation. You can choose from many different colors to spice up your gardening attire.
To make putting them on and taking them off a breeze, they have convenient pull tabs. The outside of the boots features a stylish matte finish that’s made from vulcanized rubber. This creates a seamless waterproof outer shell.
The boots have a non-removable footbed, which can pose problems when it comes time to clean them. For additional comfort, they feature a multi-layered sponge insole.
Pros:
Comes in a tall version
Sturdy without being overly clunky
Available in more than 15 colors
Cons:
You cannot remove the footbed for cleaning
Final Thoughts
It can be tough to find the right shoes for gardening. Ultimately, you need to consider the weather, what work you'll be doing in your shoes, and countless other factors - but hopefully, this round-up of my top picks should help you find the perfect fit.
What kind of shoes do you like to wear for gardening? Let me know in the comments!
Want to learn more about farming? Be sure to check out these featured articles!
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