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The Best Garden Shoes to Keep Feet Comfy, Dry, and Protected Outdoors

Get the dirty work done.

gardener standing on shovel in rubber boots
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Your old sneakers have no business mucking around in the garden. When kneeling in the soil and watering your beds, wearing shoes with worn-out support that aren't built to wick away moisture or flex generously will seriously dampen your day. Plus, there's no easy way to clean them thoroughly.

Making the small investment in a new pair of garden shoes (ranging anywhere from $20 to upwards of $130) will help ensure that you have a sturdy, rough-and-tumble pair on hand that feels both supportive and comfortable. You can get them wet and dirty all day long, then just hose them off to clean.

These are the best garden shoes to slip into or pull on when you have a full day of weeding and watering ahead.

The Best Garden Shoes

    What to Consider

    There are a couple of things to keep in mind as you're looking for a new pair of garden shoes:

    • Shoe Style: Garden clogs may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think “garden shoes” and for good reason. If you're frequently indoors and out throughout your day, you might want something you can easily slide off. However, there are also sneaker-style shoes and boots of varying heights available that offer your feet a little more coverage and protection. The best style for you depends mainly on your comfort and the type of work you do in the yard. Clogs and sandals are appropriate for most gardening tasks, but as soon as heavy machinery or wet and slippery conditions are involved, opt for boots instead.
    • Shoe Material: The shoes in the guide are either waterproof or water-resistant and washable. Anything else is going to get gross pretty quickly, leaving you with wet and uncomfortable feet. Look for shoes made of rubber- or plastic-derived materials or the polymer ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), as these are flexible and water-resistant.

      Many of the best garden shoes also come in gender-neutral designs and a wide range of sizes so that everyone can get a secure fit without having to cut corners on style. These nine pairs of garden shoes range from comfy clogs to rugged sandals to sturdy boots. Read on to find the pair that's best for you.


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      1
      Best Overall
      Yard Shoes
      Kujo

      • Breathable
      • Quick-drying

      • Heavy and not ideal for daily work

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 6.5-12.5 and Men's 5-13
      • Color choices: 4

      These garden shoes from Kujo, which look identical for men and women, have one of the widest size ranges available in this footwear category. We like that they look and feel like regular shoes — the upper part has a breathable mesh construction, while the sole is ruggedly sturdy and waterproof.

      These meticulously designed shoes are ideal for users who suffer from plantar fasciitis or who need contoured arch support that many slip-on clogs just don't offer. Many reviews also tout their lightweight build and note that their deep tread also makes them a great hiking-boot alternative.

      No matter what level of gardening or yard work you're doing, they're up for the challenge.

      More: These Backyard Lawn Games Are the Best Way to Spend a Sunny Day

      2
      Best Slip-On Clog
      Specialist II Vent Clog
      Crocs

      • Great arch support

      • Shoes have a 2-year lifespan

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 6-17 and Men's 4-15
      • Color choices: 3

      These rubbery slip-on garden shoes may look simple, but true to Crocs form, they're also super comfortable. Reviewers who are on their feet all day long swear by their supportive build. These shoes lack the holes that traditional Crocs have, so you can wear them with or without socks.

      Made of the brand's proprietary Croslite material, these shoes are lightweight, flexible, and washable — basically, everything you'd want in a garden shoe. It's worth noting that if you wear these occasionally for weekend yardwork, they'll last you a long time. But if they're your daily go-to shoe, users say they have a lifespan of about 2 years before wearing out in the heels.

      3
      Best Style
      Women's Gardener Clogs
      Hunter

      • Comfortable and keep feet warm

      • Pricey

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 5-11
      • Color choices: 2

      When you want to get the dirty work done while still feeling aesthetically on-point, these shoes are classic and built to last.

      From the rain boot aficionados at Hunter, these garden shoes are constructed of waterproof rubber with treaded soles for a nonslip grip. Their warm cloth lining also eliminates the need to wear socks while working out in a muddy yard.

      4
      Best Sneaker Style
      Breathable Slip-On Garden Shoes
      SAGUARO

      • Easy to slip on for anytime wear

      • Sizing runs slightly wide
      • Not durable for heavy use

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 6.5-16 and Men's 4.5-14
      • Color choices: 24

      While clogs are nice for slipping on with no muss, no fuss, if you prefer walking around in shoes that have a back to them, get this sneaker style from Saguaro.

      Made by a brand that's known for making water shoes and other footwear that's made to get wet, these garden shoes are made entirely of lightweight EVA to help ensure that they won't wear down. They have all-over perforations to help dry out any moisture that comes in contact with them.

      Available in a huge selection of colors, the shoes are also unisex and even come in toddler and kid sizes.

      5
      Best Mid-Height Boots
      Classic Mid Boots
      BOGS

      • Great for wet/cold conditions

      • Sizing runs small

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 6-12
      • Color choices: 2

      Weeding your beds is hard work — make sure you’ve opted for footwear that won’t leave the inside of your shoes feeling grimy. These black boots from Bogs have a specialized lining that helps prevent odors, keeping them feeling fresher than your average work shoe.

      Their flexible rubber construction is not only durable and sub-zero temperature-tested, but it also keeps your feet feeling comfortable and less restricted.

      6
      Best for Hot Days
      Garden Clogs
      Amoji

      • Supportive and quick-drying

      • Can deteriorate if left out in the sun

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 7-15 and Men's 5-13
      • Color choices: 11

      In the hot and sticky months, the last thing you want to do is slip your feet into a pair of stifling rubber boots for an afternoon of watering the yard.

      Lean into it by donning these affordable, water-resistant, open-weave garden clogs. They wash easily and dry much faster than other models, eliminating the fear of getting mildewy. All it takes is a quick hose-off to get them looking like new again.

      Multiple users tout this simple shoe's comfortable, easy slip-on design but do note that the cheap price should be an indicator of its durability. When left to dry in the hot sun, these shoes tend to curl up and/or shrink, so be careful where you leave them.

      7
      Best Duck Boot
      Rubber Mocs
      L.L.Bean

      • Long-lasting and waterproof

      • Sizing runs big

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 5-11 and Men's 7-14
      • Color choices: 7

      The all-weather classic, these slip-on, duck-boot-style garden shoes from L.L.Bean are individually handcrafted with high-quality standards in mind. For the all-terrain enthusiast, these mocs have chain-patterned treads and sloped rubber construction.

      Plus, the full-grain leather detail lets moisture slide right off of it. Their seven available colors are equally timeless.

      8
      Best Tall Boots
      DURAPRO Boots With Safety Steel Toe
      Dunlop

      • Excellent durability

      • Sizing runs big

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 5-15 and Men's 3-16
      • Color choices: 1

      For routine weed-pulling and transplanting, you probably won't need anything heavy-duty for your feet, but if you're working with machinery that presents a risk of injury, getting a pair of steel-toed boots is nonnegotiable.

      These user-favorite Dunlop boots are fully waterproof, easy to clean, and painless to put on. Their rubbery PVC build is high-quality, offering plenty of protection without adding a lot of bulk and weight.

      While these boots come in men's sizes, women who've reviewed them tout that they can easily size down to find their fit. However, if you need arch support, it's recommended that you buy gel insoles, as these don't have much to offer.

      9
      Best Durability
      Super-Birki Vegan
      Birkenstock

      • Easy to clean

      • Lacks arch support

      Key Specs

      • Size range: Women's 5-11.5
      • Color choices: 2

      If you've owned garden clogs — particularly those made of any kind of cheap material — you know what happens after a few seasons of wear. The caked-on mud has changed the color (and smell) of the shoe forever, the edges begin to fray, and the soles begin to separate from too much exposure to moisture. Thankfully, the Super-Birkis are built to help ensure that doesn't happen.

      The polyurethane exterior of these shoes can withstand being washed in temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Their removable microfiber interior is also washable to give these shoes a fresh and brand-new feel.

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