Garden Clogs/Shoes - Seeking Advice

[Chez]

I excitedly bought a pair of garden clogs last year, thinking they would be a great alternative to wellies in the summer garden. But I am so disappointed. I struggle to keep them on! It is an easier job if walking downhill. Uphill, nearly impossible.

If you wear them, do you have this trouble? Have I just bought a size too small? They didn't have half sizes which is what I really needed so I erred on the smaller side. Or is it just style and the shoes with a full heel are better? Mine were expensive (nearly £30) and are lined rubber. Brand - Le Chameau. I am not keen on plastic ones.

I have had enough of struggling with them and I am going to buy another pair of 'somethings'. From your experiences, what would you advise?

[John]

Hello Chez
I'd suggest that you get yourself a decent pair of safety work boots, especially ones that will give you ankle support and protection as well. Also make sure that they have steel toe caps. With thick socks they can be quite comfortable. Digging, mowing especially with a rotary, moving heavy loads and so on can be dangerous jobs for feet and toes. Farm stores or builders merchants always have a good selection. DW finds this sort of footwear too difficult so she uses the next best thing which is a 'dealer boot' as these are easy to pull on and off. Remember wellies won't protect you against anything except wet.

John

[Beccy]

I go through wellies at the front of the ankle, so they are cut off to make the kind of shoes you are talking about. I have no problems keeping them on my feet. Our garden is not flat, theoretically it is terraced with steps, but the steps don't exist at the moment and I don't have problems coming up the slope.Or up the ladder from the allotment.

John I appreciate what you are saying about safety, but I use my wellie-shoe mainly for popping out to harvest herbs and veg for dinner. Although I have been known to dig a meals worth of potatoes in them, generally I wouldn't. We don't have any powered tools except a shredder from which my feet are in no danger

[Allan]

Chez, what is your ojection to plastic as such. I wear them all the time except when in tall wet growth. The only problem is that,as with rubber too, they are not porout but with thick socks and not wearing them for too long at a time this is tolerable. It is wise to get a larger size than usual. Some of the French ones have too small a hole to put on easily so look around.
Allan

[Chez]

Thanks for your replies. I should have been clearer though. As Beccy mentioned, I want them for slipping on and off easily. So yes, for the garden. Weeding, etc. But also just to nip down and grab veg for dinner, etc. Dual purpose really.

John, you have a point re the safety of my footwear. We don't use any heavy machinery, fortunately. But I have noticed one of my wellies is now leaking from when I walk on newly flamed (and hot) ground. Yes, I do the flaming in my wellies! I should invest in a decent pair of boots too, I think. I do love sloshing around and through puddles and things in my wellies though. I feel untouchable in them!

Allan, two reasons for not wanting plastic - rubber is more flexible and less stiff. But also, I just prefer natural products across the board - cotton. wool, linen, etc. Just one of my foibles.

[richard p]

i find leather work boots too stiff at the ankle to wear for any length of time. i also find steel toecaps uncomfortable ,the back edge of the cap digs into the top of the instep when the foot bends, guess i must have funny shaped feet usually end up with wellies or a pair of sturdy leather shoes

[Tigger]

Hmmnnn - I'm in the Sarah Raven school of shoes - soft but seviceable garden clogs for most of the year, then ankle wellies for the autumn and spring and wellies/boots for winter.

If I had free rein - wellies / ankle boots in winter, clogs / ankle wellies in spring. At the height of sun and summer - sandals.

[Jude]

Chez, my husband bought me some really comfy clog-type shoes for Xmas from Millets and they don't fall off my feet like the so-called garden ones do. Only downside is that they're suede (and lilac) so not totally waterproof. He thinks they cost about £20.
They're called ALS (AIR LAND & SEA). They are so comfortable that I wore them every day until I went into my sandals a few weeks ago, I haven't worn them for gardening at the allotment yet 'cos I don't want to spoil them, but if money wasn't an issue then I would, and buy some new ones for best as they are the the comfiest shoe I've had in years!

[peter]

Look for the "Prospecta" brand, they do a safety boot that looks like a brown leather and cloth trainer cum boot. Very comefy.

[LakeView]

I have to say I have been disappointed with the selection of clogs in the UK. When in America, I had bought some via mailorder from a Vermont firm which gets them from Germany. So when my first red pair were starting to fall apart last year, I bought another from the same Vermont firm, but via Web this time (Gardener's Supply) and had my family ship them to me.

Since then we have located the German Firm (Alsa) which makes the Jolly Clogs -- classic type with closed heel. But there may be only one UK distributor, Liz Francis from Garden Images Ltd. Warwickshire. I haven't contacted her yet, but have her e-mail and phone. If you 'pm' me, I'll provide the details.

http://jolly.business-impuls.com/classic.html

The instep (the part on which one's feet rests) features a breathable cork base (replaceable) and are very comfortable for hours on end. They are easy to slip on without needing to use ones hands (no bending necessary). My first pair lasted seven years! I highly recommend them .. although red is not everyone's favourite colour, but it is mine!

[Mr Potato Head]

My local garden centre has some low rubber boots with a zip up the side, a bit like Chelsea boots. They look like they might suit your needs... easy to get on and off but not as 'slippy' as clogs...

[maryn]

Hi everyone,

For gardening footwear I swear by old-fashioned dutch wooden shoes,; they still sell them, not just in the touristy places, but in the Agri-co-op, Farmers' Union etc. Find them extremely comfortable (once you've discovered the right size, two pairs of socks) they don't drop of your feet, warm in winter, don't hurt your feet while digging, waterproof...all you'd ever want of gardening footwear. Possibly the only disadvantage: they get 'clogged' up with the heavy sticky clay soil when it's wet, but so do wellies. Yes, my neigbours on the allotment in Central London did give me a funny look or two, but hey... I don't care and they've probably seen stranger things walk past!!!!

Regards, Maryn

[lizzie]

Hi all

I wear my riding boots on the lottie. Very comfortable, decent grip and they cover more of your leg than wellies

[Chez]

I like the idea of red clogs! Do you know if they have good sole grip and what they are made from, Lakeview? I couldn't work it out from the website. The zippered low boots sound interesting too, Mr PH. Will have a look in our local garden centres.

I also like the sound of your Millets cloggies, Jude. I do need something for inside the house too and these sound good for that. I generally go barefoot in summer

Tigger, how do you keep your clogs on? Perhaps I did just buy too small and should go for the shoes or a larger clog size(?).

Thanks for all your comments.





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[peter]

Maryn, last time I saw someone wearing proper clogs was about thirty years ago. I was in the Yorkshire Dales on holiday and this huge son of Yorksire was patching the market square in Ripon, steaming hot tar all around, and he was immune to it, just made his clogs more waterproof.
And they had skegs on that looked like the blacksmith made them,