Gardening Pros Reveal Their Favorite Shoes to Wear While Working—Plus More Top-Rated Picks

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Whether you’re planting perennial plants in your yard or harvesting the first tomatoes of the season, having the right gardening gear is essential. Along with the best gardening tools and the right pair of gardening gloves, the best gardening shoes will provide maximum protection while you’re down in the dirt. They’ll also ensure that your feet stay dry and comfortable.

“A good pair of garden shoes, especially boots, are an essential for gardening,” says Allison Vallin Kostovick, founder of the gardening site Finch + Folly and author of The Garden Maker’s Book of Wonder. “Not only can this footwear withstand the wear and tears of dirt and water every day, they also provide protection for the gardener, especially when doing tasks like pruning raspberry bushes or using a spade to transplant perennials.”

Meet the Experts: Allison Vallin Kostovick, founder of the gardening site Finch + Folly and author of The Garden Maker’s Book of Wonder, and Joel Karsten, author of Straw Bale Gardens Complete.

When it comes to choosing the best gardening shoes, there are many different factors to consider. “The secret to finding the best gardening shoes is to match the conditions on the day you head to the garden,” advises Joel Karsten, author of Straw Bale Gardens Complete. You’ll of course want to consider the type of gardening shoe—from boots to clogs to slip-ons—as well as the fit, style, and price point. To help you find the perfect pair, we’ve rounded up the very best options for gardening shoes right here.

Ready to find your go-to pair of gardening shoes? Ahead, check out our top-rated picks that will protect your feet.

Waterproof Garden Shoe

These popular (and affordable!) garden shoes boast over 2,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, with reviewers raving that they’re sturdy, comfortable, and effectively protect feet from mud and other debris. Made of 50% recyclable materials, they come in a convenient slip-on design, are easy to rinse or wipe off, and have heavy-duty tread to minimize slipping—all features that makes them ideal for when you’re gardening.

“This is the perfect shoe to keep by my back door so I can work in my garden,” writes one reviewer. “They are cute, comfortable, easy to slip on or off, and easy to clean.”

Chore Rubber Women’s Work Boots

“Muck boots are an excellent investment and offer all-day comfort and support for gardening tasks, as well as everyday chores,” says Kostovick. “I’ve had my pair for over 15 years and wear them both in the garden and in the snow.”

Made with 5mm neoprene that makes them lightweight and flexible, these boots are 100% waterproof and feature a breathable mesh lining that wicks away moisture. “I use these for professional gardening work, and I never have to think about my feet—they’re always dry, warm, protected, and comfortable,” one Amazon reviewer writes.

Women’s Muckster 2 Low Rain Boot

If you’re looking for a good pair of slip-on shoes, Kostovick “loves” this pick from Muck Boot “for transitioning into those warmer, muggier summer days or when running out for a quick harvest.” Like the brand’s Chore Boots, these are 100% waterproof, made with neoprene for a comfortable and flexible fit, and feature a breathable, moisture-wicking mesh lining. They also offer a shock-absorbing insole and a high-traction outsole. O

One reviewer calls them “the perfect rain and garden booties for plantar fasciitis,” writing: “They are comfortable and keep my feet dry, and I’m NOT in pain by the end of the day!!”

Ankle Rain Boots

Durable and 100% waterproof, these rubber rain boots are as great for gardening as they are for going out in the rain. They come in an ankle height and have a cotton lining for a comfortable fit—not to mention, they’re also available in a wide variety of fun patterns.

Reviewers say they’re cute, comfortable, and easy to clean. One Amazon customer who uses them for gardening writes: “They are quite useful to provide footing in mud and water because they have a ridged sole...Mud on the outside surface washes off easily and I can dig soil with a shovel and the boots withstand the pressure.”

Garden Clogs

Kostovick recommends this top-rated Amazon pick if you’re looking “for a quick clog that offers good breathability.” Indeed, reviewers rave that they’re “very lightweight and comfortable” and are “perfect for summer.” The slip-on design makes them easy to quickly get on and off—yet the convenient back strap helps keep them secure while you’re wearing them. And though they’re not waterproof (in that they won’t necessarily keep your feet dry), reviewers say they’re easy to hose off when they get dirty—and dry off very quickly.

Kicker Rain Chelsea Boot

This highly-rated pick from Bogs comes in a stylish Chelsea-boot style that’s as functional as it is fashionable. Made with soft and flexible rubber, they’re not only 100% waterproof, but they also feature sweat-wicking technology to keep your feet dry. Plus, they also have an odor-control features that fight smells.

Reviewers especially love how versatile (and stylish!) the boots are. “They are durable enough to wear while working in the yard and fashionable enough for happy hour at our favorite watering hole,” writes one customer on the Bogs website.

Unisex Classic Clogs

When in doubt, you can never go wrong with a pair of classic Crocs. Just ask the 349,000 Amazon reviewers who give them a perfect rating! These popular slip-on clogs are super lightweight and breathable thanks to their iconic design that features ventilation holes, making them ideal for wearing during hot summer days. This design doesn’t make them waterproof, but it does make for convenient clean-up, as they’re easy to hose off and quickly shed off dirt and debris. Plus, they’re affordable and come in a whopping 95 different colors.

Men’s Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot

Karsten calls these hiking boots the “very best gardening boots” he’s “ever owned.” They may be designed for hiking, but they’re great for gardening too—thanks to features like a waterproof membrane, a lightweight EVA foam sole, and a protective, abrasion-resistant rubber heel and toe cap. “They are durable, easy to clean, and the sole is very stiff with thick tread, which make the hard work of gardening more manageable,” says Karsten.

These top-rated shoes boast over 11,000 five-star ratings from Amazon reviewers, including one customer who says they’re “so comfortable for wearing all day in the garden and walking around the acreage.”

How to choose the best gardening shoes

✔️ Identify the right type of shoe for your needs. Do you need a sturdy shoe with more coverage, like a pair of boots, or a more lightweight option that slips on and off easily? “Boots add stability that just isn’t available in any other shoe style,” says Karsten. “The heavy stiff sole is key to avoid hurting the arch of your foot when using gardening tools that require stepping with all your body weight to push into the soil.”

Ankle-height boots are ideal for intense gardening activities like deep weeding, pruning, or wading through vegetation, while tall boots are “best for heavy-duty garden work such as building beds, lugging compost, and working in wet conditions,” according to Kostovick. On the other hand, clogs and galoshes offer less coverage—which may be ideal for hot summer days—and “slip on and off easily,” says Karsten. Kostovick recommends this style especially for novice gardeners and those working in raised beds with clean pathways.

✔️ Consider the season. When finding the right type of shoe, it’s also important to consider the specific gardening conditions and the season you’ll be wearing them in, says Karsten. For example, in the early spring, he generally recommends wearing hiking boots. “A heavy sole is important because early season gardening means lots of heavy work turning over soil with a garden fork or a shovel,” he explains.

Once it’s planting time, however, he recommends “easy-to-clean rubber shoes that can be sprayed off at the end of the day.” By mid-summer, he suggests wearing more lightweight shoes that are “easy to clean up and cool.”

What type of shoe is best for gardening?

Gardening shoes come in many different types, including boots, slip-ons, clogs, and more. If you’re wondering what type is best, it all comes down to your needs and preferences.

Boots provide more coverage and offer more stability, making them ideal for more intense and heavy-duty gardening work. Clogs and slip-ons are more lightweight options for warm days and slide on and off easily for more convenient wear.

Generally, though, for a “universal pair” of gardening shoes, Kostovick recommends an ankle-to-mid-height boot. They “provide excellent protection and support for any garden activity.”

Should I wear socks with gardening shoes?

It all depends on your personal preference, but wearing socks is generally a good idea to keep your feet protected from blisters, moisture, and debris that can get into the shoes while you’re gardening. When it comes to socks, “breathable material is key, especially if you’ll be wearing boots all day,” says Kostovick. “Socks keep my feet dry and much happier, though on those very hot summer days when sporting some garden clogs, no socks is where it’s at.”

How we chose the best gardening shoes

We consulted Allison Vallin Kostovick, founder of the gardening site Finch + Folly and author of The Garden Maker’s Book of Wonder, and Joel Karsten, author of Straw Bale Gardens Complete.We also combed through countless ratings, reviews, and product specs to find the best gardening shoes you can buy.

Why trust us

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

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