Gardening Footwear - What do you Wear?

Plantminded

Another post on a recent thread got me wondering what footwear other gardeners favour when working in the garden.  Wellies, gardening shoes or boots or former walking or running shoes?  Have you purchased new gear recently or do you have a favoured pair of footwear?  Are there good brands to look for and not so good ones to avoid? 

I'm guilty of using a pair of former walking shoes without laces to make them easy to slip on and off at the back door but I'm conscious of this not being a safe option!  Do you have any thoughts or recommendations please?  So that other readers can benefit from your advice, thoughts on footwear sold as for men, women or unisex, young or old, amateur gardener or professional gardener are invited!  Thank you.

steephill

I wear a very old pair of Merrell walking boots which should have been binned years ago. I bought them on a US skiing trip when they were in an "Ides of March" sale (13th March) so only cost $13.

Fire

I also use an old pair of Merrell walking boots when it's muddy. Otherwise old Crocs. But my small garden is very undemanding on the shoe front.

JennyJ

My old gardening boots finally bit the dust last autumn. This winter I've been wearing a pair of children's snow boots - welly-like feet but with warm lining, and padded fabric around the ankles with velcro fastening. They cost few quid from a charity shop (new with labels still on) several years ago and work well for winter gardening despite the fabric part being a vile shade of pink - it'll soon be mucky anyway, and is mostly hidden under trouser legs when they're on. The welly part is OK, navy blue. I have some manky old trainers that will be relegated to gardening when it's too warm for the winter boots, and in summer I wear croc-type slip-ons for general pottering (shoes/boots only if I need to dig, use machinery or wade around in the backs of borders).

BenCotto

I wear fabric walking boots bought in the Lands End factory shop for a tenner, or maybe just a fiver, years ago. They’re supremely comfortable but will soon need the last rites read to them. I’ll be mourning when they go,

Pete.8

Slippers!
My trusty heavy-duty gardening slippers


The slippers I'm currently wearing will become this year's heavy-duty gardening slippers

Chris-P-Bacon

Depends on the season & job I want to do.
In winter or when its wet I'll wear work boots ( I have 2 - a pair of 'Rigger' type boots & lace up - both steel toe cap & sole). The rigger boots are fur lined so warm too.
In summer or when its dry I'll wear an old pair of leather shoes (Skechers - years old & fit me like a glove). I never wear wellies. 
If I'm working with spades, forks, mattocks etc or any large power tool like shredders or a mower I'll wear the work boots. 
I know you just asked for footwear but I've also started to wear knee pads quite regularly. I'll wear gloves when it's absolutely necessary but it's not often I do.
A hat in summer with factor 50+ .. I'm fair skinned.
I get more or less all of my footwear (and trousers) from Toolstation or Screwfix - hardwearing & good value for money.

Fairygirl

I use my old walking shoes in the garden - laces tied [ ] but slacker, so that they're easy enough to get on. I've spent too much of my life in wellies, so I certainly don't want to wear those in the garden.

Most of my walking shoes [not boots] were Merrell, until recently. The quality of the soles is dreadful now, even when they're Vibram - they must be lightweight cheapo versions. Wouldn't last five minutes on an actual hill. The old shoes I wear in the garden are still in better nick than the most recent pair of Merrells.  

BenCotto

This could start trending like ‘Dogs at the polling station’

Loxley

Usually I wear a worn out pair of (fake) crocs. Being able to kick them off easily at the back door is a must.

Hostafan1

wellies if digging or the grass is wet.
Old trainers when it's dry.
Flip flips when it nice and warm