The 8 Best Gardening Shoes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Bogs Patch Ankle Garden Boots

$77 At Amazon View On Bogsfootwear.com $70 At Zappos

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Comfort
  4.5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

After testing, the Bogs Patch Ankle Boots received perfect scores across all categories (quality, comfort, durability, design, and value), earning our title of best overall. We loved that they were durable and had cushioned insoles to support our feet after many hours outdoors. We also liked the ankle height, which made them easy to get on and off, and the small tab on the back that made them easier to remove.

In addition to their durability and quality construction, we also liked these ankle boots because of their stylish design. The simple pattern makes it perfect for a day out at the garden center or a leisurely stroll through town on a gloomy day. But there are some downsides. The waterproof material may be too thick for sweltering summer temps, and the shoes do give off a strong rubbery odor right out of the box.

Despite these design concerns, these shoes' soles are both thick yet flexible, and they accommodate lots of bending and maneuvering in the garden. Since half sizes aren't available, we went up a half size. The fit tends to be roomy, which we didn't mind (socks helped), but we noticed that the generous fit around our ankles took some getting used to.

We also really like the company's numerous sustainability initiatives, such as the use of recycled materials and plans to decrease its carbon footprint, which made us feel secure about supporting them.

While we opted for other shoes in the warm summer heat (like our best all-purpose pick, Classic Crocs), we're excited to have these shoes as a cool or damp weather option for maintaining a garden. They feel much more maneuverable than other gardening shoes that tend to be clunky and heavy. We also have not noticed any signs of wear on the outside or inside of the shoe.

_{Material: Natural rubber (boot) and algae-based EVA (footbed) | Sizes: Women's 6 to 11 | Type: Ankle boot | Waterproof: Yes}

Best Budget

Amoji Unisex Garden Clog Yard Shoes

$28 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Quality
  4.5/5
• Comfort
  4/5
• Durability
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

Our best budget pick, the Amoji Unisex Garden Clogs, is a great under $50 pair, and they are very comparable to similar name-brand shoes in quality and design. We enjoyed the good arch support and cushioned soles, which made standing or crouching more endurable. They come with an adjustable strap that may cause them to feel too snug when worn on the back, though it can be easily rotated to the top.

The molded footbed is textured, which helps keep bare feet from slipping and sliding too much when the shoe is wet (something that can be very annoying with these types of clogs).

After six months of regular use, these clogs remain a great option to quickly slip on while gathering vegetables or watering a garden. While dirt can get into the holes, we can quickly hose them down after gardening. We also like that the holes are smaller than other open clogs, so larger pieces of debris like mulch or pebbles can't enter the toe bed and cause discomfort.

Note that after being worn for long walks on concrete, the shoes showed signs of wear on the logo and creasing on the top, but that didn't affect their performance.

_{Material: Rubber | Sizes: Women's 6 to 15; men's 5 to 13 | Type: Clog | Waterproof: Yes}

Best All-Purpose

Crocs Classic Clogs

$48 At Amazon $50 At Zappos View On Shopwss.com

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Quality
  4/5
• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  3/5

After testing these shoes, we became a "Crocs convert," and appreciated their lightweight material and pleasant feel—they didn't rub or feel tight. Despite the airy construction, these shoes held up well outdoors, and we didn't feel or notice tough materials like rocks or mulch underfoot.

We've found that most crocs are super easy to hose off so that they don't retain odors, and the perforated toe box means they're unlikely to make your feet sweaty on warm days. Since the brand doesn't offer half sizes, we sized up a half size and would describe the fit as "comfortably loose."

We do think these shoes are expensive, given their construction, and we think it's more realistic to buy them on sale. Although not everyone likes the way Crocs look, we are totally on board with them, especially given the large variety of colors, patterns, and charms offered.

These Crocs became a go-to gardening shoe for hot summer months when clunky boots were unbearable. While there is some obvious wear on the soles, we think they're still in great condition and appreciate how easy they are to rinse off.

_{Material: Croslite (the company's proprietary, rubber-like foam) | Sizes: Women's 6 to 12; men's 4 to 17 | Type: Clog | Waterproof: Yes}

Best Men's

L.L.Bean Men’s Wellie Sport Shoes, Slip-On

$65 At L.L.Bean $36 At Zappos

Our Ratings

• Design
  4/5
• Quality
  4/5
• Comfort
  4/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

While wearing the L.L.Bean Men’s Wellie Support Shoes, we especially loved the solid construction, high-quality materials, good looks, and basic tread that prevent slipping in wet conditions. These shoes look like high-end sneakers but are waterproof and much more grippy, making them a stylish alternative to traditional clogs.

While these shoes are advertised as slip-on, getting them on and off isn't as easy as a pair of clogs. Their snug fit does require you to slip a finger or two onto the heel to slide your foot inside and grip while pulling off. Moisture stayed out completely during wet gardening tasks, but we think these shoes have the potential to get steamy and sweaty if you're doing lots of labor.

This pair is on the expensive side, especially if you only plan to garden in them, but we think they could also be great shoes for other outdoor activities like going to the river or mowing the lawn. Overall, we would recommend the shoes and think they'd be a great investment that's sure to last you longer than some of our more affordable picks.

Despite our concerns that they would become sweaty during longer work periods, we found after six months of testing that these shoes are very comfortable to wear in warmer and wet conditions. We recommend wearing socks with them to facilitate putting them on and taking them off. We have seen no signs of wear, and their waterproof qualities remain unchanged from our initial testing. They've become go-to shoes for watering the lawn, washing cars, and power-washing siding.

_{Materials: Rubber (upper and outsole), neoprene (collar), EVA (footbed) | Sizes: Men's 7 to 14 | Type: Slip-on | Waterproof: Yes}

Best Splurge

The Original Muck Boot Company Muckster II Mid Boot

$95 At Amazon $95 At Walmart View On Muckbootcompany.com

If you tend to garden during cooler months or wet conditions, we recommend splurging on these versatile boots that are sturdy and tough. While testing, we found these boots from The Original Muck Boot Company to have a deep tread that provides good traction in slippery muck, and when worn unfolded, they gave us the confidence that we could walk into any gardening task and be protected.

Although these boots are advertised as being easy to clean, mud and dirt got really stuck in the sole and required more work to remove. These boots are a bit bulkier, heavier, and not quite as stylish as our best overall pick, but they do their purpose of keeping your feet dry and protected. They are extremely watertight, dependable, and a good gardening shoe for wetter climates.

After wearing these boots around a garden for months and completing various tasks in them, we've decided that they function best for serious, heavy-duty tasks. If you're a gardener who isn't constantly working in muddy conditions, we recommend considering some of the lighter clogs on our list. However, we still love these shoes and think they'd function great for anyone who may complete more involved tasks like caring for livestock, mulching your garden, or walking through tall grasses.

_{Materials: Rubber, neoprene, nylon | Sizes: Women's 5 to 11 | Type: Boot | Waterproof: Yes}

Best Boot

Evercreatures Rain Ankle Boot

$60 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Design
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Comfort
  4/5
• Durability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

We all know the feeling of a clunky rain boot, so we were pleasantly surprised by this pair of wellies that hit just above the ankle and are less bulky and clunky than some competitors' offerings—they were surprisingly one of the most comfortable wellies we've ever worn.

They come in a mix of solids and playful patterns (think plaids and dots) and they'd work well with shorts or pants, and just like our best overall pick, they're attractive enough to wear while running to the store. They have a deep tread to help guard against slipping and also stand up to their waterproof claims, as we ran the hose over them several times. They also protected our feet as we used a rotary cultivator that churned up lots of mud.

The soft, 100 percent cotton lining is comfortable, but we think it might be tricky to clean if odors or stains pop up in the future. We think these boots are a much lighter pair compared to traditional "muck" boots and work boots.

After six months of testing, we concluded that they are not breathable (making them not the best option for hot weather), but this is a common theme among rubber boots. We traditionally wear them during wet or muddy conditions, They've shown zero signs of wear and tear and they're extremely easy to hose down at the end of the day.

_{Materials: Rubber, cotton | Sizes: Women's 5 to 10 | Type: Boot | Waterproof: Yes}

Best Arch Support

Naturalizer Marianne Slip-on Loafer

$80 At Amazon $129 At Walmart View On Naturalizer.com

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

The good news about these design-conscious loafers, which come in playful prints like cheetah and snakeskin, is that they're extremely comfortable and have good arch support. They're also cute enough that the wearer can go from gardening to running errands or eating out. One of the more breathable options on our list, they have a removable insert and also provide good traction during potentially slippery tasks.

The white midsoles, which are standard across all patterns, were difficult to keep clean, even with mild dish soap. We recommend reserving these for less messy gardening tasks like watering potted plants with a watering can or quickly picking weeds or pruning shrubs. These shoes are also not waterproof, so we don't recommend wearing them in muddy conditions. While the price is higher, we think it can be justified based on this pair's versatility compared to other picks in our list.

While these shoes do not show any sign of wear after six months of use, we think they best perform as an "everyday shoe" or "all-purpose" slip-on rather than a pair that's specific to gardening. They're challenging to keep clean, and we think their lack of waterproofing makes them only suited for very low-maintenance tasks.

_{Material: Leather, suede, manmade, fabric (or a mix), depending on pattern | Sizes: Women's 4 to 12 | Type: Slip-on | Waterproof: No}

Best Tall Boot

Xtratuf x Salmon Sisters Legacy Boot

$165 At REI $144 At Zappos View On Xtratuf.com

These boots, which were originally designed for fishing in Alaska, are well-designed and very sturdy. They supported our feet while doing a range of different gardening tasks and didn't leak at all. The lining has a cute print, and wearing them folded down makes them feel more versatile and less like full galoshes. They tend to run small, so the company recommends sizing up if you're between sizes.

The soles also have excellent tread, although the deep holes that trapped dirt left chunks of wet mud all over our floors, even after pounding them on a deck and cleaning them with a brush. Another annoyance was that a few days after being unpacked, the boots gave off a slick and oily substance that made us unsure of the best way to store them long-term. They are also a bit heavy and expensive for simple gardening jobs, but for anyone who lives in an area that frequently floods or has farm- or livestock-oriented duties, this pair is perfect and worth the investment.

While we love the comfort and durability of these boots, our testing confirmed that they're a bit overkill for basic gardening tasks. We've found they're best suited for very muddy conditions or other tasks like power washing and cleaning up a flooded basement.

_{Material: Latex neoprene | Sizes: Women's 6 through 11 | Type: Boot | Waterproof: Yes}