North Coast Gardening

Bogs Gardening Shoes: Waterproof and Stink-Free

I don’t do many clothing reviews here on North Coast Gardening because most clothes made specifically for gardening are either not my style (I only like floral when it’s thorny and goth), or the manufacturers are so busy thinking about the stereotype of a Lady Gardener that they completely miss out on creating a product that actually functions, you know, in the dirt. When you’re gardening.

So when I got the email from Bogs asking if they could send me a pair of their gardening shoes to test out, I looked at their site with suspicion, even though I’d heard good things about their brand. Was this another veiled attempt to cover me in pink-and-yellow flowers and get photographic evidence of such?

I shouldn’t have worried. These are functional, comfortable shoes that fit beautifully and really perform in the garden. They sent me the Classic Short Bogs, and I was delighted to find they go perfectly with all of my clothes (yep, they’re black!).

Bogs gardening boots (4)

I usually wear Merrell’s mocs in the garden, but I have had issues in the past with them leaking. It rains here a lot, and even summer mornings are very dewy. There’s little more uncomfortable than getting your feet wet in the first hour of work and then having to suck it up and keep working all day anyway. Pruney toes = unhappy Gen.

Yet I had tried other types of waterproof gardening boot in the past and found them heavy, inflexible, and not breathable, so my feet ended up sore and sweaty at the end of the day.

When I tried on the Bogs I was surprised at how much I liked them right away. The neoprene-like fabric at the top is so flexible that I can slip into my Bogs while standing, and the handles are great if I get them so muddy that I want to rinse them off afterward – they’re easy to carry over to the hose for a quick scrub.

And they are totally, indisputably waterproof. I’ve gardened in the rain, in the mud, I’ve even dipped my feet into the pond to see if the rubbery outside bits would leak.

Bogs gardening boots (2)Another thing I like is the way the soles don’t pick up mud. Bogs calls them self-cleaning, and that’s pretty accurate. I step in a lot of muddy clumps, but because the bottoms of the shoes have just a subtle tread, soil doesn’t get stuck in there much. When it does, it tends to come off when I walk around a bit. I’ve had other types of shoe that piled up mud until it felt like I was wearing showshoes.

Then, they seem to really breathe! I don’t understand how they can have such a rubbery coating and yet my feet never feel hot or icky, but they’ve got some magic going on there. Plus, the insole is anti-microbial, so they have some anti-stink protection going on.

But you want to know what surprised me the most? I even like their flowered ones! This one’s got a ghostly-chic floral going, the aqua-chartreuse thing is totally working for me here, and this purple one is, well – it’s purple! Need I say more?

Want to get geared out in some Classic Short Bogs of your very own? Bogs has kindly offered to send a pair to one lucky reader in their choice of size. While I tested the women’s version for obvious reasons, they also have a men’s version in case one of you lucky guys is the winner.

Just leave a comment for your chance to win (US lower 48 states only). I’ll pull a winner on Monday, June 11th. Good luck! Krista has won! Congrats, Krista!

Genevieve

139 responses to “Bogs Gardening Shoes: Waterproof and Stink-Free”

  1. Id love to try these out. I like the height on the pair you tried and the handles look like they’d be super handy. I need to stop gardening in flip flops.

  2. It would be a small blessing to not have wet feet after watering my gardens and container plants! Thanks for the chance at another giveaway!

  3. Are they squirrel proof? I’m left with one garden clog after the squirrels decided to chew up one to refurbish their nest. If I am the lucky winner of this giveaway, I promise not to leave them outside.

  4. These look great & I’d love to give them a try. I definitely need something waterproof while gardening in my foliage filled garden.

  5. I would love some good garden shoes! Rubber boots are too hot in the summer and my clogs always let water and dirt in at the heels!

  6. I’ve never seen these before – the short ones look great for mucking around in the gardens.

  8. I don’t have any dedicated gardening shoes yet and go back-and-forth between two old TOMS classics so as not to totally muck either of them up. I’ve been holding for something that looked worth my time- these look perfect!! I love the height, the handles, and the option for not-super-bright colors.

  9. These look wonderful! I hate trying to get our thick clay mud off of my shoes after being in the garden.

  11. I’d love a pair as my Hunters are cracking and they do get much too hit in our MN summers! Thanks!!

  12. Frankly, I’ve needed gardening shoes for about 5 years, now. Not a big shopper.

    Husband has almost begged (as I tend to borrow his shoes, as well as use ones I own, which are NOT garden-appropriate). And I usually garden in running shoes, which renders my feet VERY dirty and frequently soggy. =)

    So, I would LOVE to enter the shoe-grabbing fray! =)

    And, tho’ I am female, I’d bet the men’s size 10 would be better than the women’s equivalent, plus that allows for bulky wool sock wearing.

    If you need my real name, you can fire an email to the address above, and I’ll fling it atcha.

    Thanks for the opportunity, and now I’m going to bookmark that web site (in the incredibly slim chance I don’t win)!

  13. I’m finally ready to give up on my LL Bean rubber mocassins, they’re just too sloppy. Dry feet that slide around all day in sloppy shoes don’t cut it. These would be great to try, especially if they were even shorter.

  14. I would love a pair as my Hunters are cracking and they get so hot in our MN summers. Thanks!

  16. Would love to try these with my heavy clay soil, I literally do have 2″ soil platforms on my mud boots.

  17. Could use these here on wet northwest coast! Betcha they’d fair better than my leather shoes too.

  19. A chance at another pair of shoes, and for the garden no less. Put my name in the hat!
    Thank you,
    Kayt

  20. Their floral prints are quite nice. Too often floral prints belong with doilies and tea parties.

  21. I’d love to try out a pair of Bogs. I’m a little tired of wet feet in the garden.

    Thanks, I love your blog.

    Jan

  22. Just got my first pair of Bogs in the classic high variety. They’re great. I’d love the shorter version for warmer weather/everyday function. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

  23. Perfect for wet Seattle weather in the garden. Winning a pair of the ladies short bogs would be wonderful. Thanks for offering a pair for free.

  24. I lived in my high turquoise bogs all winter long. Yesterday I was debating just how well they would go with my shorts. The answer is NOT at all, so I NEED to get a pair of these shorter bogs.
    I wear mine to plant trees (they work well with shovels) and then water the roots in without worrying about getting my own feet sopping wet, to feed the cows without worrying about what I’m stepping in, gathering eggs sans the same worry, starting up the irrigation pump because they have just enough traction to prevent me from sliding into the pond, filling troughs because sloshes don’t matter… the list goes on.
    Here are my babies: http://www.bogsfootwear.com/shop/style/52551-444.html
    My babies really want a younger sister set for summer!

  26. I want Boggs now. I bought a pair for my girlfriend and she loves them. Now I’m so envious that I’ll even write in to a web site to win one!

  28. You had me at waterproof, but SELF CLEANING!! And easy to pull on and off! My dream come true. I am in the veggie garden, in the house, in the flower beds, in the house, in the woods, in the house. My muck boots are heavy and merrills too short. These are perfect….and the cat likes them.

  29. It looks like everyone in Humboldt needs these, whether they garden or not. I’d love to win a pair!

  30. Hey Gen!
    I usually wear my Keen boots for my day job, but even with their awesome design, they get wet in our weather. I love my Muck Boots for tromping around in the chicken yard or garden here, but they’re too heavy for my day work. The handles on those Bogs look awesome, and self-cleaning? I know someone else in our household who would be delighted with THAT feature! 🙂

  32. You read my mind… gardening in thongs – no go. Gardening in Sketchers – no go. Gardening in tennis shoes – no go. I have been looking for a perfect pair. Love the ‘ghostly chic floral’ as you put it!

  33. I have some of those “other” boots, and they hurt my feet. Maybe my feet are more “European”? I would love to try some Bogs if they make some to fit me! Tired of wet feet even in “waterproof” leather.

  34. ME! OH! ME! PICK ME!!!
    Below, please find a list of my qualifications for the position of Bog Winner:

    1) I have similar issues with fluffy floral lady gardener clothing- (I have yet to find the kind of thorns and death garden gear you long for, even in San Francisco)

    2) Been on an unrequited eons length quest for waterproof-yet-light-and-muck-resistant-but-fetching footwear-

    3) Being flat-assed broke-

    4) Being an urban open space reclaiming/protecting kinda gardener, which means;

    5) I need, um, versatile footwear that I can both run in, and appear street legal in-

    6) Having a great love of all things North Coast- (Lost Coast!)

    7) Promise to share the news of these cunning little shoes with the world at every opportunity, bringing to the masses the Good Word of the True Shoes- Bogs!

    8) I’ll even write the story of how I got them in some lurid color of nail polish on the soles, and balance gracefully on one foot, then the other until curious potential Bog wearers are done reading-

    9) Wear them to occasions not normally requiring waterproof, muck-resistant, self- cleaning, no-stink footwear, such as the gala opening of the Opera Season-
    – (should I receive an invitation)

    10) And finely, I’ll do your chores for a week.

    Very Truly Yours,
    Marykate Connor

    • Dear Marykate,
      This was the best. Entry. Ever! I am so sorry you didn’t win. I was rooting for you, dear! I have a lot of chores to do! 🙂
      -Gen

  36. Non stinky – wow! I’ve been gardening in Keens for years and my feet get so dirty. I’ve yet to find a pair of boots I like. I would LOVE to try them for sure!

  40. I could seriously use these. My current gardening shoes are way too big and slip off too easily. Not a good combination when mowing the lawn or turning over a vegetable bed.

  43. I love the short ones. As much as I love my slip-on/clog thingies, I still get dirt in there. What’s WORSE, if I don’t wear socks, I get shoe farts – both tiresome and embarrassing. I’m with Cocoa, even if I didn’t garden, I’d wear them just because Humboldt summers require such a thing.

  44. Wow! I love these! They would be great for watering with! Every morning when I get in from watering, my shoes and the bottom of my pants are all wet.

  45. These look really useful, and comfy (this from a fellow Merrell-holic)!

  48. I garden in a combination of flip-flops or rain boots depending on what I’m doing out there, but neither is without problems. These look great! They also look like they’d be perfect for winter (and rainy spring) at the horse barn!

  50. Oh boy, I could really use these! I am constantly making my trainers a muddy mess, because I don’t have another pair of gardening shoes. Waterproof would be terrific!

  51. I use an old pair of clogs. Sometimes mud and water gets in from the back. I hate that.

  52. These are so cute! Would love to have a pair so that I can feel more duck-like when gardening in the wet.

  54. I would love a pair of these since we are really working hard on our property this year. So much landscaping to do. These just might help me get the job done faster.

  55. How about cleaning stalls with them??
    I could not do your chores for a week…

  57. These sound wonderful – currently using snowshoes, and well, I flooded them :/

  58. These sound perfect for any garden adventure! My daughter and I recently started a garden together and don’t have all the proper clothing and equipment just yet, so a chance to win a pair of these is much appreciated.

    Kym

  61. Would love these…I’ve been talking about needing some good garden shoes up here in wet Trinidad!

  62. Yay Bogs! I would love a pair! I have had serious Bogs envy for quite a while now and they are a bit out of my price range.

  65. Boy could I use a pair of these! Thanks for the opportunity to put these to the test in my garden.

  67. I just saw these in a local store and wondered how well they work. You’ve just answered my question. I’d love to win a pair.

  73. I have problems with rain boots not being wide enough for my big calves. These short ones look like they’d be perfect!

  75. I would love to have a pair of Bogs! I’ve read about them before and you make them sound like a great pair of garden shoes.

  77. We wear tall muck boots all Winter because of our NW mud. They are so hot in the Summer! Having Bogs short boots would be wonderful when it does get warm. And they would get daily use around the farm. <:^)

  79. Put me in! I could really use a new pair.
    Love the pull on handles they have. My old garden shoes sprung a leak and in the Pacific NW that is not a good thing! Big ol’ crack right across the foot pad on one and along the top of the other.

  80. I have seen these and would LOVE to be chosen as the winner to receive a pair! I usually wear the old worn out 10yr old tennis shoes while working in the yard so these would be a wonderful new change for me and my Secret Magic Garden! I can assure you I’d wear them 7 days a week!!
    Thanks!
    🙂

  81. They look easy to slip on and off. They would make watering before work easier.

  85. I would love to give these a try in the garden…so little bugs dont crawl in my shoes and my feet wont get wet around the swampy areas when i,m; weeding and planting,,they look like they would be great for both,and they look great too!

  87. I’ve never seen these before and it’s love at first sight! Cute and smart! If only they were a man! Thanks for the opportunity to enter to win these!

  88. Bogs boots stand up to everything Mother Nature throws at you.
    Gotta love these boots!

  90. I’d LOVE to win a pair of these garden shoes…have seen them online and admired them. ; )

  91. Really need a pair of those garden shoes. I have a pair of step into leather shoes that leave a lot to be desired.

    Please pick me!!! My feet will be so happy!

    Thank you,

  93. It was great fun to read this blog! I have to thank you for the smiles! If I win, would you do me a favor and donate the pair to someone local who can’t afford them, maybe a novice gardener? It would save on shipping and would bless me too! Always,Blue

  96. These look great and I could use them at the lake too! Thanks for this contest!

  97. Wow~ These look perfect for wearing in my garden! 🙂 My “garden sneakers” would love to get a break (and so would my feet!)!

  99. Wow-non stinky rubber boots! I would love a pair. I usually just wear waterproof hiking boots to work.

  100. Love these! I, too must stop gardening in flip flops – but they let my feet dry off. Everything else either gets soggy – feet included or they keep the actual water out – but my feet sweet to soggyness. Summer time, I just can’t get the dirt completely out of my callused heels & toenail cuticles. Gardeners hands? I have gardeners feet!

  101. I have worn a hole in the bottom of my old garden clogs, so my socks, feet and carpets would love a pair of Bogs.

  103. Working at a greenhouse and being an avid gardener myself, a great waterproof slip on is a must! Being odor free is a fantastic bonus too!!! I need these!!!

  104. I would love to try something more comfy and breathable than my basic wellies. These sound wonderful.

  105. I would also like to try a pair of these! I have tried (and spent a lot of $$) on so many looking for a pair the doesn’t STINK! I garden in a lot of extreme weather here in North Central Minnesota and when it is hot, it truly is and more! I have tried everything I can think of to eliminate the sweaty feet problem with unfortunate results. Hope I have a good chance of winning! I will keep my fingers crossed. Thank you for the opportunity.

  106. Love the purple and I could definitely use a pair of boots for the garden. Thank you for this fabulous giveaway.

  109. As a North Coast Gardener I can relate to the extended periods of rain and wet conditions of Humboldt county. Id love to get the chance to test out a pair of stylish bogs. As of right now Im rocking the Chacos in the garden, very styling, but not so functional.

  110. I know gardeners that wear boggs, and have always thought I’d like to try them, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I’d love to try them, love the purple!

  111. I’ve been gardening since I was in elementary school and I am now . . . not in elementary school and . . . I’ve never had a pair of gardening shoes/boots.

    I love the looks of the Bogs and would be thrilled to win the drawing.

    And thanks for having a drawing in the first place.

    Carol B

  112. Truly effective, long-lasting garden boots have, thus far, eluded me. Could this be the footwear i’ve been looking for?

  113. This is an awesome giveaway – much better than the old tennis shoes that are falling apart on the seams. I am so glad I decided to stop in and see what’s up today.

  114. I would love a pair of BOGS, Sadly I can’t enter your contest as I’m Canadian. But I always keep my eyes out for good garden boots!

  115. They look like they would work really well, I love the handles!
    I garden in flip-flops too, and the Humboldt alluvial clay in my yard has really done a number on my heels.

  116. I’d LOVE to try a pair of BOGS. I have been contemplating getting some for a long time. I am out in the garden EVERY day and can be hard on boots. I hope to give them a spin….

  117. Roses are red,
    Violets are green,
    Bogs on the feet,
    Would look really keen

    Roses are red,
    Violets are blue,
    The cat would look good,
    In those Bogs too.

  120. We moved to the PNW last year from Florida. I’ve been looking for something sturdy to wear around my new, mossy, overgrown yard. Thanks!

  122. This is perfect timing – my Muck boots just split after 6 years of good hard working. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw you have Merrell’s mocs too, I have a pair that have to be close to 7 or 8 years old now and they’re still going strong.
    What I am really liking about the Bogs is the handle, how smart is that!? I’m a size 7 and I love the Ghostly Floral. ~ Thanks!
    P.S. – your cat looks just like mine 🙂

  123. You’re right- there is nothing worse than getting your feet wet in the morning and having them stay wet all day! I’d love to try these.

  126. Married gardener seeking dry boot that I can remove without enlisting another family member. Easy on/easy off required. Not too hot.

  132. Would love to try a pair of these – I’ve been looking for the perfect pair of gardening boots!

  134. These are very pretty gardening boots! Usually they are a little ugly and huge! I would love a pair, and as I saw at the bogs site their price is very reasonable!
    Thank you 🙂

  135. I love, love, love Bogs . I already had a pair. They are true to size and keep your feet warm without wearing thick bulky socks . I loved them so much I bought these for my mom and I also bought my Dad a pair. They Both love them. My 6 year old also got a new pair and they are his favorite. They are worth the price and Great quality!

  136. Living near Portland, Oregon, where the winter rains last for months, I absolutely love these boots. They are 100% waterproof and very comfortable. Having worn my first pair out (size 7), I ordered a new pair in the same size. The sizing seems to have changed as they were too small and I had to return them for the next larger size. Wasn’t too excited about the additional charge for return shipping so be careful when selecting a size.

  137. I have never had a pair of real life gardening shoes so have been researching to buy a pair.
    I definately love your style of boot as I want some that I can slip on and off not bend downto pull on and wash mud off easilyand they look JUST THE JOB.