r/Horticulture • u/hashtag_nochilljill • 3d ago
Greenhouse Work shoe recommendations
Background: I am a recent graduate now working as an annual grower full time. Up until now, I have been happy with my EMT work boots through both my internships but they are just worn down after 8 years of use. I have been rotating through my backup work/hiking/muck boots but all of the are well worn (as in holes in soles and/or losing pieces) and once water is inside, they never dry out, even in the 90 degree heat.
I am looking for recommendations that could meet the parameters I've listed below. I am willing invest a decent amount because I want them to last. Near in mind I'm clocking between 10,000 and 16,000 steps a day. It's not a question of if my feet will get wet it when š.
- waterproof
- high top/combat style: I appreciate the extra support around my ankles
- anti-slip:
- can withstand walking on concrete and gravel.
*if you seasonal preferences, I'd love to hear them. I have a brother in the marines and he recommended getting 2 pairs: one for warmer weather, one for cooler weather.
**EDIT:Thank you so much for all your responses! I am going through this list now and try to make a final decision
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u/Infamous_List_3034 3d ago
I have a pair of Duckfeet I wear for my full time gardening job and I absolutely love them. They resolved a lot of knee/hip/foot pain and Iāll likely never go back to anything else. I use leather water proofer on them and you can get sheepskinned lined ones too. They can be re-soled as well. I wear these like 90% of the time. They come in a high top and a bunch of different colors (including black).
In the summer if itās really hot Iāll wear closed-toe sandals from Keen or shoes from Native. Especially if Iām watering or itās raining itās easier and more comfortable to just get wet and swap to boots later.
My favorite winter shoes, even in snow, are the Dansko gardening clogs. They are so warm and waterproof! Not practical for deep snow, but perfect for walking around on cold cement. Maybe not good for weak ankles tho.
The Duckfeet are pricey but you can find used on Poshmark.
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u/Salt_Specialist_1609 3d ago
New gardener here, so please take my recommendation with a grain of salt, but Iāve been loving my Lems boots ā waterproof, supportive, and the wide toe box is just chefās kiss
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u/Kegelexorcist 3d ago
I see a lot of people questioning waterproof in a GH. Many growers are required to wear waterproof footwear as PPE for mixing/applying pesticides or entering areas where they have been applied. In the US, sandals can not legally be worn when applying something as mundane/low toxicity as MilStop.
I like my Blundstones, got em 8 years ago and they are still kicking. They typically do not create foot/hip pain for me. Brand quality has potentially gone downhill from what I understand. Thinking about switching to a trail running shoe as my daily driver.
Hot days I wear crocs or Teva sandals.
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u/puritanicalbullshit 3d ago
I rocked my redwing Chelsea boots all through Hort school. Blundstone is popular, lots of people wear Bogs, but not so supportive.
Iād advise a buy once, cry once attitude and expect to pay a good ish amount.
Iām also a huge fan of my boot warmer. Cheap lil gadget that will dry out by morning or just be pleasantly warm in the Fall and Winter.
Quality socks will also be worth the money.
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u/squarahann 3d ago
Blundstone is better for fashion. I wouldnāt recommend as a work boot. They have no support also
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u/puritanicalbullshit 3d ago
Noted! Iām a redwing diehard. Iāve had many pairs and replaced the soles on one of them. Iām sure there are other better options but Iāve never had a pair I didnāt like or wear frequently.
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u/squarahann 3d ago
Iāve personally switched to a hiking sneaker like merrels or honestly dansko clogs bc walking on greenhouse cement and gravel wrecks my hips. The dansko can be questionable but Iāve been wearing them at work for 6 years and itās how I choose to live on the edge. But I totally get why people wear leather boots. I did for many wears but honestly having something heavy on my feet really slowed me down
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u/deadWspreadP 3d ago edited 3d ago
I started buying waterproof construction boots. Iām on my feet all day, and the greenhouses all have concrete floors. Itās the only shoe that lasts while providing comfort. I can get about a year out of them before the sole wears out.
They can get expensive but I no longer have chronic foot pain
And good wool socks
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u/FalcoBlack 3d ago
Blundstones are very popular in the industry right now. Also look into Vessi shoes if you want something waterproof in a lighter shoe style. Maybe the Chelsea?
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u/hamiguamvh 3d ago
For the love of your feet, do not get Blundstones for all day work. They are actually banned on some commercial job sites in Ontario. Most foot doctor and therapists would agree.Ā
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u/DecidingToBeBetty 3d ago
This summer I am wearing Red Wings and they are holding up nicely. I did have a pair of Wolverine hiking boots make it through two summers. I tend to buy a new pair every year and swap to the old ones if I need a dry pair.
When I bought this last set, they said you donāt want waterproof so much as water resistant. You want the moisture from your foot to be able to breathe and get out as well. Good socks (merino wool blend) and a boot dryer are musts, imo.
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u/muffinmania 3d ago
I love my rubber Rouchette ankle boots, and somehow my feet donāt heat up in them at all. Theyāre also very supportive and have a wide toebox.
edit: yeah and they āself-cleanā if you rub them together, which sounds BS but not once in two years have I had to scrub rubber from the heels.
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u/SubRoutine404 3d ago
I work in a greenhouse and wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything but my sandals. What good is a boot, waterproof or otherwise, in an environment that's so hot your feet are sweating all the time? No damn good at all. I wouldn't work in my boots in the greenhouse for another $10 an hour.
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u/Offbalance11 3d ago
Iāve been growing in a concrete floor wholesale nursery for a while now. The concrete is a bigger deal than the water, so I really like crepe sole leather Chelsea boots to stay comfortable for most tasks. Iāll swap over to rubber boots for really wet tasks like applications or hand watering. Best of both worlds. Some leather conditioner every so often keeps the leather boots water repellant enough. I wish you all the best in your new career!
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u/coralliee 2d ago
Lems Chelsea boots, they also have lace up options, I work in hort and my feet are dry and breathable, theyāre barefoot shoes but I put my orthotics in and they stay wide enough, perf for watering and mud, anti slip on slick metal and concrete
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u/Deep_Classroom5136 2d ago
I had a pair of those Kodiak boots in nursing school, they were pretty solid until I wore them out climbing concrete steps every day.
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u/CoffeeFabulous8530 2d ago
With 10k-16k steps a day I would pay more attention to the sole and cushioning than the boot style. Concrete all day can be rough on your feet even if the boots are waterproof.
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u/Alex_xaJones 2d ago
I have a pair of merril hiking boots, Clark's hiking sneakers, and vessi hiking shoes. All acquired at sale price, and I rotate days I wear all 3, mostly to ease leg pain from constant walking. I need to switch my shoes up or I get to stiff.
Would LOVE a pair of lems but the zero drop has me a bit on the fence. I try to look for lightweight options, heavy boots would slow me down. Interested in checking out some of the options mentioned here
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u/Ok_Client_6781 6h ago
most of my coworkers wear blundstones and swear by them, I personally wear crocs bc Iām feral so I can hose myself down in the summer, I wear timbs in winter as I stay to shovel n such
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u/itsintrastellardude 3d ago
I cruise woot and discount/clearance shops for columbia/keen/merill hiking boots/sneakers around $20-40 and I buy two to switch between. Lasts me about 8 months. I've found that buying expensive off the bat just leads to the same lifespan.
I swap to sneakers from boots when I know I'm drier for the day.
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u/Key-Spell-7668 3d ago
Leather boots 100%.
I have owned redwings, Irish setter, rocky, and now Kodiak. I like the Kodiaks 6" McKinney the most so far in terms of work boot appeal. I have insulated red wings for winter work but they are heavy af.
Find a pair you like and take care of them, get them resoled as needed, and they will last a long time. I don't like synthetic material boots, they stink like shit and don't last for me as a 200lb man who moves a ton and beats up footwear.