Clogs and slip-ons can keep you light on your feet in the garden

By HOLLY HAYES - San Jose Mercury News

Most gardening clogs are great for light-duty outdoor chores. They’re hose-friendly, and there are no laces to worry about re-tying when you’re all gloved up.

Choices range from Smith & Hawken’s steel-shank rubber clogs with a fresh (and addictingly collectible) design each season to Sloggers, the plain-Jane-but-serviceable rubber footwear.

There’s even a high-end PVC shoe, the Kamik Doodle, that’s said to be a “Hollywood favorite” of such style-setters as Gwyneth Paltrow, Teri Hatcher and Madonna.

Before you devote even more space and money to garden shoes, we put them to the test

CROCS BEACH

What: The slightly bulbous first generation of the now-ubiquitous lightweight clogs. The company calls its proprietary material Croslite, described as a closed-cell resin that softens to a jaunty bounce with your body heat.

How much: $29.99, available in 27 colors, from subtle to eye-popping, for women and men.

Pros: The convertible, flip-up heel strap, a secure heel cup and superior, all-day comfort.

Cons: Garden soil seeps into the perforations.

Something else: Crocs Professional ($34.99) is a little sleeker, little snazzier version with no ventilation holes on top with the same mold-to-your-feet comfort.

Where to buy: Offered at many retail stores, or online at www.crocs.com.

TRELLO

What: Lightweight clogs made of ethyl vinyl acetate, also known as EVA. Sizes for women, men and kids. Fun colors like fuchsia, azure and fluorescent orange, in addition to more subdued navy and khaki.

How much: $24.50.

Pros: The catalog promises “soft, squishy comfort,” and these shoes deliver. The square perforations are on the top only, which means less garden soil gets in the shoe.

Cons: The Trello has no back-strap option and they slide off pretty easily.

Where to buy: www.landsend.com.

SLOGGERS

What: Your basic rubber garden clog. No frills, no shanks, no perforations, no butterflies.

How much: $19.99 in red, green and blue. The “premium” version is $29.99.

Pros: Great for muddy days in the garden; no seepage of mud or dirt.

Cons: They’re really flexible, but all-day comfort? No way. Wear these without socks and you get an unpleasant air noise that scares the cat.

Something else: Sloggys Ultra Lites rubber and EVA clogs are pretty comfortable but lack the bounce of Crocs, $21.99.

Where to buy: Nurseries and garden centers; online at www.sloggers.com.

KAMIK DOODLE

What: PVC slip-ons with rubber sole.

How much: $47 in swirly doodle patterns of orange, green or purple.

Pros: The pattern is fun, there’s great traction and I like knowing that Courtney Cox (allegedly) wears them.

Cons: The loop on the back helps get this shoe on, but it doesn’t have the no-hands ease of a clog. Too confining and hot for an all-day gardening session.

Where to buy: At the moment, the only online outlet is www.tonyshoes.com.

TARGET WATERCLOG

What: Total Crocs knockoff in looks but not in wearability. Limited color choice.

How much: $9.99.

Pros: The convertible back-strap snaps onto the instep when not in use.

Cons: The insole is hard as a rock and doesn’t soften up as you wear it. They feel cheap; I guess you get what you pay for.

Where to buy: Target stores, or www.target.com.

MORE AFOOT

We also tested the following shoes:

• Ladybug rubber clogs, $26.95, Gardener’s Supply, (www.gardeners.com) or Google “Ladybug clogs.” Easy to slip on with a nice arch support and very comfortable. They offer a lug tread for sure-footed gardening, but there is no ventilation.

• Smith & Hawken vulcanized rubber clogs with steel shank, $29, at www.smithandhawken.com. Very wearable, but there’s no ventilation and they’re pretty narrow.

• Anywears injection-molded plastic clogs, $48 for women’s and $51 for men’s. www.anywears.com. Pleasantly bumpy sole that sort of gives you a foot massage. Holes on the side of each clog provide ventilation, but the plastic is not so flexible.

SAVVY SHOPPER

Each month The State’s Home&Garden section offers a consumer’s guide to buying an item for your house or garden — from refrigerators to lawnmowers. Have a suggestion? Send it to Megan Sexton, msexton@thestate.com