A couple of months ago, I was asked if I would like to review a pair of Bogs’ garden shoes. Frankly, I wasn’t sure.
A few years back my daughter had bought a pair and was never happy with the fit. She said they were too snug on the top of her foot. She and I wear the same shoe size, but she wears a narrow and I wear an extra-wide, so I’ve always been leery of trying them. But the Bogs representative told meThere have definitely been a lot of adjustments made over the past few years. I think you will pleased with the fit. A few things to keep in mind Bogs only run in whole sizes, so I always recommend going a half size up. My mom has a wide foot (wears a 7.5) and she has 8’s in the Rue and loves them (wears them everywhere). We have had feedback however that if someone has a high in-step they can get a bit snug on top…so something to keep in mind. If you know you have a high in-step, I would recommend staying away from the Classics and going with a newer style (built on a different last so they have a different fit). Consider trying the Harper, Rue, or Rose…All Bogs though are now build to accommodate wide feet because they’re wide in the toe box and narrow in the heel.
That gave me the reassurance that I wouldn’t be wasting my time giving them a try. So many supposedly wide shoes do not fit my wide feet. Then came the difficult job of deciding which style to review. I wanted a waterproof shoe that gave me support and protected me while digging that was easy to get on and off and looked good to boot. (That pun was not intended, but if the shoe fits ….) It turns out I wanted my cake and eat it, too.
The Harper is the only Bogs garden shoe that has a steel shank to protect your foot while driving a spade into the ground, but it didn’t look like it was easy to slip on. It looked like I would have to sit down and pull it on. I already had some hiking boots that I used for gardening, so I didn’t see the point of replicating those shoes.
I decided to try the Rues and use them for lighter gardening chores: deadheading, light weeding, taking pictures, and heck, just dreamily wandering around the garden when there’s a heavy morning dew. And don’t forget getting the mail from the mailbox and dumping the compost bucket when it’s raining. The Rue Pull-On Shoe is perfect for these kinds of chores.
Since I wear a 7½ very wide I tried the Rue in the 8. In bare feet, they fit me like a glove–or should I say sock? No extra room anywhere, but not so snug they pinch or hurt. I could even take out the insole that came with them and use my prescription insole, and they still fit. But I leave that in my regular shoes, because my daughter–the one with narrow feet–likes to slip them on for quick trips outside when it’s wet. And she agrees: these Bogs fit much better than her old pair. My other grown daughter, size 8, will also wear them on occasion. Yes, these shoes are a family affair.
My daughters slip them right on, but I confess they don’t go on as easy as a pair of clogs or flip-flops would for me. (My doctor told me shoes without backs would aggravate my foot problems, so I don’t wear them anyway.) Because I have such wide feet, I have to wiggle my foot around and work at it, and sometimes I just give up, sit down, and pull them on the rest of the way. But since they are completely waterproof, comfortable, and I really like the green veggie print, I overlook the fact that they’re not quite as easy to slip on as I would like.
They come with “moisture-wicking technology for increased breathability and all-day comfort,” but I found if I wore them all day in hot, muggy weather my feet would get pretty sweaty. But you know what? When it gets that hot and muggy I wise up and stop working in the middle of the day, so it’s not a problem–after I wise up.
Early morning, after dinner, spring, and fall–there’s plenty of occasions when these shoes come in real handy. I imagine gardeners in warmer climates could wear them year round. They seem well-suited to parking lot puddles and slush–the southern version of winter.
Giveaway!
Bogs would like you to try a pair of their garden shoes. One commenter will be randomly chosen out of all comments submitted to receive a $100 gift card redeemable at the Bogs Footwear website so you can choose the exact Bogs Garden Shoe that suits the way you garden in the size and color you want. You have three opportunities to enter.
- Submit a comment below, indicating your interest in Bogs shoes. If you know what style you’re interested in, or have a question, let us know!
- Tweet about this giveaway and include the link to the tweet in a comment.
- Tell your friends about this giveaway on Facebook and include the link to the share or status in a comment.
Make sure you include a valid email address in the comment(s) you submit, as this is the way we will contact you if you are randomly chosen to receive a free pair of garden shoes. This giveaway is open to United States and Canadian readers and will close at midnight Pacific time on Sunday August 11, 2013. Update: Rachel’s comment was chosen using the Random Number Generator. Congratulations, Rachel!
I received a complimentary pair of Bogs garden shoes to review. I was not obligated to review them or to offer a pair to my readers, but since I like them so much I chose to do so.
Would love the bogs to easily slip on and garden. Thanks for the chance. Joanne. Joshmilky@aol.com
My sister Sarah loves (really loves) her Bogs for winter walking in the dog park. I have a high arch, so have been unsure about the fit of the shorter pull-ons for the garden. However, those steel-shank booties sound tempting, especially if they’ve changed the last.
I really love Boggs and have had my eye on them for a while…anything with purple!
I need a pair of slip on garden shoes that will go out to water every morning and suit me for trips to the mail box. I have narrow feet so typical garden clogs simply do not fit.
Love the colors!
I definitely need a new pair of gardening shoes. I think something like these would work good for me.
Oh, I’d love a pair of those! I like the idea of well fitting garden shoes that are also pretty.
I would love to own a pair of bogs. But to be honest it sounds like Monica (who’s puppy chewed her garden shoes) is in need of a new pair of good garden shoes more than I. Thankfully my 13+ year old lab grew out of the chewing stage around five years old.
I shared on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/carol.yemola/posts/540013832732460
I tweeted about the giveaway! https://twitter.com/CarolYemola/status/364933389695987713
I’ve never heard of Bogs, how great that there is a comfortable waterproof shoe out there. I’m looking forward to trying some of these.
I’d love to try a pair of these Bogs shoes. A shoe that can be slipped on without socks sounds good. I have a couple of pair of waterproof Clarks shoes that I live in around here, but I need socks with them.
i dont like wearing shoe, and when i do they have to be something that is lightweight and is washable . I live in Texas and i go barefooted alot. When i go outside to garden i like a shoe that is confortable yet durable and washable and these sound great. Would love to try them to see how they hold up in our weather.
Since I live in the garden, Bogs are just what I need. Thanks for this opportunity!
I have just begun to browse catalogues for a new pair of gardening shoes…gardens surround my little bungalow and not only do I enjoy fresh veggies and fruit but I plant for bees, butterflies and birds and delight in their visits all through the growing season and provide food for the birds who stay here through the winters. It would be a delight to win this wonderful giveaway.
I shared on facebook too.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006469864623#
Bogs sound like just the shoe that I need. I am in and out of the house and the garden all day long so these sound just perfect. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’ve gardened quite a bit in retired, cutoff hip boots, so graduating to a boot dedicated to the project would be nice.
We built our house on a family farm 10 years ago. The farm had been planted with tobacco, cotton and sweet potatoes, so there was nothing on the land at that time but dirt. I dug every hole to plant trees, shrubs, bulbs, etc. Boy did my feet HURT! sure a good pair of Rue slip ons would be just the ticket!!!!
Would love a pair of these garden shoes, not only do they sound comfortable but they are so cute and who doesn’t want to look good while gardening!
I would LOVE to try a pair of these!! I have gone thru so many pairs of ‘Muck Boots’ and now they seem to fit me differently – so don’t know where to turn..
Love your blog & LOVE gardening. Will have to check out their site, to see what style would best suit me.
Wow, I have always wanted to try a pair of bogs but have been leery because I also have wide feet and was told the same thing that your daughter said about them not being such a good fit for us wide-of-foot folks! I’m encouraged to go try a pair on the next time i’m in Reny’s!
I’m ready for a new pair of garden shoes.
Love the purple stargazer boots. These are all cool. I guess if they slipped on easily, they might get stuck in the bog and slip off easily right there. I have two bogs in my garden…actually the bogs were here before the garden was built around them so I think they will work great for me. My husband is always trying to get me into the bog to see what “our” frogs are up to.
I do like my bogs slip ons. I always wear them while I walk the dogs in the garden. They keep my feet dry.
My puppy chewed holes in the toes of my old garden shoes so these would be a great replacement!
Need garden shoes bad!!!
Kathy I have foot problems and wide feet too so this means a lot to know that you like them. I had never heard of these shoes and will check them out…would love to win some too of course…
shared on facebook…
https://www.facebook.com/ddonabella/posts/10151559017813321
Here in mid-Missouri we have had a wet summer (thankful!!!) and these would be great for early mornings when it is wet from the previous night’s rain and dew! Throw my name in the pot for this gal from the “Show-Me” state
I have one pair and would certainly love to add to the collection…making a choice would be difficult as they are all pretty special.
Tweet tweet new shoes for my feet
https://twitter.com/PDXPH/status/364584040340262912
Shared on FB https://www.facebook.com/patty.hicks
Good to know what these shoes are like. Good garden shoes are worth their weight in red wigglers! And I’ve been looking for a new pair of garden shoes/boots and saw those purple shoes on the website. Fell in love at first site. Yup, purple…I mean that’s perfect, for me anyway. I like the shorter pull on boots too. Fun footwear.
I came to gardening late in life and have not found good garden shoes yet for my “old” feet. I sure would like to wear bogs! This is my entry!
I have a pair of floral boots (mid calf) and I love them. Wouldn’t I love a pair of low shoes??? 🙂 This is my entry.
Here’s my tweet. Hope it works. I’ve never done this before.
I’d like to try the Rues. I do all those chores and they sound like a good fit!
I would love to have a pair of these Bogs! They are so cool and cute!! I love the Rue slip on style!! Thanks for your consideration!!!
I’m moving soon and the new garden needs work — these would be good to have!
I need garden shoes! I just got grass clippings on my good walking shoes today.
Love the pattern! I’d like to try the Bog’s Rose as I do enjoy a slip on shoe.
Perfect timing, I’ve just begun looking for a new pair of garden shoes!
https://twitter.com/handyhelen/status/364542123887955968
I am serious about winning help for my garden feet! Commented on twitter too!! Woop Hooooo!!
I would love to try bogs out for sure! Early 30’s and degenerative disc disease leave me scrambling for good, wide, orthotic shoes. I just hate wearing my $200 Drews into the muddy garden! I would love to try the Bogs with my prescription insoles!
Ok..shared on Facebook as well. Although that just means I lowered my odds. Hmmm….
I would love to try these out!
These sound exactly like the type of garden shoes I would love to wear! Not only do they sounds so very comfy, but they are the cutest things I have ever seen. My current gardening shoes are boring and ill fitting.
I hate getting my feet wet while watering the garden early in the morning. It would be perfect to have a pair of these for that chore (and more)!
I’m always on the lookout for comfortable garden shoes and like you, I need the support in the back that a clog can’t give. Bogs certainly has a great selection of colors and patterns!
I’d like to try these…they sound good!