It is my habit whilst out in the veggie plot doing jobs that present no risk to my feet to wear a pair of “rubber” garden clogs (like Crocs I guess, but not, and without the holes). In part this is due to laziness. Most of the time, as my daughter puts it, I wear “invisible socks” (like the emperor’s new clothes, if you get my drift), but I don’t like to wear boots without socks, so a pair of clogs I can just stick my feet into to go outside is an easy solution. Much of the time this is great, but if the ground is a bit (or even a lot) slippery as it has been for most of the last three months the relatively smooth soles of the clogs make them lethal. Had I more gymnastic ability I could probably represent the country at mud-skating by now.
There are clogs that look like they might do a better job, but they all seem to be about £60 a pair and I’m not that lazy! This week however I found a possible alternative: welly shoes! I had no idea they even existed, but they’re just like standard wellies that have been cut down to the shape of a slip-on shoe, so they have nice deep treads on the sole. They weren’t expensive so I ordered a pair to try out. And if Sod’s Law should mean that my purpose ensures there is almost no rain to speak of for the next six months, I certainly won’t be shedding any tears over that.
Once they arrived I found them comfortable to wear though a little more chilly than my clogs, perhaps because due to being solid “rubber” rather than some sort of aerated material. I might try an insole with them to see if that helps. They also require a hand or shoehorn to get them on, though that might just be until they’ve worn in a bit. First impressions are pleasing though, and I look forward to not going base over apex on trips out to the compost bins or to collect eggs from the chickens any more.
