Grass Cutting Shoes?

[gahrajmahal]

Retired now and we fired the lawn cutting service we have had for many years. Wanted the exercise and control of cutting our own lawn. We have a very hilly yard and the lawn cutting service ruined the grass that renewed itself in the spring by driving their heavy commercial mower on the lawn. They came every week whether the lawn needed cutting or not. They also cut the lawn right after raining, so their mowers slid around, killing the grass. We put up with this because we had better things to do with our weekends and free time. We did not have to store a lawnmower and trimmer, and it was like magic! We would leave for work and magically our lawn was cut! And we supported the guys, gave them cold drinks, the occasional tip and enjoyed their conversation (at a distance) during Covid lockdown!

So, on to the SHOES!



We bought this All-Wheel-Drive Ryobi battery mower. It is awesome! I have cut the grass twice with it and it pulls itself up and down and across our hilly site while “gently” mowing the new spring grass.

As an older dude, still relatively fit, I have slipped and fallen on my a## more recently. Once while shoveling the snow off the driveway (very steep) and once while out on a walk in the woods over uneven stones in the ground while wearing my Keen work boots.

I would like to avoid slipping while cutting the grass and was wondering if I should buy some golf shoes, baseball cleats, soccer shoes or football cleats, or if I should put on my old roller blades and just get pulled around by the mower.

Size 12 wide and removable insert needed.

What do you all suggest?

 

[mike93lx]

Obviously the right answer are white new balances

Maybe trail running shoes with aggressive tread?

Golf shoes would have some good grip but stay off hard surfaces or you will wear them out quickly

 

[bluedog225]

Good to hear a positive report on that Ryobi mower. I was thinking of one myself. The new Ryobi stuff has been fairly impressive for the price.

For shoes I think it aggressively lugged work boot would be good. I haven’t looked around but I bet some of them have sticky or soles. Will wear faster, but they will be better for traction.

I’ve not been impressed at all with my keen work boots. I even bought the ones that were “assembled in the USA.“

I’ve not had any trouble with traction or quality on my Merrill stuff. Might want to give it a look at you have not already done so.

 

[bluedog225]

When I took my big fall and ended up in the hospital for a month. The docs told me old retired guys do one of two things. They fall off the ladder or they get a motorcycle and have a wreck. Hope you have a more successful retirement.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Golf shoes and football cleats if you're pushing. Golf shoes most of the year. Cleats when you want to aerate. Me, I've got a rider now, and wear Crocs to stomp the pedals.

 

[Terra Nova]

The obvious answer is aerator sandals and white new balances

Maybe consider hiking boots? They will give good traction and ankle support, which is important, particularly if you're dealing with some hills. Many of the newer ones are as comfortable and light as tennis shoes.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Here are a few photos to show how steep the yard can be. Here are the steps I finally build after wanting them for 30 years. Took all summer!

Good to hear a positive report on that Ryobi mower. I was thinking of one myself. The new Ryobi stuff has been fairly impressive for the price.

For shoes I think it aggressively lugged work boot would be good. I haven’t looked around but I bet some of them have sticky or soles. Will wear faster, but they will be better for traction.

I’ve not been impressed at all with my keen work boots. I even bought the ones that were “assembled in the USA.“

I’ve not had any trouble with traction or quality on my Merrill stuff. Might want to give it a look at you have not already done so.

Something I couldn’t find online or in the manual, I had to discover for myself. We have a small section in the upper garden only accessible through a rock garden or bumpy wood chip path that needs to be cut. I wanted the all-wheel-drive to work WITHOUT the blades spinning. Well, it can do it! Just pull down the wire safety handle and engauge the drive paddles. It runs along without the blades spinning. I plan to make a PVC pipe skid plate for the front wheel motor as it might get bashed by one of our rocks. The rear drive motor is located up into the plastic housing.

 

[nadogail]

My cobbler replaced the worn soles of my sandals with Vibram soles, I recently learned that Vibram soles are made by Pirelli (sp?) the tire company. The lugs on those soles grip well.

 

[CoogarXR]

I always just demote my last pair of "normal" shoes to "lawn mowing shoes" as I get newer ones. But, my yard is flat, so having smooth-worn soles doesn't much matter, lol.

 

[mike93lx]

My cobbler replaced the worn soles of my sandals with Vibram soles, I recently learned that Vibram soles are made by Pirelli (sp?) the tire company. The lugs on those soles grip well.

Vibram was developed with Pirelli early on, but they don't make their soles. Stuff made in the US is made in MA by Quabaug

 

[nadogail]

Vibram was developed with perilli early on, but they don't make their soles. Stuff made in the US is made in MA by Quabaug

Thanks

 

[billconner]

No one advocating steel toe shoes?

 

[mike93lx]

No one advocating steel toe shoes?

I wouldn't want to be walking around that much in my steel toes.

 

[red94chev]

I've been seeing ads for Kujo yardwear. I can't tell if the sole is removable but they might be worth checking out.

 

[steel 35]

Womens 8
Works good

 

[sz0k30]

About a year ago I was bending down to pick up some branches. I was on a slight uphill, on wet muddy grass with pretty worn soles on my shoes. Went down face first & messed up my left elbow & ripped my left triceps. My problem isn't cutting the grass (I have a rider), its picking up the branches (almost every cutting) - I got lots of trees.

 

[Zeke]

No one mentioned soccer shoes. Just something else to look at.

 

[Citation]

Hiking boots. Good ones will have good ankle support and grip.

 

[AldeanFan]

My current yard work shoes are Fila Trail Running shoes.
They’re comfortable like a running shoe but have a very aggressive tread like an off-road tire.

I bought them only because they were onsale at Costco with free shipping during lockdown, but I’ve been very pleased with them.

 

[reader2580]

I wear steel toe work boots any time I am working out in the yard or garage. I just bought some new Keen work boots as my old ones finally bit the dust.

 

[619DioFan]

I wear an 8 inch high tactical style boot made by Nike , very good tread , light weight , zero break in period. Nike is the only brand that fits my feet right.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I've been seeing ads for Kujo yardwear. I can't tell if the sole is removable but they might be worth checking out.

when researching this I also came across these shoes. They look really great but expensive at $100 + . The reviews would make me want to get them but they only come in medium width so sadly my feet won’t like them.

About a year ago I was bending down to pick up some branches. I was on a slight uphill, on wet muddy grass with pretty worn soles on my shoes. Went down face first & messed up my left elbow & ripped my left triceps. My problem isn't cutting the grass (I have a rider), its picking up the branches (almost every cutting) - I got lots of trees.

Man! I am sad to hear this! I haven’t cut my own grass for a long long time so I just want to be as safe as I can.

Steel toes: I have ‘em, two pair of Keen. Low and 8” high. Building my steps I lost hold of a big rock and it landed on my instep while wearing the low shoes. Toes were fine, ankle received a good scrape. The remainder of the summer I wore the 8” tall to protect my ankles.

I did mention “soccer shoes”. They seem like a good choice because like the purpose built Kujo shoes, the toe and instep are somewhat water proof and padded for kicking a ball. I found a crazy color New Balance pair for less than $40. The cheap, old guy in me likes that. Anything in particular I should look for in a soccer shoe?

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Dad always mowed in his most worn out wingtips. I think the holes in the soles provided extra traction!

 

[Barnabas]

I wear Gravel Gear steel-toed work boots when I’m working around the shop and in the yard. Always have worn some kind of work boot/ hiking boot for yard work.

 

[2Rocky]

Age progression.



Or Camo for the win

 

[thammel]

Steel toe definitely. I've got 3 pair and wear the oldest most beat up ones for grass cutting.

 

[four.cycle]

The reason the federal government required all lawnmowers sold after 1982 to be equipped with a "dead man switch" is because people were chopping off their toes mowing their lawns.
Your yard is a lawnmower accident looking for a place to happen.
Get some boots with decent tread on the soles.
Search ebay: "boot 12" "used" "us only" - sort by "lowest first".
I paid about $30 bucks for what turned out to be brand new pair of Timberlands.
Don't chop your toes off. I understand that it is very difficult to walk without toes.

YMMV

 

[CSRPenFab]

I have an old pair of Brooks Beast running shoes in size 12 wide with a spare orthotic insole. They live in a cabinet in my patio and are reserved for yard duty. Being black in color as is a plus since the grass stains don't show. They have adequate grip and are comfy enough to wear for hours in the yard.

 

[K13]

Soccer shoes are generally very narrow. They are designed to fit tight on the foot so you can feel the ball. You will have a hard time finding cheap ones that are designed for wide feet and the new materials they make them out of do not stretch much if any. Nothing is padded on them including the insole which is generally as thin as possible and I have never owned a pair I would consider even remotely waterproof. I played soccer for 40 years and still coach my son and soccer shoes would be the last type of shoe I would ever consider for yard work.

 

[65ranchero]

I used to be a big fan of New Balance but they would get uncomfortable real fast.
I now am a firm follower of Merrill

 

[NUTTSGT]

Flip flops, what the mower misses, my toe nails cut.

No, seriously, when I trim/push mow, I wear my work boots or my old duty boots. Take them off and put tennis shoes back on when riding the mower.

 

[Thorold]

Obviously the right answer are white new balances

Maybe trail running shoes with aggressive tread?

Golf shoes would have some good grip but stay off hard surfaces or you will wear them out quickly

And New Balance are in the same store as beige cargo pants !!!

 

[mike93lx]

And New Balance are in the same store as beige cargo pants !!!

Dads 'R Us

I type this while wearing khaki (not beige!) cargo shorts

 

[jumbojak]

That yard is steep to push. For a slope like that I would try to cut across if possible so that the mower falls away from you if you slip. Merrells are pretty good. I prefer a boot with a high heel to dig in.

 

[oldmachinenut]

 

[gahrajmahal]

Soccer shoes are generally very narrow. They are designed to fit tight on the foot so you can feel the ball. You will have a hard time finding cheap ones that are designed for wide feet and the new materials they make them out of do not stretch much if any. Nothing is padded on them including the insole which is generally as thin as possible and I have never owned a pair I would consider even remotely waterproof. I played soccer for 40 years and still coach my son and soccer shoes would be the last type of shoe I would ever consider for yard work.

Thanks for this K13. I’ve never owned a pair of soccer shoes. Ice hockey was my sport.

Skates?

As I mentioned in #22 I have two pair of steel toes. I wore the high ones this winter for a hike with friends. I was surprised when stepping on a rocky slope I slid a ways down even though the tread is good.

 

[gahrajmahal]

That yard is steep to push. For a slope like that I would try to cut across if possible so that the mower falls away from you if you slip. Merrells are pretty good. I prefer a boot with a high heel to dig in.

I’ve got some Merrell enclosed toe hiking sandals. I should walk around the yard with them (not behind the mower) to see how grippy they are. If they are good, go out and get some steel toe boots. I’m guessing they are just like my Keens though.

 

[mike93lx]

You could always use some slip on cleats, like yak Trax, if you are really worried about traction.

At that point, I'd be looking at a Husqvarna automower or hiring it out, though

 

[Hank11]

Boots with Vibram lug soles and you are good to go.

 

[Zeus36]