So i need a pair of shoes for wearing in the garage when tinkering with bikes and the car
Don't need anything fancy, no need for steelies etc… but they need to be able to be slipped on and off quite easily whilst standing up for when i have to step into the house/conservatory to use the loo, check the p.c, going back and forth etc… but they still need to stay secure when on my feet
No suggestions of Croc style shoes please, i know no one will see me wearing them but ill know and i just cant live with the internal shame of being a closet Croc wearer
Crocs are perfect for what you need. Unless you are normally at Naomi Campbell levels of fashion wear, just get over yourself.
Hoka Ora Primos or Salomon RX nomads work well and have a modicum more self respect than crocs.
But, the correct answer is old ex German army para boots, with loose laces and just embrace the early 90's greebo vibe as they can be cheerfully jumped into and out off without any drama
These are the best option I’ve found so far
but really the correct answer is Crocs, left idling in 2wd so you can jump straight into them. Maybe switching to 4wd if you need to do heavy work like taking the bins out
I vary between Lidl (Parkside) garden clogs, worn out (Salomon) hiking shoes with the laces removed and good old Crocs. Also added Aigle Lessfor Plus clogs this winter. I have too many shoes 😫
Crocs are perfect for what you need. Unless you are normally at Naomi Campbell levels of fashion wear, just get over yourself.
Sorry i just cant do it, i think they are disgusting and I've promised myself id never wear them, plus the ones I've seen have holes in them, i want something fully enclosed, imagine dropping a 6-8mm nut and falls into one of the Crocs holes and goes between my toes, the agony and trauma just isn't worth it!
Hoka Ora Primos or Salomon RX nomads
Ive looked at these and they are way over budget and will get scuffed and damaged quite quickly from sitting on the floor and crawling under the car etc….
If dignity is no issue (unfounded Cros dismissal aside) then I've seen TV ads with Myleen Klass and Jamie Redknapp of Skechers slip ins that try to make OAP friendly shoes seem cool...
https://www.skechers.co.uk/skechers-slip-ins-go-walk-flex---no-hands/216491_NVY.html
Or, just some basic Primark jobs with elastic laces will do the same for a third of the price...
https://www.primark.com/en-gb/p/slip-on-low-top-trainers-navy-991162750528
I use a pair of Teva ReEmber Terrains for this exact purpose. I put them on and off at least 8 times a day
I either use crocs (great for bike washing as they can towel dry) or any old shoes with the laces removed but this is the perfect application for crocs.
As for 8mm nuts falling through the holes, it beats fridge suck!
Crocs are awesome but Stitches & Steel Amphibians are better.
Sorry i just cant do it, i think they are disgusting and I've promised myself id never wear them, plus the ones I've seen have holes in them, i want something fully enclosed, imagine dropping a 6-8mm nut and falls into one of the Crocs holes and goes between my toes, the agony and trauma just isn't worth it!
Shoes that catch every small nut or washer I drop? I'll take two pairs!
Crocs are hideous but so practical except access to my shed means crossing potentially wet grass that probably needs cutting so I mostly go for similar to Onzadog any old shoes too worn for any other purpose
I'm fussy about wearing work boots when I do stuff in the garage which might result in me dropping something on my toes.
But as I was "only" bike tinkering yesterday I just had on old trainers. The sole, sadly, was not strong enough to resist the nail from a dropped cable clip. A very bloody sock and half a tube of savlon later and I'm still limping a bit.
It's always the times you least expect it...
I can’t imagine buying shoes to wear in the garage. I , like a lot of those above, just use the most knackered pair of trainers in my shoe cache. At the moment this is a pair of ancient Salomon with speed laces at loosest point permanently.
From the JLewis Reviews
A customer said
Hoka slides or Crocs.
Neither look good, both fit the brief. I was like you about Crocs, but I relented. By God they're ugly But no worse than those Sketchers slip-on above), but they are so comfy and so practical.
Go fleece lined for added warmth in the winter.
Embrace the ugly.
I have some garden shoes from god knows where. They are basically Crocs without the holes. I understand you thinking Crocs are an afront to nature - so do I, but crucially only if worn in public - who cares what you wear at home?
Does an old pair of trainers with either loosely tied-up laces or a pair of elastic laces not do the job?
That's what I do. Trainers get relegated to garage duties after a while, with laces very loosely tied. Bonus if they're waterproof for when washing bikes.
Not that there's anything wrong with Crocs, but that'd be more expensive.
I wear crocs all the time before and after riding, but they're not the best thing for being in the garage messing with bikes as they've got holes in them and messing with bikes and cars often involves water/oil/dirt.
We both wear Birkenstock Boston leather clogs in the workshop. offer a lot more protection if you drop a tool on your foot, deal with water/oil/sawdust. decent grip. Comfortable to wear all day and easy to slip on and off.
For the usual reasons the 'professional' high grip version are cheaper and often available discounted.
https://www.russums-shop.co.uk/i/q/CS603/birkenstock-boston-super-grip-clog-black?
thermoball traction are what you need . last ages and very comfy
https://www.thenorthface.com/en-gb/p/shoes-747784/men-s-thermoball-v-traction-mules-NF0A3UZN?color=G78&size=12&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=TNF-UK-PMax-Shopping-NCA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22968934959&gbraid=0AAAAADnEwu9ZI005yH2omhth1xzgj3DW7&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7Ijc5sGilAMVj5NQBh2uTynnEAQYASABEgJ-UfD_BwE
Slip on Vans. Easy on off, flat sole, no laces. Merrell Jungle Moc if you want arch support. Cheap Chelsea boots if you want durability. No Crocs. No laces. Vans win. Your garage, your rules.
Slip on Vans. Easy on off, flat sole, no laces. Merrell Jungle Moc if you want arch support. Cheap Chelsea boots if you want durability. No Crocs. No laces. Vans win. Your garage, your rules.
This. I have a pair of battered black ones that are just the job.
Does an old pair of trainers with either loosely tied-up laces or a pair of elastic laces not do the job?
This is the cheapest option. Although I do have a pair of ShoeZone Croc-alikes that cost under a fiver for taking the bin out.
My work safety shoes are Sketchers with steel toe caps and elastic laces, are unbelievably comfortable and have the added bonus of pissing my boss off because they are shoes not boots.
If dignity is no issue (unfounded Cros dismissal aside) then I've seen TV ads with Myleen Klass and Jamie Redknapp of Skechers slip ins that try to make OAP friendly shoes seem cool...
I've also seen adds for "Skechers Slipon Work" shoes, which strike me as meeting the brief
I've always repeated the trope that the holes are for your dignity to leak out, my kids have them and they are becoming appealing. Crocs to my wife are like onsies to me, instant grounds for divorce.
I have 2 sets of Keen Howsers, 1 indoor and 1 outdoor. I don't generally wear them for bike duties though, normally going to my shed for work.
Saw these in a service station Luxembourg once. Steel toe cap clogs!
I bought some insulated crocks from a PSA on here.
They started off yellow and are now 50/ 50 yellow and bike oil.
They don't get out in public
My garage shoes are an old pair of Etnies skateboard shoes. Da youf didn't ever tie them anyway, just tuck the laces in.
Another vote for an old pair of trainers with loose laces that you can slip on easy
And another vote for an old pair of trainers with loose laces that you can slip on easy. My go to casual shoes are Scarpa Crux approach shoes. They are not cheap so I maximise their life. Smart new pair for general wear, older ones for actually wearing out on the hill, older still (usually knackered soles) for garage and bike washing duties and finally barely holding together for the garden.
Slip on Vans. Easy on off, flat sole, no laces. Merrell Jungle Moc if you want arch support. Cheap Chelsea boots if you want durability. No Crocs. No laces. Vans win. Your garage, your rules.
This. I have a pair of battered black ones that are just the job.
Another vote, and for black. The more battered, the better.
And practical/acceptable should you need to jump in the car or pop to the shops at short notice.
I never realised buying garage shoes was a thing. Old trainers and loose laces are the solution for me
No trainer loosly tied or otherwise is as conventient of a set of crocs.
You can put them on without any hands free.
They are way warmer under foot than a knackered old pair of vans.
The answer is crocs. Or.... Rigger boots.
When you were 14 and went into the garage to practice with your band, that was cool and your shoe choice mattered.
Once you hit middle age and go to the garage for some piece and quiet and to tinker with mechanical things in comfortable shoes, at that point the choice of which comfortable shoes is to coolness what rearranging the deckchairs is to an iceberg safety briefing. Objectively cool people will judge you for being in there, people who you think are cool who think you're cool for being in there, they're probably wearing crocs.
My old safety boots with the laces removed entirely. As Big_John found, it's the one place in the house I'm almost guaranteed to step on a nail or drop something heavy.
Aigle make clogs which might be suitable...
And practical/acceptable should you need to jump in the car or pop to the shops at short notice
There is a far higher probability that I will need to be able to remove them quickly and no handed as I am now busting for a pee and my hands are covered in grease or some other gunge
Karrimor Ithaca sandals.
Keen Newport H2s.
Another vote for the loosely laced para boots, especially if you have a Neds or Levellers top somewhere.
Karrimor Ithaca sandals.
Keen Newport H2s.
Another vote for the loosely laced para boots, especially if you have a Neds or Levellers top somewhere.
*almost* worn out Salomon hikers here, they are comfy and somewhat waterproof
Obviously sliders. I wear mine for all sorts of things. Even test rode my bike (which has spd pedals in them the other day). I can't walk up the shops in em like some do though. Not through embarrassment, I just find them hard to walk in 😀
i ended up with two pairs os "steel toe" (not actually steel, but a plastic cap) wellies, so ended up cutting them down to slip ons. (crocs) The toe has saved me a handfull of times. Im sure you can buy something similar ready made tbh.
lmgtfy:
https://www.ace-safetywear.co.uk/safety-shoes/micro-fibre-slipper-black-07--1
And practical/acceptable should you need to jump in the car or pop to the shops at short notice
There is a far higher probability that I will need to be able to remove them quickly and no handed as I am now busting for a pee and my hands are covered in grease or some other gunge
Slip-on vans are easily removed without hands.
And practical/acceptable should you need to jump in the car or pop to the shops at short notice
There is a far higher probability that I will need to be able to remove them quickly and no handed as I am now busting for a pee and my hands are covered in grease or some other gunge
Slip-on vans are easily removed without hands.
That's not the bit that concerns me about this particular manoeuvre...
Crocs are absolutely not appropriate footwear for any kind of 'work', in the garage, DIY, Gardening etc
So i need a pair of shoes for wearing in the garage when tinkering with bikes and the car...
...they need to be able to be slipped on and off quite easily whilst standing up for when i have to step into the house/conservatory to use the loo, check the p.c, going back and forth etc… but they still need to stay secure when on my feet...
Rigger Boots. This is, literally, what they are designed for - to be easily slipped on, and off again, hands free (in case you fall in the sea!)
21 February 2026