[Workman] Just right for garden work!? "Magic Safety Sneakers" to replace rubber boots

Shoes for gardening that get muddy were previously substituted with rubber boots or old sneakers. In this season, when it's a bit too hot for boots, I was searching for just the right pair and ended up with these.

Stepping on a pruned branch, my hand froze for a moment!

On holidays when I mow the lawn or prune the garden, I always put off choosing shoes. Sneakers get dirty, but it’s not worth buying work boots just for that. I’ve repeatedly faced the dilemma of either pulling out my old sneakers or working in rubber boots that make my feet sweat.

However, I want to properly take care of the garden soon. That’s when I became interested in Workman’s “Magic Safety Sneakers.”

While working in the garden, I accidentally stepped on a bundle of pruned branches. Although the impact wasn't significant, the thought of "what if it were something heavier and sharper" kept bothering me during the work. Normal sneakers obviously lack the features to protect the sole and toes.

It’s too late once you get injured, and the stress of thinking about it is mildly tough. So finally, I started looking for shoes suited for work. My criteria for selection was to find something I could wear as normally as possible.

The point was that it "doesn't look like safety shoes."

When I picked up these safety sneakers at the Workman store, the appearance was clear. With a simple gray design, they hardly resembled safety shoes at all. Despite having a solid toe cap (a structure with reinforcing material in the toe) and sturdy soles, they didn’t feel out of place as sneakers at all, which was exactly what I was looking for.

When I tried pressing the toes with my hand, they didn't budge at all. Since there's a core inside, they don't deform. After confirming this feeling, I decided to purchase them with peace of mind.

I wear these for gardening, then get into the car or head to the home center directly. Previously, there was an extra step of changing from rubber boots, but that's gone now. It's a small change, but I feel like it has become much easier.

The subtle comfort that can be adjusted even while wearing gloves is excellent.

The fact that they can be put on and taken off with Velcro is also something I like after actually using them. In gardening, I find myself frequently taking off and putting on my shoes at the entrance, so lace-up shoes are quite a hassle. With these sneakers, I just pull the strap, and I can adjust them conveniently even while wearing work gloves. I only understood this after actually moving around.

Not just for gardening, but also for changing and maintaining the car tires.

What I realized after trying them on is one more thing. They are surprisingly well-suited for tasks like digging soil with a shovel or moving stones and blocks. The securely held feet thanks to the Velcro and steel toe make it easy to withstand the weight when handling heavy items.

This can be said not only for garden work but also for changing car tires or doing minor maintenance tasks.

Also, after gardening, I was able to go out without changing shoes, as long as it's nearby. Due to the nature of the material, mud stains from working can be easily removed and are not very noticeable, so I can go straight to convenience stores or supermarkets without changing.

The hassle of having to pull out rubber boots and wash them afterward is gone, which lowers the barrier for weekend tasks. It's not an exaggeration, but I realized after trying them on that I was looking for just the right thing like this.

Product name / Magic Safety Sneakers
Price / 1280 yen (tax included)
Material / Polyester, synthetic leather, synthetic sole; steel toe: made of resin
Color / Navy, light gray
Size / 24.5 to 28 cm
● Workman

Interview/Text by SYURI

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