The Best Aerator Shoes

You don't have to be a professional landscaper to know that grass needs water and nutrients to survive. Keeping your lawn hydrated is key, as is regular fertilization. But these steps alone may not guarantee that your green grass thrives -- to ensure that the water and nutrients are absorbed by the soil, you need to aerate it. Aeration involves poking holes into compacted soil, helping to loosen the ground around the grass and allowing water and fertilizer to penetrate deeper into the roots. One easy way to aerate your lawn is by strapping on a pair of aerator shoes, which feature spikes along the soles to help perforate your lawn as you walk around. If you're looking for the best aerator shoes on the market, you've come to the right place. We researched and reviewed dozens of top models, focusing on key features like stability, durability, and ease of use. Our favorite is the Abco Tech aerator shoes, which boast a sturdy plastic base that attaches to almost any boot. For beginner gardeners, we also love Plantnomics' aerator shoes, which feature sandal-like straps that are easy to adjust. When you're ready to get to work, read on to discover more of our favorite aerator shoes and to find a pair that's right for you and your lawn.

Abco Tech Aerator Shoes

Professional grade

This heavy-duty pair of aerator shoes will keep your lawn healthy.
Best Overall

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Abco Tech aerator shoes are a simple and interactive way to improve the health of your lawn. With metal spikes attached to a sturdy plastic base, these aerators help break up compacted soil as you walk, allowing your grassroots to spread stronger and deeper as they grow. The included adjustable straps help affix them to any ordinary pair of shoes or boots, making installation a breeze. Simple assembly is required out of the package, but this set comes with the wrench necessary to attach the five-inch nails to the plastic base, ensuring you have everything you need to get started right away.

Pros:

  • In addition to being high-quality, these are super affordable.
  • The straps are durable and anti-corrosive, so you don’t have to worry about wearing them out in the elements.
  • The buckles are some of the easiest to use and adjust that we’ve seen.

Cons:

  • These shoes require some assembly, though it’s relatively simple.

Ohuhu Aerator Shoes

Hook and loop

Quick to set up and put on, this pair of aerator shoes will have you walking your lawn in no time.
Easiest Assembly

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For a pair of aerators that will have you on your feet right away, Ohuhu’s shoes are for you. With a simple hook and loop system, taking these aerator shoes on and off is quick and painless, and they come pre-assembled, so you don’t have to struggle to set them up the first time you take them out the box. They have anti-slip platform bottoms to ensure your shoes don’t slide around as you move, and work together with the straps to help provide a more stable walking experience. Take the headache out of loosening up the soil to get healthier grass, and grab a pair of Ohuhu aerator shoes today.

Pros:

  • The hook and loop straps provide full shoe and boot coverage.
  • The anti-slip base helps keep your shoe gripped to the sandal, so it won’t slide around as you walk.
  • The Velcro fasteners make adjusting and tightening straps simple.

Cons:

  • It may take a little time adjusting to walking in them.

Punchau Aerator Shoes

A healthier lawn

Don’t let cost be a barrier to a better lawn with this pair of aerator shoes.
Best On A Budget

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Maintaining a nice, green lawn doesn’t have to be an expensive or complex experience, and Punchau’s lawn aerator shoes prove just that. With a sturdy set of shoes at an extremely affordable price, you can promote a healthier growing space for your grass without breaking the bank. These shoes come with a durable plastic base that has 12, two-inch spikes attached to each. They attach to ordinary shoes using three straps with heavy-duty buckles, making putting them on and taking them off extremely uncomplicated and giving you the flexibility to use them with a variety of different shoes of different sizes. With Punchau’s aerator shoes, you’ll be improving the health of your lawn at a fraction of the cost in no time at all.

Pros:

  • These come fully assembled, so you can start using them right out of the box.
  • They’re durable enough to work in a variety of soils.
  • They’re also extremely affordable, so you can spend more money on fertilizer and grass seed.

Cons:

  • The straps don’t provide additional heel coverage to prevent it from accidentally popping out.

Leweio Aerator Shoes

Strap up

Easily adjustable and extremely comfortable, this pair of aerator shoes will feel light on your feet.
Most Comfortable

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Leweio’s aerator shoes are comfortable attachments that are strong enough to loosen up soil while being gentle on your feet. With two wide straps that are extremely adjustable to conform to the size and shape of your shoes or boots, they help take away a lot of the pressure and discomfort that can come with wearing other aerator shoe attachments for prolonged periods. They also have strong metal soles that provide additional support for breaking up compacted soil, helping make the process smoother and less strenuous on your feet. Help make basic watering and fertilizing even more productive to improve your lawn’s health with Leweio’s comfortable aerator shoes.

Pros:

  • The extra-wide straps provide almost full coverage of your foot, minimizing pressure points and keeping them comfortable all day long.
  • The solid metal sole is even more durable than some of the plastic models we’ve reviewed.
  • These feature extra-long, 2.2-inch spikes for deeper penetration of soil — and ultimately better results.

Cons:

  • While the platforms are sturdy enough, the nails may bend in rocky soil.

Plantnomics Aerator Shoes

Beginner friendly

Pre-assembled and quickly adjustable, these shoes are fantastic for new gardeners.
Best For Beginners

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Perfect for new lawn caretakers, Plantnomics lawn aerator shoes come pre-assembled and are simply designed to take out all the guesswork and help you feel confident in putting them to work. Each shoe has 13, two-inch spikes attached to the sturdy plastic base and comes with three straps that are easy to tighten and adjust, so you spend less time fussing with them and more time on the move. As you walk around your lawn, the spikes effectively penetrate dense soil and loosen it up to allow your grass’ roots to grow deeper and stronger, leading to greener, healthier grass. If you’re an experienced vet or a new gardener, trust Plantnomics’ aerator shoes to help you give your lawn the care it deserves.

Pros:

  • The straps are designed to work just like those on normal sandals, making them very easy to use.
  • The heel and to closures ensure that your boot sits firmly against the sole, with no slippage.
  • These work with a variety of shoe sizes in addition to shoe types.

Cons:

  • These aren’t the cheapest set of aerators, but they’re definitely worth the money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do lawn aerator shoes do?

Dense, compacted soil may be difficult for grassroots to penetrate through. To break up the soil without having to do a lot of back-breaking work, aerator shoes help puncture and loosen up your soil as you walk, allowing roots to spread out and grow more easily. They also help water and nutrients penetrate the surface of the soil more, leading to happier, healthier grass.

How can I tighten the nails on my aerator shoes?

To tighten the nails on your aerator shoes, simply use a wrench and tighten them clockwise, ensuring that they are firmly attached to the base. Be extremely careful when doing so, however, as you want to avoid accidentally injuring yourself on one of the other spikes that are already attached. Always adjust them on a stable flat surface, rather than doing so on your lap or in the air.

About the Author

Kevin is a certified tech-head. He has been building his own computers since he was in the 8th grade and currently builds custom keyboards in his free time. You can trust Kevin to always be up to date on the latest changes in the PC space, and he's here to help you find quality products without the premium price tag.

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