The only one I've ever seen praising them is that old snake oil salesman, Jerry Baker and also the countless garden catalogs that carry them.

Below is a link to someone's blog that discusses his attempts at using them. Scroll about a quarter way down the page to where he mentions aerating shoes. Try not to make the same mistake the author did. That is by walking while wearing them.

Driving spikes into already compacted soil creates even more compacted soil with little holes in it. I think most modern aerating machines actually remove thin plugs of soil from the ground rather than taking that same soil and ramming it laterally as spiking the ground would.

Wayne

Here is a link that might be useful: Blog entry

Ive never used them but to me it seems like a silly invention, I just have a few problems with the whole concept, like

1. the spikes are too short to do any good, by the time they get through the lawn to the soil below the spikes would hardly be going in to any depth.

2. the idea of walking, dancing, running across the lawn while aerating is a bad one, when I aerate the lawn I work backwards so that I dont compact the soil by walking over it, your bodyweight pushing down on them would compact the soil your supposed to be aerating

3. the whole idea sounds so tedious to me, Id rather use a garden fork and drive it in to a proper depth, rather than tramping back and forth on these shoes which would take more effort (and in my opinion do little) than just working a fork with my arms.

TG

All those spikes do is push the soil particles closer together while making the very small, very short holes that some people think pass for good aeration. What is needed is a machine that pulls a plug of soil about the size of you little finger out, or even better an adequate amount of organic matter.

I just got done reading the blog. Took quite a while, as I couldn't read through all the tears from laughing so hard. Thanks, Wayne.

Oh my gosh!That is so funny, I can just see it happening in my yard!
Kiki

Thanks for all the input. I think I'll stay away from the shoes. If I decide to aerate, I think I will let a pro do it with one of those plug machines that are the reciprocating type. Those seem like they work best.

Just watched Italy win the World Cup! Viva Italia!!!!

The single best way to aerate your soil is to add organic matter. The "aerating spikes" are not a good solution since the effect is temporary at best.

Brendi, core aeration is one of the single most beneficial things you can do for your lawn and tree beds. I repeat: CORE aeration. The use of little solid spikes causes compaction in the long run and should never be considered a beneficial practice. Golf courses have even begun to ban spikes on the shoes of golfers!

How often it should be done depends pretty much entirely upon the kind of soil you have and how it has been used/abused. I have hard, red clay soil. We have begin to aerate three times a year, but expect to be able to drop it back to twice. Core aeration increases water percolation and root development, resulting in a huge response in plant vigor, drought, heat, and cold tolerance.

If you want a DIY solution that core aerates, try the Turf Hound (link below). You step on it and it pulls 2 plugs of dirt out. I wouldnt want to do 1/2 acre or anything, but I did my 3,000 sqft lawn in an afternoon. Ive seen them at both Lowes and Home Depot for around $20.
I think this year I even saw a knockoff brand at Lowes. I would imagine that it would work pretty much the same.

Here is a link that might be useful: Turf Hound

YES, they really work. Now keeping in mind, you wear the shoes or spikes when mowing the lawn. This is weekly aerating of your lawn. Very healthy for the roots of your lawn. It also gives your legs and calf muscles a good work out. i like them.

The concept with the shoes is the holes they create allows the lawn to absorb fertilizer and it tightens the lawn. worked for my lawn

To properly aerate your soil you need to provide some means of air getting down into the top 4 to 6 inches of your soil and I have never seen "spike shoes" or "aerating shoes" with spikes that long. If your soil is so compacted that it needs aeration those needle point spikes are not going to provide enough opening to be beneficial enough to be worth the effort. Even at $10.00 a pair those things are largely a waste of your money, time, and energy.

Using a solid object to push "holes " into the soil only compresses the particles around that object. Soil actually needs to be removed for truly effective aeration to occur. The use of such spikes on a frequent, long term basis is not the least bit helpful to soil, plant roots, or soil biota. It doesn't matter if those spikes are 2 inches or 12 inches.

Core aeration is the only way to go. I've not looked at the little homeowner models so can't speak to their effectiveness. I'm not very hopeful that they would be powerful enough or have long enough hollow tines.

The frequency of core aeration depends upon the soil type and how the property is used, primarily. Under average use, a private yard shouldn't need it more than once per year, really, if that. We used to core frequently (3x/yr.) but no more. It just doesn't need it. We might rent an aerator every three years or so.

Under average use a private yard properly cared for with adequate amounts of organic matter in the soil will not need to be aerated, with a core aerator or those spiky sandels,

It very much depends upon soil type, too. A dense clay soil (like mine) can benefit like crazy with frequent treatments. We top dress with bark fines and compost afterwards and now our soil is in much better shape.

But you're right....core aeration is not a requirement though it might be a benefit.

However, the topic under discussion is about those "aerating shoes ". And they are not of long term benefit....it's important that people understand the concept of compaction.

It very much depends upon soil type, too. A dense clay soil (like mine) can benefit like crazy with frequent treatments. We top dress with bark fines and compost afterwards and now our soil is in much better shape.

But you're right....core aeration is not a requirement though it might be a benefit.

However, the topic under discussion is about those "aerating shoes ". And they are not of long term benefit....it's important that people understand the concept of compaction.

The Shoe spikes do work , they break up the soil and allow water, fertilizer,oxygen and other nutrients to absorb better into the soil . I have had success with filling in all my bare spots within only a few months time and I have struggled with these areas for years before . The characteristics of my bare spots were all a hard compacted red clay . The spikes are a pain in the ass to keep on your foot and mine kept pulling loose , the best tip I picked up was from another review where someone taped them to an old pair of tennis shoes . They are mush easier to use after a rain when the ground is damp . Just FYI , I order one professional aeration per year but I use my shoes monthly for any area of my yard that appears to be struggling to thicken up or fill in . I wouldnt reccomend doing the shoes for your whole yard unless it is very small , I am going to try the turf hound as well for spot treating .

1. Remember that comments against aerator shoes are generally made by (a) lazy people with plenty of money, (b) professional gardens who provide this service for pay, (c) and people who sell or rent aerator machines for pay, or (d) desk types who never did any garden work in their lives. Now, on to point #2....

2. Find any 14 year old kid and ask them to do the math.... If Mr. Jones drives an 1/8-inch diameter spike into the ground every 1.5 inches, how much will the soil be compacted? Answer: 0.5% assuming that the next nearest hole is 1.5 inches away. However, this is only if old man Jones walks toe-to-toe, side to side which would piss Mrs. Jones off because he is spending the whole day stomping in the yard. Mrs Jones says "Why don't you just walk the yard. You really looking like a dumbass. And the neighbors think you're a dope.."

3. I don't see any postings from anyone who says they tried them and they didn't work.

4. Don't you hate when some clown says something doesn't work even though he/she/LGBTQ has not been outside in 15 years.

5. I agree with these folks who obviously have tried them...

brendi:
I use aerating shoes and they do work in my opinion.

gemanadams_aol_com
YES, they really work.

dtwnwa
The concept with the shoes is the holes they create allows the lawn to absorb fertilizer and it tightens the lawn. worked for my lawn

One thing these shoes are good for is if your wife has to work on a steep slope from time to time pulling weeds or trimming brush while you are watching the game. Especially good for hills covered some kind of slippery ground cover. I recommend getting her a pair for anniversary along with a nice heavy duty pair of work boots. Add a box of vacuum cleaner bags and you'll have all your gifts for the year. And while you're at the garden shop, why not pick up a hammock for yourself!

To the "aerator shoes just compact the soil" club, I just looked at my own foot-stomper pogo stick style aerator. The tubes have about 1/16-inch wall thickness and are tapered so that the ends are thin. Pushing them into the compacts the soil more than a 1/8-inch aerator spike.

Put that in your pipe and see how it sucks.

Sap Larry, I loved your 5-point post. It was brilliant. Thanks for the great laugh.

I agree, core aeration might be the best way to do it, but I’ve seen good results from using my spike shoes. The haters can sit in their easy chairs and bad mouth them, but there was definitely lawn improvement in my case.