Boots for gardening

What are the best boots to use for gardening: digging, planting, getting muddy, etc., that will last a long time? Are the regular $15 rubber boots fine or are boots like Bogs worth the expense? Winters and springs are chilly 0-32 degrees. I want to get a head start on the weeds this year.
Thanks!

Boots for gardening, wish I knew the answer. I had a lot of digging to do with a shovel, the normally cheap Wal-Mart boots I bought lasted pretty good, but I wanted something better. I bought a nice pair of expensive(to me) Wolverine boots. The Wal-Mart cheap $35.00 boots actually held up better. The soles on the Wolverine boots just seem to rot away. So if you are doing a dirty muddy job over an extended period you might be better off buying three cheap pair than one expensive pair that fails miserably.

I have 2 pairs of footwear for exactly those conditions; one is for warm weather, one is for cold; they are both Keens. (I'll tell ya about the sandals if ya want.) :)

The "boots" are Keens (women's) Voyageur Hiking Shoe. (you can check them out on Amazon here: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008J53CPI/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )

I know you specified "boots", but I felt the need to share about these anyway because I absolutely LOVE them, for several reasons. Not only do Keens, in general, last forever, but these ones fit like they were made on my feet the first second I put them on from the box. I could SLEEP in these suckers. Also, I have a VERY weak right ankle from numerous breaks as a young person (5 breaks between the ages of 15 and 22). I need support. These things GIVE SUPPORT.
I work at a nursery/garden center, and there are all sorts of icky/sloppy, slippery/squishy/muddy places that I slop around in, including rain/sleet/snow etc. My feet stay totally dry and warm in these things. Should you need to clean them, you may hose them off lightly while on your feet, then take 'em off and allow to air-dry. OR, just wipe 'em down with a slightly damp rag or paper towel.
The traction on the bottom is superb also, by the way.

Yeah, they may be a bit pricey at first, but the fact that they fit like you were born in them and they will last and last and last more than makes up for it. =)

(Now, go ahead and ask me about the sandals,.. I dare ya!) < =D Heeheeheee

I'll ask about the sandals, even though I have never ever been able to wear sandals. Of course I am assuming they also make a man's shoe, but if not at least the women an hear about them. How do the sneaker version, give any ankle support? A boot does give ankle support, but I don't see how a shoe that is below the ankle can? Now I did find Keen's boots for men.
http://www.6pm.com/keen-tacoma-6-brown
Those look like would give good ankle support.

Seed, those Tacomas look like some seriously great boots!! I had actually even considered Tacomas for myself when I bought the others, but I've already got boots from Redwing that come up that high; was looking for something a bit more flexible. I have no idea how I feel so completely supported in the Voyageurs, quite frankly. They seem to come up just high enough to feel snug (NOT TIGHT) around the top, so that I feel absolutely no qualms whatsoever about walking on uneven slippery surfaces. Perhaps it's all a mental thing (and perhaps I am as well), but I walk on a LOT of icky surfaces at work, in lots of different conditions, and have yet to have even one tiny issue with slippage or an 'unstable' feeling of the ankle within the footwear. Oh, and on those Tacomas, did you notice the toe guard? Keens have this toe guard on most of their footwear (sandals included) and they do NOT wear out.

As for the sandals; thank you for asking! =) I've got 2 pairs of these: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BHD4FA/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (the second pair is for "just in case"... in case what? Who knows, but I feel it's better to be prepared). I bought the first pair over 5 years ago, and they still look exactly like brand new. Notice they've got that toe guard too, just like the Tacoma boots? Even those toe guards on my old sandals look pristine and new, and I don't know how they do it! I drag my toes across the ground something awful -- I'm worse than a 5-year-old learning how to ride a bike, dragging my toes on the ground to stop. These things don't quit.
But, let me back up for a minute... when I first got the sandals, again, from the first second I put them on, they felt like my foot was made for them -- not the other way around. Ultimate perfection of fit -- instantly. I could easily go to bed with them on my feet every night if DH would let me. ;) They are easy to slip on, easy to adjust snugness, no laces to tie and knot-up. If WHEN they get dirty, they are so easy to clean!! At work, I just hose them off (feet and all) with one of the hoses outside, and within 10 minutes they are all completely dry. They can handle a ride in the washing machine without flinching, just set them someplace to dry -- they'll be totally dry within half an hour.
The only drawback... they leave a REALLY funky-looking tan line on the feet if you wear them a lot outside. I wear mine every single day at work, and BOY do I get a goofy-looking tan on my feet!! If you don't care about that (like I don't), these things are great-and-a-half!! And the good news is: They make them in men's also!! I see them at Zappo's: http://www.zappos.com/keen-newport-bison~1

For sandals, they are incredibly sturdy and stable. If I remember correctly, when I first looked for them, I did a search for "mountain climbing" sandals. They were originally made for climbing and fording rivers and the like. Very sturdy, excellent traction, great foot support. And even with my super-iffy ankle, I always feel completely secure and stable in them. I practically LIVE in them -- until the temps drop below 35 degrees. =)

One last note: Yes, the Voyageur are made for men as well. Here's amazon's selection of them for men: http://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dshoes&field-keywords=KEEN%20Voyageur%20for%20men