Simba slippers product review

It's just as important to have proper work clothes when you're in your garden office (or home office in general) as it is for a 'traditional' office environment. Footware is a key element of the outfit and I have always firmly believed that slippers are just the right thing, bridging the gap between socks only (a bit slack) and shiny office shoes (a bit over the top).

Over the last week or so I have been roadtesting Simba's Rok slippers which the company (which also produces mattresses and bedding) was kind enough to ship across to Shedworking HQ for review.

To be honest, my initial expectations were not high since I prefer a slipper with a half-decent back to it. But while there is a bit more clippity-clop in my step wearing these moccasin-style models than my usual Grandpa varieties, I actually got used to that aspect of them pretty quickly.

Like the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, what I'm really after in a slipper is 'firmitas', 'utilitas', and 'venustas' - they need to be sturdy, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. 

They're certainly solid. My current slippers are very much indoor beasts and the soles wear out quite quickly, but these have a firm rubber sole and I've already successfully used them outside (to sort out the bins). In terms of functionality they definitely do the job, keeping my feet warm and stopping me slipping around on my socks - I also have quite wide feet and the adjustable buckle is very welcome (and I'd size up, as they recommend, if you lash out for a pair - I'm an 11 and the 12 is a good fit for me). And they look very nice, with a merino and calf-leather finish. I'm not embarrassed to be seen in them which is the gold standard for slippers.

Simba make a big thing of the reflexology cushioning of the slipper: "The soft top layer features nine stimulating support points, filled with a unique gel which gently massages your feet for overall wellbeing and comfort." I'm less sure about how effective this is, that my slippers will somehow have a positive effect on my kidneys or front sinus, but it's early days still and maybe they will give my lower back and spine the makeover they most surely need.

Finally, a word on price. They are by some distance the most expensive slippers I've worn. I usually get mine from Marks & Spencer which are somewhere in the £30-£40 range. So these at £89 are knocking on for three times that. However, I do have to replace my M&S ones quite regularly due to the heavy ride I give them and I suspect that my Simbas will prove to have a much longer life and so far better value. Only time will tell.

But overall, if you're looking to invest in some decent slippers, the Simbas get the much sought-after Shedworking seal of approval. 

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Finalists shortlist for Shed of the Year announced

The shortlist for Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2023 has been announced with 26 contenders for this year's trophy, £1,000 in cash and £250 worth of Cuprinol products. Among them is shedworking setup The Pamper Cabin, pictured above, a beauty treatment business run by Laura O'Mahony from Dorset. Other favourites among the Shedworking staff are The Frankenshed (below) owned by artist Archie Proudfoot in London:

and the Golden Behinde (below) built by Harry Scott in Suffolk for his grandchildren who are big fans of Francis Drake's iconic Golden Hinde:

Head Judge and Founder of the competition, Uncle Wilco, said: “We’re now in the 17th year of the competition, and each year I am always surprised and delighted by the level of creativity shown by our entrants. It’s incredible what can be done to create a beautiful shed for as little as £150. The new categories have also opened the door to some of the competition’s most colourful creations. It really is too close to call this year. I’d be happy to see any of them win!”
 
Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Cuprinol, added: “We’re thrilled to see so many sheds taking inspiration from last year’s winner, Kelly Haworth’s Potting Shed. It’s incredible to see such masterpieces made from reclaimed materials - making small garden improvements really can make such a huge difference regardless of budget.
 
“Equally, we have seen a lot of people go all out with the creation of gorgeous garden escapes for them and their family. I will always advocate for bringing more colour into both indoor and outdoor living spaces. I am constantly in awe of how these sheddies harness their creativity in so many unique ways, to design the perfect garden retreats.”
 
Entrants had the opportunity to enter two new categories this year – Simple but Effective and Colourful – as well as the usual Budget, Cabin/Summerhouse, Nature’s Haven, Pub/Entertainment, Unexpected/Unique and Workshop/Studio classifications.

Public voting for this year’s competition is open now and will run until 13th July 2023. To find out more about each finalist, and cast your vote, go to readersheds.co.uk 

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Slippers and shedworking: Working from home footwear - Part 2

Following yesterday's post, here's Part 2 of our look into slippers and their effect on your feet by Christophe Champs (pictured above) from the PODO Clinic and Workshop.

Unstable all the way up

Slippers aren’t just bad for your feet – the impact can also be felt around the ankle and upwards to your knees, hip, back and even your neck.

Your ankles are the most challenged and challenging joints of your body because they connect two small horizontal feet with a tall and vertical body. Any time one of your ankles is unstable, every joint above is impacted.

Overlooking your ankle stability is like neglecting the first impression you’ll make when entering a room. Both will leave you with no second chance and things could go wrong. An unstable ankle drags knees and hips down, inwards or outwards depending on your body type.

Orthotics and slippers

In my opinion, orthotics are great for most people’s feet, but they are not enough for your ankle health without proper shoes and pretty close to useless in a pair of slippers.

Orthotics and shoes work together. They are designed to be inside the shoe, and this is one of the key reasons you should never try orthotics or insoles directly on the floor (i.e., not in the shoe) with the foot on top. The firmness of the shoe sole and the action of the laces or Velcro are both part of the foot support that provides you with a better alignment, balance, and overall posture.

A pair of slippers with no heel or ankle support does not strap your foot and so the orthotics are not wrapped around your heels and arches. Therefore, if you tried to wear your orthotics in your slippers, you would miss out on this snug and pleasant feeling that reinforces the action of the orthotics and optimises their results. And of course, if the slipper has no back, the orthotics will simply fall out!

Alternatives

Start by wearing supportive and lace-up shoes in the house. These should support, protect and cushion the foot. They should stay on the foot as you walk: no toe curling. Remember, shoes are like glasses, they help only if you wear them and only if they fit you well. To address your asymmetry, which is common in most people, within your symmetrical shoes, contact your local podiatrist to have your biomechanics checked and find out if you can benefit from custom orthotics.  Save walking barefoot for sandy beaches or your fresh mowed lawn, and slippers for putting your feet up in front of the TV.

Conclusion

In short, slippers are not great if you spend most of your day standing or walking. For general, in-house use, choose proper footwear that will support your ankles and take the strain off your joints. Whatever indoor shoes you choose, ensure your posture is correct by seeking professional advice. A lot of emphasis is put on correcting our sitting position at a desk, and we tend to think we’re okay if we have a standing desk, but this isn’t the case. Just as much attention should be paid to your standing position, especially if you are standing for long hours at your desk (or anywhere else).

Basically, you need to put as much thought into your footwear as you do for every other item that is important to your home working hours.

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Slippers and shedworking: Working from home footwear - Part 1

The Shedworking staff are long-term slipper-wearers (pictured above). But just how good are they for your feet? We asked podiatrist and biomechanics expert Christophe Champs, founder of the PODO Clinic and Workshop in London, for his thoughts. So here, in a two-part guest post concluding tomorrow, is what he says...

Anyone who is serious about working from home knows that it is important to assign an appropriate space as a working environment and to source the right kit. Depending on the form your work takes, that equipment may include a decent ring light and a good external camera and mic. But surrounding yourself with good tech isn’t enough. Just because you’re not in a corporate workspace you’re not absolved from putting some thought into health and safety issues, and this may see you investing in a sit and stand desk, an ergonomic chair, or even blue light glasses. If you’ve got all of that covered, well done. But take a look down – at your feet. Are those slippers you’re wearing?

 

Slippers are convenient, feet go in and out within seconds. But this doesn’t make them the healthiest form of footwear. Their shape is not supportive and the materials they are made of are not reinforced.

 

Ideally anything you have on your feet for a long period should offer proper support and protection.

 

Providing your feet, which make up one quarter of your skeleton, with minimal support can negatively affect your aging body (however young you are).

 

Slippers can also contribute to falls. And as older and more vulnerable people are the number one users of slippers and the most at risk of a fall, it is not a great combination.

 

The more support your shoes can give you the less unbalanced and unstable you will be, and therefore the less likely you are to slip, trip or fall. And this applies to any age group.  So, choose a pair of comfy shoes for indoor wearing that offer support and then use them as you would a comfy pair of slippers.

 

Slippers are the chocolate of footwear: lovely, but not good for you if you have it all day, every day. 

Lockdown lessons

The lockdowns have shown us how dangerous slippers can be for our health.

 

In my experience, the number of people suffering joint pain has increased since the first lockdown, and this is as a direct result of people wearing unsupportive slippers at home for long periods while working.

 

When travelling to the office and working with other people, most of us wear shoes, not slippers and this helps to support and cushion our feet. But take this away and swap it for spending the entire day barefoot or with slippers on a hard floor and it is no surprise that joint and foot pain has increased.

 

Another change is the reduction in walking when working from home. When we walk (and I mean walk, not just take a few steps) we swing our arms, and this helps to take some of the load off the feet. Walking puts around 80% off the load on your feet, whereas stepping in an enclosed space with no arm swing applies 120% of your body weight on your feet. In turn this can result in increased joint and muscle pain.

 

Watch out for curly toes

With every step you take in slippers, your toes are forced to grasp the slipper to lift it off the ground and carry it until your next step. This is because your heel is not grabbed by the footwear. When the heal is secured within the shoe it helps to lift the entire shoe and carry it forward even as you bend your foot.

 

Your forefoot is beautifully designed to change direction and adapt to uneven surfaces, but this clever skill should never be overloaded or overused in the way it is with a slip-on slipper.

 

Those who spend a lot of their time on their toes or using their toes to grasp as they walk, often develop toe deformities such as hammer toe and bunions. Plus, the skin under the ball of your foot, as an auto-defence, tends to build up and become hard to cope with the extra pressures applied on the area.

Part 2 of this guest post will appear on Shedworking tomorrow.

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How to get or improve a garden office internet connection

Getting an internet connection to your garden office (or boosting an existing connection) is one of those questions which comes up time and again in queries to Shedworking HQ and on Twitter. Gardens Illustrated is the latest to come up with a useful set of suggestions and tips and also links to places where you can buy the bits and bobs you'll need. Here's an excerpt:

"If you’re serious about your external Wi-Fi then how about a solution that’s specifically made for outdoor use? The Wavlink AC1200 is an outdoor access point that you can safely leave outside, broadcasting the internet across – on paper, but dependent on your ‘real world conditions’ – 2000 square feet of garden. This is the kind of ‘pro’ unit you’ll see attached to walls or poles, high up in pub gardens and parks and as such requires a little more technical set up than a simpler indoor extender positioned by a doorway or window."

Image courtesy Norwegian Log 

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Minka pods

Shedworking has assumed various guises over the years and I recently wrote my regular column for the Idler about shedworking in the future including indoor garden offices/pods. Here's another new and fine examaple, the semi-enclosed Minka pod from Duffy London. It's made from powder-coated mild steel and high-grade wood from Forest Stewardship Council-managed forests, mearsuring 2m x 1.8m x 2m, but with a six-person pod also available and a solar version (pictured bottom).

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Will rooftop garden offices be the next 2021 trend?

While people without gardens understandably say they're not really in a position to have a garden office, we've actually covered plenty of examples of shedlike working atmospheres on Shedworking over the last 15 years, including a surprising number of rooftop garden offices including the fine one pictured above from Boundary Space at the  top of a London townhouse, a kind of urban meadow (and here are some rather more spectacular examples).

So we were intrigued to hear from John-Paul Manning, managing directgor at Build4Less that their latest research into rooftop garden trends for this year puts a rooftop office in the mix, coming in at a creditable 10th spot, hard on the heels of container gardens, canopies, and decking.

"During lockdown the line between indoor and outdoor space became increasingly blurred as people tried to maximise their use of space and make it feel homey as the spring season sets in," says John-Paul. "Rooftop real estate is often a pretty hot commodity. In most cases there’s a limited amount of space and as a result most rooftop trends focus on ways to use the space as efficiently as possible. We’ve found that people are moving towards making the rooftop as open air as possible. Fences are being replaced with tall garden elements like trees and vertical gardens, and glass has begun to replace wood as paraphets in a way that gives privacy but also keeps the space fresh and open." 

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Grid: indoor shedworking

No room for a garden office but still want some shedworking flavour? Another example for the indoor shedworking folder, Grid by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Established & Sons is aimed at the home office/live-work market. They describe it as a "colourful room-within-a-room" with flexibly modular possibilities for seating, shelving, tables and screens, "a playful and multifunctional environment for informal meetings, presentations or simply hanging out". It's made from powder-coated steel and the standard L-shaped module has two 2.5m sides, enclosed by gridded panels for that sheddish feel and can be upholstered rather than left plain with that slighly cagey look. They also recommend an U-shaped formation.
 
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Garden office showrooms: Green Retreats

We're kicking off an occasional column on garden office and garden room showrooms with a look at Green Retreat's offering at Westcott Venture Park between Bicester and Aylesbury, which they describe as the UK's largest indoor garden room showroom. It has been up and running since March last year and includes a range of fully finished garden room spaces including garden offices, gyms and social spaces. Free tea and coffee on arrival if you mention Shedworking (though to be honest, free tea and coffee on arrival even if you don't) and £200 off your order following a visit, even if you don't place it during your visit which is a nice touch.

Among the company's new models is The Annex which they describe as a "turn-key solution for those looking to easily add extra living space to their home that offers more privacy". It features living space, a bathroom, kitchen and bedroom.
 

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Pause: Indoor garden office

If you don't have space in the garden for a garden office, there are of course many examples of indoor shedworking from which to take inspiration. Here's another, Pause by Maurizio Prina who describes it as an 'indoor hut'. Here's what he says about it:

These days cosiness is a very rare luxury, so I’ve thought about a space where anybody can relax, read, rest and even have guests. Where anybody can feel at home. An “home inside a home”. This hut is composed by modules made with colored cloth, built over an iron structure.You can change the colors and combine them. This name is a declaration of intents and it has a meaning in different languages: pause.

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Garden office air conditioning

With temperatures rising, Shedworking has had a lot of enquiries about how to heat and cool your garden office. There's a nice (and short) piece about just this topic on the Advantage Air Systems site. Here's a snippet:

A professionally installed air conditioning system, when compared to direct electric heating or gas, can lower your electricity bills by as much as 30-50%. If you use your garden office all day every day, you could find that your new system pays for itself within 5 years in reduced running costs. And of course, an air conditioning system also gives you the option to use it in cooling in the summer months to lower the temperature and humidity. Simple split type air conditioning systems are ideal for garden offices, typically consisting of an indoor wall mounted unit and an outdoor unit positioned behind the cabin. Mitsubishi Electric has recently launched its sophisticated and stylish M-Series range. Available in a variety of colours and using the latest R32 refrigerant, they offer superior energy efficiencies too.

Advantage also has a short case study of their work on an osteopathy practice based in a garden office (pictured above).
 
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Garden office garden

If you're wondering how to bring the garden into your garden office, here's some inspiration from architects HOK London. Their new eco-friendly offices feature a large area of artificial grass where people can work or relax. It also has deckchairs and a picnic table. More about indoor shedworking here.
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Garden offices, privacy pods, and 2016's work trends

An interesting article by Alison Coleman at Virgin.com about workplace trends for this year. She looks at privacy pods (the kind of indoor shedworking ideas that have become very common in recent years, such as the Nuovo above), roof gardens and general wellbeing. Here's a snippet:

Some believe that 2016 will be the year of the garden office, a trend that has already become hugely popular with growing numbers of home workers and entrepreneurs who need a dedicated workspace in their home. Charlie Lear, design consultant at Harrison James Garden Rooms, says: "The ability to do more with less is invaluable when it comes to developing a start-up business. Working from the home in a dedicated environment, such as a garden office, ensures that your most precious assets of time, energy and money are maximised."

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Indoor beer garden office

Another entry for the interior shedworking folder as HubSpot redesign their Cambridge HQ - their expanded property features a large meeting/event space with 'bleacher seating' and an indoor beer garden and coffee house-style café with barista for working.
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The Perfect Commute: Show Garden for Malvern Spring Festival 2015

Almost certainly the most shedworkingy of this year's show gardens will be The Perfect Commute, designed by Deborah Bird from Beholder's Eye at this year's Malvern Spring Festival. Here's how she described what looks like a must-see garden specially for Shedworking readers:

"The Perfect Commute is being created for a designer who runs a consultancy from their home. They have allocated a space at the end of their garden for their working area. The design is to be imagined as part of a larger space, sectioned off with a low boundary to demarcate the area from the rest of the domestic garden.  It has a sheltered indoor working area in the form of a building being supplied by The Posh Shed Company.  This is mirrored by a sunken seating area for relaxing and meeting clients.  The garden is bounded by Jacksons Venetian fencing, sat on top of steel gabions which will be backed with natural materials.

"A focal point of the design will be a metalwork sculpture by Paul Margetts, a sculptor from Worcestershire. This piece is called ‘Focus’ and will be positioned in a raised bed and surrounded by multi-stem birch trees and soft planting. Throughout the design, planting has been chosen for year-round structure with an emphasis on spring/summer flowering specimens for the show.

"The design was inspired by a desire to minimize the daily commute, an escape from rush hour queues and the encasement of fluorescently lit office blocks. (Truth be told, it’s me building my own personal fantasy)."

Inspiration for some of the design elements is detailed on a Pinterest page set up by Deborah and she will be writing a blog during the build and run up to the show.  The garden also has a twitter page @perfect_commute

I know there are many of you who like a full breakdown of garden details so here it is:


Designer:
Deborah Bird, Beholder's Eye, Birmingham, 07931 728 007, beholders_eye@outlook.com
Diploma in Garden Design (Pickard School of Garden Design) | MA in Garden Design (Staffordshire University)
Previous awards: 2 x Bronze Medals at Malvern Autumns Shows; 2 x Silver Medals at Malvern Spring Shows and one ‘Best Border in Show’

Sponsors:
The Posh Shed Company, Eardisland, Herefordshire
Paul Margetts Sculpture and Metal-Work, Belbroughton, Worcestershire
Jacksons Fencing, Ashford, Kent
Nature First, Down Hatherley, Gloucester ----------------------------------------------------

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Indoor shedworking

Another excellent video from Kirsten Dirksen at fair companies looks at the building of an internal shedworking atmosphere with bedroom element in London designed by atmos studio (click for lots more photos). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Amsterdam mirror shedworking

A spectacular shedlike atmosphere in the Watergraafsmeer district of Amsterdam, designed by cc-studio for Maarten - who as director of the augmentedreality start-up company Layar often works in the garden office - and Lori Lens-FitzGerald in Watergraafsmee. Here's what cc-studio say about it:

By placing mirrored planes the visual depth of the garden was enhanced to look deeper. Also the geometry of the volume was specially tailored to play with the perspective lines and to have no vertical surfaces parallel to the house but at an angle to have a more continuous flow.

It has a lovely sedum roof on the angular roof, built to avoid a box shape, and windows are half-hidden from direct sight (which is good as it is also used as a guest room as well as a garden office). cc-studio say that the vapour permeable cellulose insulation and gypsum plastered walls "create within the critically small space an agreeable indoor climate temperature and healthy air".

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Podtime: outdoor sleep pods

Siestas, as any fule kno, are a good thing. So for your shed-based sleeping needs, there is now the Podtime sleep pod. Most of the designs are for companies looking to provide employees with an indoor napping solution or as Podtime put it "a sanctuary for rest in an otherwise busy environment" but we're more intrigued by their flatpack outdoor model called the Double Pod made of wood and plastic.

These are a bit larger than the indoor ones at 1.2m high and 2m x 1.9m floor area and come in at £950 as opposed to £1,375 (plus VAT) with a simpler design and build (the indoor ones are a bit more plush). It comes with either a standard double mattress or double airbed and has lockable doors (key or non key) - optional extras include power sockets. As well as snoozing in there, you could also do some shedworking. Maybe.

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Nu-Ovo

Another entry for the indoor shedworking file (although it can also be placed outdoors), the Nu-Ovo from Tisettanta is designed by Paolo Maldotti: split into eight segments of plywood frame, six are fixed and two are removeable, the whole thing mounted on a metallic base which can be rotated. Nice.

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