I'm looking to start putting more effort into my lawn and was thinking about trying out these aerator shoes. I know they probably don't work as well as the machine but has anyone tried them and had any luck?

Just make sure you wear these anytime you're not mowing.

(Sorry I don't have anything else to add)

Good point. Will probably end up going the equipment rental route. Might see if I can get a neighbor to split the cost of rental.

as mentioned, they do more harm than good. The point of aerification is to remove soil. Making holes does not accomplish that.

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Good point. Will probably end up going the equipment rental route. Might see if I can get a neighbor to split the cost of rental.

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My street does it twice a year. Machine is $40 for 2 or $60 for 3 hours, we can get ~8 yards done in two hours, or like 16 in 3 hours (2 hours is really only 80 minutes with pickup/dropoff time, so 3 hours almost doubles usage time).

Everyone pays $5, whoever picks up/returns the machine gets the profit.

The companies that put flyers out want $40-$50 per yard!!
For 5ksqft of grass, I don't think so.

I actually started the trend 3 years ago with just my neighbor, and everyone has jumped on it over the years.

How does the machine work if you have sprinkler head and associated piping? I'd like to do this but am afraid I'll ruin all of my irrigation system.

Flag your sprinkler heads and your associating pipe should be deep enough not to get hit.

Yes the machine will tear up sprinkler heads. Most square small yards are easy since heads are in corner. Avoid the corners.

The machine will also crack flagstone You can lift tangs, but sometimes they fall down inadvertently.

http://www.usga.org/course-care/forethegolfer/why-do-golf-courses-aerate-so-much-.html

decent info here