– Q. See questions above. Should one in such a situation use shoes that have non flat soles, but rather they have grooves and therefore it diminishes greatly the chances to kill the ants?

A. Indeed it is an additional benefit to be lenient and should so be done when possible.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a