fin socks vs reef booties

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:28 am

After burning through five sets of fin socks in six months in Indo and having nothing but neoprene rags left over, I'm forced to reconsider getting something a bit more eco/budget friendly. I'm going to the KSUSA board to ask everyone what they think is the best fitting foot protection under swim fins. I know, I know... A lot of guys are going to flame me and say to just give up the fins. That's not going to happen, so any other advise is greatly appreciated.

P.S.: No split toe booties! I can't stand 'em! Anyone know if Quiksilver Syncros have a hidden split toe under their round toe booties?

JohnS · Post by **JohnS** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:01 am

Oneill's HEAT Round Toe Boot in 3mm

skansand · Post by **skansand** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:38 am

my favorite has been h20 odyssey deluxe socks , but they stopped making them in my size this year!

a heel patch would make those socks very legit!

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:19 pm

I've started making my own socks and fin pockets
when the underside of the sock gets trashed I replace just that bit

no good for a rough reef or coral
or long distance walking

hard finding good quality stretch neoprene
the cheaper craft shop stuff is very hard and not so stretch
so I've had to cut them bigger than preferred
but it does work
tough on the sewing machine and some if it gets done by hand

the patch would be cool ... haven't found the right source of rubber material
too hard and too soft
perhaps the sole of an old bootie ... but then it would already be worn

KenM · Post by **KenM** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:21 pm

Paul, a thin coating of Aquaseal (liquid urethane) on the bottom of the fin socks will extend their life more than you can imagine. Squeeze it out of the tube and spread it with a stir stick. One tube should be enough for a pair of fin socks.

maxb · Post by **maxb** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:13 pm

Go to victorykoredry.com and check out the vooties. I wore them on our boat trip this year and loved them. Low or high tops , lycra uppers and neoprene soles and toes. It sounds like what you are looking for.
max

southpeakbrad · Post by **southpeakbrad** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 5:11 pm

[quote="Paul"] I know, I know... A lot of guys are going to flame me and say to just give up the fins. That's not going to happen, so any other advise is greatly appreciated. quote]

OK, then pass on Indo and surf your favorite OC beachbreak all summer

...but I know what you mean about the soft sole booties. Ken, I may take you up on your tip since I have a new pair in waiting for this winter.

Doc Turbo · Post by **Doc Turbo** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:31 pm

Booties go hand in hand (foot in foot) with the fins. I switched from Churchills no sock no booties (indo surf) to Da Fin with booties about one year back, end result, reduction in every kind of injury.

My mates had all sorts of names for me as I left plenty of skin on the reef, but lately with the booties in the da fins, nearly zero loss on the feet, hands, legs, head.

two months ago I bought body boarder fins, bright gay color, rounded tips, but they work for me. I wear them with booties, I now forget even what brand.

suggestion, make sure the booties fit you and you in the fin.

Also make sure the booties has high top and some kind so draw string or velcro, keeps them getting blown off your feet along with the fin.

When you coming up for a surf????

Freddie · Post by **Freddie** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:21 am

There are all kinds of bottom terrain under the waves I surf in. When I surf the cove in HB I USE H2O Odyssey ankle high fin socks for the sandy bottom and warmer water. In INDO I used a 3mm round toe O'Neil for the protection of my one and only foot. It worked great cuz I got draged across the reef a couple of times, and had no problems with it at all. My local break is reef and sandy bottom and I use a 1mm round toe O'Neil for that kind of terrain.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:13 pm

Thanks, guys for all the great suggestions.
Skansand: It's the 3mm H2Odyssea fin socks that wore through, so I'm looking for something with a little more toughness on the soul. The 5mm might work, especially when combined with KenM's suggestion of coating the bottom with Aquaseal. Maybe roll it in sand while it's still tacky for a bit more grip? 5mm's awfully hot for Bali, though.
Max: Those vooties look good, but do you think those lycra uppers can withstand 6 months of daily use? Is the neoprene soul any tougher than the H2O's?
Fred: What is the trade name of those O'Neills? Do they still make that model anymore? Many of the name brand manufactures have stopped making round toe booties that don't have an internal split toe.
Kepp the great ideas coming, guys! I'm hoping this thread helps out a bunch of us, not just me!

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:38 pm

JohnS: Do YOUR O'neill Heat 3mm have an internal split toe? How long ago did you get them?
Kev: I don't have the skill or the resoures to sew my own socks. I'm jealous that you do! That would be a quick, cheap and easy solution once the templates were cut out! I tried out-sourcing this project to a local Bali wetsuit company (Nemo Wetsuits) but between Ramadhan, travel time, and the Bali quality material, it was an expensive and pointless project. They make cheap, lower quality dive suits and had no experience with surfing equipent or any reef walking R&D. The plastic covered souls worked great, but the single stitching without glue or seam tape cut and ran with just a week of walking on Nusa Dua reef. Any 3 mm neoprene not protected by the plastic shredded like 1mm. I'm going with a name brand, tough, but not too thick bottom cover from now on.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:46 pm

Doc: I gotta head on back to reality I just a couple of days, but with any kind of luck I'll get my 2 contracts in this winter, and the dream life style will continue next summer.
I'm glad you found the right fit for your foot. What brand of booties did you go with?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:50 pm

Brad: I'll NEVER skip Bali! If I could swing it financially, I'd live over here permanently. Till I hit the Lotto, I guess six months at a time with have to do!

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:34 pm

I use the O'Neil 3 Mil round toe booties as well. No internal split toe
and they'll last you about a year of hard use up here. I usually will
wear a hole through the tops from my big toe which lets in too
much cold water in the winter, the bottoms stay solid.

MJ · Post by MJ » Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:55 am

After I lost a big chunk out of my foot I started looking around for a bootie with a hard sole. I was lucky and found it in Billabong Wetsuit Neoprene 3mm Sealed Foil Boots. They are basically a wetsuite bootie with a thin hard layer on the sole. They fit into my Octagon Hot Buttered flippers just fine although I do wear a larger size flipper with them. As far as I'm concerned they tick all the boxes. Cost AUD$49.95. I never surf without them now.

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fin socks vs reef booties

fin socks vs reef booties

Re: fin socks vs reef booties

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