Cold water booties

1

any recs on the best cold water booties?

2

Solites grip the deck pad well, vans are slippery

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3

20+ years of surfing and kiting in NJ, I would say xcel dry lock are hands down the best boots on the market. They last forever too. Just my opinion

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Hyperfreak booties are super thin but not sure if warm enough for your conditikns

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Do the drylocks fit to size or do they run big/small?

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I go up one size. They seem to run a little small.

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I’ve been surfing and kiting in cold water for 20 years. Like freezing cold, -1.5oC water. We stop riding cause the sea ice creep in and there no more openwater, just solid ice. So I’ve experienced my fare share of 7mm+ boots. I don’t know your condition but here’s is my take on ultra cold water boots. Ranked from best to worst :

Solite 8mm custom fire + 1mm solite socks:

  • the boots with the best board feel (+++)
  • Pretty rigid
  • slightly more expensive then the rest
  • As warm as the Xcel infinity 8mm (but better board feel)
  • Durability is maybe a touch better then the Xcel Infinity

Xcel Infinity 8mm:

  • The warmest boots out there with the Solite
  • The board feel is not so good as the neoprene is so thick.
  • Rigidity is ok
  • Durability and price is ok
  • True sizing

Xcel Drylock 7mm

  • Not as warm as the Infinity 8mm
  • Board feel is ok
  • More rigid than the Infinity, less then the Solite
  • The durability is not that good (at least for the one pair that I’ve own)
  • A bit pricy

Vissla 7mm : flimsy as there no ankle strap

Vans : slippery on foam pad

I can get 2 or 3 seasons out of the boots without consideration from the brand. I suspect the hot water pour before the session kill the neoprene.

Hope it help!

1 Like
8

I can’t deal with thick bulky booties. These are 5mm and are the most tolerable I have found.

9

Thanks for the info.

Warm water is sufficient to keep cold water out and prevent that cycle of the feet blood vessels shutting down, much less likely to damage the glue& neoprene.

Which ones of those is easiest to get in and out of?

Any tips to prevent smells other than drying them very well right after each sessions?

BTW footstraps just kills any booties due to friction.

10

Stockholm, Sweden winters mean near-zero-celsius water temps, and I’ve tried just about every boot out there. The Atan Hot Wave is on another level. Thin sole, amazing board feel, and still somehow warm. Never even felt the need to pour hot water into them before a session. They don’t last forever though, so wear some oversized Crocs when walking around (especially if, like me, you’ve got a pebble beach). And be prepared to look a little like a ballerina.

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11

I like the Patagonia booties - they don’t have straps and are pretty comfy.

A boot drier works great to keep booties and gloves from smelling like a sewer

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+1 for this, I don’t like the feeling without the socks, but the 3mm ones are great for UK winters, and the board feeling is the best so far. 2 winters out of my first pair but they start to crack eventually

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We surf the rivers year round in Spokane where temps are usually below freezing and the water is right around 35 F. Solite booties hands down better than any other brand I’ve tried (xcel, billabong, rip curl). Last a long time too. Well worth the price.

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The Solite is the hardest to get into but you get used to it. The rest of them are standard.
And sorry, no tips from me. I air dried them after each session but still end up smelly. A Water+ vinegar+dishwashing soap threatment help tho.

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15

Depends on the deck pad. Solites are horrible with the Appletree deck pad. Good booties, though!

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I periodically put white vinegar and water in mine for about 15-20 minutes. kills the stink for a few sessions, doesn’t seem to harm the booties or stitching.

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17

I finally learned, with the Solite, to wet them oj the inside before trying to put them on. They go on way easier this way…

18

You should try putting the vans on, it’s insane :joy:

19

The Solite Knit Heat Booster Sock is fantastic for getting easy into any brand of boots.

I have at least 10 pairs of the thin socks, and currently use them in Xcel boots.

Put the socks on before I leave home. And makes it easy to put on the wetsuit and the boots.

And they make the boots more comfortable.

Wingfoil all year round in Norway.

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I recomend a split toe construction for feel (round toes feel like they move around on my foot more). A fully internal split toe is warmer and doesn’t get pebbles jammed in the split.