Wanted to get peoples' opinions on pros/cons of booties...I know it could be an issue getting into straps (but I am not up to that yet anyway). However, some of the newer booties are almost like a 2nd skin.
On a recent trip to Java I purchased a pair of FCS reef booties and they fit well. I have no issues surfing in them. For Windsurfing I think I will wear them when I am working with my daughter or in murky water until I am comfortable with not falling off regularly.
Having been stung once a few years ago by a small ray when fishing in shallow water I can assure you the pain is indescribable..the only thing that relieved it was a dash home and placing foot in as hot a bath of water as I could stand. Still have the scar/lump 7 years later.
Does anyone wear them or will I be considerd a "wuss" if I show up in them?
I also like to wear a shortjohn even in the middle of summer as it provides both a level of comfort and protection. Even considering donning the Gath in case I get a knock to the scone..but at the level I am its probably not going to be an issue until I get up to speed.
I wear a pair when sailing over dodgy terrain, near urchins etc. Only a wuss if you wear them to keep your toes warm!
Although I rarely wear booties, I nearly always wear a Gath.
I forgot to wear my booties on 3 occasions, each time I got a bad cut from oysters, coral and rocks....
I definately wear them at Swan Bay in Vic... I don't wear them at my home waters, as I know there is nothing there, but unless I absolutely know there is nothing submerged, I tend to wear them.
I never used to wear them overseas and in VIC as everywhere I sailed I was almost always out of my depth and never wore them.
Here in Perth I sail Lucky Bay, Peli Point, Woodies, Eneabba... i.e. lots of places that are shallow. My first season here I was cutting my feet every week, so started wearing 'em.
BTW, a pair of booties won't stop a ray. A mate had one punch clean through his knee (missing everything important fortunately). Nasty things.
Slashed feet is my most common injury. Geez it's fun hosing the sand out of a realy deep cut. I definatly prefer not to wear them, just like I enjoy sailing without a wettie, but it's pretty much determined by the local conditions.
I recommend them, never used to wear them back when I was younger, but saves all the cuts and scrapes from the shells, coral and volcanic rock, etc.
Used 2mm O'neils for 2 years and recently upgraded to Ripcurl 1mm e-bombs which are fantastic, hardly know you are wearing them. Don't have a problem getting in and out of the straps at all.
With 2 mm's adjusted the foot straps a bit bigger but with the 1mm's I don't think you have to bother.
You either HAVE to wear them because of conditions or you don't.
I wish the blasted things wouldn't fill up with water like clown shoes, why can't they fit a one way valve?
I need them for winter so my feet don't freeze.
It is nice not to feel the squidgy mud and not to have to worry about sharp shells and even the carpark bitumen.
Mine are Xcel 1mm reef boot. They are really comfy and don't fill up with water but you do need to enlarge your footstraps and even then it is a little harder to get your foot out. You will have an occasional gybing mishap that you wouldn't have had without booties, but that's better than cut feet.
I'm currently tossing up whether to do away with the booties for summer, but then I'd have to adjust my footstraps again, and then readjust when I go to places with squidgy mud and cobblers...
You definitely need the split toe ones so they don't roll on your feet, and very fine rubber so they will go in and out of footstraps easily. I recommend you get some from a windsurfing shop.
I usually wear them when air and temperature is below 17 degrees celsius. Or if there are urchins present in the shallow water. 2 weeks ago, it was really warm and I didn't want to wear them, but I forgot to count in the sea urchin presence, which punished me. Just got the last spike out yesterday.
Get yourself a Garth now, You'll hit yourself in the head more now as a learner then you ever will later on down the track......Or perhaps that was just me
I generally don't wear the split toe ones for windsurfing (keep them for surfing). I find the split too annoying when putting pressure in the footstraps, much prefer normal ones.
Much better without though, but check the conditions, 4 stitches under my foot few years ago (on Tasmanian oysters).
when I have them on ( great for launching kayaks in rivers)..
