surf boots or sandals for beach

[Moe (fl)]

What sandals/shoes you use for detecting the beach? I have seen some detectorists with surfing/dive boots and was wondering if they work better than sandals/sneakers.

 

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[bootybay]

I use my Mares ( neoprene ) 5ml dive boots... the soles are thick if not thicker then sneaker bottoms.. they are very comfy, cover my ankle, zips up.. I love em.. wont even consider going on the beach or in the water without em..

 

[Moe (fl)]

Thanks Bootybay. Are these comfortable for walking on the beach or just for water hunting?

 

[Surfdigger]

These are the boots that Bootybay is talking about....I'm on my second pair and they are great for shallow surf and wetsand and yesssssss verrrrry comfortable !!

 

[bootybay]

Surfdigger is the one who recommended these to me.. they are super comfy and trust us the thicker bottoms will save your feet.. while walking, while digging, while in the surf.. aint nothing better then these I tell ya..

 

[FLauthor]

I paid $60.00 for my Mares and they are rugged. Very tough sole on them so you don't feel anything trying to poke through. Those who want to brave using sandals or sneakers, they'll work great to until you get a sharp shell lodged between the bottom of your foot and the sandal. Better yet, when a stone crab uses his vise grip claw on a piece of your flesh. And you only thought that Jesus could walk on the water. I've been wearing SCUBA boots for thirty years of water detecting and they've always protected my feet.

 

[desertfox]

Dive boots, the only way to go! They also keep the sand out.

HH and good luck

Desertfox

 

[stavr]

I use surfboot''neil pride''when cold.
When heat is used surfshoes "oneil'','' pro limit''/
very convenient, I recommend.

 

[Sandman]

I used to wear the dive boots since I am a diver but for wading I have started to use fisherman's wading shoes because thery are designed for lots of walking with bootless waders. However my Excal goes off on the brass tacks in the shoes so I have gone back to the fine booties Bootybay uses.

You have to have something to keep the sand out of the shoes or the walk back to the car will be uncomfortable.

 

[gravediggermax-vabeachva]

i tried all the boots under the universe and shoes and sandels and many many brands of flip flops,

there were the best ever, but they would not stay together long..............


now for like 5 years, i have worn rubber FLIP FLOPS by crocs............called: Athens, but now they are fazing those out for a new style called "Modi"...............i have a pair inbound as i type to see how they do.

ATHENS:

use whatever floats your boat the best........f y i

 

[Monty]

I like the high top "surf boots" because they keep a lot of the sand out and they are like a wet suit and you can wade a bit to cool off. Monty

 

[bootybay]

Heres a tip I do.. I use the Mares as stated above, but they seem to only come in mens sizes, so I ordered a size smaller then my size, well, they were still a bit to bit and I would get water in em and swish when I walked so I started to wear a pair ankle socks, problem solved.. love em.

 

[OBN]

Got a few pairs, each for different location.
Rip Curl shorties for the Florida west coast, calm waters..no shells.....Dry sand OC................bad......hot sand, feel thur soft bottom, hard to get on, sand proof in surf, {75%}
Nrs titianum Rock Boots..bay, river beds, creeks, water holes, Rocks, calm waters, good with dry suit, excellent foot protection .............................................bad.......flat bottom there is a little bit of the suction cup effect in the soft sand in the water... not bad on wet sand, but in surf, sand proof in surf {75%},
O'neils surf boots..OC, in the surf, lots of wave action soft sand....excellent as far as sand getting in {98%}...bad...soft bottom, hard to get on, but worth the no sand grinding the toes
Bare Dive Boots....Good for the bay, calm waters, Hightide to lowtide lane, drysuit winter, excellent traction, and foot protection.....bad...sand proof in the surf {80%}
Boot food waders....winter, spring, fall..just can't go out to far..Dry feet, no sand...bad..last for about 3 years if your lucky
Water Proof sox's..SealSkinx's...keep feet dry, and the sand out with the Nrs, and Bare dive Boots make sure you get the right size..I have size 10.5..got large {10-11} to big, go smaller, you want them tight..they do keep the sand from your feet, but not sure what effect the sand on the outside will have on them..Bad...come upto your knees, you look even more like a geek..............joe

 

[rc2125]

Recently replaced/upgraded from my standard/old pair of dacor 5mm dive boots, with plans to just keep them as spares.
Picked up some seasoft stealth 6mm boots, very rugged/heavy duty, w/boot like soles, ultra comfy, much better for walking on gravel and the longer traverses to the water, ...will see how long they last.
http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/SSTBST.html

Previously tried some 3mm seasoftscuba sunrays to try out for dual use (in water & on beach), they have a lining called glideskin *(weird rubberlike layer) that creates a unique phenomenon when walking. They were a mid height boot, which lets alot more sand in than the higher ones do. The best description of the sunray model's sounds I can think of, would be to attach a self-inflating whoopie-cushion to the bottom of each foot and walk around, not cool Maybe the sunrays were made to be worn with neoprene dive socks or something silly like that. Really like the stealths though!

 

[Moe (fl)]

Thanks for all the great replies!

Do you buy these boots at surf/dive shops or online? I went to the local sporting goods store and they didn't have any like these. They had some Keva and Keen sandals.

 

[OBN]

Both online and the surf shops...even Ebay...Good Luck..I like the ones Brian uses also..look great for Lt/Ht lane

 

[Moe (fl)]

Thanks for the replies. Do the Mares boots keep the sand out?

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

I was using some wading boots from bass pro < 30 toadhides, but hot here in Fl. I have been using crocks with a sandal like design, kinda sucks for the shells in SW Fla, but fine on the east coast.

 

[Amadeus_21_1/2]

The best are in Italy

The best to Detecting are in Italy!!!

 

[islandchips]

Aloha here are the boots that I use with socks on. I have no problems with sand getting in, the first one I bought retail and I got three new ones on Ebay for only $25.00 each. Here is a link to the site.

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2335&deptid=1169

HH, islandchips