Whats your choice of shoe for hunting in the surf?

[Bill - De]

What's your choice of shoe for hunting in the surf?

Had a pair of high-top zippered dive boots, and need to replace. So what are you putting on your feet to go in (up to waist deep), for metal detecting. Teva's; dive boots, crocks ...? I'm not goin barefoot; too many sharp shells, fish hooks, etc. for me. Lookin for ideas

 

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[Terry Soloman]

$9.99 sand shoes at Walmart!

 

[gollum]

Zippered hightop dive boots. I also have water shoes, but dive boots are perfect.

Mike

 

[Jason in Enid]

hard-soled, high-top dive boots.

 

[penzfan]

Black OP Water Shoes from Walmart (as much as I don't like to shop there). They're $10, have a nice thick sole , Velcro strap closure and last about 1 year and I hunt 1-2 times per week on average.

 

[Detector Wars]

Reef shoes.

 

[G.I.B.]

Dive boots.

I kinda figure that they are made for the salt water, soft, yet have a nice rubberized sole, fit snugly, drain water...

 

[jeepGold]

I love my Kona dive boots. 1 sz larger so socks swell to fit.

 

[OBN]

I hate hunting the Del/Md shores, specially when the water is ruff. The sand is super fluid and no shoes/boots/clogs can keep out the sand unless your just hunting the wetsand. The best I found was Hard sole High top diving boots with the pull strap then wear neoprene Sox's. The last two years I have wore a light weight boot foot drysuit and on the hotter days boot foot waders...Nice stripping down and not feeling that salty all over you.

Good Luck...

 

[CASPER-2]

I HAVE OLDER VERSION OF THESE -
NRS Comm-3 Wetshoe at nrs.com
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR - I HUNT IN MUD..ROCKS..SHELLS ETC
YOU CAN SEE THE NICE SOLE THESE HAVE - MINE ARE 7MM FOR COLDER WATERS - BUT WEAR THEM IN SUMMER TOO
I HAVE A FEW OTHER PAIRS ALSO - HAVE USED NEOSPORTS - HAVE A PAIR OF THOSE AS BACK UPS
I OWN OTHERS - BUT I ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST 2 OF EVERYTHING
THIS IS GOOD TIME TO LOOK - MANY PLACES HAVE CLOSEOUTS AND SALES
ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH
https://www.google.com/search?q=COL...ved=0ahUKEwiFnfeE_bTJAhVM6SYKHb05CcEQ_AUIBygC
OTHERS YOU CAN CHECK OUT IF YOU ARE BORED
YOU CAN ALWAYS GOOGLE DIVE BOOTS ON SALE OR DIVE BOOTS ON CLEARANCE

 

[CASPER-2]

SENDING YOU A LINK TO SOME ARTICLES IVE WRITEN - AT LEAST A FEW IN THERE I WROTE ABOUT WHAT TO WEAR
OTHERS MAY HELP YOU - OTHERS MAY INSPIRE YOU

 

[RustyGold]

The best I've used are the Mares Trilastic hard sole Dive Boots. You can walk all over the beach and into the water and back to your vehicle and the are very comfortable with excellent lateral support.
I got them here:Mares Trilastic 5mm Dive Boots

My feet measure a 9 US but I always wear a 10 in tennis shoes and boots. With the Mares I wear a size 8 and they fit great.

 

[Bill - De]

Thanks for all the suggestions; and there are some good ones. I will be looking at (and probably buying) a few different types. I'll certainly be checking out the one's in Walmart (thanks for that tip; and they are inexpensive). I'll also likely get another pair of dive boots. I like the look of those Mares, Kona, and Comm3. I hunt the beaches here in Delaware; also Md on occasion, and would like to try something on the Gulf coast if Florida this winter. So I'm trying to get things all set for there, even though winter is on my doorstep.

 

[BRC]

hard-soled, high-top dive boots.

I use the exact same thing.....

 

[stefen]

High top tennis shoe...(white)

 

[jeepGold]

These are what I'm running right now. Zippers are awesome and they keep my feet nice and snug. Amazon.com : Seac 6mm Super-Stretch Zippered Hard Sole Dive Boots Booties, LG (10/11) : Surfing Booties : Sports & Outdoors

 

[Jason in Enid]

I have tried a lot of different footware while water hunting over the years. I already stated above my preference, by for those still considering, let me explain why.

1, barefoot, no. just don't even think about that. The beaches are full of broken glass, torn up aluminum cans, broken shells, broken coral and lots more that will tear up your feet. This is a trip to doctor just waiting to happen.
2, sandals. better than barefoot, but far from ideal. Cheap flip flops will break from repeatedly stomping a scoop into the sand, plus they like to float off and are a general PIA. Cloth "TEVA" sandals are better, but the cloth straps are really bad about collecting fragments of coral, shell and sand which then grind on your feet and ankles like sandpaper. All sandals still leave you open to cuts on toes and feet.
3, tennis shoes, better than sandals but the fact they are open at the ankle means sand, shells, coral, etc will continually get inside forcing you to periodically stop and empty them out. Shoes weren't meant for surf and they will break down a lot faster than on land.
4, dive boots. They have hard soles so you don't have to fear stepping on things in the water (stingrays not included). They are close-fitting around the top to keep out the vast majority of sand, etc. Yes, you will still get some in but I have never had enough to be a bother. The height plus zipper means they are staying put and you don't have to fear them accidentally coming off. they were made for a marine environment and will last a long time in the surf.

the down sides of scuba boots, yes, you will get sand in the zipper and may have to work it a few times to get open, but I have never had a pair I couldn't open and I have never broken a zipper either. Just stick a garden hose in the zipper base and inside the boot to wash out sand after each hunt. Neoprene WILL stink (especially boots) if left wet. I recommend leaving them to drain in a well ventilated spot, out of direct sunlight. If you forget and leave them in the trunk of your car, you probably wont do it twice. An occasional soak in an enzyme like "sink-the-stink" helps too. A good pair of scuba boots aren't cheap, but you do get what you pay for. Buy a no-name, cheap neoprene boot and you might as well buy a dozen. Buy quality once, or cheap over and over again.

 

[jeepGold]

I wash mine w a hose EVERY time I get home as well as all my equipment. It's an understatement about them stinking
And if u leave them in your car? Yuck

 

[sandswimmer]

Have used these, same pair, for a couple years now. Bought on sale they were $44
NeoSport Wetsuits 5mm Hard Sole Boot - FREE Shipping & Exchanges | Shoebuy.com

 

[rsc]

check out the NRS ATB wetshoe. hard sole , high top , great support. wear a thin pair of socks with them.
DO rinse them out after every use. NOW ON SALE @ 20% off.
Like Casper said you get what you pay for. After 3 years, I am considering a new pair. HH Gayle