Footwear for Florida beach hunting

[occy]

What do you guys wear? I have been going barefoot in the warm months but at the end of the day my feet hurt from digging and just walking. I have found enough gold now that I guess I don't care what I look like anymore. Considering a pair of those water-sock things, just wondering if they are comfortable and keep the small sharp shells out?
Cold days I wear boots or wetsuit boots and they do fine.

 

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[SusanMN]

I hunt freshwater beaches here in Minnesota and always wear water shoes, since there is everything from fish hooks to cans in the water. You can find some with fairly thick rubber soles that protect your feet pretty good. My experience is that they don't last much longer than a season or two before the insoles get loose and they get full of sand, so I don't pay too much for them.

 

[GMD52]

Water shoes are fine, here on the Lake I wear those canvas slip on shoes similar to sneakers. They have a sturdy sole for protection from sharp rocks and the ever present zebra mussels. Bought at Wally world for under 10 dollars.

 

[Beach Papa]

I can't seem to toughen my feet enough to go barefoot all day on the beach, and pushing the slippery SS scoop into the sand with bare feet seems dangerous to me. Maybe I am accident prone. Anyway, I use to wear thin flexible surf booties and after a long day of detecting, the right side of my right foot was sore. My wife broke that bone on her foot and had to have surgery and a screw put in. It turns out the 5th metatarsal is the most vulnerable of your foot bones and most prone to breaking. My doctor advised that I get beach boots with more foot support, so I got a pair of "Stealth dive boots". They work great and give good support, summer and winter. I know I get strange looks in the summer but I am not there for a beauty contest. They cost about $60 on the internet from Leisure Pro. HH, Papa

 

[s1u2r3f4]

So far, I either barefoot it or use some thrift store sneakers. Where have you been hunting in St. Auggie?

 

[Buzzlitebeer]

I use a MERRELL shoe. I know its pricey but if you rinse it after being in the salt it will last!!

Barefoot Water Torrent Glove - Men's - Barefoot Shoes - J41061 | Merrell

 

[bigscoop]

Barefoot when the water is warm, high top zipper booties when the water is cold. Sometimes I'll wear a pair of sheap strap-on sandals if I think I'm going to be hunting the pressing a lot on the scoop in harder sand.

 

[ron lord]

I use Dive Boots with hard souls. They are good to keep the Stingray out of your feet.

 

[Talon]

You could give these guys a try. Vibram FiveFingers : Barefoot Sports Shoes : Toe Shoes & Minimalist Shoes

But I personally just wear water shoes, though my beaches aren't as large as those in Florida. I like to have protection for my feet when pushing the scoop in.

 

[Sandscoopdan]

I wear Lycra socks with scuba boots. I got the Lycra socks at Sea Sport Scuba for about $7. It really helps with leverage on the stealth 720i scoop.

 

[dewcon4414]

I also use high top hard bottom dive shoes. In the water here in Fl you dont want to cut your feet..... hard telling what you might get. Lot of red tide in the sand, critters, fishing stuff, and sewage pumped out there.

Dew

 

[Native Floridian]

Stingrays are a concern in the water. Wear shoes and shuffle your feet.

I too wear scuba boots with a hard sole.

 

[Sandscoopdan]

I also use a pair of 3mil neoprene gloves. Helps in the surf

 

[matrix master DBA]

I use any cheap tennis shoe. Something to protect my feet from the s~scoop

 

[cntrydncr1]

dive boots

 

[search and recovery]

I use a Neo Sport dive not when cooler and a wading shoe with arch supports glued in during the summer. I am just too flat footed for a long day of hunting on the wet sand without good shoes.

 

[search and recovery]

I use a Neo Sport dive boots when cooler and a wading shoe with arch supports glued in during the summer. I am just too flat footed for a long day of hunting on the wet sand without good shoes.

 

[bocaratonmatt78]

ScubaPro Delta short 3 boots are amazing if you don't mind the $40 price tag :-)

 

[JC Florida]

Water shoes are pretty good against everything but sting rays. Shuffle your feet in the water and you should be fine. I kick up one or two on just about every trip to the east coast

 

[adamBomb]

I wear these neoprene boots in the winter - World Wide Sportsman Flats Boots for Men | Bass Pro Shops: The Best Hunting, Fishing, Camping & Outdoor Gear

I wear crocs in the summer.

Any kind of neoprene boot/shoe works great on the beach and water. Crocs are great on the beach but not in the shallow water. Dont ever wear waders or anything that fills with water in the water. I also have several neoprene boots that I use for surfing.