5mm boot? Good all around boot?

[Ladyvalea]

Do you think a 5mm tall boot is a good boot for sub tropical temp and mild cold water around 68 degrees? I'm thinking of a thicker taller boot for ankle protection and easy on and off with a zipper...right now I have a shorty 2mm soft sole booty. is 5 mm to hot for summer water of Texas and tropical cozemul?

 

[Doc]

Your feet being over warm is of minor concern.

The point of the exercise is to wear the minimal thermal protection that will get you comfortably through the process. No doubt, you will be comfortable in tropical waters with a 5mil boot, and depending on how your body reacts, maybe it will be okay for you to much colder temps.

But- how do you feel about having your feet float above your butt?

There is no one here or anywhere that can predict how your body will lose heat and what thermal insulation will be required. Nobody. Except you... after multiple tries and logging your results. Nobody but you.

 

[LarryHinDC]

Whatever you end up choosing for thickness, I suggest that you get a boot that has some substance to the sole. You'll really appreciate it if you do any shore diving where the entrance/exit is over rocky beaches or volcanic rocks.

 

[J.R.]

But- how do you feel about having your feet float above your butt?

I dive w/5 mil boots all the time... including the pool... also use TwinJet Max fins (postive floatation)... never noticed any real problems with floaty feet... but I do find "caver finning" marginally easier to do...

 

[cmburch]

5mm may be very warm in the 68F water and uncomfortable out of the water. I use 5mm and 7mm booties for SCUBA Northern California 46-54F. When kayaking, the 5mm is uncomfortable too warm. A 3mm may be better for warmer 68 temps. I use a 3-4mm Argos Xtreme sock now that is very comfortable. For hiking and rocky shores, a good tennis shoe sole type bootie is best.

 

[ligersandtions]

I dive a 3mm boot in 50-60F water all year round. My feet aren't the first thing I notice getting cold....in fact, I hardly notice my extremities at all. Once my core gets cold, the dive is nearing the end. I'm also the kind of person who gets cold fairly easily....it was 65F out last night and I was wearing a sweater and jeans while my hubby was comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt.

I can't say what will be comfortable for you, but I would imagine in 68F water, a 3mm would be plenty....5mm seems like overkill. I second getting a boot with a good sole....and also watch out for those pesky seams running down the front of the boot (I had serious issues with the fin rubbing on the seam, and the seam rubbing on my foot, leaving me with a gnarly scab, and now a scar!).

I know you asked specifically about boots, and not gloves....but if you're considering 5mm gloves, I would strongly recommend AGAINST that. I bought a pair of 5mm gloves for lobster diving, attempted diving with them once, quickly realized that my dexterity was minimized to almost nothing (couldn't get my second glove on....had no chance in the world of operating a bolt snap). Needless to say, I don't use those gloves anymore, and now use a 3mm pair.

 

[DiverBeth]

I use my 5mm boots for everything from tropical down to upper 50s with my 7mm wetsuit. My feet have always been comfy never too hot or too cold but just right.

 

[robint]

yes, 5mm are good all-around booties! I use either 5mm or 7mm booties no matter what the water temp, even 85 degree water I wear them. I usually take both pairs of booties on every dive trip - that way I have dry booties for the night dive.
And I have never come up from a dive and said "geez, my feet got hot on that dive!"


robin

 

[Puffer Fish]

I wear 7mm boots all year round... and heavy fins... I think the design of the boot is more important than the specific thickness. I like the stable hiking boot sort of design... and have my fins setup to fit them...

If you can find a 5mm that you like... go for it.

 

[spectrum]

Up around here we pretty much use 6-7 as a standard and they have been fine for us in warm water as well.

Remember that your deeper fresh water will be darned cold and I predict you will find those sites sooner rather than latter. A thermocline is an amazing thing.

If you go with the 5mm boots to conserve buoyancy on most of your dives you may be able to layer with a 1-2 mm inner neoprene sock on colder dives. The socsk do wonders for us.

Unrelated to thickness get the most rugged sole you can find. your feet will appreciate it when walking on rough surfaces. If you already have fins then you may need to live within their limits...... or upgrade:shocked2:

Pete