Boots Too Tight

[DandyDon]

From what I've gathered here on SB neoperene shrinks with time.

I think that's a joke - for those of us who outgrew earlier wet suits.

 

[spectrum]

I don't know if it actually shrinks. Having trapped gas in a rubber compound that is slightly permeable it's logical for some gas to escape over time and the bubbles shrink and the material to then be smaller.

It will certainly stiffen with age and loose some stretch. I also noticed that my booties stiffened noticably after about 6 weeks on no use. I rinse well but there could also be something going on with salt crystals.

As a last resort you might try soaking them in fresh water. Otherwise as others have said a too tight boot will cause cramping. Better to spend the $30-$40 and be done with it.

Pete

 

[DandyDon]

I've been diving the same pair of cheap booties for 4 years. One was difficult to zip on the trip when a vein in my leg clogged and my leg swelled up so much, but it fits fine again now, even tho I did outgrow my first jumpsuit. :blush:

I don't think neoprene actually shrinks, but I did buy some new, slip on medium cut booties at World Water Sports last month for $15. Like 'em!!

 

[TheYellowSubmarine]

I wonder how many hits on this post there would have been if the title was something like "Tight Booties"...

 

[DiverBuoy]

Hey guys,

Here's my newby question.

I have a pair of Deep Sea boots that I used primarily for exploring tide pools at Bodega Bay, Calif. The question is... can you stretch boots out? For some reason durring the past few years of sitting in a box they seem to have shrunk. My big toe is cramped. Will they strech back out or could I stuff something in them? Will being in the water lossen them up? If anybody else has delt with this (boots shrinking) maybe you know. Is there a way to store them that this won't happen again?

Thanks from a newby.

They will stretch back for sure. I renew old pairs every now and again ... always uncomfortable for the first 2 dives. As mentioned wet them and walk in them, it does work. Of course this only applies if you've stopped growing.

 

[DandyDon]

I wonder how many hits on this post there would have been if the title was something like "Tight Booties"...

It's still slow in the US Scuba world - go ahead and start one....!!

:lol:​

 

[GDCB]

Hey Dandy Don, You may be right about the joke. I weigh the same as 20 years ago but it seems to have moved around a bit.

Carl

 

[webbah]

During my first OW class last night (and first time wearing my new boots) - both my feet lost feeling by the end of class. The guy at the dive shop talked me into buying the smaller boots as the "larger" ones seemed too big? Perhaps I should unzip them - since I have such large calves? Or go to a larger size? Or could it be my fins are too small?

 

[DandyDon]

During my first OW class last night (and first time wearing my new boots) - both my feet lost feeling by the end of class. The guy at the dive shop talked me into buying the smaller boots as the "larger" ones seemed too big? Perhaps I should unzip them - since I have such large calves? Or go to a larger size? Or could it be my fins are too small?

Trade for boots that fit. Lost feeling is a bad sign. You may even need to look into medical possibilities???

 

[webbah]

Trade for boots that fit. Lost feeling is a bad sign. You may even need to look into medical possibilities???

Thanks for the response - pretty sure it's the boots then if not the fins - I seem to have had this problem in the past when trying my luck at ice skating or roller blading and had a size too small.