Keeping my feet warm?

[WetSEAL]

Currently diving in temps a little under 50 degrees, but I want to be able to dive comfortably in even colder water. I'm wearing a 7mm semidry, with 7mm gloves, and feel warm enough. On my feet, I'm wearing Deep Sea 5mm Echozip and they get uncomfortably cold.

What is the best option for keeping my feet warm? Perhaps a good semidry boot? Is there a particular boot that would work a lot better, or should I just wear wool / lycra / neoprene socks underneath?

 

[Marie13]

Neoprene socks under you boots really do help.

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

https://www.makospearguns.com/Yamamoto-Freedive-Socks-3mm-5mm-High-Cut-p/myfs.htm

 

[Rred]

I have 1/4" (7mm) booties. But the way your body works, is that it shuts down blood flow to your peripherals in order to keep your core warm. So putting on a thicker hood, or adding a vest, or going to a full farmer john, will all conserve body heat--and that will also keep your feet warmer. If your body is losing heat, and you just put on thicker booties? Your body will still shut down blood flow to your feet, they may still feel cold.

And the reason Jacque Cousteau always wore a red wool knit cap? Surprise, it keeps your head slightly warmer in the water, and very much warmer when you surface, which helps the body push heat back into your extremities. (Wool, not polyester.)

 

[MAKO Spearguns]

Yes keeping the head warm is always smart
When diving. I think it also helps to make
Equalization easier as well.

 

[WetSEAL]

I understand that if my head is cold, my body is going to divert heat from the extremities to keep my critical parts warm...but my head and rest of my body all feel warm and toasty in my 7mm one-piece semidry suit, so I think my feet are just cold because the thermal protection on my feet is so much thinner than anywhere else on my body.

Turns out I had a pair of 100% waterproof Sealskin(tm) socks laying around, which contain an inner layer of merino wool, which I will try using next weekend and hopefully see if that makes a difference. I will post back to let you know

 

[lowviz]

Is your footwear loose enough to allow easy water transfer? I used to do a lot of whitewater rafting and the trick was to put a bunch of plastic bags over your feet before putting on the ill-fitting rental booties.

I think that Dano gave you a great suggestion, those 'high-cuts' look like the thing. I'll bet they are high cut for a reason. I might just be needing a pair myself...

Full disclosure: Never met Dano, have no connection with him or his offerings whatsoever. I do own some of his products and remain impressed with them.

 

[stuartv]

I got some ScubaPro HD 6.5mm boots with their DiamondSpan lining last Fall. They are really warm. If just adding your socks doesn't help, I would go with warmer boots.