New drysuit owner have question?

[double125's]

My new drysuit arrived yesterday and I got the neck seal trimmed and the wrist seals seam to be fine. The suit fits pretty good for a off the rack model. It is a bare next gen that I ordered from canada (and they are real slow up there, I ordered it on 30 May and they called me on 11 Jun because they were getting ready to order it and lost my size.)
Now that I set the stage it is time for the question..... On the nex gen model they come with a 4mm neoprene sock built into the suit and you buy the boots seperate. Is it a bad ideal to dive the suit without the boots? will it put excessive wear on the suit? If I do opt for the boots will I need to change out my fins? How does the size of drysuit boot compare to regular shoes(same size, size or two larger?) Any help would be greatly asppreciated. BTW if you want to see the suit it is posted on my website. Thanks in advance.

 

[Dryglove]

You could do like my buddy and go buy a pair of Chuck Yeger hi top shoes in black with flames. They are made of canvas and have held up great so far.

I would think the booties would wear quickly with no protection for them. I wear a size XXL boots and have to use turtles. I also have a set of LL apollo fins and they just barely fit. My Trek boots are the same size as the 4mm booties.

 

[double125's]

Thanks I got back from taking it for a test dive and I wore aqua socks over them and it worked fine. I did feet up drills and played with adding air and dumping it. It is very easy to want to use it as a bc but I see there are some major advantages to using very little air in the suit. As mentioned in my first post it is a little baggie because it is a stock suit and likes to shift air real easy so if you use to much air it just creates pockets which are ackward.
Todays dive was strictly training and I maxed at 33 feet. I practiced mask clearing, mask removal, swimming maskless, and did some valve drills to ensure the suit was not going to hender me in any way. If any one has any advice on drysuits they want to share I am all ears. Any more drills I need to worry about or any other hazards specific to drysuits.

 

[ScubaCrossing]

I would purchase the boots, not knowing where you will be diving, if you do alot of beach entries stingrays in the shallows can be a problem if you step on one and puncture your dry suit sock, and not to mention your foot.

 

[bwerb]

Bare is just a short drive from me...they called us a week after placing our order wanting to know on the size thing...hmmm I'd suggest you read the sheet which was sent in attached to the order with all the measurements you say you do have already...I digress...

Anyhow, someone suggested that a standard high-top wetsuit boot would fit over the neoprene sock if you don't want to go with a hard soled rock-boot.

One more suggestion...P-valve...gotta get a P-valve, best investment ever!

Brian

 

[DIR Tec Diver]

Definitely get a P Valve =) soooooo worth it

 

[JDostal]

As far as the boot sizing....

I know that if you buy the Trek boots from Bare, the boot size corresponds to the size of your soft boot - IE, if you have a size XL soft boot you should get the XL Trek Boot. Not sure if that helps you at all....I opted for the vulcanized 7mm neoprene Bare boots on my suit.