rock boot alternatives ...

[MXGratefulDiver]

I recently replaced my DUI rock boots with a pair of these ...

http://www.watermark1.com/products.php?productid=SRB

... and I really like 'em.

They're cheaper than rock boots, easier to get into and out of, somewhat warmer (slight vs not at all), and look like they'll last longer (I go through 3 or 4 pairs of rock boots a year).

I wear a size 9 rock boot. Got these in a size 11 and they fit perfectly ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MSilvia]

Cool. I'll have to consider a pair when I wear out my All-Stars.

 

[CompuDude]

I've been talking to a lot of divers lately who have opted for hardsole booties over their drysuit socks rather than rock boots. Cheaper, smaller, less hassle, have at least some inherent insulation, and can sometimes allow the same fins to be worn with both wet and dry suits, rather than needing bigger fins for the rock boots.

Personally, I'm happy with the built-in boots on my USIA drysuit and am enjoying not having to deal with the issues at all. Kinda dreading my inevitable upgrade and having to deal with the issue, frankly...

 

[piikki]

Hey Bob you do quite a lot of shore entries - how have you found the soles on these boots? Grippy, thick enough? Less support than with Rockboots?

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Hey Bob you do quite a lot of shore entries - how have you found the soles on these boots? Grippy, thick enough? Less support than with Rockboots?

The soles are much thicker, and more supportive. They are wet boots, however, and the 3 mm neoprene does stretch a bit when you're walking over rocks. But I haven't found that to be an impediment ... just that it feels a bit different than rock boots when you put sideways pressure on your foot.

I walked over some rocks with them last night and was pretty pleased with how supportive they were.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Mo2vation]

Do your fins still fit OK?

---
Ken

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Do your fins still fit OK?

---
Ken

Yes ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Cheekymonkey]

I like the idea of the rockboots but I am a hater of the strings for tightening it. I ditched the laces and switched to stitches on velcro, much easier to keep from getting tangled in.

 

[Featherstar]

Bob,

How did you figure your size with these?

 

[ccohn2000]

Those look nice. I had wet suit booties with zippers for awhile and liked them fine, except the zipper kept unzipping which was annoying. Yours are lower on the ankle so maybe the zipper will stay zipped? I switched to converse all stars and have been happy ever since. They fit my fins much better than the rock boots, and the sole is nice and firm. They're not as warm as the wet suit booties though.