surf shoes not boots?

[thaya]

i've searched through past topics but can't find much info on this...

I think I want some surf shoes rather than boots as they will be easier to pull off with my bad shoulder. yesterday i had real difficulty getting my boots off

but, I want ones that are 5mil for the winter, preferably with a split toe. my local surf shop says they don't do any shoes that thick and that I wouldn't be able to surf as well because there would be less of a grip and I wouldn' feel the board. I'm not sure????????

So, your advice is needed!

Should I buy 3mil shoes (which I might freeze in come february)

or should I search around somewhere else for 5mil shoes (which might be harder to surf in?)

or should I just stick with my boots which I can't get off (especially not after more surgery on my shoulder tomorrow) and which don't even feel like you're wearing boots cuz you still feel all the pebbles and sharp stones?

any advice appreciated!

[brummie]

tbh i dont think the shoes will make a difference, if any they will be worse. I bought some in NZ for $10 and they were really tight, went surfing down croyde and they kept falling off when i was pushing myself up.
is there a possibilty of a boot with zips on them that may be available and easier for you to put on?

[essex sucks]

i had a look they do do boots with zips but can only find them in 3mm i tryed sorry thaya

[Sar]

just stick with what you've got Thaya and get some lacky to pull the boots off for you

I do know what you mean though, complete bugger to get off with freezing cold hands and surfed out muscles never mind the dodgy shoulder! You could just drive home wearing them with the heat on in the footwells instead - done that a few times.

[drowningbitbybit]

Aren't the shoes (also known as reef boots) for walking across reefs, rocks and spikey stuff?

They dont give a lot of warmth, and hence not a lot of point in having them 5mm thick.

And, yes, you'd freeze come february in reef boots.

I'll be in boardshorts in february.

[Katza8uk]

diving boots maybe?? or would they be a bit bulky?

my mate has these, but he uses them for diving so dont know

http://www.simplyscuba.com/ProductDetai ... ockID=1605

[Tallows]

Remember that boots you find hard to get off are also boots that will not come off easily in heavier surf, whereas boots that are easy to take off may be more likely to get sucked off mid-session.
Tried a pair of cheap dive-type shoes, first wave up I could barely feel the board beneath me and stacked it. They spent the rest of the session stuffed down the inner lining of my boardies, the lucky bastards.

[surfdownunder]

Hey first things first, dont get shoes as they often are harder on the bootms and it literally makes you feel like you are surfing with shoes on and the guys are right, boots offer more warmth...

[jethrodog]

last time I was in Santa Cruz, Cal. i saw some zip up, 5 mil boots, kind of a cross between dive boots and surf boots. You probably wouldn't feel the board as well as with thinner booties, but if you can't pull them off, then you won't go surfing, so you might as well get the most comfortable, easiest on your shoulder, zip up boots, and be comfortable and have tons of fun surfing everyday.
I saw them in Freeline surf shop and in O'Neal's surf shop. I believe that you can order online from both of them.

[Sillysausage]

not sure about shoes, might get away with it, although i doubt that they will be very warm, when i used to wear them for reef boots in the summer you could feel the water flushing in and out of them

[SDCali]

If you can get the 3mil shoes, see if you can find some neoprene finsocks to provide a bit more insulation, not as easy to put on as the shoes, but easier that trying to put on boots.