In 2022, the wetsuit market will be worth almost $300 million, with most of the people using wetsuits for surfing.
Wetsuits are essential to regulating your body temperature when you are spending a significant amount of time in open water. But there are certain temperatures (and other instances!) that you should wear wetsuit boots in, too.
And if you’ve never worn wetsuit boots surfing or for another water sport, you might not know anything about them. So, here are some key facts you need to know!
They Protect Your Feet From Harm
One of the main reasons to wear wetsuit boots is to keep your feet insulated in cold water temperatures. But there are other reasons why you should wear wetsuit boots.
First, they stop you from cutting your feet on rocks, shells, and litter on the seabed or walking to/from the sea. And second, they protect you from stinging sea life which can be a real concern depending on where you live.
There Are Different Types of Wetsuit Boots
Not all wetsuit boots are the same or have the same quality. Neoprene wetsuit boots are the best wetsuit boots because this is the same material as most wetsuits.
They also come in three different levels of thickness depending on the temperatures of the sea. Here is a guide to which thickness you should choose for your needs:
- 3mm = 45 – 50°F
- 5mm = 40 – 45°F
- 7mm = 32 – 38°F
If you’re unsure, always choose a thicker material. You can also pick between round-toe, split-toe, and internal split-toe boots.
Round-toe boots fit like a normal shoe or sock. The split-toe options have a section for your big toe but internal split-toe boots look like round-toe boots from the outside. You can look at a shop here to see the difference.
Wetsuit Boots Should Fit Snug
You need to size up some shoes, like hiking boots for example, but the opposite is true for wetsuit boots. You might need to wear a size down. They should fit snug so they don’t let water in but not so snug they cut off your circulation.
They Can Smell (But You Can Fix That!)
Choose wetsuit boots with anti-microbial technology in the neoprene if you want to know how to stop wetsuit boots from smelling.
But if you already have wetsuit boots and they don’t have this technology, stuff them with newspaper and hang them upside down to air out. Never put them in a washing machine or dryer.
Wear Them Underneath Your Wetsuit
If you don’t know how to put on wetsuit boots, the answer is simple. Roll up the ankles of your wetsuit, roll on your boots, and roll your wetsuit over the top of your boots. This will allow water to escape over the top of your boots and not in them.
Don’t Forget These Key Facts About Wetsuit Boots
If you love water sports, you might need to wear wetsuit boots from time to time so you must learn about them. And now, you know the best ones to buy, how to wear them, and how to take care of them, too!
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