Booties - really?

[Matteo V]

Agree iriejohn, it is utterly bullocks and only Matteo V's own way and nothing but that.

C'mon see the full picture instead of pushing your own sometimes very odd behavior onto everybody else.

Speak for yourself instead, thanks.

We are all different and has different riding spots and preferences, and many choose different than you.

Got nothing to do with being cool or not, that's for sure

Peter

I kite a few pristine beaches as well. And most other kiters do go without booties there, though some like me do still use them. Thinking about this, there is a 5th reason to always wear booties:

5. Consistency

If one day I kite at a dirty beach, then the next at a pristine beach, I have to change my straps to account for booties vs bare feet. And as the distance from the bottom of my foot to the planning surface changes, that lever arm becomes a variable from one location to another. Given that small changes in geometry can throw you off even more than large ones, well in regards to performance, eliminating variables increases performance.

[GetHighOrDieTrying]

i really hated booties. couldn't feel the board at all (TT and foil). now riding these french ATAN surf boots since last season and they make all the difference in the feeling for me. i use their 6mm for winter but they feel thinner and better than other 3mm i had. their secret is they use latex instead of regular rubber/plastic. also like that they are handmade. they are a small specialized business vs far east mass production of the large surf brands.

[knyfe]

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. I will try the flipflop thing to see if it really was the short walk which makes the sole give up quickly. Next time I invest in scuba booties or some of the stiffer ones suggested here.

Still I am surprised that I am kind of the only one going through booties like nothing. Even my running shoes last forever in comparison ... G

[Slappysan]

from car to the spot is a 2 -3 min walk.

I get oversized cheap dollar store crocs (buy them in fall when stores clear them out) and wear them over my booties (even my 7mm booties I wear all winter) and then only take them off when I'm about to head out. I get about 2 years out of Xcel booties this way.

[iriejohn]

i really hated booties. couldn't feel the board at all (TT and foil). now riding these french ATAN surf boots since last season and they make all the difference in the feeling for me. i use their 6mm for winter but they feel thinner and better than other 3mm i had. their secret is they use latex instead of regular rubber/plastic. also like that they are handmade. they are a small specialized business vs far east mass production of the large surf brands.

3mm Atan Mistral boots are what I wear in spring and autumn, and in winter instead of thicker boots I wear thin neoprene socks inside the 3mm Atans. When warm enough I have bare feet.

[McLovin]

+1 to Slappy's cheap CROC extra big, fits perfect over your booty and makes any walk a breeze...

They really should sell them as a package. Once you CROC it you will NEVER go back...



Mc

[Breze]

I also do the oversize CROCSHOW since autumn. The 5 min stoney walk to the spot & standing on very cold ground is a real game changer with them.

[jumptheshark]

Some of you guys must leave a real pile of stuff at the launch!

[jumptheshark]

I ride some pretty rough coastline spots with challenging entry and exits.

Am someone who would love to ride barefoot and do at beaches or similar easy spots when the temps allow. Am in Canada, so booties and gloves are a necessity in the early and super late season. I ditch gloves as soon as humanly possible! Have never been a fan of booties for riding strapless. Appreciate the warmth and even the protection over rocks and shells, but there is way too much foot slide within the bootie to ever really feel a decent connection with the board. Currently foil in full on skate shoes designed for water. Adidas Terrex water shoes to be exact. Mated to a near perfectly flat deck with skate style grip, they are basically like having a nice comfy footbed wherever you choose to plant your feet. I find the board feel to be far more direct than the stretchy cushy nature of booties. Also appreciate the ability to wear different weight neo socks and generally no socks at all in summer. As an aside, they are also just way better for walking than booties so the trek from the car to launch is much nicer on the feet.

[Peter_Frank]

the topic has been cleaned up, pls stay on topic. Rest will be deleted.

Thanks
Toby