On my ION Ballistic Boots 3/2 IS the shaft material, ION calls it "hot stuff", is way to stretchy for my feet. That means that water can easily blow up the shaft to the double volume and that my feet can move up inside the boot. The only reason why I'm not loosing the boots when they are filled with water is the tightened ankle strap. But that is not very comfortable and too much water inside is the reason for cold feet.
In my opinion the boots are designed perfectly for trying them in dry conditions in a shop. Because of the very thin and extremely stretching shaft it is very easy to get the feet in and out. But hey, I wanted to use them in the water and not on a catwalk. By the way the shaft seams inside are not stretchy at all and very abrasive.
I wrote this to ION and got the reply that I have to buy one size smaller. That is the third pair of ION-Boots I bought and I had always the same size and not a problem. A friend of mine has one size smaller and I could try them in the water. Because one size smaller is definitely too short for my feet I felt pain right from the beginning in my toes and they are blowing up with water inside almost the same. Normally I wear my boots below the wetsuit to avoid that they fill up with water fast, this way it takes a little longer that water gets inside. On ION pictures they wear the boots over the wetsuit. I have tried this as well and it gets worse!
The Balistic Boots are so stretchy that I can wear easily my old ATAN boots inside (see pictures). Because of the internal split toe I had to cut them in this area.
Anybody else has the same problem and if yes what is your solution?
Which neoprene boots are less wide? I like a tight fit around my feet.