What are Wetsuit Boots (aka booties)
Wetsuit boots are worn to keep your feet nice and toasty when the water is around 60° F or below. Finding a good pair of booties is critical to having a successful surf session because you want to be able to have good board feel.
How do you find a good pair of booties
Probably the most important factor for finding a good pair of booties is making sure you get the right size and fit. Everyone has different sizes and shapes of feet, so just because your buddy swears by a certain pair of booties does not mean they’re going to work for you.
As a baseline, you should try on booties true to size or even a half size to one size down. Just like wetsuits, booties are going to stretch a bit, so don’t be afraid if they feel a little tight when you try them on. The best thing to do is go to your local surf shop and try on a few different pairs of booties until you find a pair that is a winner for you.
bootie thickness breakdown
Booties normally come in a handful of different thicknesses ranging from 3 mm to 7mm. Here is a quick breakdown on which booties to wear depending on water temperature:
- 3 mm (~55-60° F)
- 5 mm (~45-55° F)
- 7 mm (below 45° F)
A lot of these ranges depend on the quality of booties you get and your tolerance for the cold. Some higher-end booties are going to allow you to surf in colder temperatures that may need a thicker pair of lower-end booties.