Dry suit feet, latex socks or ankle seals, footwear, wellies,thick socks

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FairweatherDave

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I haven't used my drysuit much over perhaps the ten years I have had it. The idea is for dinghy sailing and kayaking. Protection against accidental winter immersion rather than routine capsizeing. But I have not settled on the best solution for my feet.
I believe the latex doesn't last forever and I have finally glued on new drysuit latex socks so I am back to a functioning suit.
However if I had to chose a new suit I think I would go for one with ankle seals so I could wear anything and not worry about the vulnerable latex.
What do others do about keeping their feet warm in a drysuit and protecting the latex? Cheers for any pointers.
 
Put a thin pair of socks on over the dry suit socks before you put on your boots or shoes. It makes it easier to put your footwear on on and off and so you do not pull to hard on the latex. Also, work the dry suit socks over your feet gently, rather than just pulling on the trouser leg, as one of the most common failure points is the end of the join between the dry-suit leg and the sock.

My next week's task is to repair my wife's dry-suit socks that have failed at the place.
 
I much prefer enclosed feet of one kind or another as they allow me to wear nice thick normal socks underneath and so keep my feet warm, and not have any worries about leaks. I admit I've never used ankle seals, but the only advantage I can see to them is if you're doing something like surfing where maximum contact and "feel" through your feet is important. When I used to dive my suit had full welly-type rubber boots attached, the ex-Navy RIB suit I have now has latex socks which I believe the Navy wear ordinary combat boots over.

I'm not sure where your concern about damaging the latex during use comes from - surely any kind of boots or shoes that might damage it would also be tearing up the skin if worn normally? I started with a pair of Green Flash type plimsoles, then upgraded to some cheap "water rescue" boots which turned out to have overly slippery soles, and finally settled on a pair of proper diver's "rock boots" designed for this purpose. None of them has shown any signs of damaging the latex.

Pete
 
thinwater said:
The socks can be made from the same material as the suit. Mine are. Then you can use any shoes (one size larger) and have warm, dry feet. Durable if you stay off rocks. I would never get latex feet in a sailing drysuit.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3uE67QkIikE/VLEr0ZK-4tI/AAAAAAAAHlc/ZJqFO55pVOU/s1600/heat-donning-sequence.gif

Bare foot suits are ONLY for surfing, IMO.
Click to expand...

I have a Typhoon suit like this.
Plus neoprene wrist and neck seals, no latex to worry about.
 
Thanks folks
I reckon thin socks inside the latex and then more long socks over the outside before oversized trainers.
My main use this winter is paddling the kayak out to my swinging mooring, as I have taken the tender home from the chains so I don't have to keep driving over to check it hasn't filled with water.
 
I’ve had quite a few dry suits over the years but mostly as dive suits. I don’t really like neoprene suits, crushed or otherwise. Membrane suits are the most comfortable. Integral boots are best, wear Thinsulate over-socks for warmth. I have a Crewsaver dinghy dry suit with floppy latex boots. I wear Thinsulate over-socks for warmth. To protect the latex and provide grip I put a pair of socks over the latex, then a pair of neoprene wet boots. Feet stay toastie warm.
 
My kayak drysuit by palm has fabric cordura socks which are way better than latex. They've lasted 10 years so far. On my diving srysuit I've had actual wellies attached permanently.
 
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