Which footwear ?

[Coops]

Hello Lads,

I\'m looking for a new pair of boots as I had a session on Sunday morning - 6am - 12 noon - and my feet were like blocks of ice ! With my flotation suit I currently wear a pair of army boots and a couple of pairs of thermal socks but I was thinking there must be something better !

I intend to fish a lot more rock marks this winter (and possibly the odd beach) so a good grip is needed - but warmth is the main requirement.

What do you lads use / would recommend ?

Cheers,

Coops

[BIGGRON]

T RY RIGGER BOOTS

[Ant]

I\'ve a pair of Columbia Bugabootoo(?) and they\'re meant to keep your feet warm down to -32. Got to be said even when I\'ve got my feet wet in them, after the initial chill they\'ve warm straight back up. I think they\'re bout £70 in normal sizes, not like my 14\'s.

[fishydad]

I bought a pair of the Shakespeare thermal boots form a sale leaflet fromBennets of Sheffield and they are fantastic. Fished for 10 hours yesterday, Sunday, with temperatures below zero off the South Gare and my feet were as warm a toast. They are a bit cumbersome but at less than £30 were a bargain. I also bought a 2 piece thermal suit from the same leaflet and, again at below £30 is brill

[Ell]

got the same beeyuts as Ant, must agree very warm (thinsulate lining) but not so sure about the grip on wet rocks?

[adam.meadows]

try the sundridge moon boot type,i got some last year and havnt got any complaints

[mark]

Got to say that the pair of german paraboots I bought 12 years ago are the best boots I have ever owned. I still buy boots, but they just don\'t last. so I go back to the old faithfulls. Fresh coat of dubbin every year or so and they are still waterproof. you have to go in over the top of the boot before any water gets in, they seem totally impervious to salt and are always grippy even on the slippiest of rocks - all for 12 quid in an ex army store. the only addition I made was a pair of thermal insoles. Not the most glamourous choice, but I\'d be hard pressed to swap em for owt else

[TC]

Coops,
You don\'t say if it\'s a 1 or 2 piece float suit you have.
If you\'ve got a 2 piece - ever thought of getting a pair of neoprene chesties for the rock marks and wearing just the floatation jacket?
I got a pair of Snowbee neoprene chesties last Christmas and they are BRILLIANT. No fear of getting cold feet with them on - even standing thigh deep in the North Sea in January.
If it\'s a 1 piece suit you have - my son, Ian, got a pair of Derri Boots last year and they are excellent for keeping ya feet warm. They come as a fleecey, felt inner with a fully waterproof (welly) type outer boot - good grip on them, too.

[Edited on 24/11/2003 by TC]

[MikeR]

These are what I wear:

http://www.altitude-sports.com/Products.htm?ID=8251

I used to wear Sundridge Hot Foot Boots but they\'re terrible on the rocks and for walking any distance. You\'ll find on many thermal wellies and boots that the inner thermal sock slides around inside the boot. This means that you have little feal for what your standing on, and if you slip you could find your foot and thermal sock doing one thing and the outer boot doing another. Result could equal a lot of pain...or worse. I tried some Ron thompson field boots but they had a few defects so they went back. Glad really because the sole wasn\'t very stiff and the thermal insert slid around inside the boot.

I ended up replacing them with these Meindl Solden. The sole is nearly as solid as a walking boot with a good tread (which I\'ll be adding tungsten studs to shortly), The rubber bottom is a lot higher quality than normal wellies and is totally waterproof, The upper is water resistant leather with laces which make them dead easy to get on and off and the thermal inner has a solid bottom which stops any movement inside the boot. It also velcro\'s around your foot, again making them easy to get on and off. The result is a great boot for walking long distances or over rocky ground that feels as close as your going to get to a walking boot whilst still being very warm and weather proof. I wear them underneath my Sundridge Arctic suit so they should fit under most flotation suits. They cost £63 from CCC in Sheffield which is very reasonable I think for a quality boot (no I\'m not a salesman and I don\'t get any cut from them! LOL).

[Gwyn]

Coops
I used to use neoprene socks and they were brilliant never had cold feet even in waders whilst even the bait was freezing in the bucket. Ron Thompson are doing neoprene socks and they are under a tenner

Gwyn

[marlin]

I use the Snowbee prestige field boot and they are great for rock fishing. They are spiked and give great grip - even on oily granite.

http://www.snowbee.co.uk/boots.html

Remember not to walk across the laminated floor in them though

[Marky]

Have to disagree with Mike r saying Hotfoots are no good for walking in or rock edging it with.

Had my Hotfoots now 4 years and even though the Inners are well and truly Goosed still keep my feet warm.

As for walking in them used to walk a mile and a half from Middleton pier to my house in them and they never once felt uncomfortable they\"ve also stood the test of time against the long hard slug to Mucky Bay even when the Landslide down to the beach at the top was in place. I\"ve used them on St Mary\"s and all the rock marks round my way and I have no problems with them at all.

If you\"re lucky Coops have a look through the sea angler there\"s certain places doing deals that are throwing in free Hotfoots.


I wouldnt swop mine for anything when it gets baltic on the beach!

[Brashy]

i have a pair of derri boots and there like central heating to your toes! :P

[Coops]

Cheers for all the replies lads ! great advice as ever and much appreciated.

Think I\'ll have a look as suggested in the Sea Angler and see if there\'s any offers on - although I like the sound of the Derri boots or Sundridge moon boot.

Let you\'s know how I get on.

Cheers and Tight Lines.

Coops

[fishydad]

Coops

Try www.bosfish.co.uk and check out their sales lists, sometimes have some crackin bargains

cheers