Boot pain made me bid a reluctant farewell to skiing a couple of decades ago. It's become a lot less reluctant now that a) I moved from Los Angeles to Chicago so the thought of going someplace even colder and snowier for a vacation is not so attractive and b) the cost of lift tickets has risen so much that a dive vacation actually costs less than a ski vacation.
What is your favorite shoe for scuba, and why are they Crocs?
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I wore (out) a pair of those in a week in Curacao. They worked nicely with my ForceFins...If we are looking at pre and post dive, then I'm wearing one of the multitude of Amazon cheap Chinese minimalist sneakers with strange names such as these Oranginers.
I will wear a neoprene sock in them for the sand of shore diving...
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I wear sturdy, back strap, sandals also. I want something stable and slip resistant around the docks, up and down the ramps, boarding and deboarding, especially with gear or tanks. Flip flops/beach walker sandals are the worst. I wore a pair of Crocs once and found them less stable and more slippery.
If I wear them every day, I get around 4 months out of a pair before I wear through them. But that's also how long $150 minimalist shoes like vivobarefoots used to last me before I switched to these $35 versions.
Speaking of vivobarefoot. The Ultra, their croc alternative, is really nice. Way less chunky and more secure than crocs but still foam so light, airy and comfortable. The drawbacks are that they are expensive and often unavailable.
Edit: but don't wear them on a beach. Sand pours in through the holes and can't get out so you immediately end up with 5mm of sand between your foot and the footbed.
$118.00 USD!!!!!!! OUCH!If I wear them every day, I get around 4 months out of a pair before I wear through them. But that's also how long $150 minimalist shoes like vivobarefoots used to last me before I switched to these $35 versions.
Speaking of vivobarefoot. The Ultra, their croc alternative, is really nice. Way less chunky and more secure than crocs but still foam so light, airy and comfortable. The drawbacks are that they are expensive and often unavailable.
drrich2
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Once the bottom of the soles wear smooth, Crocs can be dangerously slick on smooth services. I was warned by a family friend about that, I know a family physician who had an issue with it, and some years back I...know somebody who...was walking on a very slight inclined sidewalk (so not smooth) after rain, his foot slipped out from under him, he fell and jammed his back badly, and had chronic pain issues for awhile after that.
So, if you like Crocs (and yes, I have a pair), pay attention to the bottoms, and if you wear them even after they get smooth (like one of those cheap people would do), seriously consider something else if the ground's wet.
I only use dive boots for my fins and diving.
Richard.
I'll go against the grain... there are zero pros to crocs and Hey Dudes rock. Most comfortable shoe ever.
Just as light as crocs, not as hot, will float, and look more fashionable (imo).
Like $35
Just as light as crocs, not as hot, will float, and look more fashionable (imo).
Like $35
Having lost serial toenails and broken a few toes over the years -- exclusively to folks dropping tanks -- it's steel-toed Redback boots for me, on boats. The last tank incident, a full 100 cf, bounced right-off. My current pair, still in decent shape, date from around 2016-17.
Crocs just won't cut it . . .
Crocs just won't cut it . . .
I know. IMO, they are not durable enough to be worth that price.
FWIW, they were $80 when they first came out in 2012. But I bought several pairs over the years from liquidators for as low as $25 starting in 2013. Vivobarefoot operates like a fashion brand, they change the style of their shoes pretty often. Before they figured out their US online store they would dump unsold stock to places like 6pm.com or leftlanesports and you could get them really cheap.
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