Least Favorite Piece of Equipment

[The Chairman]

Booties. They stink and never dry.

I stopped using booties years ago. I dive OTBs (Over the Beach) boots that were designed for Navy Seals. They drain immediately and get fairly dry within the hour. If you want thermal protection with them, wear a neoprene sock. I'm about to try a new boot by Soft Science. I'll let you know in the next week or so, but so far I like them on dry land:

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

I stopped using booties years ago. I dive OTBs (Over the Beach) boots that were designed for Navy Seals. They drain immediately and get fairly dry within the hour. If you want thermal protection with them, wear a neoprene sock. I'm about to try a new boot by Soft Science. I'll let you know in the next week or so, but so far I like them on dry land:

View attachment 405749​

I wonder how well these would work in the cold California waters? I despise my booties as well. Maybe get a thick neoprene sock to help stay warm.

 

[wildbill9]

For us it would be that pesky airline ticket home, have come to hate it and wish we could leave it behind.

 

[FinnMom]

A least favorite piece of equipment would also be a wet, cold wetsuit, donned on an open deck in a stiff, chilly wind.

 

[Sam Miller III]

I wonder how well these would work in the cold California waters? I despise my booties as well. Maybe get a thick neoprene sock to help stay warm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hombre

After WW11 prior JYC and his bubble machine invasion SoCal divers purchased WW11 surplus tennis shoes at 50 cents a pair from DoBoys war surplus in Bellflower to use with Churchill's and Bud Browns duck feet

A short time later Paley's War Surplus in LA received a huge supply of WW 11 "Coral Boots" which were sold for about the same price. They were made of white duck canvas, had drain holes and a enclosed sewn tongue.

The only drawback was a very slick smooth actually slick composition sole
.
But we used them-- with a reasonable about of success- in those halcyon days we didn't know the word dry or warm

Might try for a huge pair of tennis shoes with several layers of wool socks.

Good luck
sdm

 

[ronscuba]

Interesting about these boots with drain holes. Sounds like a great thing for land/sea military.

I wonder, how well would standard scuba boots or chuck taylors work if you drilled drain holes in them ?

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hombre

After WW11 prior JYC and his bubble machine invasion SoCal divers purchased WW11 surplus tennis shoes at 50 cents a pair from DoBoys war surplus in Bellflower to use with Churchill's and Bud Browns duck feet

A short time later Paley's War Surplus in LA received a huge supply of WW 11 "Coral Boots" which were sold for about the same price. They were made of white duck canvas, had drain holes and a enclosed sewn tongue.

The only drawback was a very slick smooth actually slick composition sole
.
But we used them-- with a reasonable about of success- in those halcyon days we didn't know the word dry or warm

Might try for a huge pair of tennis shoes with several layers of wool socks.

Good luck
sdm

Sam I love when I see you comment because I know I am about to get a history lesson!! Thank you for sharing more of the SoCal dive story and history.

Interesting about these boots with drain holes. Sounds like a great thing for land/sea military.

I wonder, how well would standard scuba boots or chuck taylors work if you drilled drain holes in them ?

I know one of my instructors dives his dry suit wearing Chucks.

 

[Ojai Diver]

honey holes

I learn something new everyday on ScubaBoard.

 

[Sam Miller III]

PunkabillyTurk

Many of my posts represent the history of SoCal diving --Not diving in US which was a good generation or more in the future

After WW 11 early 1950s diving was basically confined to the US west coast LA, OC and SD counties-with a smattering of warm water vacation divers in eastern US-

SoCal was blessed with warn water (?) clear water and abundant game.
and an abundance adventuresome of athletic sun tanned youths.

sdm

 

[The Chairman]

I wonder how well these would work in the cold California waters? I despise my booties as well. Maybe get a thick neoprene sock to help stay warm.

They work great with a drysuit and thick socks, so why not?