Wear booties all the time. You have much better grip and your feet are protected from rocks and urchins and stuff. In summer you can walk across hot sand without burning your feet.
I have found anything like these to be the best:
All the main brands have something similar.
- 3mm is warm enough for all year round use in Vic.
- the low cut ankle is low enough that they dry out and high enough that sand and shells and stuff don't splash in and you can tuck in your wetsuit ankles to stop ballooning.
- avoid external split toes because they tear in the joint between the toes. An internal big toe divider is ok.
- avoid mesh sides and drain holes and very low cut ankles. They let in sand and shells and it hurts.
- avoid high cut ankles. They don't dry in winter and it looks like you are wearing black socks in summer with shorts.
- the grip with booties is far superior to bare feet or wax. I ride my surf SUP all year round with booties and no deck pad or wax.
- the lack of feeling thing is BS. I gybe and ride strapless and everything with booties all year round. I do fine.
- go for a snug fit but not too tight. Too loose and your feet get wedged into the boot and that stops circulation. It hurts and makes your foot cold. Too tight and you squash your big toe.
- the draw string is important to snug the boots around your ankle to keep the wettie tucked in and sand and stuff out.
- the Velcro strap high on the instep is fine. It doesn't foul the foot strap. Avoid a strap lower down near the front of the foot.
- if you walk into the water in a shore break with a gutter, you need to pick your feet up as the wave hits. If you don't then shells will get pushed inside your boots. Nothing hurts more than having a sharp bit of shell between your toes.
