Wetsuit Boots
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Wetsuit Boots for Water Sports
Wetsuit boots are water shoes made from 2–6 mm neoprene with a rubber sole that keep your feet warm in cold water, protect them from rocks, shells and sea urchins, and give you grip on a wet board. Here you will find low-cut summer neoprene shoes, high-cut winter wetsuit boots and soleless neoprene socks for SUP, surfing, kitesurfing, wing foiling, kayaking, snorkelling and swimming.
Your feet are among the first parts of your body to get cold, because they are always in the water or on a wet deck. That makes wetsuit boots the cheapest way to extend your season. They are part of our wetsuits and neoprene range and the natural partner to a full wetsuit.
Which Wetsuit Boots Do You Need?
It comes down to water temperature, wind and how long you spend in the water. The temperatures below are approximate and based on neoprene manufacturers' recommendations. In strong wind, go one step warmer; for SUP, where you spend most of the time above the water, a thinner option is usually enough.
| Water and conditions | What to wear | Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| 21–25 °C, beach, rocks, sea urchins | low-cut neoprene shoes or reef shoes | 1.5–2 mm |
| 18–20 °C, summer SUP, snorkelling | low-cut neoprene shoes or neoprene socks | 2–3 mm |
| 12–17 °C, spring, autumn, rivers and lakes | high-cut boots or neoprene socks | 3–5 mm |
| 8–11 °C, winter SUP, kitesurfing, wing foiling | high-cut wetsuit boots | 5 mm |
| below 8 °C, long sessions in the water | the warmest boots with mixed thickness | 5–6 mm |
Your boots should be at least as thick as your wetsuit. A mixed thickness such as 6/5/4 mm means thicker neoprene where your feet get coldest and thinner neoprene where you need flexibility.
Neoprene Shoes, Wetsuit Boots or Neoprene Socks?
Low-cut shoes are for warm water and protecting your soles, high-cut boots are for the cold, and socks give you the most feel underfoot.
| Low-cut neoprene shoes | High-cut wetsuit boots | Neoprene socks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | to the ankle | above the ankle | to or above the ankle |
| Thickness | 1.5–3 mm | 5–6 mm | 0.5–3 mm |
| Sole | rubber, grippy | rubber, sometimes reinforced | no hard sole |
| Warmth | low | high | medium |
| Board feel | good | depends on sole thickness | the most |
| When | summer, beach, rocks | autumn, winter, cold rivers | SUP and kitesurfing on soft decks, under fins |
Low-cut neoprene shoes (summer)
Thin, ankle-height neoprene shoes are light, dry quickly and protect your soles on rocky shores. Some have drainage holes and a strap over the instep to stop your foot from sliding.
High-cut wetsuit boots (winter)
High-cut wetsuit boots come up over the ankle and keep your lower leg warm too. You can wear them under or over your wetsuit leg. Some have a Velcro strap, zip or pull tab to make them easier to get on.
Neoprene socks
Neoprene socks, also called wetsuit socks, have no hard sole, so you feel every move of the board. Wear them on their own, for example on a kiteboard, and divers use them under open-heel fins.
Wetsuit Boots or Regular Water Shoes?
Regular mesh water shoes protect your soles and dry fast, but they don't keep you warm. Wetsuit boots protect your feet and keep them warm, which makes them the better choice for water below roughly 20 °C, for longer time on the water and for all board sports. Thin neoprene reef shoes sit in between and work well for the beach and snorkelling.
Split Toe or Round Toe Wetsuit Boots?
Round toe boots keep all your toes together, while split toe boots separate the big toe, which holds your foot in place.
- Round toe – warmer and more comfortable for walking, suitable for all water sports.
- Split toe – more balance and board feel for surfing, wing foiling and kitesurfing.
How to get used to a split toe and what a hidden split toe is, you'll find in our guide How to choose wetsuit boots.
Wetsuit Boots for SUP, Surfing, Kitesurfing and Wing Foiling
Each sport asks for a different balance of grip, warmth and feel.
- SUP: 2 mm low-cut shoes in summer for launching from rocky shores, 5 mm high-cut boots in autumn and winter. A thin sole gives you better board feel.
- Surfing: split toe and a thin sole for balance, high-cut boots in cold water.
- Kitesurfing: neoprene socks or boots with a thin sole.
- Wing foiling and windsurfing: shoes or boots with a grippy sole and a strap over the instep that holds your foot in place.
- Snorkelling and swimming: low-cut shoes or reef shoes, or neoprene socks under open-heel fins.
How Should Wetsuit Boots Fit?
Wetsuit boots should hug your foot with no wrinkles and no empty space at the toes, because boots that are too big fill with water.
- Choose your usual shoe size and check the size chart on the product page, as some brands cut narrower and others wider.
- Neoprene doesn't noticeably stretch in the water, so your boots should fit from day one.
- Try them on in our store in Ljubljana, where we'll help you pick the right size and thickness.
What to Wear with Wetsuit Boots
Wetsuit boots work best as part of a complete setup.
- Wetsuit: a full or shorty wetsuit to match the water temperature.
- Summer: neoprene pants or leggings and a neoprene top.
- Hands and head: wetsuit gloves and a wetsuit hood once the water drops below roughly 12 °C.
How to Care for Wetsuit Boots
Rinse them in fresh water after every use and dry them in the shade, never in the sun or on a radiator. For salt and odours, use a cleaner from our wetsuit accessories.
Related categories
All wetsuits & neoprene · Full wetsuits · Neoprene tops · Neoprene pants · Wetsuit gloves · Wetsuit hoods · Kids wetsuits · Wetsuit accessories · Drysuits