Hot take: Those dry suits with built-in boots vs stock boots

I used to swear by dry suits with built-in boots. Thought they were more secure and less trouble. But after a 40-foot dive off the Gulf Coast last month, my left boot started leaking at the seam and I had to abort. Now I'm leaning back to the stock boots you put on separate. They cost about $200 less and I can replace just the boot when it goes bad. Anyone else gone back and forth on this, or is it just me?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_phoenix1d ago

Man I can't believe you actually made it 40 feet before the boot leaked. That's practically a miracle in my book. I had a pair last me three whole dives before the left one started feeling like a wet sock. At this point I'm convinced built-in boots are just a scam to sell you a whole new suit every time your heel gets a little worn down. Separate boots for the win, cheaper and you don't have to explain to your dive buddy why you smell like damp neoprene on the boat ride back.

the_olivia10h ago

and that's exactly why I switched back to separate boots years ago. I had a dry suit with built-in boots fail on me during a night dive off the coast of North Carolina, and it was the last straw. The leak started small, but by the time I surfaced, my whole foot was numb and I couldn't feel my fins. With separate boots, you can buy a heavy duty pair that lasts way longer and just replace them when they wear out. Plus you can take them off to dry out between dives, which cuts down on that mildew smell a lot. If you're doing a lot of shore entries over rocks or gravel, built-in boots get chewed up fast and there's no fixing them. I'd say stick with separate boots and spend the money you save on a decent pair of rock boots or neoprene socks instead.