Gloves and Booties (Socks)

3 or 5 mm?

+1 on the 3MM, depends also on the foot pockets on your fins.. but most of us are 3MM.. since water hardly gets in.. like a scuba bootie

I use 3 mil gloves for dexterity. Much easier to grasp and manipulate all the little things that you need to while spearfishing.
For ab diving, you probably don't need as much dexterity, so you can go thicker.

As for socks, I've used 2 or 3 mil socks. As Chaeki said, as long as it's sealed from water, you're good to go. My feet always used to get numb though after about 2 hours with 2 mil socks.

Also, with closed heel/free dive fins, I highly recommend fin keepers. They will make your fins fit better, avoid irritation, and, if you dive 30+ fow, they'll will prevent your fins from slipping off when the neoprene in your boots compresses.

cool thx...I don't have fins yet. Want to get socks first then try on the fins...3mm it is! Unless someone has something else to add....

Eric,

When I was switching from open heel to closed heel fins I got these 4mm socks and have been VERY pleased:

http://www.neptonicsystems.com/argos.htm

Feet stay warm, and are durable enough that I haven't destroyed them. I'm rough on my gear what can I say.

Get the socks before you try on the fins for sure!
 
Sincerely,
Jim

+1 on argos booties.  Mine have lasted a couple years of hard use and are finally ready to retire.  They also sell them at wallins in san carlos if u wanna try them on first.

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+1 on argos booties.  Mine have lasted a couple years of hard use and are finally ready to retire.  They also sell them at wallins in san carlos if u wanna try them on first.

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sweet. Are they true to size? I am a 11.5 shoe. So I am thinking XL.

+1 on argos booties.  Mine have lasted a couple years of hard use and are finally ready to retire.  They also sell them at wallins in san carlos if u wanna try them on first.

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Went to wallins and they don't carry them. Looks like I will have to order online. Jim and Art, how true to size do they run? What shoe do you wear and what size did you buy

E

What!!!...I was there a couple weeks ago and im fairly crtain they had them. Sorry bout sending u all the way up there for nothing.  I wear a 10 and large fit perfect.  They're pretty true to size.  Neptonics should have them.

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What!!!...I was there a couple weeks ago and im fairly crtain they had them. Sorry bout sending u all the way up there for nothing.  I wear a 10 and large fit perfect.  They're pretty true to size.  Neptonics should have them.

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Cool no worries. Unless the guy was clueless. Sounds like xl are for me.

I wear a 13-14 shoe and I got the XXL bootie and it fits nicely....
 
Sincerely,

Jim

I was using 5mm from Dolphin and they were very comfortable and cheap. The Freediveshop had their big clearance sale and they were selling 3mm booties for $10/pair so I bought a few. The 3mm were warm also. I've tried different gloves and the Yazbek are noticeably warmer than the other gloves I have used. Call Freediveshop and ask if they still have the old booties they were clearing out at the sale. I believe they will still sale them at the sale price if there are any left in stock. Trying the fins on with the booties you wear is a must.

An important thing to remember is that booties won't overheat you. You can get booties that aren't warm enough and that is bad. The warmer booties won't make you hot in warm water. I wore 5mm on all day dives in Cabo and La Paz last year and never noticed them. The Freediveshop still has some of their fins at the clearance price. It might be worth the drive or a phone call.

You should also look at the Mako fins. My dive buddy has them and likes them. The prices are good and they will exchange or refund if you don't like them regardless of reason.

I wear a 13-14 shoe and I got the XXL bootie and it fits nicely....
 
Sincerely,

Jim

Jeesh and you use fins. Yeah I got xl on the way. Marv. I am looking at the mako fins. I am going to try on mendoheads. How sung should fins fit. I assume tight but to to the point of hurting.

I don't wear mine tight. They should be completely comfortable when you try them on. Different brands have different widths.

When you try them on: sit down, extend your leg and point your toes out, that will be the position your legs will be in while diving. The footpockets should fit comfortably with your leg like that, not snug at all.  If they're a little loose then finkeepers will snug em up.

I bought the mako blades in medium stiffness.  Not as soft as I was expecting, if I had to buy again id get softs.

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