Hard-sole boots vs soft-sole boots

[Jimmy]

OK, haven't seen this, if it has been addressed please excuse and direct me...

1. What constitutes a hard soled boot? Is it a rigid shank, or does it have to do with a thick sole?
2. What are the pros and cons of the hard sole boot? The soft sole boot?

Thanks!

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

OK, haven't seen this, if it has been addressed please excuse and direct me...

1. What constitutes a hard soled boot? Is it a rigid shank, or does it have to do with a thick sole?
2. What are the pros and cons of the hard sole boot? The soft sole boot?

Thanks!

Hard sole is like a shoe bottom welded to a neoprene sock:



Soft sole is essentially a thin rubber layer covering the bottom of a sock:



There are some that blur the lines a bit.

And then there are the neoprene socks, with no actual sole part.

I use a hard sole bootie when diving wet (Henderson InstaDry, no better bootie IMO, although they aren't super-durable). I use a soft (ish) sole when diving dry, because that usually means soft sand or boats, and the bigger insulation is hard enough to cram into my fins as it is (and I don't want to have to buy bigger fins for diving dry). My rock boots (Converse Chuck Taylors) fit the same fin... but barely, and are a bit tight.

Soft sole is comfy and fits a smaller fin (may or may not be an issue). Not so much with ankle support, especially with heavy loads. Not as durable if you're walking in them lots, scrambling over rocks, etc.

Hard sole is sturdier and provides more ankle support (rock boots are still better). Good for walking over broken rocks, parking lots with broken glass, perhaps, or any general surfaces where shoes are greatly preferable to bare feet. May need bigger fins to accommodate. Don't pack quite as small. Harder to clean down inside, since you can't really flip them inside out.

[Jimmy]

So my Chucks, (circa 1986-skate and destroy), now have a new use? Couple them with a neoprene sock and some XXL Slipstreams, (shoe size: 11.5), and away I go? If it's that simple, what a deal!

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

OK, haven't seen this, if it has been addressed please excuse and direct me...

1. What constitutes a hard soled boot? Is it a rigid shank, or does it have to do with a thick sole?
2. What are the pros and cons of the hard sole boot? The soft sole boot?

Thanks!

Hard sole boots have soles that are more like cross trainer shoes and are suitable for waling on sharp rocks or other rough stuff. Soft sole boots have a kind a textured rubber stuck on the bottom and are good for walking on claen sand or on boats.

The nest step after hard sole wetsuit boots are something liek DUI Rosk boots. These have a hiking boot style sole and boot laces but provide zero insulation and are used over the waterproof feet of drysuits

How to decide? What are you going to walk on on your way to the water and how long is the walk.

If you get hard sole boots you will likely need larger size fins then if you buy soft boots. So choose the boots first, then buy fins.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

So my Chucks, (circa 1986-skate and destroy), now have a new use? Couple them with a neoprene sock and some XXL Slipstreams, (shoe size: 11.5), and away I go? If it's that simple, what a deal!

That's it. Except the skateboad shoes do not last as long. The DUI boot wil last for hudrds of dives. But then they cost $100

[Dieseler]

After some of the shore dive sites I went to on Bonaire, I wish I would have had the hard-soled boots instead of my soft ones! Lots of sharp, broken coral which while it never cut the boot... was uncomfortable to walk over to say the least.

[Largo]

Hard souled vs. soft souled booties.

This is a great premise for a hip-hop song.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by Phil

Hard souled vs. soft souled booties.

This is a great premise for a hip-hop song.

Seriously.. it all depends on the type of diving you want to do. If it is going to be mostly from a boat then soft soles may be more comfortable. But as others have said, if you are going to have to walk in them for any reason (shore diving) then you are going to want the hard sole for the extra protection. There is minimal difference in performance between the two.

[Diver Kat]

Exactly what Penguino said .... I wear soft for boat diving, hard for shore diving (especially on Bonaire!!)

[texdiveguy]

Hard sole all the way.