Surfing Waves

Throw this one out to the cold water surfers !!! My toes are getting cold again already and winter hasn't even started yet! Used to have 5mm Quicksilver boots.....got cold toes! Recently bought C-skins 5 mm boots ....getting cold toes! Does anyone own a pair of boots that actually keep their toes warm? Have seen some 8mm boots but thinking might not feel the board so well with that thickness of sole!
Surf the west coast of Norway so sea temp getting down to about 4-5 degrees C.

Any recommendations?

MSL

I hear ya buddy, was out in the Irish sea today and similar temps, cold toes are just gonna be what we have to man up to I'm afraid! Someone will one day probably invent a battery operated heating element but until then the only thing I've found that helps was reading Sir Ranulph Fines' biopic "Scott" about Scott of the Antarctic, hearing what he and his team went through in terms of physical endurance from a man who actually knows what he's talking about especially on the subject of cold (some of Scott's men had their legs frozen to their boots and marched in excruciating agony in blizzards to deaths of starvation and exposure) made me swear I'd never say I was cold again..that didn't last long though as my tootsies were far from toasty today by the end of my sesh!!

Oh please forgive my fellow countryman if you're Norwegian, he respected Amundson who was the greatest polar explorer of the era but at times was less than charmed by his character flaws! They shoulda gone surfing together instead I think

Hi Jester, thanks for interesting reply!
I am the only one in the family not Norwegian so have defended Scotts efforts and played up Amundsens ungentlemanly tactics many times.
I was actually born a mile of so from where Scott went to school.
With hindsight turning up with ponies instead of dogs probably not a good idea but what an amazing effort to man haul their sleds all that way!
Unfortunately not made of the same stuff as Scott and Shackleton and really want to feel my toes after a surf
Tried wearing woolen socks inside my boots which helps a bit but not a gamechanger!
Was thinking of taping one of those handwarmer heat packs to my feet and trying that
Cheers Jester, hope you have a wave packed winter!
" I am just going outside ( replace with surfing )and may be some time"

If you wore one of those electric heated wetsuits, would that keep your feet warmer? On the basis that your extremities get cold when your body is protecting its core?

No idea, 16 deg C water is mid winter down my way.

I would get a Dry Suit. You can drive to the beach, take off your outer wear, put on the suit and go surf. After surf just rinse off only your head and hands and then take off your suit. Your body is dry, some of your wrist and neck gets a tiny bit wet. I wear Thermal long leg and arm underwear and wool socks inside mine. The boots are attached to the wetsuit, so no water gets in from the bottom.

Morning chaps ,
dtc........ have heard of these electrically heated suits but not seen one. I get your thinking but the rest of my body doesnt feel cold at all. Could be worth a try if the price was right!

waikikikichan......always associated drysuits with sailing or kayaking. Have never seen anyone wear one in the surf here but you sell the idea well . Just wondering if the suits are up to the job, do they have any stretch in them?

cheers

MSL

Board leash and a very long electrical cord!

Dry suits are popular in Japan for winter surfing. The leg parts are as stretchy as normal. The shoulder are built more puffy. I don't recommend them for a lot of duck diving. But they're great. Especially since you don't need to shower. Cost a lot though.

Interesting , what are sea temps in Japan during winter?
The idea of not having to wriggle out of a chest zip wetsuit when its cold, wet , windy and possibly minus degrees air temp sounds tempting.
As for the cold toes I went and ordered some 8 mm Xcel Boots ........ hoping these will do the trick!!!!