Surfing Booties - what's up with the split toe design?

[Bub]

Just a weird question I was wondering. Why are wetsuit booties designed that way with the split toe? No other boots I've ever seen have that design. Is there a reason for them to be designed that way?

[RJD]

So you can hang 4, 8 or 9 if you want to.

[isaluteyou]

So you can hang 4, 8 or 9 if you want to.

[tomcat360]

I've never seen any reason for them either. Then your toes are split, and the leash gets caught in it and all this other stuff.....I don't think it helps with dexterity that much either.

So I have no answers that haven't already been said....I like my roundtoe booties, nice n warm

[O_Danny_Boy]

cuz they make you feel like a ninja

next question

seriously tho i went from round toe to split toe, i could defo feel the board better through the split toe

seen the new split toe in town with a piece of fabric connecting the first two toes to stop your leash getting caught

[Ellie]

I think its just to make it feel more like your not wearing booties at all, like Danny Boy says, to feel the board better.

I have a C-Skins pair with the split toes attached together at the very end of the toe and I've never got my leash caught in them. And they keep my feet toasty!

[surferdude_scarborough]

they give better balance as your big toe is seperate from the other four and free to move independently. dunno if the work never tried them but thats the theory.

[soops]

I have some o'niells with a split toe and i've used them a few times and like them

Only about £20 and they have the join at the top so you dont get your leash caught. Reccommend them

[Laguna]

Im not 100% but I think what James said is right. Just a design to help make balancing easier. You can position your feet better.
Ive got a hidden split toe with a rounded toe on the outside.
I wouldn't buy the split toes though, never have liked them - they look weird and you get your leesh caught in them.

[northswell]

Not too sure about getting the leash caught in them. I have never caught my leash in my toes surfing without boots so why are you more likely to do it with split toe boots.

[squid]

Split toes have been around since the mid 80s. Oneill introduced them based on a Ninja design. Apparently its design is to allow the big toe to have a little more freedom since that is the toe that is doing most of the work in turns, etc. I don't think they would really get caught in your leash, but then again, anything can happen.

[justloafing]

From what I have heard. The split toe also helps your feet from sliding in the bootie when your up and riding.

[O_Danny_Boy]

Not too sure about getting the leash caught in them. I have never caught my leash in my toes surfing without boots so why are you more likely to do it with split toe boots.

theres a slight spacing between the front two toes making it easier to get the leash caught

if you have normal feet then your leash wont get caught but on the other hand if you have yeti like feet-youve got a problem

[Laguna]

I think its best to have a hidden split toe. They do give you better grip and do feel comfoutable too.

[sal]

I have split toe boots, they allow my toes to be a little more 'spready' on the board.

interestingly i ALWAYS manage to get my leash caught between my toes when I haven't got boots on , but never have with them on!

[Banana]

Here's my understanding of why they make split toes:

It prevents the bootie from rotating around the long axis of your foot.

This isn't so important in surfing, but is more important in windsurfing. In windsurfing without straps, your foot may be on the board with significant sideways pressure (you're applying counter pressure to the sail). In this situation, the sole of the bootie can stay where it is, but your foot slides inside, and moves along the board with the bootie acting like the tread of a tank.

I remember this happening to me once or twice, and I got split-toed booties to solve it.

[Driftingalong]

IMO the split-toe is the only way to go!

[nsidla]

dude def round toe

[Milo]

Buy both dude

[Otter]

Split toe with a bridge is the way to go... No bridge, leash gets caught between your toes, snap that puppy right off!