11 Best Dive Booties [2023 Update]
If you are looking for the best dive booties to make your entire diving adventure comfortable and enjoyable, you have come to the right place!
To have an injured or cramped foot while diving will surely dampen your whole scuba diving experience.
Dive booties provide warmth and sturdy protection to your feet without ruining the comfort of the entire underwater experience.
There are many different kinds of scuba diving booties available in the market, and it is understandable how challenging it is to find one that is best for you.
Fortunately, in this article diving enthusiast, WWB writer Najlaa has rounded up the 11 best dive booties reviews that will help you to figure out the best dive boots for you.
Related Post on Diving:
- Best Scuba Diving Wetsuits
- Borneo Diving, Malaysia – The Ultimate Guide
- Tioman Diving, Malaysia – The Ultimate Guide
- Why You Need to Try Diving in Langkawi, Malaysia
The 11 Best Dive Booties
- Cressi Isla
- Scubapro Delta
- Tusa Imprex
- Mares Trilastic
- Seac Pro HD
- Aqua Lung Superzip Ergo
- XS Scuba Thug
- Neosport Premium Wetsuit Boots
- Tilos TruFit
- Akona Standard
- Phantom Aquatics
DISCLOSURE
Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.
1.Cressi Isla
The Cressi Isla is one of the best scuba booties in the markets which has an affordable price.
The boots are made from a superelastic double-line neoprene material making Cressi dive boots very comfortable and also provides good thermal protection to your foot.
They come with two choices of thickness which are 5mm and 7mm.
The 5mm dive boots are great to suit both cold and tropical climates. But, if you are going to dive in freezing water, then 7mm dive boots are an excellent choice for that climate.
Thanks to their built-in fin strap holder, the boots are compatible with open-heel dive fins that keep the fin’s strap in place.
Additionally, with their built-in heavy-duty and anti-slipping rubber sole, they are pretty comfortable walking on hot sand beaches or rocks and prevent you from slipping on a wet surface.
Overall, these are excellent quality dive booties that are great for all watersports for you to grab.
Pros:
- Double-line Neoprene material
- Great thermal protection
- Multiple thickness options
- Built-in fin strap holder
- Built-in sole for extra comfort and anti-slip protection
- Toe and heel reinforced with long-lasting rubber that protects against wear and tear
Cons:
- Small drainage hole that reduces heat retention
2.Scubapro 5mm Delta
Scubapro is one of the top dive gear manufacturers under the Johnson Outdoor company. So you can trust that their dive boots are considered one of the best dive booties in the market.
The Scubapro 5mm Delta dive boots fit both cold and temperate diving.
The boots use N2S (Nylon two side) material to deliver comfort where the neoprene itself is an X-foam made from limestone instead of petroleum. Hence, making them high-quality and environment-friendly dive boots.
They come as high cut boots with an extended zipper making them easy to wear. The zipper is also added with a secure velcro tab to prevent slipping.
Like the Cressi dive boots, Scubapro Delta also is equipped with fin strap holders at the heel cap.
They also have improved their toe box design and ankle support. So if you have wider feet, you will find these boots will fit you nicely.
Another fascinating feature of these boots is that the anti-slip tread is a non-marking tread, a quality which most boat owners appreciate because they don’t leave marks on their boats.
Pros:
- Environment-friendly material: Limestone based neoprene
- Non-marking anti-slip thread
- Suitable for people with wider feet
- Built-in fin strap holder
- Secure velcro tab for the zipper
- Rubberized armoured sole for comfort
Cons:
- Sizing can be difficult to get right
3.Tusa Imprex
If you are looking for scuba booties that suit a high arched foot, you should check out Tusa Imprex dive boots.
The boots are great for shore diving as they have outstanding high traction that prevents you from slipping or sliding due to their injected moulded sole.
Besides that, the sole also provides internal comfort and support to your foot, which helps reduce foot strain, especially for high arches divers.
The combination of neoprene and nylon material makes it easy to wear and provides optimal warmth while being underwater.
Moreover, the secure velcro strap just below the zipper helps to ensure the boots do not easily come off.
Pros:
- Injection-moulded sole
- High traction on all surface
- Optimal warmth
- Perfect for high arches
- Secure velcro strap for zipper
Cons:
- Wears down fast for frequent usage
4.Mares Trilastic
Are you looking for cold water dive boots? Why not try to check out Mares Trilastic dive booties?
These Mares dive boots are great for colder climates since they are using a robust temperate material.
Their super elastic neoprene material ensures warmth and comfort in the lower part of the boots. And the whole boots are made from a durable nylon II material.
Unlike any other scuba booties, the boots are designed with a sure-grip stiff sole and vulcanized rubber on the heel and toe to make them longer-lasting booties and ideal for rough and slippery surfaces.
Aside from that, they are also equipped with fin strap lugs to keep the fin strap from shifting.
The boots zipper comes with a zipper dam to limit the water seepage during diving. However, the zipper seems likely to get stuck after multiple usages.
Pros:
- Harder sole for grip and comfort
- Super stretchable neoprene
- Strengthen vulcanized rubber on toe and heel for extra durable
- Great for cold water
Cons:
- Zipper does not equip with a velcro lock
- Zipper can get stuck after multiple uses
5.Seac Pro HD
Another impressive selection for cold water dive boots is Seac Pro HD, where they can handle water with a temperature of 50 to 60 °F (10 to 15 °C).
These booties possess 6mm thick neoprene material that provides excellent heat retention to your feet, so your feet will keep warm and comfy.
Although the boots are more for cold water diving, they are also exceptional for temperate diving. The reason is that the thickness of the dive boots is not very thick to cause overheating in warm weather.
Besides that, the boots have a thick sole that offers magnificent protection and stability against the sharp and rough ground.
Plus with inner arch support and bubble air within the heels assisted in reducing strain and stress when carrying heavy loads.
Their easy to grip zipper has a hook and loop closure that helps to ensure the zipper stays tight during the dive.
In general, Seac Pro HD booties are one of the best dive booties that have a studier design that you should consider.
Pros:
- Excellent for cold water
- Sturdy sole great for rough terrain
- Excellent arch support
- Size for double extra-small (XXS) available
- Great value for money
Cons:
- No ankle support
- Bulky and heavy not suitable for travel
- Difficult to get the correct sizing
6.Aqua Lung Superzip Ergo
Aqua Lung Superzip Ergo is one of the most flexible scuba diving booties that you should check out. They are pretty warm and pleasant to wear, hence, outstanding for both cold and warm water conditions.
The booties have an ergonomic design and sole padding. So when you wear them, they will give you a comfortable fit and support to your feet.
Thus, this will protect your feet from strains at the joint.
The outer sole of Superzip Ergo dive boots is thick and flexible, which makes them impregnable against puncture. The toe and heel have been reinforced with vulcanized rubber to improve the durability of the booties.
Also, they have some groovy thread at the outer sole that adds extra grip to the boots.
The boots come with a non-corrosive zipper together with a hook and loop lock that last longer.
Yet, the size of the boots tends to run small. So, it is best to purchase them one size bigger than your original size.
Pros:
- Ergonomic design that provides comfort
- Extra protection against puncture
- Sole padding for extra comfort
- Groovy thread for extra grip
Cons:
- Size runs small ( consider one size bigger)
7.XS Scuba Thug
If you are a diver who is incapable of withstanding cold temperatures, then these XS Scuba Thug dive boots might be just for you.
Their 8mm nylon II neoprene material makes these boots the best dive booties for cold water diving since they provide extra warmth to your foot compared to other dive booties.
Furthermore, their neoprene sole is built together with heavy-duty rubber that extends to the toe and heel cap, which offer incredible protection to the feet.
XS Scuba Thug is some of the best dive booties for cold water that are pretty noteworthy as well as long-lasting for you to put on your list.
Pros:
- Provide extra warmth
- Excellent for cold water diving
- Protected toe and heel cap
- Marine Bronze zipper
Cons:
- Not great for warm water diving
- Not fit for small fin
- Velcro lock not strong enough to last long
8.Neosport Premium Wetsuit Boots
Neosport Premium Wetsuit Boots are multi-purpose neoprene dive boots that you should consider adding to your options list.
They are not only booties for diving but can also be used for other watersports.
Besides that, they also fit in any water climates. The reason is that they have multiple thickness options to choose from: 3mm, 5mm and 7mm.
In addition, their solid design is long-lasting since they are using high durability sewn and glued seams.
Their well-constructed boots are complete with puncture resistance that add superb protection to your feet since you can confidently walk on rough surfaces without worry.
The fascinating part about Neosport Premium boots is that they are installed with WEB (Water Entry Barrier) behind the zipper to limit the water from coming in even when the zippers are open. Thus, your boots will not drench with water.
Pros:
- Multiple thickness options
- Well constructed to last long
- Puncture resistance
- Installed with WEB
- High traction sole
Cons:
- Sole thread design is too rough for soft surfaces like paddle board foam.
- The insole is pretty slippery when wet
- Thin sole – not comfortable on a rocky surface
- Size runs small (consider one size bigger)
9.Tilos TruFit
Reduce volume, asymmetrical toe box, built-in arch! These are some of the features of Tilos TruFit dive boots.
The design mimics the shape of the human foot and provides a perfect fit for people with wider feet.
However, for some people, these might not be the best dive boots for wide feet since the design may feel a bit tight and may require some time to get used to them.
At first, they might feel a little tight. But the asymmetrical toe box follows the shape of your toe, which leads to an excellent fit, comfort, and support to your foot over time.
The reduced volume over the instep helps reduce excess water in the boots. Thus, offer extra warmth to your feet.
The built-in 3D arch and heel support provides outstanding support and stability to your feet, especially when carrying heavy gear.
Their rocker sole works well in and out of the water since they allow you to “roll” your feet while walking. So, it helps in reducing strain and improving balance to your feet.
Pros:
- Asymmetrical toe box reduces dead space
- The low volume provides extra warmth
- Built-in 3D arch, heel support and rocker sole provides comfort when walking
- Puncture resistant
- Multiple thickness options
Cons:
- The design might be a bit tight for wide feet
- It takes a while to get used to their fit design
10.Akona Standard
If you are new to scuba diving and looking for entry-level dive booties, look no further for Akona Standard dive boots.
The Akona dive boots are amazing warm water dive boots that arrive in a high cut and zippered design.
The boot materials are from 3mm durable earth-friendly neoprene, making them robust and ideal in warm conditions.
With beautifully made contours and snug fits, add extra comfort and warmth to the boots. On top of that, the anti-slip sole design provides an excellent grip feature and reduces hydroplaning across the boat deck, dock, floor, etc.
Thus, all these make the boots one of the best dive booties for beginners at an affordable price.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Great for beginners
- Great for warm water diving
- Lightweight
Cons:
- No toe and heel cap protector
- No fin strap holder to keep the fin in place
- Not for cold water diving
11.Phantom Aquatics
These are the best dive booties that travel friendly. Phantom Aquatics dive boots are super lightweight and foldable, making them easy to fit in your luggage.
They use 3mm nylon II neoprene material and a versatile rubber sole to create these booties that fit all watersports.
Their textured outsole provides good traction on wet or dry surfaces.
However, their thin sole will not provide the best protection to your feet, and they can only deliver warmth up around 100ft/30m deep.
Yet Phantom Aquatics booties are considered one of the top budget-friendly scuba booties ideal for shallow diving and warm climates.
Pros:
- Super lightweight
- Foldable
- Optimal traction
- Travel and budget-friendly
- Perfect for shallow dive
Cons:
- Not for cold water dives
- Thin sole
Why Do You Need Dive Booties?
You don’t always need to wear dive boots. As long as you dive in warm or tropical climates, wearing a full-foot fin, and not going to rocky and rough areas, dive boots are not essential.
Still, wearing boots will give you comfort and protect you from any cuts, sharp objects, or other potential danger such as sea urchins, corals, etc.
Here are some of the benefits of wearing a pair of dive boots:
- They keep you warm
Either in cold or warm water, your feet can get cold pretty fast and lead to numbness.
For a diver, numbness is a big no-no since it makes diving rather uncomfortable and dangerous. Hence, wearing a pair of dive boots helps to keep your feet warm and enjoy pleasant diving.
- Comfortable diving adventure
If you wear open-heel fins without dive boots, for sure, they will leave you with blisters and strain to your foot. Plus with heavy diving gear will double the stress on your foot.
That is why you need a pair of booties for diving.
A pair of booties not only provides comfort but also more power, making the entire diving experience feel effortless.
- Extra Protection
Did you know that a wound from a coral will take weeks to heal and may lead to infection?
Without a pair of good dive boots, you expose yourself to that sort of danger.
By that, having the best dive booties on will protect your foot from any accidental cuts or wounds, and walking on rocky or sharp surfaces safer.
How To Find The Best Dive Booties? – Buying Guide
There are several factors that you need to take into consideration to find the best dive booties for you:
Thickness
Like wetsuits, dive boots also have several choices of thickness.
In choosing the best thickness for your boots, firstly, determine the water temperature that you are going to dive in.
If you often dive in warmer water temperatures (above 72°F (22°C)), neoprene dive boots with 2mm to 3mm thickness are just fine.
For cold water temperature (below 70°F (21°C)), aim for dive boots with thickness from 5mm to 8mm.
On the contrary, if you are unsure, opt for thicker scuba booties. Any boots around 5mm to 7mm thickness should be great for both cold and warm climates.
Boot Cut
Dive booties come in two types of cuts which are high cut and low cut.
High cut dive boots usually work for cold waters as it offers more warmth, stability and protection.
On the other hand, low cut dive boots are fantastic for tropical water diving or snorkelling.
But, the downside of using low cut boots is that they lack ankle support to protect your ankle when carrying heavy gear.
Nevertheless, this is more on personal preference, so you can pick which one is the best dive booties for you.
Boot Sole
Thick and hard sole boots are the best option if you are planning for cold water diving. The reason is that a thicker sole offers better insulation and buoyancy.
Also, the thick sole boots provide ultimate protection to your feet, which makes them suitable for shore diving or scuba diving in a rocky and rough area.
On the other hand, thin sole boots have more flexibility and comfort compared to the thicker sole. But, they do not provide enough protection against rough environments.
Therefore, they usually opt for boat diving or entries from sandy beaches.
Booties with no sole are considered dive socks, and they give very little protection to your feet. However, they are perfect to use with full-foot fins as they are more breathable.
Anti-slip Sole
Either thick or thin sole booties, most of them already come with anti-slip technology.
For extra protection, look for booties with a good traction sole that helps provide you with stability, especially on wet surfaces.
If you are using your boots for rescue work, look for the navy seal dive boots.
Their heavy-duty non-marking soles provide outstanding traction, thus, helps you provide balance in various terrain, especially during the dangerous rescue moment.
Size
Size probably is the most critical aspect in choosing the best dive booties that fits you.
It is crucial to get the right size for your boots to ensure your entire underwater experience is comfy and pleasant.
In general, diving boots match your usual shoe size. Therefore, you should refer to the manufacturer’s size chart to decide which size is best for you.
Furthermore, read the reviews to get a hint of whether the boots run in small or large sizes.
Also, include diving fins into consideration, since you will need booties for fins that fit well.
The best dive booties are something that is not too tight and too loose to your feet.
Arch Support
Carrying heavy scuba gear will burden your feet. The last thing you want is to have sore and cramped feet when diving underwater.
Hence, look for diving booties that have good arch support. Arch support assists in lessening the strain to your feet when you walk with heavy loads.
Do take note, when adding arch support to your boots, you probably need to buy boots one size bigger than your usual size.
Heel Cap
It’s good to have a pair of dive booties that come with heel caps.
Heel caps protect your heel and ankle from getting injured as they offer stability to your heel and ankle whenever you land awkwardly on the ground.
Do look for booties with excellent heel and ankle support to ensure you feel safe and comfy when you wear them.
Fin Strap Holder
Fin strap holder is another valuable feature to have in your diving boots. It helps to keep your fin in place so that you do not need to adjust your fin every time you dive.
That is why it is a great feature that helps to improve your whole diving expedition.
Slip-on Vs Zipper Boots
Scuba booties usually come as slip-on boots or zipper boots.
Zipper boots are considered the best as they are more durable and secure. Besides that, they also make the booties trouble-free to put on and off.
Most zipper booties come with a secure velcro lock that helps to ensure the boots remain sealed, even underwater.
However, for some people, they find that the zipper will rub off their ankle wrongly. So, some of them would prefer slip-on boots instead.
What’s more, thanks to the neoprene material, slip-on boots usually offer a more cosy fit since they can follow the shape of your foot as you put them on.
If you often dive in a warm climate environment, having slip-on booties is just fine.
Budget
Most dive booties in the market offer quality products at a reasonable price.
You can get a pair of good dive boots starting with USD20. But of course, the more you invest, the better quality of booties you will get.
That is why you need to set aside an appropriate amount of budget and do thorough research in looking for the best dive booties that fit you.
To have a pair of booties that are worn too fast and do not fit your usage is the last thing you ever want.
Do You Wear Dive Boots With Fins?
The short answer is yes. However, the long answer depends on the type of fins you are using.
If you use open-heel fins, you will need booties for fins that come with a hard and thick sole plus a high cut design.
These boots are best for open-heel fins, as they provide high protection against blisters, footsore, and cramp. Aside from that, they also offer high-performance diving with open-heel fins.
On the other hand, full-foot fins are better with dive socks or thin sole dive boots since thicker boots will cause overheating and discomfort to your foot.
Do You Wear Socks With Dive Boots?
Yes, you can wear diving socks and booties together.
Sometimes, even if you wear the best dive booties, they do not usually provide 100% comfort.
Depending on the individual type of foot, the boots can rub off your skin and cause discomfort. That is why sometimes you need to wear your diving socks to protect your feet.
On top of that, wearing diving socks and booties together helps in making up the difference in size for booties that are larger than your usual size.
Do Dive Booties Go Over Or Under Wetsuit?
It is vital to wear your booties under your wetsuit to help the water flush out from the wetsuit and not go inside your booties.
If you wear your booties the opposite way, the water can’t flush out, and your boots will get soaked with water. As a result, it will create heat loss, and your feet may get numb due to the cold.
What Makes A Good Diving Fin?
A good diving fin can help you navigate and control well when diving underwater.
As an essential gear in scuba diving, you should look for fins that can provide comfort, fit your swimming style, have a feature that meets your needs and can last long.
Here are some of the things you should consider when looking for a good diving fin:
- Type of fin: Open-heel fin or Full-foot Fin.
- Blade Style: There are several types of blades available in the market. Finding the best one depends on the location, their weight, and your swimming style.
- Size: The best fin sizes are fins that are not too tight and loose. Also, they do not cause any discomfort to your feet.
- Material use: A good fin’s material will provide better efficiency to your diving. Hence, it leads to a more relaxing and enjoyable diving experience.
All of these will make a good diving fin that suits you. Looking for a pair of diving fins? Check out these options.
Tips To Taking Care Of Your Dive Booties
Even if you have the best dive booties ever, if you do not take care of your booties properly, they will not last long.
To extend your boot durability, here are the things you should do to take care of your boots:
- Always clean your booties with fresh water after your diving activity. This will help to retain the neoprene flexibility as saltwater reduces them.
- Wash your booties using neoprene, a dish or baby shampoo. Using laundry detergent is too harsh for neoprene material.
- Avoid using hot water to wash your booties since hot water reduces their flexibility.
- Always hand wash your booties. Machine wash will wear out the boots fast.
- Ensure the boots are completely dry before storing them to avoid any mould or odour developing on the booties.
- Store them properly by minimizing the creases. Creases can lead to insufficient insulation in the boots.
- Do not expose them to direct sunlight since this affects neoprene flexibility over time.
- Avoid leaving your boots in a hot trunk as this will invite breeding bacteria and increasing smells.
Time To Find Your Best Dive Booties
Here you go, the 11 best dive booties that you can choose to own!
Wearing a pair of dive booties makes a lot of difference to the comfort and safety of your whole diving adventure.
Since diving journeys can have plenty of unpredictable setbacks which can cause pain and injuries, a good pair of dive boots can help to minimize any of that.
So investing in a pair of good dive booties is worth every penny in helping you have a pleasant diving experience.
With all these best dive booties reviews, I hope they are very informative and helpful in finding the best dive booties that suit your needs.
Do share with us which diving booties you end up getting in the comments below.