Recently became the owner of a shiny new Snowbee float tube, complete with flippers and life-jacket. All I need now are a new pair of waders. I'd have thought that stocking foot waders would make paddling easier when in the water(the flippers can be worn over boots also)....but then you have the problem of where to stow your walking boots if there is a trek to the loch, right?

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Jim,

I now use bootfoot neoprenes for my tubing, but used to use stockingfoot ones. I did not use wading boots over the stockingfoot ones. I used a pair of neoprene wetsuit boots (diving/windsurfing) over the stockingfoot waders and never had any problems either paddling or walking in them. However, neoprenes do get warm if you have to walk a long distance. I don't think it matters much - just personal preference - when I replaced my stockingfoots (terminal leaks) I got a great deal on a set of booted ones and can't say it made much difference in use.

Not much help I'm afraid,

Bill

I'd heard the boot foot waders made for more difficult paddling...being heavier this seems to make sense to me. Did you find it so Bill?

I can't say I noticed much difference Jim, you will find everything happens in slow motion, with a steady cycling sort of action of the legs. I found that I could waste a lot more energy trying to go faster, thrashing the water and getting knackered for negligible gain - slow and steady seemed the best option for me. And when you are not trying to sprint, the footwear did'nt seem to matter much.

Interestingly tho, I did try out a pair of scuba divers fins - much bigger than the ones designed for tubing - and they definately provided greater thrust for the same sort of effort. But they got in the way more when hooked fish tried to dive thru my legs.

A lot is down to personal preference and you should experiment to find what you like.

My next pair of waders will probably be back to stockingfoots, simply because the bootfoot ones I currently have are too big to fit into the scuba fins, and I liked the extra thrust they provided, but thats just me - you may find that you like a different setup altogether.

Bill

Hi Jim

I just use the standard Snowbee Classic cleated sole ones and similar Daiwas. Standard 4mm neoprene and they serve me well all year round.

Don't cost too much either

Cheers
Mike

Thanks for the help guys...think I will go for a pair of Snowbee bootfoots and they should match the Snowbee fins hopefully. Glad to hear you can paddle ok in bootfoots...didn't fancy the idea of having to stow the walking boots away somewhere on the tube.

Jim.