Joel you crack me up
Barefoot wetsuits though not USCG approved replace a life jacket so you don't wear both
plenty of flotation in the padding - the padding hip to hip in the bottom, chest to chest around the back
on top a few may still have something between the legs too....... but not very common as they are
uncomfortable.
Barefoot International by far makes the toughest most comfortable suit for most all recreational footers
KSO and Eagle make suits that are somewhat more flexible 9becasue the padding is thinner) these suits
have the most current graphics and are used by the most elite of footers as well as recreational footers that think
they are elite too - KSO and Eagle suits would be more suited to those spend their time on their feet
front to back back to front toe holds etc
regardless of which suit you choose you better have a pair of padded barefoot shorts underneath as well
these allow you to butt ride tumble turn front deep etc with max protection
some of wear a cup too - I never did until this year now I never will go without (funny thing about getting smacked in the jewels
though it hurt like a 12 letter word which I'm sure I spouted out several times, nothing else on my body hurt for a few days
not my back, my shoulders, elbow etc..........)
in addition to the padding Barefoot suits have cinch straps 2 the bottom of the leg opens, these reduce the amount of water
able to enter the suit when doing a front deep
low stretch no stretch rope is a good idea and while were on the rope subject for whatever reason footers use a 15" handle not 12"
does it hurt your feet ? for a 100 yards or so - no, on the easy footer doing 30 instead of 40 - no,
some people just feel the rush and can go for several minutes (every minute and half @ 40 mph is a mile)
yesterday I popped out 2 - 3 minute runs and 1 run over 4 minutes. my forearms were shot my feet were fine
not tingly not throbbing good to go. 2 weeks earlier I went 1/4 mile and stated to get a blister on heel, that HURT
and earlier in the month I hit something floating in the water left a dime sized hole in my arch that HURT too!
when ever you fall you always fall forward which is why we preach never to look @ your feet , look down go down
falling forward ( or backward or sideways) @ 40 mph HURTS it hurts some more than others some falls hurt more than others
some hurt longer than others some don't hurt until later in the day or the following day but yes the falls hurt
figure out your size - search for some descent used used stuff online (I think 1 or 2 on this forum had some stuff available)
or call me and I'll set up with new gear
have a great weekend we'll be footn if it ain't raining
Dan T