Effects of Booties on Foot Skin Temperature During Surfing

Cold water exposure during surfing can induce cold stress which can potentially impact comfort and performance. Neoprene booties have been marketed to mitigate cold stress within the feet, but there is limited information regarding their effectiveness PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to characterize dorsal and plantar foot skin temperatures between two bootie models (strapped vs. strapless) during sixty minutes of recreational surfing in cold water. METHODS: Thirty-six recreational surfers (25 males and 11 females) with foot sizes between 7 and 10 each wore one strapped and one strapless 3 mm neoprene bootie that were randomized between left and right feet. Two iButton thermistors were attached to the dorsal and plantar surfaces on each foot using Tegaderm and recorded skin temperature every minute across a 60-minute surf session. Following the surf session, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on thermal sensation, thermal comfort, and bootie preference. RESULTS: During the surf session the average water and air temperatures were 14.5± 0.9°C and 11.7±2.1°C, respectively. Dorsal and plantar skin temperatures declined significantly over time (pCONCLUSION:Both bootie models effectively maintained dorsal and plantar foot skin temperatures above average water temperatures during cold-water surfing for 60 minutes. Although strapless booties maintained higher skin temperatures, there were no reported perceptual differences in warmth between both bootie models; however, a majority of participants preferred the strapped bootie.