Coasteering Gear Reviews

Tiki 5/4mm ADV GBS Steamer Wetsuits 2013

Woohoo, we’ve just taken delivery of this seasons new Tiki wetsuits. Why wait until summer to come and explore the stunning coastline of Wales, Coasteering is wicked fun all year round, especially if you’re well kitted out in toasty warm wetsuits

Great to see Tiki taking steps to be eco aware too…

* Uses Limestone based neoprene
* Has been shipped by sea
* Was packed in recycled card

Here’s what some of our winter/spring clients had to say about our Coasteering wetsuits & equipment…

“It wasn’t cold at all once you get all the gear on” April 2013

“The wetsuits certainly did their work too as we weren’t affected by the cold, either in or out of the water.” March 2013

“Ok it was early Feb and the sea was cold but Celtic Quest provided us all with good quality wetsuits, gloves, hats so wasn’t unpleasant” Feb 2013

“Kit is superb, even in winter it is not cold” Nov 2012

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We have long lamented that no-one makes gear specifically designed for Coasteering and whilst these boots were designed for Canyoning (a very similar activity), they are the closest we have found to a perfect boot for Coasteering.

Toughness
Well one pair of boots has lasted me two seasons already (an unheard of triumph) and are should see me through 2011 too.  Used twice a day throughout the season, in various sea conditions, coming into contact with sharp rocks, barnacles and other shoe destroying terrain.  They have endured admirably, even the buckle fasteners which i was dubious about, are like new.
The soles are starting to show some wear but have many adventures left in them.  Tough sole rubber rises up at the back of the boot encasing the heel. Toes are protected by yet more rubber without compromising the flexibility.

Grip
Even on the slipperiest of rocky shore these manage to retain a good level of grip allowing you to “plant” yourself at likely slip areas to help clients across with super confidence.  On normal rock/barnacles they are superb.  In fact it is possible to stand quite firmly on near vertical slopes, the only limiting factor being your own calf strength.  Gone are the days of our instructors slipping over, demonstrating how not to do it!

Comfort
Very comfortable boot, with the buckle fasteners ensuring a snug fit.  For such a tough boot they still manage to retain a lot of flexibility and are very lightweight.  The only negative for me is that if the boot is too big, your foot tends to slide about.  When wearing said ill-fitting pair on a steep slab run one tends to stub a toe or toe inside the boot. After a week of stubbed toe’s I replaced the boots for a smaller size, comfort was restored.

Functionality
Tying and untying laces with cold wet hands is a challenge.  These boots are joyfully simple to fasten.  A large padded flap with Velcro covers the ankle, clamped down with two wide straps with buckles, that’s it – no laces or a bewildering array of straps!

Ankle support
Thick overlapping neoprene encases the ankle and comes up high enough (but not too high) to give excellent support, its a very reassuring feeling when perching on a sleep slippery rock to know your ankles can take it.

All in all an excellent boot that fulfills all the criteria.  The 5:10 Canyoneer 2 retails at around £80 which we think is quite reasonable for such an awesome bit of kit.

*Top-tip:  If you suffer from cold feet as I do its worth wearing a pair of neoprene socks inside the boot = toasty warm feet, even in winter!

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The long awaited final review is here. After months of use the typhoon rock boot is given the thumbs up.
The first pair (from Santa) were going great until the sole of the right boot came off during a coaststeering session. Slightly dissapointed i returned the boots to Mike’s Diving, they prompty replaced them with a new pair.
The second pair have been excellent.
They have been worn on more than 40 coasteering adventures, in a variety of conditions and at various locations in Pembrokeshire.

PRO’s

• If the correct size is worn they are snug fitting.  This is great as they don’t flop about on your feet, even when wet.  Very handy when scramble climbing and sea level traversing.
• Warm – due to the inbuilt neoprene wetsuit sock.  I wear a second pair of socks inside the boots (i tend to get very cold feet, even in summer).  This added layer keeps my feet toasty warm, even on chilly January coasteers.
• The built in sock is higher up the ankle than the boot, the boot inself comes just above the ankle.  This combination provides excellent support for the ankle.  It also prevents the ankle bone being knocked.
• The hard wearing sole has yet to show any wear.  I’m guessing the first failed pair had a manufacturing fault. The soles curl up over the toe, protecting my little piggies from toe stubbing.
• Lastly, i have found that one of the first things to go on any coasteering shoes are the laces.  The Typhoon Rock Boot has a thick strong lace, again this is showing no signs of wear yet.

CON’s

• The sole falling off the first pair is an obvious one.  However the second pair seem to be standing the test of time.
• As the soles are super hard wearing, they are very slippery on wet rock.  It took some getting used to as my previous pair of coasteering footwear (Keen Boulder Trainers) gave me spiderman-like grip.  A fellow instructor wore the Typhoon Rock Boots twice and gave up on them, as he found them too slippy.
• They are quite narrow which fits me fine, however if you take wide fitting shoes these may feel uncomfortable.

SO, overall an excellent choice at a reasonable price.  Ensure you get the correct size, too big and they’ll fill with water and flop about.  If you suffer from cold feet, wear an extra pair of neoprene wetsuit socks. Celtic Quest score – 8/10

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Wetsuit Boots

Advantages:
Warm, as they are made of neoprene, if fitted correctly they keep your feet nice and warm.
Better for swimming as they don’t cause as much drag as trainers or boots.
Some say – better grip and control when scrambling and traversing.  You can feel what’s under your feet.
Snug fit means your able to quickly fit a pair of fins over the top.
Protect your ankles from cuts and scrapes due to high neoprene.
Cheapish when compared with high spec watersports footwear.
Disadvantages:
If they don’t fit properly, they’ll fill with water causing a clown effect.  Very heavy/floppy out of the water.
This extra water sloshing around won’t keep your feet warm.
Can be very slippery on seaweed and bare rocks.
As the sole is thin your feet will suffer when crossing sharp gravel and rocks.
The rubber soles don’t last long as they get warn down by barnacles and sharp rocks.
They don’t offer much support on the ankle.
The upper is soft, offering little protection from crush injuries.
Summary:
If going for this option ensure they fit properly, not too tight or they’ll be cold and uncomfortable.
Too big and they’ll fill with water, giving you cold clown feet and less control when scrambling and traversing.
Make sure they have a thick-ish rubber sole, firstly to delay wear and secondly to protect your feet from sharp rocks and gravel.

Old Trainers

Advantages:
If old or budget they can be cheaper than alternative footwear.
Depending on the tread design – they can be really grippy on rocks.
Again depending on design – they can protect feet from crush injuries.
Thick sole protects feet from sharp rocks and gravel.
If combined with wetsuit socks, they can be toasty warm as the fastening on trainers compresses the sock onto the foot giving a snug fit.  The high ankle on the neoprene sock protects the ankle from cuts and scrapes.
Disadvantages:
No structural support on ankle.
Cold feet if warn without socks/ wetsuit socks.
Expensive if you go for high spec brands.
Depending on the material of the sole, they can be more slippery than alternative footwear.
Bulky trainers can slow swimming ability due to drag.
Some laves are prone to coming undone.
Larger designs like skate shoes and likely to fall off in rough water.
Summary:
Tennis shoes, plimsolls and deck shoes have a very flat sole with small tread.  They’ll prove very slippery on bare rock and seaweed.
Skate shoes – as previously mentioned, are generally ill fitting and heavy when wet.
Some cross trainers have a thick material upper, although they may be lighter when wet the thinner upper will offer little protection for the top of your foot from crush injuries.  They’ll also wear out faster.
Approach shoes are one of our favourites as the sole has ideal tread and are generally made of grippy rubber.  Having used various models of karrimor, we have found the sole rubber to be very slippery on wet rock.
Various brands produce a watersports trainer.
Choose a pair that will shed water, yet protect the toe and heel –

‘Keen’ are a favourite of ours, they have survived 2 years (daily use), are mega comfy, super grippy rubber on the sole.  This pair look like they should go in the bin, but they just keep on going.  Laces in the photo are a replacement as old ones died.
Wetsuit socks are a worthwhile investment.

Beach Shoes

Advantages:
Price, they are available all over the place in the summer at affordable prices.
The rubber sole offers a fair amount of protection from sharp rocks and gravel.
Neoprene offers some warmth.
Disadvantages:
They are generally ill-fitting, fill with water, causing the floppy clown effect, this extra water swishing about can also make your feet cold.  Again, due to the loose fit your feet tend to slide about inside making traversing and scrambling interesting to say the least.
Tend to fall off due to loose fit or pour fastenings.
As the upper material is fairly thin they offer little protection from crush injuries.
They sit very low on the ankle, leaving the ankle bone exposed to cuts and scrapes.
This low design also offers little ankle support.
Due to their cheap design they wear out very quickly.
Summary:
Be prepared to replace them often, have cold feet, little control when scrambling traversing and scraped ankles.

Canyoning Boots
As yet untested, Santa gave us some for Christmas so we’ll keep you posted.
We’ve had good reports from fellow instructors.
5-10 Canyoneer II

These are an expensive option when compared to the alternatives previously mentioned.
Fellow instructors who have bought/used them, give mixed feedback.
Typhoon Rock Boots
A much more affordable alternative.
We’ll be testing these out over the next couple of months and let you know how they do.
All feedback is appreciated so please add comments, experiences, advice etc.

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