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WATERSKI MagazineSuit Yourself: What to Look for in a Barefoot Suit
Used to be if you had a dive wetsuit, you were pretty much geared up for barefooting. Some footers with poor judgment still think typical wetsuits are water skiing's answer to cross-training shoes: good for just about anything.But if you're taking long bubble baths and sporting new bruises after a Saturday foot-fest, then something's wrong. Most likely, it's your suit.You can find a “specialty” barefoot suit on the rack for $99, but in most cases you get what you pay for. It would be best to use the money you aren't spending for a ski, board or foil and put it into a top-of-the-line suit. For expert buying advice, we asked Billy Nichols, world-record holder in endurance footing, to show us exactly what he'd recommend in a specialty suit.
UP TOP
Capped or sleeveless shoulders make up for any flexibility you lose in the thicker flotation. The armhole isn't like a tank top, which has huge openings under the arms. There's plenty of protection. As for tumble turns, you shouldn't be spinning on the tops of your shoulders anyway.
OUTER LAYER
Some sort of slick skin – usually nylon or the more durable Lycra – on the outside shell so you can butt slide and tumble all day. Deepwater starts are quicker and easier too.
PADDING
An additional 4-5 mm of padding in the butt. Whether it's sewn in or an extra panel is incorporated, the girth of a pad will eliminate soreness that comes from riding in a three-point position or catching spray in the rear bumper.
THICKNESS
Overall beefiness should be noticeable so the suit doesn't roll up like a dishwashing glove when you take it off. At least 4 mm of rubber. The thicker the rubber, the less the drag. Water pulls thin rubber.
STRAPS
It's nice to have a little bob at the end of the cinch straps to keep them from getting lost.
FLOTATION
Full-wrap flotation or ensolite-type foam through the ribs and over the shoulders. You lose a hint of flexibility, but the extra thickness keeps the ribs from being abused.
GOOD FIT
Fit should be snug, but not so much that you feel like there's an iron barrel around your chest. When zipping up, the neoprene should stretch around your upper body. You might have to suck in a little to get a new suit on, but it should stretch once it's wet.
SEAMS
Taped seams in the crotch and shoulders provide reinforcement to the construction and help its durability.
Used to be if you had a dive wetsuit, you were pretty much geared up for barefooting. Some footers with poor judgment still think typical wetsuits are water skiing's answer to cross-training shoes: good for just about anything.
Suit yourself bonus tips:
Always wear a pair of barefoot shorts under your suit. Even the best barefooters in the world do this for comfort and protection. Make sure they're thick barefoot shorts and not slalom shorts.
Before suiting up, call the following manufacturers and mail-order companies to find your nearest dealer or to order a free brochure:
Suit yourself-Designers and Dealers:
Intensity 800-511-0916
Barefoot International 800-932-0685
Ron Scarpa's Watersports 800-292-3668
Wet Tech 800-230-4938
Bart's 800-348-5016
Ski Limited 800-477-4040
Overton's 800-334-6541
Bare 800-663-0111
Eagle 800-862-4424
