Sinking gear recommendation for beginners

[user1217]

Hi there, for mods please move my thread if I posted in the wrong forum.

As for why I made this thread, I can't find any similar contents on this site, and even if I do it's incredibly scattered around; I hope that this thread could be a gear compilation for those who are starting out. This thread is made with those who prefer to not do nude-sinking in mind.

To recommend a gear (clothings, footwear, stick etc.) please state its name (product name if applicable) and reason, preferably with a note if applicable. Pre and post-sinking gears are welcomed as well.

You can also make a special gear request in case your mudpit(s) is less than preferable for smooth sinking (e.g. stones, possible sharp objects at bottom).

[joedeep130535]

Whatever turns you on !!! Wear anything you enjoy wearing & accept that some gear will be trashed-denim comes up smiling whatever lol
I wear anything from (indecent) thong briefs to full wetsuit depending on the weather , chances of being discovered & foreign bodies in the mud Wearing boots/wellies /waders increases the chances of getting stuck (Old)Trainers protect your feet ,come out of the mud easily & are no loss if you abandon them
I never use a stick but a buddy takes 4ft of plank to support him if he needs it
Have Fun!!




















I lways wear (old) trainers to protect my feet Remember that heavy boots/wellies/waders increase the chances of getting stuck

[Fred588]

I can only address this from the point of view of someone who has been around a LOT of sinking but is not himself a sinker. I doubt if there can be any single answer to this as what is best will depend on multiple factors. I can say that while denim can be washed it is not easy, especially if the garment is intact. It tends to have lots of folds and pockets that trap mud. Material that is fibrous tends to hold onto mud aggressively, especially peat. Lycra and many other synthetic fabrics are extremely easy to clean.

The most important item to bring along, certainly for any beginner, is a friend. A well-rehearsed cover story might be a good idea too.

[bogbud]

Whatever turns you on !!!

That pretty much sums it up

There are a mulitude of different people here, some want as much mud on their bare skin as possible, some need womens clothes and a few people like me are into boots+waterproof gear.
In fact i do always wear chestwaders, raingear and long gloves when i go sinking and i get badly stuck all the time. For me it just adds to the fun. On the other hand, when properly worn i do only get a little dirty when i sink deeper than my neck. Ask me when you are interested in specifics of the wardrobe.

Safety: A buddy is the best option of course. When you go alone you need definately a long enough and stable branch of wood (pole, plank, part of a tree-stump or the like) so that you are able to push yourself up. In my eyes a rope is useless, first you won't find something to attach it to and then you are not strong enough to pull yourself out when you are really stuck.

[user1217]

I'm looking for some stuff that will at least protect the legs and feets from possible debris in the mud, easy to get out of mud with and can easily wash off. I'll look up for trainers but I have been seeing recommendations for aqua socks, should I consider them too?

[dlodoski]

I'm looking for some stuff that will at least protect the legs and feets from possible debris in the mud, easy to get out of mud with and can easily wash off. I'll look up for trainers but I have been seeing recommendations for aqua socks, should I consider them too?

I don't have a lot of experience with sinking in pebbly or twiggy areas. But I can attest to the usefulness of beach shoes (I'm not sure if these are the same as aqua socks - in fact I kinda doubt it).

We had issue with fresh water clams at one of the natural locations we used for several seasons. I insisted that the models wore beach shoes at all times, unless we were certain that this threat was not present. They work well because they are snug and streamlined. They protect well, but don't offer any noticeable additional drag (suction) on the feet.

[Nessie]

Footwear is pretty important where I am. Boots and heavy shoes can get you seriously stuck. For people who enjoy being stuck, that works, but I am not a fan of this and anyway, you never want to get so stuck you can't get out at all, so I do not recommend that a beginner use these.

A mud buddy sent me a set of real scuba diving shoes and they ended up on the feet of every single model I shot with. Those things are technically a ladies' size 6 but they fit everybody. I still have them. They are absolutely wonderful.

A less expensive option are the beach shoes Dave mentioned. These are easily available at thrift stores. Any brand will do. I did have one set of aqua socks (they were shaped like actual socks but made of neoprene) and this worked for awhile but they stretched out over time.

Bare feet are good in smooth clay...if you have any of that!

Other than carefully considering footwear, I would say that anything that turns you on is fine. Just, you have to consider that some fabrics pick up a lot of weight and you have to think about how long and far you want to tote your mud outfit after it's been saturated. Even if you have cleanup water, it's going to be wet. I often had a plastic bag inside my backpack to keep the wetness contained.

Thrift stores and yard sales are seriously your best friend. If you end up having to toss it, you won't care if it was only a couple bucks.

Long pants of some kind are good for going through weedy, thorny areas. I was never real good at wearing long pants in hot weather but my legs often suffered the consequences!

Nessie

[user1217]

A mud buddy sent me a set of real scuba diving shoes and they ended up on the feet of every single model I shot with. Those things are technically a ladies' size 6 but they fit everybody. I still have them. They are absolutely wonderful.

I did have one set of aqua socks (they were shaped like actual socks but made of neoprene) and this worked for awhile but they stretched out over time.

You made me realise I have been mixing up scuba diving shoes with aquasocks. Yeah, I can testify that I had the shoes before and they were indeed great, but mine's bottom broke through after quite a few usages. (Though that could have been caused by wearing them and walking on the road)

[Earthscaress]

Footwear is pretty important where I am. Boots and heavy shoes can get you seriously stuck. For people who enjoy being stuck, that works, but I am not a fan of this and anyway, you never want to get so stuck you can't get out at all, so I do not recommend that a beginner use these.

A mud buddy sent me a set of real scuba diving shoes and they ended up on the feet of every single model I shot with. Those things are technically a ladies' size 6 but they fit everybody. I still have them. They are absolutely wonderful.

A less expensive option are the beach shoes Dave mentioned. These are easily available at thrift stores. Any brand will do. I did have one set of aqua socks (they were shaped like actual socks but made of neoprene) and this worked for awhile but they stretched out over time.

Bare feet are good in smooth clay...if you have any of that!

Other than carefully considering footwear, I would say that anything that turns you on is fine. Just, you have to consider that some fabrics pick up a lot of weight and you have to think about how long and far you want to tote your mud outfit after it's been saturated. Even if you have cleanup water, it's going to be wet. I often had a plastic bag inside my backpack to keep the wetness contained.

Thrift stores and yard sales are seriously your best friend. If you end up having to toss it, you won't care if it was only a couple bucks.

Long pants of some kind are good for going through weedy, thorny areas. I was never real good at wearing long pants in hot weather but my legs often suffered the consequences!

Nessie

I second long pants for going through tall grass/weedy/thorny areas. Some areas can be thick with saw grass that make tons of knicks on your legs and feet. You might be able to tough it out during a sinking session, but they hurt like a bitch in the shower afterwards and can get infected easily. That and good luck explaining why your legs and arms look like a mini-Freddy Krueger got a hold of you!

[abcde321]

I'm looking for some stuff that will at least protect the legs and feets from possible debris in the mud, easy to get out of mud with and can easily wash off. I'll look up for trainers but I have been seeing recommendations for aqua socks, should I consider them too?

I have a very good experience with aquasocks (some korea model from ebay branded "freely"). It has a good balance between protection and sensations. It's very difficult to sence than aquasocks are on you feets when your are deep inside (but them still protect your feets) and it's rather difficult to lose them in mud (if size is tight enought). Only a very, very thick clay is a problem, it starts to get this shoes off when you struggle to escape. So in most cases you can forgot about you shoes at all.
It's compact, lightweight, very simple to clear and dry and you may wear it with sneakers etc.
And neoprene is a good themoinsulation so you can for example make snowwalk (or spring mudwalk) without any problem.
One problem is that this kind of shoes isn't wery durable and brokes relatively fast (if you wear it not only in the mud). But all other shoes also brakes fast when you wear it in the mud. Aquasocks at least are really cheap and lasts about one season.
So it's the best choice for me.