I see where Ted Swensen is still toting the footsies as an excellent insect
barrier. Maybe the codling moths and apple maggots are tamer than here
in the midwest, but they only had a marginal protection for me. The bugs
go right through many of the footsies. I have had much better luck with
plastic zip lock bags. They also get penetrated on occasion, but not nearly
as often as footsies. Footsies will deteriortate, like any nylon product, with
exposure to the sun. They make inspection of the fruit on the trees more difficult. I personally am going to stick with plastic zip lock or sandwich bags.
Sherwin Dubren
Morton Grove, Illinois 
I'm pleased someone’s made the effort to try them out - I'm too darn lazy!
But those zip-lock begs sound like a mini-greenhouse? I'm sure they don't 'zip' tight, but do you have any problems with mildew, sunscald, or rot?
They must also break down in sunlight, but are cheap enough and last long enough for a one-time job? …Not that I’m about to make the effort mind you 
I have no problems with the plastic bags acting as mini-greenhouses. That
effect does not seem to take place.
Rain water can be a problem, unless one cuts two opposing slits at the bottom of the bag to let the water drain out.
Actually, I find the plastic bags hold up well through the entire season, while the footsies seem to stiffen up and deteriorate.
The zip lock bags are the easiest to install, but there are cases where the
insects find the small opening around the stem of the fruit. Although I haven't tried yet, some people use ordinary sandwich bags and seal them
with twist ties. I think next season I will experiment with that method.
Another big advantage of plastic bags is that they are better at detering
critters from nibbling on the fallen fruit, whereas the footsies are much more vulnerable to being bitten through.
I was disappointed with my results with the footies. I got plenty of CM, I don't know if they lay eggs thru the nylon or enter thru the top which I didn't secure. Or even if they laid eggs before I put the footies on.
I believe the CM were reduced, but to what degree I'm not nearly ready to declare yet.
Worse, however, is the earwigs nesting in every single footie, around the stem of the apple. Invariably there will be an impacted mass of earwig dung around the base of the stem.
Furthermore, I had a high incidence of rotten patches on the apple. It seems any physical damage to the apple does not heal normally underneath the nylon. Bird pecks in particular lead to rotting apples that fall early. Although I think the birds will soon learn not to peck the apples cuz the footies prevent the removal of any apple bits.
I also found cases of earwigs tunneling caverns near the stem. I don't know if they initiated these caverns themselves. In any case, once they breach the apple they make a huge mess inside and the apple is unusable.
I'd like to try footies again but next time use a twist-tie around the stem to keep out the earwigs. Failing that, I'm off to the dollar-store for 4-cent sandwich bags.
Idyllwild
simplepress
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
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