Float Tube Flippers

FlyHunt

FlyHunt

Smolt
Forum Supporter
Hello Everyone,

I received a float tube but the flippers went missing at some point according to my buddy. What are some things you look for when buying float tube flippers? Is it worth spending a little extra on? Or do cheaper ones work? Any other tips would be appreciated!

Best wishes and thanks in advance!
 
I like them to float, in case they come off. I like them easy to put on and secure so they don’t come off. The best for propulsion I have used were made for diving, these can be had floating but none of them are very easy to put on, and you can’t wear wading boots in them. Some say the force fin type that straps on like a sandal are good, but I am too cheap to have any experience with those.
 
I’ll say if the fins will be your only source of propulsion (and money’s not a problem) then think about Force fins or something equally efficient.

Otherwise, I’ve had pair of these Caddis fins for about 30 years
IMG_0007.jpeg

and they work fine for a slow troll or to keep me in position…but I wouldn’t want to kick around a 30 acres lake with them.

I did it for years so that’s how I know🙄

They are still the only fins I have BUT now I have a different set up and use oars as my primary propulsion.

FWIW…I’ve seen them on eBay for as low as $20.

My son uses a pair of dive fins with an oarless tube and he can cruise with those things….you just gotta make sure they fit whatever’s on your feet. And I’ve seen plenty of fins at the local Goodwill for a decent price.

and if money’s not a concern, go for the force fins….as someone here once wrote…Buy once, Cry once 🙂
 
I've used them all, Force Fins were far better than the stiff caddis style "fins"--if you can call them that, but once I went with a pair of actual dive fins, I'll never go back, unless I'm hiking long distances (gotta wear dive booties with the dive fins), which I never am. Sold my force fins several years ago.
 
Another Force Fins user. I wear a size 11 1/2 street shoe. I use the original scuba XXXL fins with the easy on-off bungie padded heel strap over *4XL neoprene dive boots that have a rigid sole providing stability, arch support, and help prevent painful cramps in my arches I tend to get when wearing float tube booties with flexible soles because of the repeated plantar flexion of the arch from kicking which is the opposite of walking (dorsiflexion). The 4XL dive boots fit well over waders with neoprene feet and are also lighter than wading boots.

forcefin.com

ORIGINAL FORCE FIN - Force Fins | Worlds Finest Fins for Swimming, Diving, Bellyboating

Kick all day. Dance all night. Force Fins are the original, and still naturally, the most efficient fin Comfortable, easy kicking Best fin Carry on plane
forcefin.com forcefin.com
 
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Bruce Baker said:
I really like my Force Fins and liked them even better after I replaced the nylon buckle heel strap with the bungee padded heel strap a few years ago. My only regret was not changing the heel strap sooner. Such a delight to put on and take off the fins now.
Click to expand...

My force fin strap mod. I put a small piece of pipe insulation on the straps so when you cinch them down, the insulation is on your heel.
Super comfortable and it fits perfectly above the small bump on the back of my booties that is intended to stop your strap from sliding off.
SF
 
I use Force Fins with the bungee straps @Bruce Baker suggests.

Your profile says home is Olympia; may I suggest you go to a shop or two and look at fins? And @clarkman is right, with Force Fins, you most likely will wear neoprene type booties which SUCK for long hikes (that's what float tubes are for, right?); and don't discount quality neoprene boots, these are dandies: https://adamsbuiltfishing.com/product/knott-creek-neoprene-booties/ (durable with a fairly forgiving bottom for walking on fractured basalt if you ain't goin' a mile or more).

Several forum members and a friend have convinced me that when I'm hiking my float tube very far that I backpack in my waders and booties. Yes, this adds weight but it serves to reduce wear and tear on your waders, especially the neoprene feet. If you wear your waders for a long hike, you're going to work up a sweat; not a good thing for cold water fishing - another reason to carry waders in. And as a side note; the hike out is at least double the distance of the hike in.
 
Buzzy said:
with Force Fins, you most likely will wear neoprene type booties which SUCK for long hikes
Click to expand...
I use coldwater dive boots with rigid soles for commercial, rescue, and military divers.
Unfortunately these had production issues making them hard to find when I wanted to replace with the larger 4XL size that would fit better over waders but this retailer may have them now
www.uswaterrescue.com

SEASOFT STEALTH™ 6 mm Booties

SEASOFT STEALTH 6 mm Booties, wetsuit, diving, neoprene boots
www.uswaterrescue.com

My current pair, very similar, that I bought at a local dive shop where I could try on over waders

Too many Xs!
 
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Brian Miller said:
I use coldwater dive boots with rigid soles for commercial, rescue, and military divers.
Unfortunately these had production issues making them hard to find when I wanted to replace with the larger XXL size that would fit better over waders but this retailer may have them now
www.uswaterrescue.com

SEASOFT STEALTH™ 6 mm Booties

SEASOFT STEALTH 6 mm Booties, wetsuit, diving, neoprene boots
www.uswaterrescue.com

My current pair, very similar, that I bought at a local dive shop where I could try on over waders
https://www.amazon.com/SEAC-Neopren...04SHARUY?tag=divingsquad66-20&geniuslink=true
Click to expand...
Those are some beefy (good) lookin' boots! (Back to @FlyHunt - worth checking out and their fins look very interesting too.)
 
Way too many XXXXXXXs when wearing neoprene dive boots and dive fins over waders! It was a real journey to find the right fit. I wound up selling - exchanging multiple boots and fins and trying on to get a good comfortable fit that prevented cramps.

Just to be clear for my 11 1/2 street shoe size wearing wool socks inside waders with neoprene feet I needed 4XL dive BOOTS, and 3XL Original Force Fins with the Bungie staps.

And if they are available now, the Seasoft Boots were the absolute best boots I have used for float tubing since 1986 with the 1st gen UBoat with cut and vulcanized rubber inner tubes as bladders.
I've been using Original Force Fins since 1986 too. And as @Bruce Baker said that Bungie strap is a game changer.
 
Brian Miller said:
Way too many XXXXXXXs when wearing neoprene dive boots and dive fins over waders! It was a real journey to find the right fit. I wound up selling - exchanging multiple boots and fins and trying on to get a good comfortable fit that prevented cramps.

Just to be clear for my 11 1/2 street shoe size wearing wool socks inside waders with neoprene feet I needed 4XL dive BOOTS, and 3XL Original Force Fins with the Bungie staps.

And if they are available now, the Seasoft Boots were the absolute best boots I have used for float tubing since 1986 with the 1st gen UBoat with cut and vulcanized rubber inner tubes as bladders.
I've been using Original Force Fins since 1986 too. And as @Bruce Baker said that Bungie strap is a game changer.
Click to expand...
Yeah, a TON of trial and error to land where I have regarding fit over waders while still fitting inside the dive fins.

I have a pair of NRS dive booties that do the trick.
 
Stonedfish said:
My force fin strap mod. I put a small piece of pipe insulation on the straps so when you cinch them down, the insulation is on your heel.
Super comfortable and it fits perfectly above the small bump on the back of my booties that is intended to stop your strap from sliding off.
SF
Click to expand...
My issue was that I had some difficulty with buckling and cinching them down, especially in cold weather. And a bonus, is I can be sitting or standing up with the bungee...lol.
 
I used to be an avid diver and was very familiar with the local dive shops including Underwater Sports here in Seattle. When gearing up for float tube fishing, I stopped into US and lo and behold they had a pair of Force Fins. The salesman, assuming I was intending to dive with them, said they weren’t any good (and they would be inferior to Jet Fins, which I still have). “Sixty bucks and they’re yours.” (Think they listed at around $150 to $180 at the time, 1988.) I didn’t bother to inform him of intended use and I remember the girl on the cash register questioning him and disavowing any part in the sale. Quite possibly the best and maybe only real bargain I’ve had in fly gear.
 
Bruce Baker said:
My issue was that I had some difficulty with buckling and cinching them down, especially in cold weather. And a bonus, is I can be sitting or standing up with the bungee...lol.
Click to expand...

Bruce,
Sorry for any confusion. I only have pairs of the old style with just the single strap, so no buckling issues with those.
SF
 
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