Float Tube Flippers

I still use the caddis, and oar if I need to go faster on my SouthFork. I've an old pair of neoprene flats booties I wear with them to protect my waders from gravel while I'm walking around before launching and after I get out, I used to wear an old pair of sandals, I'll do anything to not wear wading boots with fins. I'm sure Force Fins are far superior, but, well, they ain't superior to my oars.
 
Stonedfish said:
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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No confusion. My bad. I have a pair of float tube fins with a rubber heel strap that needed to be buckled. I mistakenly thought that was also with my non-adjustable Force Fins. I believe the only Force Fins to have a buckle are the adjustable ones.
 
Stonedfish said:
only have pairs of the old style with just the single strap, so no buckling issues with those.
SF
Bruce Baker said:
mistakenly thought that was also with my non-adjustable Force Fins.
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My original FFs had the single nylon or polyester strap and a thick piece of rubber tubing as a pad around the Achilles tendon. At some point over the years both rubber pads failed. I think I wound up getting OEM replacement straps too but they didn't come with the pads. Getting the fins on and off was more of a hassle getting the soft nylon or polyester straps up over the strap keeper on the boots without the pads providing some rigidity. @Stonedfish adding the pipe insulation is a great idea!
But because nylon or polyester straps on my other fins going through a friction buckle have slipped in water I used a safety keeper around my foot too making it a little more of a hassle.
I agree with @Bruce Baker that the optional padded bungie straps that are available as an aftermarket OEM upgrade with tabs on the top and bottom to quickly pull the pad and bungie over the boot strap keeper and seat snugly around the Achilles without further adjustment are more secure and a lot easier to use.
 
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Brian Miller said:
My original FFs had the single nylon or polyester strap and a thick piece of rubber tubing as a pad around the Achilles tendon. At some point over the years both rubber pads failed. I think I wound up getting OEM replacement straps too but they didn't come with the pads. Getting the fins on and off was more of a hassle getting the soft nylon or polyester straps up over the strap keeper on the boots without the pads providing some rigidity. @Stonedfish adding the pipe insulation is a great idea!
But because nylon or polyester straps on my other fins going through a friction buckle have slipped in water I used a safety keeper around my foot too making it a little more of a hassle.
I agree with @Bruce Baker that the optional padded bungie straps that are available as an aftermarket OEM upgrade with tabs on the top and bottom to quickly pull the pad and bungie over the boot strap keeper and seat snugly around the Achilles without further adjustment are more secure and a lot easier to use.
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The original rubber strap pads on my FF failed rather quickly. I put packing tape around the pipe insulation for added durability. I bet it’s been on my fins for at least 10 years. I’ve probably had my FF for about 30 years and I’ve never lost one.
SF
 
Josh said:
Make or buy a set of flipper keepers. The standard Outcast fins come with a set installed. Outcast also sells the keepers separately. A set of the style that bodysurfers use are even cheaper and would likely work.

They are also pretty easy to make if you have some paracord, nylon webbing scraps, and buckles.
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I prefer these standard outcast flippers over my force fins. I will use the force fins on lakes you can drive to( which I mostly avoid), but they are heavy and don’t fit in my backpack too well. The standard outcast are lighter, cheaper, stack together for transport, are easy to put on and have installed fin keepers.

Either one is a good option.
 
Brian Miller said:
My original FFs had the single nylon or polyester strap and a thick piece of rubber tubing as a pad around the Achilles tendon. At some point over the years both rubber pads failed. I think I wound up getting OEM replacement straps too but they didn't come with the pads. Getting the fins on and off was more of a hassle getting the soft nylon or polyester straps up over the strap keeper on the boots without the pads providing some rigidity. @Stonedfish adding the pipe insulation is a great idea!
But because nylon or polyester straps on my other fins going through a friction buckle have slipped in water I used a safety keeper around my foot too making it a little more of a hassle.
I agree with @Bruce Baker that the optional padded bungie straps that are available as an aftermarket OEM upgrade with tabs on the top and bottom to quickly pull the pad and bungie over the boot strap keeper and seat snugly around the Achilles without further adjustment are more secure and a lot easier to use.
Click to expand...
You summed things up perfectly and explained it a lot better.
 
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.
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Do you have pics? What size bungee do you use?
Thanks.
 
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