For a long time I have wanted to try Force Fins. On my last dive trip I finally got that opportunity, borrowing a pair from another diver who was anxious to try my Atomic split fins. We used each others fins for 4 days, 2 dives each day. Not surprisingly, I experienced some cramping on the first couple of dives but that subsided for the rest of the time. The bigger problem I had was blisters that formed on the top of each foot. I really liked the fins and want to get a pair for myself but am concerned about the blistering. I'm wondering if this is a fit issue or just a matter of getting used to a different type of fin from my Atomics that I've used for 10+ years.
My foot size is 12 medium. I wear a hard soled 5 mm boot. I think my instep would be described as high but I'm not really sure what that means. I only comment on the instep because the sizing chart says to go up a size for a high instep and I think I might have one, because the blister formed at the bone on the top of my foot. The force fins that I used were XXL. I don't know if they were the original or the Pro version but I suspect they were originals. My boot extends about 1" to 1-1/2" out the back of the fin at the bottom of the boot. The 1/2" difference is due to the fact that the boot sole curves from the bottom up the back of the boot and that curved area makes it hard to get an exact measurement.
I have been very happy with my split fins in terms of their performance underwater, with the exception of their length. The Force Fins will solve that problem, plus they are smaller and lighter for packing, thus my reason for considering a switch. Although I have 300+ dives in the past 10 years, I am a basic recreational diver with no interest in cave or wreck diving. I do dive currents a lot, especially Cozumel. I also carry a camera with me but am not a techno geek. I do it for the fun of reliving the dives.
So...any ideas on what is causing the blistering? Is the XXL too small, such that I should go to an XXXL? Is it a muscle memory issue where I just need for my kicking style to adjust to the different type of fin? Any other possibilities that I am not considering?
Thanks in advance for your help.
My foot size is 12 medium. I wear a hard soled 5 mm boot. I think my instep would be described as high but I'm not really sure what that means. I only comment on the instep because the sizing chart says to go up a size for a high instep and I think I might have one, because the blister formed at the bone on the top of my foot. The force fins that I used were XXL. I don't know if they were the original or the Pro version but I suspect they were originals. My boot extends about 1" to 1-1/2" out the back of the fin at the bottom of the boot. The 1/2" difference is due to the fact that the boot sole curves from the bottom up the back of the boot and that curved area makes it hard to get an exact measurement.
I have been very happy with my split fins in terms of their performance underwater, with the exception of their length. The Force Fins will solve that problem, plus they are smaller and lighter for packing, thus my reason for considering a switch. Although I have 300+ dives in the past 10 years, I am a basic recreational diver with no interest in cave or wreck diving. I do dive currents a lot, especially Cozumel. I also carry a camera with me but am not a techno geek. I do it for the fun of reliving the dives.
So...any ideas on what is causing the blistering? Is the XXL too small, such that I should go to an XXXL? Is it a muscle memory issue where I just need for my kicking style to adjust to the different type of fin? Any other possibilities that I am not considering?
Thanks in advance for your help.