Full Foot Vs. Adjustable strap

[Daz]

In addition to the previous points in favor of open heeled/adj fins + boots over full-foot fins, one that I haven't seen mentioned yet is the ability to carry spares and easily change out a strap when one breaks. All gear wears, and one day as you start to put your fins on your strap will break (or your heel pocket on a full-foot will split). What to do now? If you just broke a fin strap, then all you have to do is open up your SAD kit and replace the strap. If you split a heel pocket, you'll need a replacement fin. If you carry a spare fin, then no problem - but how many actually do?

All IMNSHO of course...

Daz

 

[spt29970]

All gear wears, and one day as you start to put your fins on your strap will break (or your heel pocket on a full-foot will split). What to do now? If you just broke a fin strap, then all you have to do is open up your SAD kit and replace the strap.

This is one reason I like spring straps. They might stretch, but they never break. They are also much faster to don. This nice on a boat when you have to walk to a gate and put your fins on with a line of people behind you. It is even nicer when shore diving, and you have to put them on in the surf.

 

[Alex777]

<< If you carry a spare fin, then no problem - but how many actually do? >>

Most people in the dive industry here use full-foot fins, and most own a spare pair. Anyway, I have never seen a fin pocket split, so I suspect it is not a common occurrence.

 

[pir8]

Best thing I ever did was put spring straps on all my fins.

 

[carolrose]

Best thing I ever did was put spring straps on all my fins.

Best thing I ever did is listen to Bob and put spring straps on my fins!

 

[String]

Even for warm, tropical water and pool i'd say adjustable strap with boots.

Far more comfortable and longer wearing. Less blisters. 1 grain of sand in a full foot fin is agony after a while.

Boots and adjustable strap always for me.

 

[Zoomer]

I've used both... I hate walking in the sand with shells, getting on a boat with the extra weight on my back without booties. One other thing I found with booties and straps is they seem to be more comfortable to me. Full foot fins have a tendency to rub my feet the wrong way....

Aqualung Blades II Flex...

 

[ClayJar]

If I had custom fins cast around my feet, they might be comfortable, but as that's out of the question, no full-foot fins for me regardless of anything else.

Of course, everything else is more relevant in the general case, so even if I had full-foot fins cast to fit me, I wouldn't wear them. I have plain "booties", zippered neoprene boots, lace-up shoe-style high-top boots, and so on. Each style is relevant to a particular set of gear and conditions, and having open-heel fins means I *can* use the gear best-suited to a particular dive. (I didn't have all the different options at the beginning, but gear tends to accumulate. Having flexible gear just means that it can accumulate in the cheap areas without needing to accumulate in the more expensive ones. :biggrin

Oh, and spring straps are marvelously wonderful things, indeed!

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

SOME full foot fins are made with newer, softer materials in the foot pocket, and the tenderfoot comments may be from folks that have not tried the new generation. Yes, my Gara 2000 free-dive fins rub me raw on my occasional breath-hold day. But with my previous Rondine's that were stiffer, I was free-diving extensively so I built up calluses in the necessary places.

The current crop of Mares full foot fins are very comfortable and I get no sores with occasional use. The transfer of power is better with a full foot; there is a lot of wasted wiggling in open heel fins (some more than others). As for sand in the foot pocket, if you are neutral it should be no big thing to take the fin off and dump the grain of sand out.

If you can only afford one pair, most would go with open heel. Quite a few of the avid divers I know in Hawaii have and use both regularly. I know some guides and instructors who only use full foot. If you don't try all the new fins before making your decision, it is not really your decision.

 

[Alex777]

What halemano said.