Mares Fin Buckles

[silvernotch]

After 3 years the buckles on my fins have not loosened up at all on my Mares Avanti X3's and are nearly impossible to get open without ripping my fingers and nails apart. Is there anything I can do to loosen them up? Maybe file some of the plastic a bit or some kind of lubrication. Don't get me wrong I like how secure they are while I'm diving but trying to get them off before hopping back on the boat in not-so-calm seas is next to impossible and very frustrating.

And I should note this would be a temporary fix, I leave for STX on Sunday and plan on getting spring straps before my next outing so I need to make these work for right now.

 

[decompression]

I've had several and they all loosened up through use.....before filing maybe try a bit of silicon grease. After that, gentle rubbing with fine grit sand paper. Or.....spring straps.

 

[lmorin]

Get rid of the buckles and replace the straps with springstraps. I did so and have never looked back.