Fishing Forum

Briefly...to intro myself: I'm a 50 year old fly fisherman from central WA state. Been away from tubing for years...just getting back to it. Been checking site for a while here. Great info. Just registered today. Gots a new ODC 420.
I know this is not first time it has been asked...but I'm still not clear on it after reading older posts:
I wear a 9.5 men's shoe. I plan on wearing breathable waders w/ 3mm neoprene feet...and plan on getting a hard sole bootie so I can wade and walk the shorelines when necessary. Not sure if I want to order the Regular/ Medium fin or the XL. Please advise. Also...are these x3's much different than the Quattro? What are differences? Which do you guys prefer?
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hey c1eddy I am also new to the forums today and just purchased a ODC420 where did you get yours? I also ordered the Mares Plana Avanti X3's. I tried them on in a local store and the size was extra large I wear a size 11 shoe and have the same type of wader boot setup as you and although i didnt have my waders there I did try them on with a wader boot they had in my size and it fit like a glove with plenty of room for sizing or adjustment. The fins do require 2 hands to tighten but only 1 to loosen, they are also super nice and I am glad I grabbed em. I would get a large if I was you just to be safe.
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[cool][#0000ff]Welcome aboard. Now have fun. That's an order.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe and I have been using the Mares fins for almost 30 years. Bought the second set only about 4 years ago. Still have the first set which we keep for family, friends and newbie instruction. I wear a size 13 shoe and get the XL fins. She wears the equivalent of a man's size 9 or so and she gets the L size. The fins are greatly adjustable for different amounts of warmth and padding inside your waders. We wear the same fins year 'round, making adjustments up or down for different footwear requirements. That includes fishing "wet"...with no waders...and fishing with two or three layers under neoprene booties in cold weather. The soft foot pocket and easy adjust features make it simple.[/#0000ff]
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Tubedude you dont ever wear the waders with actual boots attached on them? Seemed like I had read through here somewhere that people were doing that and it wasn't very constricting or weighing you down, my Mares aren't here yet but after trying the ones in the store on with boots I was pretty confident that it would be just fine with boots. Should I reconsider is the stockingfoot wader the way to go?
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Thanks for the welcome, TubeDude. Look forward to learning and contributing. This is my second go around w/tubing. Had one of the original canvas tubes back about 30 yrs. ago (it was a few years old when I got it). Graduated to a Caddis deluxe model for a few years...then got tired of freezing my arse off in water up to naval. Fished the shoreline or used a boat for next 25yrs. Been intigued with the newer...higher seat models for years. Took the plunge a couple weeks ago on the ODC 420. Been out chasing Bass and Bluegill a couple times now. Much nicer than the old doughnut tube! Noticed that carrying a pump for re-inflation is necessary for evenings...as one night I found myself sitting in water shortly after the sun went down.
To answer your question about where I got it, Brad; won a fleabay auction for $100! Figured the ODC company or one of their dealers was having a cash crunch and they were selling a couple a day for about 2 weeks. Or maybe they are closing out the model. Some lucky dude got one for about $78! Most went for $115-130.
TuberDude... sounds likeTubeBabe and I have similar size feets. Does she wear waders that have a built-in neoprene foot, along with a neoprene bootie over it? If so..is the bootie a thin-sole bootie or a thicker sole model? Is there room for the thicker sole?
Also...can anyone chime in on the X3 vs. Quattro differences?
Thanks...Chris N.
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c1eddy... I recently bought the X3 fins and wear a size 9 mens shoe. I bought a size large and my neoprene wader feet fit comfortably inside as well as my wading SHOES (not worn with waders). I would not be able to put the wading BOOTS I wear over my waders into the fins but I wouldn't have any reason to either. Good luck and good fun!

Steve_IA
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Hey Steve you say you would not have any reason to wear the wading boots over your waders in the fins. Why is that I guess that I am somewhat unclear as I have a breathable and neorpene pair of waders that both have boots attached and was planning wearing either of those with my X3's in XL size, I wear a size 11 shoe. It always seemed to me that it might be somewhat restricting but I have never really gotten a clear anwser
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Thanks for your response, Steve.
I'd like to better clarify what I'm asking (I see now that my original question was unnecessarily confusing, as my regular shoe size is immaterial in this matter. Sorry bout that). I wear neoprene-footed breathable waders. After trying different sizes of hard-sole diver's booties over these waders ...I found that the diver booties I will wear will likely be a size 11, and they'll be the thicker-sole type like these [url "http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/CategoryID_983/Context_980/Sort_Price/DescSort_0/BLRBU.html?Hit=1"]http://www.leisurepro.com/...t_0/BLRBU.html?Hit=1[/url] so that I can occasionally get out and work the shoreline. So... size 11 diver bootie w/ thicker sole. Will I need the XL's?
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[cool][#0000ff]Just to be sure we are talking apples and apples, there are essentially two styles of waders. 1. "Boot foot"...with built in hard soled boots...for wading streams and such. 2. "Stocking foot"...with either plain breathable wader material for the feet or neoprene foot sections.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You CAN use boot foot waders for tubing, but they are usually so large and bulky that they do not fit well inside divers' fins and usually require the strap on style of fins. But, with smaller sizes of boots and the largest size fins you might be able to make it work.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most tubers and tooners who get the neoprene foot pocket waders either wear a pair of inexpensive "water shoes" or the divers' booties. The main consideration is to be sure they are large enough to pull over a "fully loaded" wader-clad foot...while you are wearing a couple of pairs of socks. Divers' booties are designed to be worn over bare feet, or with only maybe one pair of socks for cushioning. They are cut "slim" and not designed for bulky wader covered feet. So...you really need to try them on over your waders to be sure they will be large enough. Going by shoe size and extrapolating is usually not going to work. In other words, merely going up 2 sizes for the booties may not be enough. Unless the design of the boot is right, you might not be able to even get your foot inside. That's why low cut designs are better than high cut. And, you may even have to slit the top like I have on my current models.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here is a link to a post I put up on it.[/#0000ff]
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[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=406016;#406016"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=406016;#406016[/url]
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[#0000ff]And a picture of what they look like with some neoprene straps added for better closure on the top.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hope that helps. [/#0000ff]
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Well damn, Tubedude thanks for clearing that up I definitely needed clarification, now if only I didnt have two pairs of boot foot waders and nothing else. I guess i'll be doing it that way this season. I thought you had the Mares x3's Tubedude, when you are fully neoprene outfitted how much strap is left on your fins? As I am a size 11 shoe and waders too.....so If you have plenty of strap left then I should be just fune. The fins should be here today I'll post how it goes. Sorry c1eddy for kinda jackin the thread
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[cool][#0000ff]I wear a size 13 shoe...BIGFOOT. I have trouble finding water shoes or divers booties big enough to stuff my "fully loaded" wader foot into. But, I did find some size 16s online that filled the bill.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I do have the Mares Plana Avanti...regular version. X3's are newer and maybe improved??? For my size 13s, I have the XL size fins. When fishing wet, with only a pair of watershoes over my stocking covered bare feet, I have to pull the adjustment straps almost all the way to the last ridge...as small as they will go. But, when I am fully stuffed for cold water, in bulky neoprenes, I still have some room left on the strap if I needed it. The big soft foot pocket on those fins forms around whatever I put in them and I fish comfortably in all seasons.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]With a size 11 shoe, I am guessing that you can get by with the L size fins. Might be just a bit tight if you add too many layers, but that is something you should try before you buy. The XL would almost certainly be TOO LARGE for warm water wear without waders and booties.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Try your new fins on when they get there and you will know for sure. Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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Brad... I wouldn't wear the X3 fins over my wading BOOTS because it is not as comfortable as wearing the wading shoes (waderless) or the neoprene waders alone (bootless) I bought a pair of size XL flip flops to take me from my vehicle to the lake when I have to wear the waders.

Would the size L X3's work for your size 11 feet... I don't know? Will they work for a size 9 1/2 foot... I'm confident they will.
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[quote c1eddy]so that I can occasionally get out and work the shoreline. [/quote]

c1eddy... I work the shoreline best from my tube (that's why I have it) and once launched don't leave my seat until I'm ready to beach and go home. (Or occasionally to help Mother Nature water one of her chosen shoreline bushes.)
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[cool][#0000ff]Hey gang. There is yet another alternative footwear for tubing...or just for protecting soft neoprene foot pockets.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe wore some of these on our trip yesterday and pronounced them to be both comfortable and efficient. Many discount stores and sports outlets have the "cheap knockoffs" of the original "Crocs". They are lightweight, waterproof and have a good protective sole. [/#0000ff]
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Did she wear them while tubing or as neoprene foot protection from vehicle to lake?
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I am not saying the fins are a bad choice...but he already has BOOT FOOT waders, why not a different fin?

I know TD doesn't care for them, but several here including myself swear by FORCE FIN.

I wear boot foot hip waders or breathables with Simms Boot and the fins are fully adaptable.

Allot easier to buy different fins instead of new waders and aqua shoes.
I am only suggesting to work with what you have.[]

Oh and Steve, you were just the last poster so I tagged on to your, this is not directed at you.[laugh]
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[quote Steve_IA]Did she wear them while tubing or as neoprene foot protection from vehicle to lake?[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]We tubed "wet". When we go without waders we usually dress for how we will hit the water when we get there. I was wearing my water shoes and TubeBabe was wearing her "plastic clogs". When we got there she just put on the fins, made a minor adjustment on the straps and launched. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]She did wear a pair of socks between feet and shoe to reduce potential blistering. Worked great. Only took her a few minutes on the water before she stated that they were comfortable and working fine.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am guessing that they would work just as well as a protective walking surface for neoprene wader feet, if you can buy a pair large enough to accomodate whatever you need to stuff in them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here is a picture from the report I posted. You can see her blue shoesies in the picture.[/#0000ff]
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[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=49585"][#63626b]TUBEBABE'S TRIO.jpg[/#63626b][/url] (171 KB)
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I have a pair of camo crocs that I wear with my waders to and from the truck. then I just ditch them on the beach while I am out floating. I could take them with me I guess. But I'm still very new so I don't go far from my launching point. They would have come in handy when I fell in last week though.

Jason
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[cool][#0000ff]Fell in? Well, I wasn't supposed to tell, but TubeBabe slipped on the slick algae at the top of the launch ramp yesterday morning and got to "sit down" in the water...to check temperature I guess. I had to come over and help pull her up so she didn't slip again. The soles on the shoes she had were hard rubber and slick. After that she was a lot more careful about keeping her center of gravity low and using the tube for support as she launched and beached from the ramp.[/#0000ff]
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Chivalry lives! I trust not as much as a snicker was evident from you.

I guess I'll stick with my wading shoes when "wet" floating.

Steve_IA
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