I just went to Sportsmen warehouse and saw they had force find on discount for their last pair so I bought them and they told me it's the last pair because none of their store carry them anymore.
The size is to small for my wader with boots so I'm just curious is there any big di
vantages while float tubing just in wader than wader and boots on?
Is their any warmth difference if I have no boots on while in the fin?
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There are several advantages of wearing boots with your waders.
1- If you have very far to walk to launch you don't want to walk in just your waders.
2- If you get blown away from where you launched you might have a long walk back.
3- There is a heat benefit from boots as long as you get them large enough that you don't crowd your feet when you have on thick socks.
Just my 2 cents worth.[
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All the above mentioned and you may need to get out to go to the restroom or may want to fish the shore, who knows, at least have boots with you or some old shoes.
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Just thought that I might get some water shoes payed $89.99 for the fins and now they cost like $200 from force fins website. [laugh]
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I just keep a pair of booties in the pocket of pontoon.
Windriver
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I ran into the same problem last year when I bought those fins. I also noticed they kind of dig into my ankle and bother my feet where my old Caddis fins with boots didn't. I just ordered some scuba diver boots to try with them. The material should be thin enough to fit in the fins but will hopefully offer some more cushion and support. Up until now I've just been wearing some cheap aqua sock knockoffs with them and they work fine as far walking to the water and such.
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Definately wear boots. The straps on the fins when rubbing can be hard on neoprene stockingfoot waders.
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Stockingfoot is all I've ever used while tubing. I use a pair of slip on water shoes for walking around.
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Sell the fins and get some that fit over your wading boots. The Creek Company has some great fins that slip over the front of the boot and get pretty snug, plus the rubber strap slips over the back to hold them on.
Great fins. You can usually find them in a sporting goods store for less than what they sell for on their website. Great fins.
The force fins look neat and I'm sure they're fast, but way overpriced and don't fit too well.
Without wearing at least some type of footwear, you're going to chew through your waders quickly. Pit stops while tubing don't usually call you when you're near a bathroom.
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My force fins look like this:
http://www.forcefin.com/mm5/graphics/000...rip282.jpg
They have the neoprene cover over the straps and covers your ankles by the plastic sides. They're super comfortable in just my waders booties. I bought some cheap sandals that are a couple sizes too big to walk to and from the lake and I just throw them in the pocket on the back of my tube when I get down to the lake.
I just wear some smartwool socks and have never been cold. It helps that you're constantly kicking to keep the blood flowing to your feet too.
If you have the force fins that are plastic all the way around, I would recommend some neoprene booties to go over your waders booties.
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Here are my NRS water shoes, they go over my waders and fit nice in my flippers, plus I can walk in them and they are super light and comfy, no kicking around with my boots! And remember that Amazon is your friend, got me some awesome fins for about $40.
I almost don't need my motor with these fins![
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I have a pair of these fins that were given to me and I love them. And I have size 13 feet so have had the same problem with that. I cut the feet out of some old neoprene waders and use them as a liner to protect my waders. I also keep an old pair of sandles with the Velcro straps I got from my dad who has size 14 extra wide feet to wear when I need to walk. I bet you could find something like that at a store like Ross or a thrift store for not much money. I certainly would not win any fashion contest with what I have. If you do use the old waders you will need to cut some holes for the water to drain out
Good luck with that.
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When I wade a stream or use a float tube I have always just used an old pair of sneakers over my waters.
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Ya I'm going to check rei and see how those nrs water shoes will fit with waders and on the fins I got. If I don't like my fins I will just sell them online and get one of those fins you got.
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Ya I end up returning those force fins tired many of those water neoprene shoes and I keep feeling it digging in my foot. Just wish they had an xl size then those fins would be great.
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I really wish I'd returned mine, but I ordered them from Amazon, so I didn't want to deal with the hassle of sending them back. I may just go back to my old Caddis fins for a while. At least they're comfortable and they're easy to get in and out of the water with. I was just really surprised by all the positive reviews for the force fins on Amazon. I find them extremely uncomfortable and didn't notice much difference in my speed with them.
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Ya I will probably never get force fins again especially now they only make one size fits all... One size fits all hmmmm it sure doesn't fit a 9.5 - 10 size water shoes with waders on.
Just notice outcast got a new fin and actually looks pretty nice.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Outcast-P...926029.uts
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Yeah, there's no way my size 12 boot was fitting in there.
Those fins look interesting. I like that step in style of fin, but they look like they may have more thrust than my old Caddis fins.
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[#0000FF]I would not recommend those Outcast fins. They are just copycat from the old strap on Force fins. I tried a pair of those...once. Took me about five minutes on the water and I got out, removed them and put my divers fins back on.
The fin blade is too small to allow you to get any speed and move around all day without a hernia or leg cramps. Propulsion is a factor of energy expended per pound of push. Ideally you want a long flexible blade...not too stiff or too flexible. Just enough to move you through the water without taxing your legs too much.
Also, the Force fins propel mostly on the upkick. A good pair of divers' fins push on both the upkick and downkick.
I've been using swim fins for both diving and float tubing for over 50 years and believe me I have tried just about everything available. For the type of kicking and propulsion needed in float tubing a good pair of divers fins is best for most folks.
And you have (or should have) learned a valuable lesson. Don't buy fins first. Get your waders and then some divers booties (or water shoes) that fit over them comfortably...without constriction. Then get fins to go over everything...without constriction. If anything does not fit or is too tight you will have foot problems...cold and cramping or blisters.
During my early years of tubing there was not nearly the options we now have. Fins were all of hard stiff rubber that killed your legs...and were not made in sizes large enough for feet bigger than size 11 or 12. Ditto for divers booties. So it was tough to put together a setup that allowed me to fish comfortably in cold water. It was tough enough to get my waders and fins on without extra socks so I couldn't really dress for cold. Had to get out every half hour or so and do the "tubers' dance" to get feeling back in my feet.
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