Fin Straps

A quick post about fin straps….
( I know, exciting isn’t it!)

Although not the most important topic when it comes to equipment choices and configuration, many people go on about different types of fin straps and what you should have / shouldn’t have.  I thought I’d quickly sum up the thinking and add my two pence worth to the topic.

Fin Straps should be metal springs, allowing for easy fitting but with a low risk of snapping Lots of technical divers and instructors

New bungee fitted to my Force Fins

My inspiration for the post came because I have just changed the bungee straps on my Force Fins.  Although they are not as popular as they used to be, and they are very much a Marmite fin (you either love them or hate them), I have used Force Fins for many, many years now and see no really reason to change.

You will hear the quote above, or something similar, from many technical divers and instructors.  In a true do as I say, not as I do mentality, I agree.  Good spring fins are less likely to snap than bungee or traditional fin straps (do people still use them?) and are easy to put on.

Then why I hear you ask do I use bungee on mine.  The main reason is I inspect all my equipment every six months (this includes fin straps).  Every year, I also replace the bungee and fittings.  It’s an aggressive schedule, but it ensure the bungee is always in good condition. Come the day when I move to a different pair of fins, I’m sure they will have a metal spring system.

And for those of you confused by the picture, the webbing strap stops my foot from going to far into the fin.  I find after about two hours of finning that my foot moves to far forward and puts pressure on my big toe.