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Thanks for the info guys...
Sorry I wasn't more clear re: width...I was referring to the Chota Kick Boot Booties Bam mentioned...I can't seem to find any wide enough and no one in town has the Chota's for me to try on.
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Respect Your Elders!
Ducksterman
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Plain Old Jim:
Don't get overly concerned with the amount of flipper that extends past the toe of your boot.
Even though when you put on a pair of the adjustable Float Tube Force Fins it may appear that only a 10? or so of flipper is available for work; the entire length of the flipper comes into play when your are working your way through the water. The portion of the flipper that sits under your wading shoe/boot/bootie will flex away from the bottom of the sole of your foot because of the flexing action of the material used to make Force Fins. A scuba type flipper that is designed to stick your bootied foot into has a maximum of length mostly because of the way your leg is positioned when propelling your self through the water. The Force Fin Float Tube flipper is designed more for a knees bent at a right angle type of finning.
If this is any indication of the efficiency of my adjustable Float Tube Force Fins; my buddy who has longer length scuba type fins loses every race we have in our float tubes to see who gets to the honey hole first!
Also in regards to the Chota Kick Boot Booties: I also tried in vain to see a pair before I bought them; but here in the Northeast where I live float tubing is as uncommon as common sense. I ordered a pair sight unseen from Feather Craft and should see them on Monday.
As far as size goes I have Chota STL?s which I wear in size 12 on my 10-1/2 sized foot. I like the extra room because of the stiffness of the heavier STL boot style. I ordered the Kick Boot Booties in size 11 as recommended by Chota figuring that I wouldn?t need as much room in a softer shoe. I?ll find out if I was right when they arrive. As with regular shoes if width is a problem a longer length shoe will move the widest part of the shoe to the widest part of the foot.
If you are interested I?ll tell you my findings on the Kick Boot Booties when they arrive.
[This message has been edited by Bamboozle (edited 11 June 2005).]
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Bam,
That is exackery the kind of info I needed. By the time you read all force fins' propangda....they all say they are better at something....you left still wondering. I think the float tube flipper is just that....the best for the float tuber. But, I really needed to hear you say that to become convinced in my mind. ICW posting yo bootie results. I am betting you be dissapointed...but I hope you are not. I have a busy week next week, but hope to make a run to Tucson and get some Neoprene velcro latching booties and force fins. I will let you know how they turn out as well.
Thanks for info.
Seriously
Jim
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They thanks Silver, Duck, and JC and Joe and P as well. It's all good. Hard to remember everybody at the end of a thread to thank...but it is all good. Just more info for the data bank between my ears.
But, P......a red boat, black fins, military green booties two tone lace with PURPLE? Has the fly tying gotten to you? <grin>
Jim
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ducksterman:
I got my Chota Kick Boot Booties and although I haven?t given them the official in the water; flippin? and floppin? test; I like what I see.
As I said before I wear a 10-1/2 D width, street shoe. When I buy regular wading shoes I buy size 12. When I have custom shoes made for me by Russell Moccasin based on a foot tracing in my waders the size they come up with is size 12 E; so lets use that as a baseline. I ordered the Kick Boot Booties in size 11.
I tried the Chota?s on with the socks I normally wear and then with my waders. They seemed to fit me perfectly and were comfortable. The neoprene is sufficiently stretchy so I can?t imagine any foot cramping or pain from too tight shoes. The zippered side makes getting them on and off a breeze and they have Velcro adjustment straps over the instep and across the back of the heel for a snug fit. I then put on my adjustable Float Tube Force Fins and the fit and feel was great with no interference between the Chota Velcro straps and the Force Fin adjustment straps.
So based on my initial impressions I?m keeping them and I think I made the right decision in regards to size: a ? size larger. As far as you finding a pair to try on I may have a solution if you have a kayak or canoe type outfitter in your area. Chota makes a bootie for paddlers called surprisingly enough a ?Paddling Bootie?. The Chota River Runner line of paddling booties is essentially the same as the Kick Boot Bootie except for color and lack of the same Velcro strapping system. If your local paddling type store sells this shoe in the size you were considering in the Kick Boot Bootie I would guarantee the fit would be the same.
Walk in with your waders on and give them a try.
Good luck!
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Just FYI. My fins and bootie problem is fixed. The lady loaned me the Force Fins back and the neoprene bootie that I had used before and told me to just keep them till I get my own. I am able to see the force fin is an original XXL and therefore can purchase that. The neoprene bootie I really like had the name Glacier Glove size XL. I went to glacierglove.com or sumpin like that....clicking on "Fishing Accessories" brings up the exact boot I want as the first picture! Called them today and ordered. $43.95 plus $6 UPS and she says I will have them in two days. uh...I really like the velcro latching on the outside of the ankle. NO zipper and NO straps. They fitted me perfecto before when I used them, I wore them all day on the lake without even thinking about them, so they work for me. Now I have the exact same things on order. Thanks for the help....especially on the fin choice. Just FYI for others.
Jim