Which Force Fins & Boots?

I went out in 1' waves and high winds with a pair of nice felt bottomed wading boots, in my float tube, and a pair of cheap flippers. I now find out I need Force Fins. Which ones.....the 18" or the 21". With a big size 13 tennis shoe style bootie and the 18" there wasn't much flipper sticking out past the shoe to propel with. I don't wear 13's.....I am a 8.5 to 9 size foot guy. But was having trouble finding something that didn't cramp my toes in width. A great Simms wading sandal would work terrific but the moulding in the toe area cramped my toes to the point of uncomfortable. Someone loaned me a pair of 18" force fins and a neoprene bootie and that was great. Her husband doesn't use them anymore but they didn't want to sell them to me. Too bad, perfect fit. Bought Hodgman's for wife that zip up front and couldn't even get the zipper up. Friend also had same trouble with Hodgmans. Unfortunately that is all Sportsmans Warehouse sells. I saw a boatload of cheap shoes at Wal-Mart that looked like they would work. Tennish shoes, etc....So my questions are do I get the 18" or the 21" Force Fin....and would some cheap shoe from Wal-Mart ($9 & up) work with the fins and my expensive sock soled Simms waders? Or should I get a brand name neoprene bootie made for the job? (Had to pay $90 for wife's Simms sandals but they perfect for her.)

Jim

Jim,
Just to start this off...

It's something I've been paying attention to...and there is a recent thread ...I came away feeling that if one is going to spring for Force Fins it might as well be the adjustable ones....incidently my first fins were Force fins which I went away from because of the fit problem but I'm giving them a try again...they're XL's

Incidentally, I didn't know they had 18 and 21 inch ones.

Sportsman's Warehouse prices are $20 less than suggested...but I don't know if they have adjustables.

I have the same problem as you re: width but also wear a 12 shoe so it's an issue getting something to fit in my current Force Fins...right now I just wear a cheap pair of Aqua socks over my stocking foot waders and take them off to get into the fins...leave on the bank or store in a pocket... incidentally just tried the Hodgman bootie...size 14 and they were too narrow...returning them today...

I'm sure you'll be getting a lot of input on this..

[This message has been edited by ducksterman (edited 12 June 2005).]

Go with the adjustable Float Tube Force Fins. They only come in one size and they work great. I've had mine for several years now and they are made to last, work well and well worth the $$$.
[url=http://www.forcefin.com/FF_PAGES/FF_Products/floattubeforce.htm:d79a6]http://www.forcefin.com/FF_PAGES/FF_Products/floattubeforce.htm[/url:d79a6]

They are available from Cabela's
[url=http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0011322312111a&type=product&cmCat=se arch&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&QueryTex t=force+fins&_DARGS=%2Fca%20belas:d79a6]http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0011322312111a&type=product&cmCat=se arch&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&QueryTex t=force+fins&_DARGS=%2Fc abelas[/url:d79a6] %2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jhtml.22&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall &Nty=1&Ntt=force+fins&noImage=0&returnPage=sear ch-results1.jhtml

By the way I use the crappiest pair of wading shoes I could find with my neoprene bootied waders and have no problem using the Force Fins. I just sprung for a pair of the new Chota Kick Boot Booties, (say that three times fast), but haven't received them yet to review.


[This message has been edited by Bamboozle (edited 10 June 2005).]

Bam,
Can you let us know if they tend to run narrow or wide?

http://homepage.mac.com/riverwader/....cratch/fin.jpg

"we dont need no stink'n force fins" http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif

10 years with these guys and still going strong; and they move ya right along.

Have fun
Paul

ducksterman:

I wear a normal, (D) width shoe size 10-1/2. So that means that my wading shoes & wader bootie sort of make my foot an E or Double EE width as evidenced by the size of a custom pair of wading shoes I have.

That being said; the pair of adjustable float tube Force Fins I have fit me just fine. There is a heel pocket thingy and a strap that is adjustable that goes behind your ankle. The other adjustable strap goes over your instep. The ONLY place that isn?t adjustable is where your heel sits and unless you have an elephant sized heel you or anybody else should be fine. Depending on where you set your foot in the fin, you can determine where the instep strap sits making a comfortable fit a breeze.

I find them extremely comfortable; easy to put on and take off and they are built like a brick $h!t house; I mean the quality is incredible! If you are lucky enough to have a Cabela?s or possibly Bass Pro nearby go see them for yourself. You will instantly see why they cost 4X as much as the plastic ?float tube? fins everybody else sells. The best part is the really do work better and at least for me give me better results and less cramping and fatigue.

As I said I had trouble in the hurricane wit my outfit....wader SHOES....and cheapie fins. Last Saturday a friend loaned me the 18.5 inch Force Fins....plain solid rubber top...(as opposed to the adjustables) and a neoprene bootie that velcrowed to strap it on. ONE big open flap, not straps. One big open flap, I slide my foot in and just stretch the wrap around flap to the velcro on the bootie and rub it in! That's it. Worked great. I go online everywhere and only see the neoprene's in zip up style. That may work zipping up the side as the Chota's do. But the zip up the top Hodgmans for the wife didn't even come close. Sooooo....I was hoping to find the velcro jobbies. Tight Lines in Tucson says he has then....alon with the "XXL" adjustable size Force Fin! I gotta make a run to Tucson. BTW...Sportsmans Warehouse in Phoenix has the 18.5" Adjustable force fin for $85. The heavier wader boot I had on and the cheapie flippers didn't come close to the ease of the Force Fins with the lightweight neoprene bootie. Gotta have it. Bam, I been ALL OVER the force fin website. By the time you read about each one designed to propel you better.....I am left with still not knowing which would be better. My friend from Phoenix has a size 13 foot and wears the 21". I may see him this week. He HAS to have the 21"......Thanks all. For now I am going to cut a "V" in my Wal-****"s and cross my fingers.

Jim

What Bamboozle said is right on the money regarding the fit and performance of Adjustable Force Fins. However they do not sell them at Bass Pro. Cabelas does have them as well as a lot of sporting goods dealers and fly shops.

They only come in one length but, as bamboozle said, you can adjust where your foot mounts in the foot pocket to give you more or less fin extending from the toes.

I often wear them with soft booties, which are very comfortable. If I am going to do a lot of walking or the footing to the water is rough, I wear wading boots. The Adjustable handles both.

I have tested most of the fins out there and Force Fins are by far the most comfortable and best performing I have used.

------------------
Joe

Go with the adjustables period.

I have the cheaper non-adjustables and, while I like the fin, I'm very sorry I didn't go the extra bucks for the adjustables. Then you could wear cheap sneakers, wading boots, reef runners, whatever. With the non-adjustables, I can only fit them over my wader's bootie. Means I have to wear reef runners over the bootie to get to the water and then take them off, and put on the fins.

Go with the adjustables.

Silvertop

Thanks men. You too Silvertop2!
ahhhhhh....just kiddin' Silvertop2. A little humor there....as W.C. Fields says..."...yeah....Very Little Humor"

Fire in the hole!

Jim

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.

------------------
Respect Your Elders!
Ducksterman

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).]

Please do..

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

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

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!

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