08-11-2003, 08:18 PM
[cool]First of all, do you have the type of fins with adjustable heel straps? That would help solve some of the problem. If not, if you have the whole foot pocket fins, without much adjustability, that will be a different matter.
I always recommend that you buy fins with all your gear with you to test the fit. Cram on as many layers as you would wear on a super cold day, and then buy fins big enough to handle the load. If you force your properly layered feet into fins that are too small, you WILL get foot cramps. These are caused by constriction and forcing the bones and muxcles to assume unnatural positions. In the winter it will make your feet get cold quickly, not just because of the water temperature, but because when your feet are constricted you do not get the warming blood flow. It doesn't matter how many layers of wool or neoprene you have on, if you are not getting any blood flow.
In the warmer weather, when the water temps get over about 75, it is more refreshing and less hassle to fish without waders. But, there does need to be something between your feet and the fins. I wear the Redhead "flats boots"...skin diver neoprene booties, with a hard sole. I wear one pair of nylon socks over my foot, before putting on the bootie. Nylon is more frictionless than cotton and less likely to cause blisters.
You can also use those cheapie "reef walkers"...the slip on nylon shoes with the hard rubber sole. AGain, revommend that you have at least one pair of socks on between your bare foot and the slip-on. You can also use an old pair of cheap deck shoes or tennies that have lost their charm. These are light and flexible enough for comfort, but rigid enough to help hold on the fins.
Sorry, I have been meaning to put together a pictorial of the kinds of footwear I use...or have used...for float tubing. I have tried just about everything at one time or another. Money is always a consideration, but if you get serious you may need to consider either another set of foot coverings...or another set of fins. You can always add layers to fill in some slack space...but you can't chop off some toes to make more room if it is too crowded in there.
Let me know what kind of fins you have and we can work from there. In the meantime, ditch the neoprenes and fish in comfort.
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I always recommend that you buy fins with all your gear with you to test the fit. Cram on as many layers as you would wear on a super cold day, and then buy fins big enough to handle the load. If you force your properly layered feet into fins that are too small, you WILL get foot cramps. These are caused by constriction and forcing the bones and muxcles to assume unnatural positions. In the winter it will make your feet get cold quickly, not just because of the water temperature, but because when your feet are constricted you do not get the warming blood flow. It doesn't matter how many layers of wool or neoprene you have on, if you are not getting any blood flow.
In the warmer weather, when the water temps get over about 75, it is more refreshing and less hassle to fish without waders. But, there does need to be something between your feet and the fins. I wear the Redhead "flats boots"...skin diver neoprene booties, with a hard sole. I wear one pair of nylon socks over my foot, before putting on the bootie. Nylon is more frictionless than cotton and less likely to cause blisters.
You can also use those cheapie "reef walkers"...the slip on nylon shoes with the hard rubber sole. AGain, revommend that you have at least one pair of socks on between your bare foot and the slip-on. You can also use an old pair of cheap deck shoes or tennies that have lost their charm. These are light and flexible enough for comfort, but rigid enough to help hold on the fins.
Sorry, I have been meaning to put together a pictorial of the kinds of footwear I use...or have used...for float tubing. I have tried just about everything at one time or another. Money is always a consideration, but if you get serious you may need to consider either another set of foot coverings...or another set of fins. You can always add layers to fill in some slack space...but you can't chop off some toes to make more room if it is too crowded in there.
Let me know what kind of fins you have and we can work from there. In the meantime, ditch the neoprenes and fish in comfort.
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