04-09-2015, 02:06 PM
[#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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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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