I’m putting together a booger package for my lady so she can join me in the water on my next trip to discover lonely waves. Most stuff is pretty common sense (sponge, leash, fin tethers, etc… ) , but the fins are giving me some trouble. The biggest problem is that there isn’t any place where she can try some on locally, so we’re having to shop exclusively online. She is a strong swimmer, used to be swim team, so I’m leaning towards some duck feet with the big blades. But my primary concern is comfort. I don’t want her to be paddling in after 15 minutes becuase she’s getting a blister.
Anyone else ever fit swimfins to a lady’s delicate feet? Being that she’s never bodyboarded with fins, I’m not too concerned with layout or anything, figure she’ll adjust to whatever she is swimming with. But they have to be comfortable for extended sessions.
By the way, my local Academy has red canvas surf mats (rope/grommets and all!) for only $7 right now. I’m all over that for the trip!
For sure, Neofins. They make several different models, go for the bigger blades, work well either body boarding or (my preference) body surfing. My wife loves hers and a female friend of ours who is a good sponger swears by hers and won’t travel without them. No pressure points, no foot cramps,etc.
Just my 2 cents worth, there are plenty of good products out there. Enjoy.
I have a pair of force fins that I had for about 15 years. They are the most comfortable fins I ever did try. I use them for diving, body surfing, distance swimming and just about every time I jump in the water without a board or canoe. They are pricey but it’s a fin can do just about everything and last a long time. Check out www.forcefin.com.
Ouch! I guess comfort comes at a price, doesn’t it?
I’ll run those by her, see if she bites at the price.
What about getting some bigger duckfeet and modifying them with neoprene over the top of the foot? And (since I’ve never sponged) just how uncomfortable are the stock churchills and duckfeet?
My ex-GF, I got her a good Morey and a set of Churchills, plus fin socks and fin tethers. Granted, at the time she was a runner, ex lifeguard and had a propensity for thongs… lets just say life for me was good. Give or take that she could whistle down a liter of wine with supper and most of a bottle of champagne with the before dinner oysters and of course the coffee-and-rums after dinner. Unusual woman. Gawd, if I tried that now, I’d die…albeit that I’d die happy.
If she’s a diver, or some other considerations, well, warp off towards duck feet or UDTs if she’s got the leg strength. Otherwise, Churchills ( the fin for people who don’t use fins) is probably the move. Plus fin socks of some sort, to preven the never-popular abrasive stuff on the feet and toes.
DANG! Doc… I clicked on “wish list” but then I had to log in and they still wouldn’t send me what I want. Just as well as I don’t know how I would have hidden her from my wife…
Fin socks for sure. Make much greater range of fins comfortable and blister-free. What fins is pretty dependent on details of foot shape. For me, Duckfeet and Vipers are both very comfortable but Hydro fins mash the bones together and force me out of the water due to pain after about 90 minutes and then I can barely walk. Too narrow a foot pocket on those.
Great info here, thanks everyone! And thanks for the wickedweasel link too, even though I clicked on it after reading your post to my wife, doc. That’s ok though, she appreciated it too.
I’m leaning towards the duckfeet with sox, since in her experience scuba/snorkling she prefers fins with a bigger blade than the other ladies seem to. I can always cut the duckfeet back if they’re too big, too.
Anyone else ever fit swimfins to a lady’s delicate feet? Being that she’s never bodyboarded with fins, I’m not too concerned with layout or anything, figure she’ll adjust to whatever she is swimming with. But they have to be comfortable for extended sessions.
Slap me down, I’m a broken record…
Everybody has delicate feet! There are 26 little bones that support our own selves in each foot. You want a miserable travel companion, try one with real sore feet. Think of her feet like your own.
If she’s never bodyboarded with fins before then pretty much anything will improve her experience in that field. UDT’s are total overkill in that case. Knock down a power level from there and you get into the endless power vs. comfort battle. Here comes the skip in the record…if they aren’t comfortable then water time will be reduced. More power doesn’t equal more water time - it equals more power and what more power can bring you. If the lady doesn’t wear fins right now, more power will bring her toe and leg cramps for days.
Now, I currently use the Churchill Slasher fins, without any question the most elegantly designed surf type swim fin on the market. They unfortunately aren’t very powerful, and I use them all the time and I feel the need for a bit more juice. With that in mind I spent some time this very morning trying on alternatives…Churchill Makapuu, Viper yellow dots, and Duck Feet. Duck Feet have changed slightly since my last pair but the ankle straps still happen to hit me, well, right below the fat part of my ankle…blister/ulcer/sore city! But products are made to wrap around the strap and make that better. Those are big compared to the Churchill feel, long…not much fun to travel with but they have enough power. Vipers…I could barely squeeze my foot into the pocket…just a fit issue with my foot. The Makapuu fins are fine but not nearly as finished out as the Slashers (with their ankle standoffs and beveled strap edges).
Checking any online bodyboard store will show you a bunch of other options. ebodyboarding.com has a very detailed breakdown of the many different fins they sell and human beings you can actually talk to. Other shops probably do as well.
I can’t imagine that Galveston/Houston doesn’t have places with fins in stock which she can try. Many of the different brands can be found in semi-edgy sporting goods stores now (just look for the import Chinese surfboards against the wall). Otherwise you could check out brands online, then go to dealer locators on the respective manufacturers websites and see what is close. Nothing…nothing beats being able to try them on! If you have to order online, do it early enough to return and adjust if necessary. If all else fails I’d probably get her the Neofins just because they are apparently seamlessly inoffensive to the human foot.
There are a couple of surf shops in Corpus, plus a Copeland’s which may or may not be worth a try…Sport Authority doesn’t usually have the goods on this out my way…and I forgot to mention that a lot of the bodyboard companies make these fins…i.e. Morey makes the Churchill label…so maybe calling around to who sells bodyboards can find you fin dealers. Smart fin dealers will carry more than one brand because they do not all fit alike. Also, dive shops sometimes have the Duck Feet or might at least be able to direct you in some appropriate direction.
My wife is a hard fit. Narrow feet. She bought some Custom X fins yesterday based on the fit. We’ll see if there’s a toe issue. She normally wears open toe shoe fins.
And thanks for the wickedweasel link too, even though I clicked on it after reading your post to my wife, doc. That’s ok though, she appreciated it too.
wayull- if she’s amused, get her one. Ya got nothing to lose…
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I’m leaning towards the duckfeet with sox, since in her experience scuba/snorkling she prefers fins with a bigger blade than the other ladies seem to. I can always cut the duckfeet back if they’re too big, too.
Ah - yes, if she’s done a fair amount of diving or snorkeling, she’s already got experience that’ll have her wondering ‘what the hell are these silly things?’ with any fins smaller than Duck Feet, and the UDTs would probably be a move. Though with those and especially the latter, I would suggest bagging the 1mm fin socks and proceeding immediately to some 3mm split-toe reef boots.
Plus if you guys were to hit the tropical paradise of your choice they’ll come in handy , both boots and fins, for exploring, diving and what have you.
Everyone may have “delicate feet”, as Nels says, but some are more problematic than others. Mine are 11-B, and flat as a good 2x4. If my shoes don’t fit perfectly (even quality running or walking shoes) I’ll get blisters just from thinking about walking more than a mile. Because of my arches (I don’t have any), instep cramps are a frequent delight. I have had a pair of Neofins for the past 4 years, and they are extremely comfortable. However, they tend to come off my feet in large, turbulent surf. Not a plus when fighting strong lateral currents. I attribute that behavior to the non-stretch heel strap. For the last 2 years, I’ve settled on a pair of second generation Churchills. They are acceptable in both peformance and comfort, but just that. After looking at the Force models, I’m sorely tempted to give them a try. I think the “bungie” strap might be a “win-win” deal. I also like the idea of the open toe. UncleD, based on your long experience with this brand of fin, which of the current models would you recommend for strictly wave catching (body, boogie, belly, knee) use?
Duck Feet, and the UDTs would probably be a move. Though with those and especially the latter, I would suggest bagging the 1mm fin socks and proceeding immediately to some 3mm split-toe reef boots.doc…
How do you make this work? I have size 7 (men’s) feet and tried XL UDT’s and could not even get them on my feet with any reef boots I could find in the local dive shops. Finally sent them back and am waiting for Prof Deets to get the new batch so I can get size M and go with 3 ml fin socks and hope they fit…
AHHHHHH???I use…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh here we go ! I use 3mm Oneill Ninja (socks)booties w/ large duckies…I have a sz 8 in men’s USA.
… other combos can be obtained.
…I use a pair of excel gummies for reef walkers,because they are the lousy-est surf booties I’ve ever owned,nice concept,and they look killer…but for me, suck the big one when it comes to the application of surfin’
Maan- I gotta see your feet. See, I wear a very wide, EEEE shoe, and in an 8 1/2 or 9 US size, with XL UDT duck feet and 3mm split-toe reef boots, and they are actually very comfortable. Not quite loose, but not too tight either.
I suspect the fault lies in the dive shop boots. But if you go down two sizes and try to use 'em with the 3mm fin socks, I fear you’ll have problems. May I suggest instead going with better boots, namely something like these guys here: http://www.hotlineonline.com/products/booties/splittoe2.shtml
Hmmm, the diveshop booties I tried didn’t look that much different. Also went to surf shop and tried a couple. All the “soled” ones had outer vulcanized edge, like that one, that added width. I was rolling and grunting on the floor and never got all the way in (hmmmm, what’s this sounding like?). Them medium UDT is supposed to fit size 7-9. I’m a 7 so gives me some wiggle room. I dunno. Sent the biguns back already… Deets thought I should get the M size
well- if you couldn’t get the xls on, over said boots, something is very wrong there. dunno what it is, except maybe the dive shop boots were 5 or even 7 mm?
They claimed 3 mil on the dive boots and compared to my old 3 mil ones they felt about the same. And the UDTs were marked XL and they were big and floppy barefoot. I wear DuckFeet Lare w/ my split toe 3 mils until recently I just got 3 mil socks and now they have slight slack in the fit which has taken a bit of getting used to but not enough to bother trying to fix.
