New dry suit rock boots don't fit in fins

[craigwarren]

Hi everyone,

I just got a brand new dry suit and all seems well except I can't fit the rock boots inside the fins. The Velcro strap nearest the toes blocks the top of the fin from letting the rest of the boot in.

I can still strap my heel in, but I don't think it will be very efficient to fin like that. Has anyone come across this problem before? If so how can I solve it. I don't want to buy new fins.

[mcroson]

you could always put something in the foot pocket and heat it gentle to increase the size of the shoe pocket

[ChristianG]

Hi everyone,

I just got a brand new dry suit and all seems well except I can't fit the rock boots inside the fins. The Velcro strap nearest the toes blocks the top of the fin from letting the rest of the boot in.

I can still strap my heel in, but I don't think it will be very efficient to fin like that. Has anyone come across this problem before? If so how can I solve it. I don't want to buy new fins.
It's a problem that comes up time after time. Rock boots, of necessity actually, are bigger than conventional dry suit boots by which I mean that the soles are thicker and you've already presented the one (and only) real solution in your own post if you want to keep the boots.

If not, go to more conventional boots but that, like as not, will cost you more than a new set of fins. Always remember that if you wear a wetsuit in summer, or on holidays, the opposite occurs, when your current fins would come to the fore.

[DarrenA]

Had this problem. I am size 10 so rock boots were 12-13...not many fins on the market would fit (except one pair that I eventually found...).

I had normal boots put on the drysuit.

One of my friends went for a dry boot and is still looking for a fin that works right (he is a size 8 shoe).

Another friend uses basically a set of baseball boots as his rock boot (Converse boots iirc) and they are smaller and work for him. I haven't tried these personally.

btw: Dived with them not fitting "very well" just to see and they flew off on stride entry, hence getting normal boots fitted in the end. Finding fins in a swell isn't a great start to a dive.

I will personally try the converse route next time I think as I like the seperate boot concept.

hth

[craigwarren]

The boots do fit into the cup of the Fons, it's just the Velcro straps that prevent entry. I'm thinking about either stretching the cup, squashing the Velcro or cutting a gap in the cup.

[AllynCarter]

I have a pair of Typhoon rock boots (size 11-12), which fit fine inside my Aqualung fins. I would have thought it a critical part of the design of rock boots that are intended for use with fins.

[ChristianG]

The boots do fit into the cup of the Fons, it's just the Velcro straps that prevent entry. I'm thinking about either stretching the cup, squashing the Velcro or cutting a gap in the cup.
This interests/worries me. What velcro straps are you referring to? If they're on the boots on the bridge of the foot it's not really those things that create the problem, you are simply perceiving that they create the problem when it is in fact the depth of the sole of the boot.

I wouldn't have thought, if I read what you wrote correctly, that "cutting a gap in the cup" would be a particularly brilliant idea given that the area where you would cut is the one which places the greatest stress on the fin.

The moulded cup of the fin, which takes the upper, or bridge, of your boot is not to be tampered with, whether by cutting it or trying to stretch it. Not in my book anyway.

[craigwarren]

A friend who has just adopted rock boots also (who is also a cobbler) has found one solutions is to remove the first velcro strap (out of 3) from the boots. He thinks the problem is solved. Lets see :)

[Woz]

I bought bigger fins. Problem solved.

[ChristianG]

I bought bigger fins. Problem solved.
Wot I said initially, and the "old" fins will suit wetsuit bootees very nicely thank you. :)

Buying a new set of fins also brings into play what these should be. I'd think long and hard about that one. I, actually, have three sets of fins one conventional (well, sort of - Jetfins), one me trusty old Mares Power Planas that (stupid Mares) you can't buy any more and one set of long fins, Cressis in my case although it doesn't much matter really, for tropical diving without penetration.

Edit/: Mind, my style of "tropical diving" is not like the Red Sea, I'm mostly talking about nice warm places in the Pacific which don't require rubber or, shock, horror, dry suits. :D ;)

[Mike Halligan]

Mind, my style of "tropical diving" is not like the Red Sea, I'm mostly talking about nice warm places in the Pacific which don't require rubber or, shock, horror, dry suits. :D ;)
Your winter draws on. We approach Summer under our nice warm cloud of ash, bankrupt and diving local 'cos its all we can afford :D :D :D

[craigwarren]

Removed the bottom piece of velcro... Problem Solved

[ChristianG]

Your winter draws on. We approach Summer under our nice warm cloud of ash, bankrupt and diving local 'cos its all we can afford :D :D :D
Chuckle.

Our winter also means no "Big Wet" and no Cyclones. :D