Adjusting monofin footpockets

[Furo]

Hi, I have a leaderfins hyper and the footpocket is too big for my foot. I am planning to make the footpocket smaller by using ('incompressible') rubber sheet and vulcanising rubber solution to 'pad' the footpocket where there is space between my foot and the walls.

Does this sound like a good idea? Does any one have any advice for doing this, or any better ideas?

How tight should I make the footpocket, and in which parts of the footpocket should it be tightest?

Thanks!

 

[yoda turtle]

Hi furo, I have the same problem and so I wear 7mm wetsuit socks. not really Ideal so I will be watching this thread probably as keenly as you do.
see you are based in london, where do you do your training?

 

[Furo]

Cheers Yoda Turtle, yeah I wear thick socks with my long fins, but they then get loose deep, I want to do it differently with the monofin. I'll let you know how the experiment comes along...

I don't really train much in London, only tables at home really, no time to do proper stuff, but will be in Dahab all summer - yay!

 

[yoda turtle]

All summer WOW! am off to dahab myself in 14 days time to do a course with dessert divers. Yeah am getting a bit fed up with the wide fit in my foot pockets .....any ways its my first mono so its all a learning curve eh ! would be great to get the fit just right. I am going to email the man who makes them (waterways) and see if he can give me some guidence. will let you know what I come up with.

 

[Furo]

So, for others' information, but mostly my own amusement, I'll post about how I'm getting along with the adjustments. Any advice at any stage is most welcome!

The footpocket on my fin seem to be moulded rubber as there is no seam inside the footpocket. I don't want to slice the pockets open if there is no existing join, so I'll try to glue some rubber patches inside through the foot hole. This will probably be difficult since the opening is pretty tight around my wrist.

I've got some 2mm natural rubber sheet (from Pentonville Rubber in London, if anyone's interested) and will use some kind of contact adhesive to attach the patches. I made paper templates of the shape of the foot pocket, then trimmed down the rubber to fit with a bit of trial and error. I'm using a scalpel and sand paper to get an angle at the edge of the patches. I'm planning on using a couple on the bottom of the foot pocket (which is flat and therefore a bit easier) and a couple on the roof that will curve down and pad the sides also. It's these bits that are going to be difficult to fit, I think. I'm undecided as to whether to pad the toes or not. I'll put some small pads on the heel straps as well.

Yoda Turtle - did you get any advice from Waterway?

 

[yoda turtle]

Hey furo, just got an email from lyashuk bogdan at WaterWays, he says what a lot of people do is to make an incision along the top of the foot pocket (from the opening down in the direction of the toe opening) and then simply use a strap to tighten up the girth to the correct size....
Not sure that is what i want to do with my mono ! am more interested in seeing the out come of your Idea. how is it going?

 

[Furo]

Interesting, I was considering something similar, but didn't think I'd be able to keep the footpocket closed tight enough with rubber reinforcements, maybe a strap would do it, but its not very elegant!

I haven't done anything for a few days, but hopefully will crack on tomorrow. I need to shape the edges of the patches with a scalpel and sandpaper so there are no big edges, then glue them in - this is the bit I'm worried about...

 

[yoda turtle]

Yeah tough decision, do you slit em or stick em.
I'm hanging on your next move.
had my mono about five weeks now and already thinking of getting a better one to I may butcher this one it the name progress.

 

[salibandy]

Wow five weeks only and you're thinking of another? You must make quite a bit money. What fin do you have and what are you thinking of getting?

I'm still 'patiently' waiting for mine to arrive. I hate waiting. My level of patience is almost zero.

 

[yoda turtle]

Its a waterways freediver nemo wing stifness no.2..... wish I did make lots of money, no I will just save when I can until its possible to get another.... thinking about it is just the first step I hate waiting for stuff I have ordered on line ,you must be climbing the walls:vangry

 

[salibandy]

Yes I am. I'm jumping around as well. It's driving me mad. But it all pays off when the item comes, the excitement that was built up is unleashed all at once. I can't wait for my fin to come.

What fin are you thinking of getting?

 

[yoda turtle]

Am thinking about the waterways Glide its about euros324 but it will be worth it! still while I am saving up I will be checking out other fins too( its the kick and glide fins that interest me).. hope your mono arrives soon....which one have you ordered? :t

 

[Furo]

Failure! :-(

It turned out to be just too awkward to get the rubber patches into the footpockets, with glue too it would be impossible without it sticking in the wrong place. I think it would work if it were just a patch on the bottom to make the pockets a mm or so smaller, but I needed to reduce them by a lot and it just wouldn't have worked. I thought about slicing the pockets open and then glueing in some patches and then making the closure smaller, but I didn't really fancy that risk. Also the glue would not have held them shut, maybe I could use something stronger but I don't know.

So I have sacked up and sent the fin back to Estonia :-( I hope I get it back before I'm due to leave for Egypt - fingers crossed.

 

[EdHornby]

Hi Furo - I'm thinking about getting a flyer or hyper at the moment... what size feet are you and what foot pocket did you get? I've tried a medium but can't get my size 9/10 feet into them...

p.s. I agree with your reasoning about the slit and glue method, I reckon the force from finning would burst it open regardless of the glue type - I have an old waterway and the bands at the heels regularly need reglueing it seems on those so I'd avoid any unneccesary glueing

cheers
Ed

 

[Furo]

I had an XL, but it was far too big, I'm a 9/9.5 street shoe. I'm going for an L and I reckon it'd would be right for you too, but I haven't got my fin back so I'm not sure yet...

 

[RoryK]

Hi Furo,

I am having the exact same issue with my new Hyper monofin from Leaderfins. My first fin was an Advanced Freediving Monofin and I chose a size XL to fit my 9 - 9.5UK size foot. It fitted perfectly. My recent purchase as explained above was a Hyper (not professional) and again I chose an XL. The Advanced fin doesnt have footpockets so this was my first time trying them. XL was way to big there was no power in my kick and it felt like my toes were doing all the work, not good. I got back on to Leaderfins (Maksim) who I have to say is excellent and very accomodating. I think there may be a problem with the translating of issues but I tried my best to explain the footpocket was too big and asked was this definitely an XL? Obviously fins with footpockets size differently. I told him I needed a smaller footpocket and sent back the fin. He sent me out a new fin within 6 working days which was great. It arrived on Friday however I fear that although it is tighter trying to get my foot in the area around my foot top, and the left hand side of my feet are very loose. I wont be able to try it in the pool until Tuesday so will find out for sure. I plan to use 2mm neoprene half socks to fill out the footpocket. I am also heading to Dahab next Saturday so I think I will be bringing my Advanced which works great for me in the pool, I havent tried it at depth yet. If the Hyper doesnt fit I will send it back again €52 a pop!!

I was just wondering as your foot size is the same as mine did you ever get the right sizing sorted or did you get any advice on what kind of footpocket size would fit our size foot? I may try a WaterWays Glide if this doesnt work out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Rory