Advice Needed

[Team Deniz]

I am looking into getting some fins for Freediving/Spearfishing. Sounds simple, but this has become rather tricky because I have a specific demand. I need full foot fins that will fit over my wetsuit boots. I have tried some adjustable fins, but they won't work for me. I will often be towing a float-line, and with adjustable fins, the line keeps getting caught on the fins' clips.
Will the solution be as simple as finding full foot fins big enough to wear over the boots or are there other factors I need to consider? I don't know if there is anyone out there doing something similar, but if there is, please advise me.

 

[Erdi]

Hey, I also have a float line when spearfishing and full foot fins don't seem to cause any problems at all.

Are you interested in normal snorkelling fins or freediving fins?
Also, couldn't you buy thinner footwear like freediving socks? If not the only advice I can think of is trying on some fins which are up to 2 sizes too big for your feet, in order to fit over your boots.

 

[bobdonny]

My wife wears boots and sometimes wears my freediving fins when it cold.

Not anywhere near the same fit or power transfer as barefoot or a pair of socks, but fine for simple stuff.

If you can... ditch the boots!

 

[Team Deniz]

Hey, I also have a float line when spearfishing and full foot fins don't seem to cause any problems at all.

Are you interested in normal snorkelling fins or freediving fins?
Also, couldn't you buy thinner footwear like freediving socks? If not the only advice I can think of is trying on some fins which are up to 2 sizes too big for your feet, in order to fit over your boots.

I'm guessing the dedicated "freedive" fins will be prohibitively expensive. In the past I've used stiff, medium length Beauchat full-foot fins on bare feet but now I'm gonna be diving in water mostly between 45F to 50F. The boots are absolutely necessary. I'll probably just try the 2 sizes too big idea. The problem is that there is never a good selection of full foot fins around here because nobody freedives; I want as close a fit as possible.

 

[foxfish]

I use 4-5mm socks as does virtually every spear fisherman in the cooler parts of the world.
I mostly shore dive so I wear plastic shoes to walk down the beach & then tie them to my float while hunting, if I have to walk over sand to reach the sea I just walk in my socks.

 

[hteas]

Deniz

Do you mean booties, with thick rigid soles?

Many of us use socks with a thin lining on the outside with freediving fins. I don't know of anyone with the rigid booties wearing freediving fins. It would require a really large footpocket for most divers.

I use 7 mm Imersion socks and Imersion E-carbons (they run large) and it works fine all winter.

 

[Erdi]

I'm guessing the dedicated "freedive" fins will be prohibitively expensive. In the past I've used stiff, medium length Beauchat full-foot fins on bare feet but now I'm gonna be diving in water mostly between 45F to 50F. The boots are absolutely necessary. I'll probably just try the 2 sizes too big idea. The problem is that there is never a good selection of full foot fins around here because nobody freedives; I want as close a fit as possible.

You can get yourself some great socks for cold conditions, just make sure they're made of the right material.
A 5mm or 7mm sock with open cell, neoprene interior should be fine for 45-50F temperatures.
Using socks instead of boots would help with comfort and power, you'll also find it easier picking your fins and you shouldn't have problems with the temperature.

How long do you think you'll be spending in the water for each spearfishing session?
Also what types of depths are you looking at?

I have a pair of Cressi Reaction Pro's which I use in the summer in Cyprus (very warm temperatures) and they're great for the max depths I reach which is about 10-12m or so.

However, I've never used normal fins in colder water so I'm not sure if freediving fins will be necesary or not. I've read plenty of times that the Immersion E:Green freediving fins are great if you need wider footpockets, and they do seem to be in the cheaper range of freediving fins too!

 

[Team Deniz]

Yeah I've got rigid soled boots. I got them for free after I did some work on my friend(who works at a dive shop)'s car.

I should have prefaced this thread with "I am unbelievably cheap as I don't have much to spend to begin with." Switching out of the boots to buy socks now would put a kink in my plan since I still need to save up for fins and gloves. Renting in the meantime sucks and is a little counter-intuitive but the owner of the dive shop I go to has been hooking me up with ultra low prices.

Those Imersion fins look perfect and the price they've got them for on that site is excellent... but like I said, I have to stick with the boots. The plastic shoes idea isn't bad but I usually have too much to carry and attach to my float as is.

Obviously thick neoprene socks are the best option, but do you guys think it's completely out of the question to wear full foot fins over rigid soled boots? Would there be too much power loss?

 

[foxfish]

Well I still do use boots on occasions like when I am fishing a shallow water weed bed.
At 1-2mt deep these type of locations require a long walk at low water but no deep diving, so I dont need any long fins.
I have two pairs of strap back fins, one Imersion set one jetfin set but, 25 years ago every body used strap back fins because that was all that was available!
So if you question is really about is it possible to dive with open back fins the answer is yes of course but a lot easier to use full foot pocket fins!
I dont think anyone is going to recommend using full foot pockets with hard soul boots! It would be near impossible to get then on to start with & with socks being relatively cheap every one is going to say the obvious - use socks with full foot pockets & boots with open back fins.

 

[Team Deniz]

That answers my question, for sure. Thanks Fox