Monofin socks

I had Triton make my monofin foot pocket large enough to accommodate 6mm socks, but they still cramp up when I dive with them. I've tried to use 3mm socks, but my feet freeze out way too fast in our current water conditions- 35f (2C). I decided to steal one of Terry Mass's ideas from one of his books.

I took an old pair of OMER 3mm socks and tucked them into my wetsuit like I always do- with the slick seal ankle cuff out. I then took an old pair of OMER 5mm socks and cut the toes off of them. I wear them over the wetsuit with the slick ankle seal IN. They're kind of a pain to slip on when the waves, and ice, are crashing all around you because of the wind, but seem to be worth the effort once I got them on. I was able to stay in and not freeze my feet out before everything else.

You have to be carefully how far forward you cut the toe. The first attempt I made ended with the socks splitting all the way up the side. I had and extra pair and cut them further back on the foot, but not so far back that they don't cover the foot pocket.

The end result was no cramping and much warmer heels. The toes still get a little bit colder than the rest of me, but last weeks my heels froze out so fast I had to get out long before I wanted to. Now, the heels are toasty and the toes are bearable. Here's a few photos:

Here's a couple more photos from today:

You mean with 6mm socks inside the footpockets? My feet were warm, but cramped up. I would have to take my feet out of the pocket every 20 minutes or so to get the blood flowing again. The way I use it now I wear 3mm's inside the footpocket with the 5mm's over the outside.

In the past I've also owned a couple of Specialfins mono's with either OMER or Sporasub footpockets attached to them. I could wear 6mm socks for hours with those fins, but they fell apart due to the way in which they were attached to the blade. I also owned a Waterway Nemo fin with full foot pockets. It was very comfortable to wear with 6mm socks- and if I'd boughten it in the correct stiffness to begin with I'd probably still be using it. :head

The most comfortable cold water monofin I've used is the C4 Monoflap. The footpockets are incredibly comfortable- as they are the same as I have on my C4 Mustang's. If the blade were only stiffer I might actually buy one.

Jon