Float tube fins

[EricNotTheRed]

I saw some very cool folding fins at the Tradex show. The fins fold up against your ankles so you can walk with them on. I haven't tried them, so I can't vouch for them, but it seemed like a good idea.

http://www.flipfins.com/index.php?pa...roduct=classic

I've got Force Fins and they're pretty good.

I wouldn't recommend Force Fins as highly for a float tube as a pontoon. The thing about them is you get most of your power out of the "up-stroke" (i.e., when you are extending your lower leg). This is due to the upward curve of the fins. Traditional fins are flatter and give you more equal power on the up and down strokes.

On a pontoon, you can't take much advantage of your down-stroke anyway, since your knees are above water and most of the downward force is directed at too steep an angle to help much with propulsion. The force fins design acknowledges this by actually reducing the drag on the down-stroke. Note, however, that the front muscles above your knees may get a good workout. Typically this is not a big deal with a pontoon, however, since long distances will normally be covered by paddling.

The story can be a bit different in a float tube, since your knees are at or below water level (depends on the tube). In that case, traditional fins can function well, and may balance out the muscle workload a bit more. Most traditional fins also have much larger surface area than force fins as well, which adds to the power stroke. A downside, however, is that when paddling hard, you may find that your legs tend to move toward the horizontal, which can end up with you thrashing the surface. This shouldn`t be an issue while fishing, however.

Anyway, that`s my humble experience. Your mileage may vary.

PS: It is much easier to walk backwards with fins in the water.

[bobert]

Personally, I've never had trouble walking to the water with regular fins, I just try to do as little walking as possible, setup my tube as close to the shore as I can, and step into the tube so that I only have to do one or two shuffle steps backwards, and then just fall backwards into the water and push off. Sometimes I put the fins on after I have stepped into the tube, sometimes after, both ways have worked fine for me.

A dive store in Vancouver near 4th and Cypress had these SlingShot fins on sale for $150: http://www.aqualung.com/ca/en/content/view/226/9/ They look quite good

[Navigator]

I saw some very cool folding fins at the Tradex show. The fins fold up against your ankles so you can walk with them on. I haven't tried them, so I can't vouch for them, but it seemed like a good idea.

http://www.flipfins.com/index.php?pa...roduct=classic


PS: It is much easier to walk backwards with fins in the water.

It is much safer and easier to walk forward with flip fins in the water. If not for your own safety, than for those expensive rods and other equipment (cameras, etc.). Flipfins are a way to go and are a great rival to Force Fins. Also, now available from Cabelas's http://bit.ly/cZ3FBC

[Navigator]

I saw some very cool folding fins at the Tradex show. The fins fold up against your ankles so you can walk with them on. I haven't tried them, so I can't vouch for them, but it seemed like a good idea.

http://www.flipfins.com/index.php?pa...roduct=classic


PS: It is much easier to walk backwards with fins in the water.

It is much safer and easier to walk forward with flip fins in the water. If not for your own safety, than for those expensive rods and other equipment (cameras, etc.). Flipfins are a way to go and are a great rival to Force Fins. Also, now available from Cabelas's http://bit.ly/cZ3FBC

[barney]

force fins. Maybe a little more expensive than other but very efficient which is well worth the money when you find yourself at the other end of the lake late in teh day and need to kick back.

[Bosco]

When I was looking at buying fins, someone told me to look at buying an old pair of scuba fins from a local dive shop. They always complained that they couldn't get the same power with specifically designed float tube fins and found that scuba fins really added to propulsion. So I went down and found a used pair of fins that cost me 40 bucks. They haul and are extremely sturdy, and while tough to walk in, sure make kicking around a lot more effortless. I'm not sure what force fins cost, but for what I payed on the scuba fins, it definitely seemed like an awesome deal and i'd for sure recommend looking into that. They're relatively light also.

[Zane]

Since I last posted on this topic and have read the rest of the posts, I have discussed the topic with other fishers and have refined my observations about Force fins(adjustable) vs Dive fins. Force fins are expensive/ Dive fins are usually quite a bit cheaper, Force fins give me better thrust with less effort when I am in my pontoon boat( I think). Dive fins give me better thrust and control when I am in my V boat. Force fins are a pain in multiple parts to get on and easier to get off. Dive fins are easier to get on than take off. Force fins are easier to walk in than dive fins. Neither one has positive buoyancy, so a good idea to use fin tethers. So, I feel that I have to now give Dive fins the edge over force fins.However I will continue to use both this season and will re-evaluate my opinion when the ice returns