Broken finger loop on spring strap

[amw5g]

The missus broke the rubber finger loop on her fin spring strap yesterday. Any chance this is repairable? She said she'll just grab the strap itself from now on, but if it can be remedied, I'd give it a go.
Cheers,
Amw 5G

[evad]

She seems to have the remedy.

[buddhasummer]

The missus broke the rubber finger loop on her fin spring strap yesterday. Any chance this is repairable? She said she'll just grab the strap itself from now on, but if it can be remedied, I'd give it a go.
Cheers,
Amw 5G

What brand is it? I would think not, repairable that is. You should be able to order another from manufacturer or dealer, I have done so with my Apollo springs before. Good luck.

[boulderjohn]

I have two sets of spring straps from two different companies, and neither one had a finger loop to begin with. I am guessing she should be OK.

[TSandM]

If you really like the loop (and they're handy for hanging the fins up) and the rubber cover on the spring has some slots in it, as ours do, you can replace the loop with a heavy-duty zip tie and it works quite well. This is what my husband has done with his.

[JamesK]

My Jets have no loops, but my EXP's do. With or without, no big deal. You can always take some 550 cord and make your own loop.

[amw5g]

E-Z Spring straps. As evad pointed out and boulderjohn seconded, I expect no ill effects. I do like the couple of ideas on a DIY remedy, in case she finds down the road that the loops did provide some benefit.
Much obliged to all

[luckydays]

ZIp ties wrapped with electrical tape to keep things tidy. works great.

[evad]

ZIp ties wrapped with electrical tape to keep things tidy. works great.



Never mind.

[irishsquid]

I have one loop broke on my fins and I just hook my finger under the strap itself, no biggie. When the other one breaks (if it ever does), I might try making a loop from cord.

[Zesty]

Double tie trap a SS split ring to the back of the spring

[RJP]

I have Halcyon straps. No loop. No problem.

[Teller]

My Jets have no loops, but my EXP's do. With or without, no big deal. You can always take some 550 cord and make your own loop.

Agree with the 550 cord.

[Randy43068]

Maybe I'm dense, but I don't have any kind of loops on my spring straps. I use my fingers and pull 'em over my heel. Why do you need them?

[TSandM]

Some of them have loops, and they're kind of handy when the straps are tight and you're wearing thick gloves. Sometimes it's hard to work your fingers in between the side of the strap and your foot. They aren't NECESSARY, but they're kind of convenient.

[evad]

I have one set with the loops and one set without loops. When I use the set with loops for a while, they seem easier. When I use the set without loops for a while, I realize that the springs ARE the loop and they seem easier. I would think the least easy to use ones would be the ones with the broken loop because you're left with a wide band of rubber to get your finger under. In the end, I think whatever you're used to is easiest.

[Peter_C]

For my gal I sewed on some 2" webbing folded over the spring strap as the ones that came on her XS Scuba spring straps was too small for her to grab with dry gloves on.

Have you contacted the manufacturer? They might warranty the rubber piece.

[boulderjohn]

.. the ones that came on her XS Scuba spring straps was too small for her to grab with dry gloves on.

They are too small to use under almost any circumstance and IMO are a PITA should be cut off to get them out of the way.

[Dsix36]

All you have to do is lose a fin because that damned little loop broke and you will never use or want them again.

At least that is what my "friend" told me.

[Randy43068]

I'm not following your logic here.....


All you have to do is lose a fin because that damned little loop broke and you will never use or want them again.

At least that is what my "friend" told me.

[ianr33]

All you have to do is lose a fin because that damned little loop broke and you will never use or want them again.

At least that is what my "friend" told me.

Maybe you should consider redundant finger loops?

[evad]

Maybe you should consider redundant finger loops?


Maybe you should reconsider dundant finger loops.

[Dsix36]

I'm not following your logic here.....

OK, it goes like this. You are back at the boat ladder and getting read to climb. You grab the ladder with one hand and reach down to take of your fins. You stick a finger in the damned little loop and pull the strap over your heel and remove the fin. As you reach for the second fin you have the great pleasure of watching the first fin sinking away into the abyss. If you get really lucky, you can see the little loop flopping loosely from the one side that is not ripped off.

At least that is how my "friend" described it.

[boulderjohn]

PART ONE: You stick a finger in the damned little loop and pull the strap over your heel and remove the fin. PART TWO: As you reach for the second fin you have the great pleasure of watching the first fin sinking away into the abyss.

What happened between part one and part two? If nothing, then the fins design had nothing to do with the problem.

[JamesK]

I am guessing that the finger loop broke when he pulled the strap over his heal. The loop was the only point of contact between the "friends" hand and the fin. Once the loop broke he/she did not have a hold of the fin anymore and it went for it's last dive.

[boulderjohn]

OK, it goes like this. You are back at the boat ladder and getting read to climb. You grab the ladder with one hand and reach down to take of your fins. You stick a finger in the damned little loop and pull the strap over your heel and remove the fin. As you reach for the second fin you have the great pleasure of watching the first fin sinking away into the abyss. If you get really lucky, you can see the little loop flopping loosely from the one side that is not ripped off.

At least that is how my "friend" described it.


I am guessing that the finger loop broke when he pulled the strap over his heal. The loop was the only point of contact between the "friends" hand and the fin. Once the loop broke he/she did not have a hold of the fin anymore and it went for it's last dive.
That's not what it says. It says the first fin was lost "As you reach for the second fin." Personally, I do something permanent with the first fin before reaching for the second fin. If I am on the ladder, as he describes, I am handing it up to a DM. Once that is safely gone, I reach for the second. Alternatively, I will put the spring strap of the first fin on my wrist before reaching for the second fin. Either way, the first fin is secured before I reach for the second. I was wondering what happened in the case described.

---------- Post added ----------

BTW, at my age and my limited flexibility, removing fins while hanging onto a bouncing ladder is by far the hardest part of diving, so I pay attention to the technique.

[Dsix36]

Damn, who cares about the specifics of exactly how it happened. The point is that I hate those damned little loops now and do not use them and cut them off when they are present.

I had moved the fin to the other hand that was also holding the ladder. Happy now?

Ok, rant over. On to the next thread.

[boulderjohn]

Damn, who cares about the specifics of exactly how it happened. The point is that I hate those damned little loops now and do not use them and cut them off when they are present.

I had moved the fin to the other hand that was also holding the ladder. Happy now?

Ok, rant over. On to the next thread.

Yep. As I understand it now, you took the first fin off, put it in your hand that was also holding on to a bouncing ladder without putting the strap over your wrist, and the unsecured fin came out of your hand while you were reaching for the second fin. So that explains why that would make you hate loops on the fin straps. Got it.

[Dsix36]

Yep. As I understand it now, you took the first fin off, put it in your hand that was also holding on to a bouncing ladder without putting the strap over your wrist, and the unsecured fin came out of your hand while you were reaching for the second fin. So that explains why that would make you hate loops on the fin straps. Got it.

These are the kind of stupid frickin' posts that make me stay away from this forum so much!

The fin was secured by the loop. I had my finger through it. When the loop broke, the fin left.

Yes a bouncy ladder was beating the dog snot out of me and I was lucky to be able to get my fins off without losing my grip on the ladder. Trying to move a fin to my wrist was definitely not a viable option at that time. However, with just the spring strap, it flips over my wrist as I remove it.

I have also been so fortunate to have a spring strap come apart when clipped to my harness and almost didn't catch it in time. Nothing is perfect, but those damned little loops really suck.

Stop sending me off on these rants.

[boulderjohn]

May I suggest that instead of going off on rants you might try explaining things fully? I could not see what your fist post could possibly have to do with a broken loop. Perhaps it was a failure of my imagination, but I didn't see it. I politely asked for an explanation, and you responded with the first rant in which you refused to explain the missing detail. It might help to just put in the details in the first place.

[TSandM]

Dsix36, I understand that you have decided, for yourself, that the loops are a no-go, and clearly the incident that made you decide that was very annoying to you, judging from how angry you sound. But the OP was asking for a method of repairing the loops, not for rants about how useless they are, I think.

[Peter_C]

The fin was secured by the loop. I had my finger through it. When the loop broke, the fin left.
I would have never thought to hold my fins using the rubber loops for fear they would break. The rubber loops do work great for removing the fin strap as they were designed to do, and in hundreds of dives they have never failed me. If I want to carry my fins it is by the springs themselves. For me being able to doff my fins very quickly, while wearing dry gloves, in the surf line, is very important. I appreciate those, hated by some, pull tabs. For others go ahead and remove them, as we are all free to do what we want :cool2:

[Dsix36]

May I suggest that instead of going off on rants you might try explaining things fully? I could not see what your fist post could possibly have to do with a broken loop. Perhaps it was a failure of my imagination, but I didn't see it. I politely asked for an explanation, and you responded with the first rant in which you refused to explain the missing detail. It might help to just put in the details in the first place.

Your suggestion has been noted and accepted. You are completely correct and my rants were totally uncalled for. I should not be letting my other problems influence my keyboard. I offer my public apoligy to all those that may have taken offense from my previous posts.




Dsix36, I understand that you have decided, for yourself, that the loops are a no-go, and clearly the incident that made you decide that was very annoying to you, judging from how angry you sound. But the OP was asking for a method of repairing the loops, not for rants about how useless they are, I think.

The best repair that I have found is to tie a loop of 3/16" bungee around the spring strap. It remains flexible and non-obtrusive while still offering something to grab.




I would have never thought to hold my fins using the rubber loops for fear they would break. The rubber loops do work great for removing the fin strap as they were designed to do, and in hundreds of dives they have never failed me. If I want to carry my fins it is by the springs themselves. For me being able to doff my fins very quickly, while wearing dry gloves, in the surf line, is very important. I appreciate those, hated by some, pull tabs. For others go ahead and remove them, as we are all free to do what we want :cool2:

I usually did not attempt to secure my fins by the pull loop, but this time I guess that I either got lazy or complacent about it.

[Randy43068]

Dsix36 (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/members/dsix36.html) I couldn't figure out what you were trying to say either.

[boulderjohn]

Your suggestion has been noted and accepted. You are completely correct and my rants were totally uncalled for. I should not be letting my other problems influence my keyboard. I offer my public apoligy to all those that may have taken offense from my previous posts.


Thanks. That was extremely gracious.

[Bratface]

Damn, who cares about the specifics of exactly how it happened. The point is that I hate those damned little loops now and do not use them and cut them off when they are present.

I had moved the fin to the other hand that was also holding the ladder. Happy now?

Ok, rant over. On to the next thread.



:rofl3::rofl3::rofl3::rofl3:

Ok, I'm composed now. I have never had the unfortunate problem that Dsix36 has had. I like the loop because I hang my fins up by them after a day of diving. One is getting a little weak, so thanks for the ideas for repair the day it decides to go.

PS: I just toss each fin onto the deck after I get them off.

[TSandM]

The best repair that I have found is to tie a loop of 3/16" bungee around the spring strap. It remains flexible and non-obtrusive while still offering something to grab

Thank you! A great idea, not only for repair, but for adding a loop to springs that don't have one.

I like my loops for two reasons -- they make getting the fins ON easier, and they're great for hanging the fins up on hooks where the broad rubber over the springs won't fit.

[g1138]

In the future, use the pull tab to tilt your rubber heel pad so you can grab the whole spring with your hand. Pulling spring straps off just with that tab can put a lot of stress on it; I'm not surprised it broke at all.

Your wife should be able to slip a finger in the gap between her foot and the fin buckle post, unless she's wearing 10mm gloves that is.