Be a fan of ScubaBoard.com

Welcome to ScubaBoard, an online scuba diving forum community where you can join over 185,000 divers from around the world discussing all things related to Scuba Diving. To gain full access to ScubaBoard (and make this large box go away) you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:

  • Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 5,500,000 posts.
  • Communicate privately with other divers from around the world.
  • Post your own photos or view from well over 100,000 user submitted images.
  • Gain access to our free classifieds marketplace to buy, sell and trade gear, travel and services.
  • Use the calendar to organize your events and enroll in other members' events.
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact the ScubaBoard Support Team.
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Fin Retainers

 


  1. #1
    Frequent Poster


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Tiro_Afila's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Terrace B.C. Canada
    Posts
    71
    Dives
    0 - 24

    Fin Retainers

    I have a bit of an issue with my dry suit boots. They are attached boots, and a little big for me. Not much, just a bit, but enough to allow my foot to slip a bit when I kick hard. A dive friend of mine once showed me a pair of fin retainers like these Activeaqua > Fin Retainers , and I am wondering if anyone knows of a place to order these in Canada or the US. I only seem to find them in Europe. Thanks for your help.
    Last edited by Tiro_Afila; October 23rd, 2007 at 05:53 PM.

  2. #2
     


    Has not set a "status"
     

    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Posts
    3,138
    Quote Originally Posted by Tiro_Afila View Post
    I have a bit of an issue with my sry suit boots. They are attached boots, and a little big for me. Not much, just a bit, but enough to allow my foot to slip a bit when I kick hard. A dive friend of mine once showed me a pair of fin retainers like these Activeaqua > Fin Retainers , and I am wondering if anyone knows of a place to order these in Canada or the US. I only seem to find them in Europe. Thanks for your help.
    I've got some. I'll send you a pair.
    Formerly known as S A

  3. #3
    Diving Polymath


    waiting for the next dive.
     

    Thalassamania's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    On a large pile of smokin' A'a, the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. 2,175 miles to Alaska, 2,390 miles to California; 3,850 miles to Japan; 4,900 miles to China; 5,280 miles to the Philippines.
    Dives
    5,000 - ∞
    Photos
    37
    Quote Originally Posted by Tiro_Afila View Post
    I have a bit of an issue with my sry suit boots. They are attached boots, and a little big for me. Not much, just a bit, but enough to allow my foot to slip a bit when I kick hard. A dive friend of mine once showed me a pair of fin retainers like these Activeaqua > Fin Retainers , and I am wondering if anyone knows of a place to order these in Canada or the US. I only seem to find them in Europe. Thanks for your help.
    They also go under the name "Fixe Palms." You can easily make several dozen pair from one old inner tube. Lay the tube flat and cut out a "Y" with the top of the "Y" on one side of the tube and bottom at the other.
    I refuse to believe that corporations are people until Texas executes one.

    "Too often ... people enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought" - Leapfrog
    "They are the McDonalds of diver certification. Quick, inexpensive and tasty. Pardon me for saying so, but I also believe it to be a health hazard." - DCBC
    "It truly does boil down to motivation ... if you believe something is hard, or unnecessary to learn, you won't learn it ... even if it's completely within your capability" - Bob (Grateful Diver)


  4. #4
    ScubaBoard Enthusiast


    remains unknown
    and unknowable.
     

    Matt S.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Kirkland, WA
    Posts
    1,137
    Dives
    100 - 199
    Trident has them too, so pretty much any shop should be able to get them if you don't want to make them.

    This is the first online shop I found that has them but I am sure there are others:
    Freediving Fins
    There's no sensation to compare with this / Suspended animation, a state of bliss (Pink Floyd, Learning to Fly)
    Seattle Scuba Gallery

  5. #5
    ScubaBoard Contributor


    Vintage snorkeller
     

    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
    Posts
    724
    Fin retainers are also known as fin grips or fin keep(er)s. Their original French name, fixe-palmes, is a tribute to the Marseilles-based diving equipment company Beuchat which patented the idea back in the early 1960s and which also devised the original Jet Fin.

    Fin grips are designed to keep full-foot, not open-heel, fins attached to the feet in strong currents. They generally come in three sizes, Small, Medium and Large. Be aware that the Large version isn't that big, so if you are wearing bulky drysuit boots under your full-foot fins, the fin grip straps may stretch, making a very tight, circulation-restricting fit. Try the boots, fins and grips together at home before you use the ensemble in open water.

    Here is an image showing how the triangular straps are worn over the instep, arch and heel of each foot and how many colours are available. The range of colours is popular with underwater hockey players who need fin grips to secure their fins when they play in swimming pools.

    Click on the thumbnail to see the full-size version: Name:  .jpg
Views: 106
Size:  83.4 KB

    Such coloured fin grips can be purchased online from the French Underwater Hockey Association at the cost of 10 euros a pair.

    If you just want plain black fin grips, there are indeed several North American online retail outlets selling them, e.g.:

    Fin Grips - Scuba Gear & Diving Accessories
    Fin Grips

  6. #6
    Diving Polymath


    waiting for the next dive.
     

    Thalassamania's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    On a large pile of smokin' A'a, the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. 2,175 miles to Alaska, 2,390 miles to California; 3,850 miles to Japan; 4,900 miles to China; 5,280 miles to the Philippines.
    Dives
    5,000 - ∞
    Photos
    37
    Quote Originally Posted by David Wilson View Post
    Fin grips are designed to keep full-foot, not open-heel, fins attached to the feet in strong currents.
    While that may be so, divers in California have used them since to beginning with strap type fins (adjustable and fixed) to prevent loss when surfing into the beach. They were also regularly used with early drysuits to prevent fin loss during inversion.
    I refuse to believe that corporations are people until Texas executes one.

    "Too often ... people enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought" - Leapfrog
    "They are the McDonalds of diver certification. Quick, inexpensive and tasty. Pardon me for saying so, but I also believe it to be a health hazard." - DCBC
    "It truly does boil down to motivation ... if you believe something is hard, or unnecessary to learn, you won't learn it ... even if it's completely within your capability" - Bob (Grateful Diver)


  7. #7
    ScubaBoard Enthusiast


    remains unknown
    and unknowable.
     

    Matt S.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Kirkland, WA
    Posts
    1,137
    Dives
    100 - 199
    I guess I am using them wrong! I put them over my drysuit boot before I put on the fins. My suit legs are a couple inches too long and the keeper keeps my foot glued into the boot.
    There's no sensation to compare with this / Suspended animation, a state of bliss (Pink Floyd, Learning to Fly)
    Seattle Scuba Gallery

  8. #8
    Deep South DIR


    Has not set a "status"
     

    DIR-Atlanta's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    579
    Photos
    15
    Quote Originally Posted by Matt S. View Post
    I guess I am using them wrong! I put them over my drysuit boot before I put on the fins. My suit legs are a couple inches too long and the keeper keeps my foot glued into the boot.
    That is the way they are normally worn with a drysuit. It might also help you to replace your standard fin straps with spring straps, if you have not done so already.
    DIR-Atlanta meets at 7:00 PM on the third Tuesday of every month, at Little Vita, 2110 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta, GA. Drop us a line if you are interested in joining us for a meeting or dive!

  9. #9
    Diving Polymath


    waiting for the next dive.
     

    Thalassamania's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    On a large pile of smokin' A'a, the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. 2,175 miles to Alaska, 2,390 miles to California; 3,850 miles to Japan; 4,900 miles to China; 5,280 miles to the Philippines.
    Dives
    5,000 - ∞
    Photos
    37
    Quote Originally Posted by Matt S. View Post
    I guess I am using them wrong! I put them over my drysuit boot before I put on the fins. My suit legs are a couple inches too long and the keeper keeps my foot glued into the boot.
    It's no big deal to have a couple of inches cut out of each leg, and life will be much easier then.
    I refuse to believe that corporations are people until Texas executes one.

    "Too often ... people enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought" - Leapfrog
    "They are the McDonalds of diver certification. Quick, inexpensive and tasty. Pardon me for saying so, but I also believe it to be a health hazard." - DCBC
    "It truly does boil down to motivation ... if you believe something is hard, or unnecessary to learn, you won't learn it ... even if it's completely within your capability" - Bob (Grateful Diver)


  10. #10
    Divemaster
    Badge


    is planning the next adventure
     

    DeepSeaExplorer's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    757
    Dives
    500 - 999
    Quote Originally Posted by Matt S. View Post
    I guess I am using them wrong! I put them over my drysuit boot before I put on the fins. My suit legs are a couple inches too long and the keeper keeps my foot glued into the boot.
    I wear them the same way. My boots fit fine and I don't need them to keep my fins on. The only reason I, and most other dry suit divers, wear them is to keep air out of the boots so my feet don't float.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. DSS Delrin Thumbwheels & Retainers on Koplin BP?
    By Daryl Morse in forum Buoyancy Compensators (BC's) and Weight Systems
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: June 27th, 2005, 05:05 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  






Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0