Spring straps are a great thing!

You improve your dive life ...... really!

Originally posted by the gooch Anyone add spring straps to a post style fin? If so, what brand and are you happy with your purchase?

I have. There are two types for posts. One uses the plastic quick-release connectors that your rubber straps do, these allow you to unclip a strap as you do with rubber straps and to interchange easily between spring and rubber straps. These are generally looked down upon by experienced divers as it sorta defeats the purpose of springs by having a plastic failure point. The other type uses a stainless hinge that slides over the post.

I've used the cheapie "EZ Spring" from LP and the Mantas, either work fine for me. I have the ones with the rubber covering and pull loop, which some techies despise and prefer just the bare spring.

I guess the bottom line is I will have spring straps on any fins I own or buy in the future. The speed and ease in putting them on and taking them off, plus not worrying about a fin strap breaking, has me convinced.

texdiveguy: I got confused when you said "you improve your dive life.....really" I assume you mean you improve your fin strap life??

Reefhound, the ones that you are using with the rubber loop in the back do they also use the metal connection for the post?

Originally posted by the gooch texdiveguy: I got confused when you said "you improve your dive life.....really" I assume you mean you improve your fin strap life?? Reefhound, the ones that you are using with the rubber loop in the back do they also use the metal connection for the post?

Yes I do, and I must say there is one teeny annoyance and that is their tendency to slip off the posts when not under tension. To solve this I use a heavy tie wrap at each post but some prefer an o-ring.

It "improves your life" the way many little adjustments do, by simplifying your gear maintenance and making on/off faster and easier.

awap - I really like the looks of those homemade springs because they appear to attach very securely and are very streamlined.

I picked up a pair of spring straps about 6 months ago, and I'm never looking back. You might want to look at the XS Scuba spring straps. They come with adapters to fit pretty much any fin.

Yup, spring straps are so good that it's a wonder the manufacturers don't start including them as part of the fin.  Taking the fin on and off is so much easier and it's depth compensating to boot, a win win.

The ONLY reason I haven't ordered spring straps is because I have yet to get a straight answer on how to measure for them.  I believe I measured one time with my boot on, 16" from pin to pin on my OMS slipstreams.  Not sure if that's how I was supposed to measure, but that's how I did it.  I've never actually called ST and asked them what size I would need however

My fins are size XL.

I like the looks of the EZ Straps except for the plastic clip attachment. I would like to stick with something that has a SS attachment point to minimize the chance of it breaking. I really like the Apollo straps and would have no problem making the modification to my fins to install them but the price is crazy

I use these for my jets-http://www.divesports.com/mall/innovative_acc_springstrapsjetfins.asp - similar to what CompuDude posted.  I'm never going back to regular fins straps again!  Any precious seconds I can avoid standing in the surf zone in SoCal taking off my fins is worth the cost!

I loved ordering them from ST. I will love getting them on Wed. I hope I will love them when I try them out this weekend!