Strap slippage?

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

So I have recently gotten a finis wave monofin, but the straps seem to slip off my heels as I swim causing me to have to pull them up and starting to blister my heels. Tightening seems to make it worse but there may be a sweet spot in there somewhere I haven't found, this was only my second swim.

I have seen a lot of threads on blisters but they seem to mostly be about the foot pockets rather than the straps. I blister pretty easy on my heels. The wave is pretty narrow, so I am not sure that I can fit neoprene socks in the pockets. How thick are they?

Is there any trick to the straps or stopping the slippage? How can I avoid these blisters?

[Starfrit]

Do you think it would be possible to wrap a bit of fabric around the heel strap? It might prevent it from slipping while also protecting your heels from blisters.

As for the neoprene socks, I don't own a pair so I can't attest to their thickness, but I think they come in various thicknesses? If so, you might be able to find a pair thin enough to fit inside your monofin's footpockets (maybe Amazon?). It's worth looking into, at least!

[Ciriun]

Have you already tried regular socks? I just started using a pair with my Finis Aquarius and they seem to help some.

[Triton-Mahtlinnie]

You can also try lycra socks. They're made for use in fin footpockets, but are very thin. They're what I use, since I have large feet and my footpockets are always on the tight side.

[Fifi Tigg]

I dont know if you know about the little hook that clips in between the feet? I'm only mentioning it because I thought it was to hang your tail or something when I got my first finis haha

[Maethor]

My best friend had a problem with her straps where it wouldn't stay tight; the straps would loosen on their own. If that's your problem, you can figure out where you like the strap to stay and then wedge a ponytail in there for added traction!

[Yulia]

I had the same problem with my wave, I used regular socks in it and that helped a lot. No more blisters.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I will try some regular socks tonight (or whenever I get to swim again) and see if that fixes my problem. If not, I'll have to check local shops for the lycra and see how thin I can find neoprene socks.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

So update today: I tried regular socks, which were rather uncomfortable in my fin with how narrow the foot pockets are on the wave, and the straps still slipped...I dunno if they would have fixed the blister issue, I didn't keep them on for long. I had a bit less slippage today after the straps were tightened even more...

Maybe a gel insert of some kind would help? Like they have for heels?

I will have to check into lycra socks still whenever I am able to find them. I have also heard of people using a bandage and hockey tape?

[Triton-Mahtlinnie]

I'm not sure how well this would work with the Wave fin design, but you could try doing something like what I did with my Aquarius. The strap slipped off constantly, so I took a piece of elastic and tied each end to the strap. The footstrap goes behind the heel, the elastic goes over my foot, and the strap hasn't slipped off since.

31379 note piece of black elastic. To put it on, I just slip my feet between the strap and the elastic so the elastic goes over my foot.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

That's a neat idea! I'm not sure exactly how to adapt it to the Wave yet, since it has two individual foot straps rather than just the one. Although, I had been toying with how to make something that goes around the ankle maybe. I don't wanna put too much on there to make it hard to get off. I had to pull my fin off quick yesterday due to my first foot cramp. A mermaid milestone from what I understand. :P

[Triton-Mahtlinnie]

Maybe try an elastic strap over each footpocket? I've found that it doesn't hamper my ability to get the fin off (I can actually get it off just by flexing my feet and pulling, no hands required), but it does keep the strap from coming off on it's own.

[Mermaid Menanna]

I just tried out my new finis rapid today and found the same problem with the foot strap(s) slipping off my heel. I love exdraghunt's idea and that will go to #2 on my list of possible fixes. My first attempt is going to be to use some vet wrap around the back of each side of the strap where it is supposed to fit tight against my heel. If that doesn't work then I will unwrap it and try the elastic.
I did try the lycra spandex socks I had made for myself for my finis foil and found that they made the slipping strap worse than no socks at all. (spandex is slippery so it slid off easier) I will post after I've tried the vet wrap idea and let you know if that works. I use that stuff for a lot of different things and absolutely love it. It's soft (foam type soft) so won't cause blisters (may even help prevent them) and it sticks to itself so no tape or anything needed, plus is really strong/durable and does well in water for other things I've used it for such as in place of an ace bandage.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

Yeah I had thought of sports wrap or something myself. I hadn't tries it yet since you would have to re do it everytime. It was still a good idea, I just didn't follow through so I am eager to see how it goes for you!

[Mermaid Menanna]

Yeah I had thought of sports wrap or something myself. I hadn't tries it yet since you would have to re do it everytime. It was still a good idea, I just didn't follow through so I am eager to see how it goes for you!

The vet wrap shouldn't need to be redone every time. That stuff holds pretty tight for quite a while. I use it to wrap the pvc on my macaw's stand and I only need to rewrap it if he chews it off, which he usually doesn't. Some of it has been on there for over 6 months and he spends an average of 6 - 8 hrs/day on that stand, walking on it, splashing it, soaking it with water when he's taking a bath or dipping his food. Even the stuff that is "worn" or "chewed" is not so easy to remove because it sticks to itself so well, I usually end up cutting it off. I'm hoping to get a chance to try it out this coming Sunday so will let you know if it works and how well it holds up. :-)

[Mermaid Menanna]

Just for reference, this is the stuff I'm referring to. It's made for horses, for leg wraps... so it has to be durable enough to hold and take quite a beating, including exposure to water, mud, etc.
https://www.horseloverz.com/product/wraps-and-bandages/404810-wrap-it-up-flexible-bandage.html?sku=5-302087&gdftrk=gdfV27555_a_7c1161_a_7c2883_a_7c5_d_302087&ev_pid=5-302087&ev_ppid=51320962143&ev_adtype=pla&ev_cmpg=Shopping&gclid=CN3r2qHZ68YCFQUMaQodxnMPWg
Depending on where you shop for it, it's available in pretty much every color of the rainbow. I chose this link because it was the cheapest. Locally I get mine at Fleet Farm and pay about 1.69/roll for it.

[Kumori Kitsune]

My toes grip but one thing you could try is wearing ankle socks other then cotton. My feet are large enought in my wave not to always need a strap.

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[Mermaid Menanna]

Well I tried the elastic, which did help a bit, but I'm still getting slippage. I have also tried a pair of spandex socks, which only made it worse. I am trying to find something around here I can use to put a "rubber" strip on the back ankle part of a sock so it's rubber on rubber for gripping ability. The problem with the elastic is the way the rapid strap is pulled through a hook in the center... there's nowhere to attach the elastic to hold it anymore secure around the back of the foot than the fin strap.

[Sherielle]

I had that problem with my wave, so I just unhooked the straps and turned them upside down. I don't have that problem anymore.

[Kumori Kitsune]

You could take the strap off and uses some kind of string of elastic loop it through the sides and the mild like the old strap was you could try cuting up some dollar insole for shoes and putting them inside the fin to keep ot from sliping.

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[Mermaid Menanna]

I've tried the vet wrap and the elastic strap addition and while the elastic helps a bit, neither have fixed the problem. I'm working on something new using a neoprene sock, will post if it's successful but it'll be a work in progress over the winter and won't be tested until next summer.