Competitor Foot Sizing

[MermaidBrittany]

I am going to be purchasing a competitor monofin very soon and I hear that they might run small, is this true? I also hear that its pretty much a necessity to have the neoprene foot booties so that the foot pockets don't chew your feet up which takes up more space. Im a size 8 so I would normally get a Medium, should I get the next size up?

[Aquatarian]

MOST DEFINITELY! I bought a size XL which is one size larger than I normally would be (I'm a size 11 in US mens), and it's still a snug fit. Because it's so snug I can't wear any water socks or booties with them so I often get blisters on top of my feet if I use it for too long. :/

So I would definitely invest in some thin neoprene socks to avoid any possibility of blisters. And go up a size or two. I've had friends with small feet (size 7, 8, 9) try my size XL and they said it fit them perfectly.

[MermaidBrittany]

Really? Ok great thank you for the info! :) and when you say you have had friends try on you XL are they guys or girls?

[Aquatarian]

You're welcome. They were girls, between 5'6" and 5'9". I've had guys try it on too and they all said it was really tight. :3

[MermaidBrittany]

ok great :) And would you suggest getting the next size up in the footbooties too?

[Aquatarian]

No. Booties need to be tight enough so that they don't bunch up when you put on and are wearing the monofin, so they must me size appropriate. Plus they stretch anyway. :)

I would also wait to get the booties after you get the monofin. That way you will be able to gauge how they fit. If the fin is on the tighter side, get booties that are a bit thinner. If you have some wiggle room, get some thicker neoprene booties.

[MermaidBrittany]

Ok thank you for all the information it was really helpful! :)

[Naiad Rose]

This is exactly the info I was looking for, and is consistent with other things I've heard about the Finis Competitor. Since the size chart says M is up to a size 9, it seemed like that would be the one to get, but from what everyone is saying, I should get the L for a size 9 (and fin socks).

Although, I've been having a terrible time with the Finis Rapid. I was sure a Wave wouldn't fit because it's only supposed to go up to 8, but I wear the Rapid with fin socks, which makes for a tight foot pocket fit, but still have it slipping off down over my heels all the time. I had to order a replacement strap for a Wave and modify it into the clips for the Rapid so that I would have a way to pull it tighter. It stayed put during my last swims but still had that annoying feeling of slipping interfering with my concentration, so I'm going to try it with some hard-bottom fin socks I found on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/NeoSport-Wetsuits-Premium-Neoprene-Black/dp/B000LK1O8G/. The size 7 is the same as a women's 9 and fits perfectly into the foot pocket, but it takes folding them to wedge them in, so they'd have to be sort-of permanently left in the fin. Might be a challenge for getting it on, but the strap shouldn't be able to pull so much on the ledge of the hard bottom that comes up so I think it'll work. After all that I'm thinking I'd better get a Competitor or an Oceanika for a tail project though.