| Why Water Strider Raft Kickboat, Belly Boat Fins & Float Tube Fins Are the Best! Dave says: First, kickboat, belly boat or float tube fins must be easy to get on and off. You can step in or out of our fins in three seconds flat. I designed the fins to fit over wading shoes and/or waders with boot feet. The two straps are a quick release cam buckle design. One holds the shoe in place and the other locks the fin around the ankle for no-loss security. When you place your wading boot in the fin place the heel of one foot on the tip of the blade and jam the heal of your other foot back into the fin - then just pull the two straps tight and you are ready to go. Any time you need to get out of the fin just reach down and give the two straps a quick pull and the fin is off. This is a simple and very positive system. Second, kickboat, belly boat or float tube fins should be easier to walk in than scuba fins. The tips of the blades on our fins are made to curl up in front to make walking with your fins on much easier. The tips of the blade are molded to be about 2 inches above the ground so you won't stumble easily. I can actually jump out of the Water Strider raft and run down the gravel bar on the river with relative, albeit practiced ease. Our kickboat fins are injection molded out of a special formula PVC and is the best material to use. But, the bottom of the fin is slick on the rocks, especially if there is moss or slime on the rocks. I have sewn felt soles to the bottom with steel studs inserted through the felt to give the traction you need to walk with the fins on in or out of the water. I usually take my fins off when I get out of the water because it is so easy and quick to do so. It is also just as easy to put them back on in just a few seconds. The studded felt soles on the fins allow you to stop anyplace and stand up and the Water Strider raft remains with you for support and comfort. I float the Dean River every summer for great summer run steelhead and there are two pools that have large rocks just below the surface. They are big enough to stand on and fish from but the water is fast and the rocks are slick. With the studded felt soles I can row over to the rocks and easily stand up and fish these hot spots. These spots can't be reached or fished any other way. Problem solved! When you are floating with the fins on and need to row around some obstacle it is easy to lift your legs up and place your feet on the foot strap to hold your feet and fins just above the water line and row. You will notice the front of the blades of the fins are heart shaped. That design is necessary because the front opening of the Water Strider raft kickboat is round in shape and the heart shape prevents the tip edge of the fin from hanging up on the edge of the air tube on the raft. Many belly boat and float tube anglers use "Force Fins". They are shaped like a Y and have long, pointed tips that will hang up on the edge of air tubes and cause other problems. They were definitely designed for scuba diving, NOT river or lake floating. Our Kickboat Fins will fit into the carrying bag with other items you need so you will have them with you all the time. | 
