Why are stainless steel straps only accessories?

[lmorin]

I made myself a pair of stainless steel fin straps and really like them. I also have looked around for the following combination: very light weight (for travel purposes), medium size and stiffness, with SS straps. Can't find any such beast. The first problem is that I cannot find a company making SS straps either standard or optional on a pair of fins. As far as I can tell, all open heel fins are sold with typical straps designed and often patented by the particular manufacturer. I don't want to pay twice for straps, particularly when the originals are more prone to failure than the SS straps. Anybody else want SS as a standard fin option?

[BSea]

I am just guessing here, but I doubt it would save you much if they added the spring straps instead of regular straps. And fins aren't something that most divers switch out often, so in the big scheme of things once you get your spring straps, you should be good for many years. And in the unlikely event you ever break a spring strap, you'll have the original straps for backup.

[Aussie]

Some fins are now coming out with stainless springs.

I think they all should personally

Aussie

[Phestr]

I just read about Atomic Aquatics Smoke on the Water Fins in SCUBA Diver magazine (Thanx, Larry), and they come with SS straps. They look pretty sweet, too. ScubaToys doesn't carry them, but you should be able to find them.

http://www.atomicaquatics.com/smoke_splitfin.html

[Bill22]

My original straps went right into the save-a-dive kit. Never even used them. I got the EZ Spring Fin Straps at the same time I bought my fins and replaced the factory straps immediately. Does seem a little odd that more of the manufacturers don't make them standard. Especially given that so many people replace them so quickly.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Originally Posted by Phestr

I just read about Atomic Aquatics Smoke on the Water Fins in SCUBA Diver magazine (Thanx, Larry), and they come with SS straps. They look pretty sweet, too. ScubaToys doesn't carry them, but you should be able to find them.

http://www.atomicaquatics.com/smoke_splitfin.html

We carry all the atomic stuff... or can get it. We are just not allowed to ship their products inside the US if there is another dealer near you.

And Apollo has an option to buy theirs with stainless straps as well.

[CompuDude]

I bought my Apollo Bio Fin XT-C's with the factory spring straps. Love them.

My Jet fins came with rubber straps that have never been used... I tore them off and installed spring straps as soon as I got them home. Ditto for my OMS slipstreams. And one of these days I'll be picking a pair of Mares Quattros, and those OEM rubber straps will have a lifetime measured in minutes as well...

[Bill22]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

We carry all the atomic stuff... or can get it. We are just not allowed to ship their products inside the US if there is another dealer near you.

So does that mean you can ship outside the US?

[chuckm]

Dive Rite also offers fins with spring straps. I know ScubaToys carries some Dive Rite gear but I don't see the fins on website.

[ScubaToys Larry]

Originally Posted by Phestr

I just read about Atomic Aquatics Smoke on the Water Fins in SCUBA Diver magazine (Thanx, Larry), and they come with SS straps. They look pretty sweet, too. ScubaToys doesn't carry them, but you should be able to find them.

http://www.atomicaquatics.com/smoke_splitfin.html

We carry them... just can't sell them in the US as they have a dealer network we can't infringe on... their rules... But we can ship them over to our customers in Japan or other overseas areas.