spring straps anyone?

[Aussie]

This is how i attach my steel springs. They sit nice and flat against the fin. They did loosen one or twice with the buckle moving forward into the larger hole. Never come off tho.

Aussie

[ianr33]

These straps would not be my choice for 2 reasons:
1)The buckle can come off the post.I prefer straps where wire wraps around the post. (Between my wife and myself we have both types)
2)None of the plastic junk is needed. Why take a piece of gear that is a masterpiece of minimalism then add stuff to it ?

I am sure these will work just fine though.

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by coralcrazed

placing a clear plastic tube as a buffer will not feel the same on your achillies tendon as a fully flat surface. I can direct you to structural surface tention calculations if youd like but you can't say that the surface contact on a round profile (clear tube) against any surface is the same as the flat surface of the Tilos plastic backs.

Actually, the tubes are pretty well flattened where they lie against my "Achilles tendon", which can more often accurately be described as my Achilles tendon covered by a wool sock covered by a neoprene soft boot covered by a canvas sneaker. Really, I don't feel much but well distributed pressure there, and that's nearly as true with just a neoprene wetsuit boot. I actually found the springs with tubing to be more comfortable than the factory standard fin straps, which do lie perfectly flat, and that's all the comparison that matters to me. I'm sure your tension calculations are endlessly fascinating, but I don't care what they say... I know how my fins feel, and IMHO they feel great!

Originally Posted by coralcrazed

Now on the aesthetics... If I had an old pair of fins that look like the ones that you show in the picture I too would not care much on how the straps look.

Those fins aren't that old. After several hundred dives, your shiny new gear will look well used too, and what you value in gear aesthetics may change.

[Flatliner]

Originally Posted by MSilvia

After several hundred dives, your shiny new gear will look well used too, and what you value in gear aesthetics may change.

Bada Bing...

[coralcrazed]

Originally Posted by Flatliner

Bada Bing...

THERE IS A FLAW IN THE TILOS!
Thats right, you guys are fully aware that I just purchased my brand spanking new and shiny gear, a fact that I'm stoked about. BUT, you know this as most of you actually helped me through the selection process. One of which was the Tilos stainless spring straps. The ones that this thread is dedicated to... I wanted to start this thread so that I could learn as much as I could about these sweet straps. AND I did!

Msilva, your DIY project helped me see the flaw in the Tilos... Its a very serious flaw. You see, I purchased these so that my fins never fall off on a dive. Something that actually happened to me once. Not a fun thing to have happen. Its not cool trying to fin with one leg through heavy current. The dive could have turned ugly... So, you missed the point... This thread was not about a DIY project, it was about me trying to learn more about the Tilos. It solved the very reason that I purchased the tilos for and one in which THE TILOS FAILS MISERABLY at. However, like I said its rubber backing is what I was most impressed with and still am. That part of the strap is still superior to any others that I've seen on the market.

Aussies solution is one that may solve this problem the Tilos has. Thank you for contributing and showing that fault and your solution. Prompts me to try and fix this problem with it... Perhaps just take off the stainless buckles and wrap the ends around the peg will be a simple solution of its failure. However, you can't take the strap off without a pair of pliers. I just purchased a dive suitcase and there is a pocket which fits the fins in. However the tilos make the fin a bit too long for this pocket and so I need these to come off easily when traveling. So, I have another idea I'm working on and will post it to the thread when I'm done. It should lock the tilos in place and yet allow me to take the strap off ONLY when I want to.

So, until than any other suggestions would be great to know! I'm not looking for people to show me thier DIY projects just suggest a good solution to the problem with the Tilos.

Thank you to all who have contributed to date as it made me realize that as nice as these straps are at first... They are unfortunatly NOT a good solution to stoping fins from falling off. A seriouse flaw!

Thanks in advance for any solution you may have.

[Aussie]

Originally Posted by coralcrazed

THERE IS A FLAW IN THE TILOS!
Thats right, you guys are fully aware that I just purchased my brand spanking new and shiny gear, a fact that I'm stoked about. BUT, you know this as most of you actually helped me through the selection process. One of which was the Tilos stainless spring straps. The ones that this thread is dedicated to... I wanted to start this thread so that I could learn as much as I could about these sweet straps. AND I did!

Msilva, your DIY project helped me see the flaw in the Tilos... Its a very serious flaw. You see, I purchased these so that my fins never fall off on a dive. Something that actually happened to me once. Not a fun thing to have happen. Its not cool trying to fin with one leg through heavy current. The dive could have turned ugly... So, you missed the point... This thread was not about a DIY project, it was about me trying to learn more about the Tilos. Even though your DIY is a crude solution it solved the very reason that I purchased the tilos for and one in which THE TILOS FAILS MISERABLY at. However, like I said its rubber backing is what I was most impressed with and still am. That part of the strap is still superior to any others that I've seen on the market.

Aussies solution is one that may solve this problem the Tilos has. Thank you for contributing and showing that fault and your solution. Prompts me to try and fix this problem with it... Perhaps just take off the stainless buckles and wrap the ends around the peg will be a simple solution of its failure. However, you can't take the strap off without a pair of pliers. I just purchased a dive suitcase and there is a pocket which fits the fins in. However the tilos make the fin a bit too long for this pocket and so I need these to come off easily when traveling. So, I have another idea I'm working on and will post it to the thread when I'm done. It should lock the tilos in place and yet allow me to take the strap off ONLY when I want to.

So, until than any other suggestions would be great to know! I'm not looking for people to show me thier DIY projects just suggest a good solution to the problem with the Tilos.

Thank you to all who have contributed to date as it made me realize that as nice as these straps are at first... They are unfortunatly NOT a good solution to stoping fins from falling off. A seriouse flaw!

Thanks in advance for any solution you may have.

Buy a bigger dive bag. Simple solution.

I have seen the same style steel spring with quick release buckles.

http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-113/...trap-Pair.html

These might be another option for you.
Personally I prefer my setup and I never take my springs off. But at $22.95 its worth a try. I am sure the boys from ST would be able to get their hands on something long the same lines.

Something to think about.

Aussie

[ScubaToys Larry]

We were not too impressed with the innovative ones... Tilos has them with clips as well and we stock those in all sizes: Tilos Spring Straps With Quick Release Buckles, Fins, Tilos, Tilos Spring Straps With Quick Release Buckles

But the plastic clips defeat the purpose for many that want springs. As far as failures, I've probably seen a lot more plastic clips break than I have rubber straps.

[Aussie]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

We were not too impressed with the innovative ones... Tilos has them with clips as well and we stock those in all sizes: Tilos Spring Straps With Quick Release Buckles, Fins, Tilos, Tilos Spring Straps With Quick Release Buckles

But the plastic clips defeat the purpose for many that want springs. As far as failures, I've probably seen a lot more plastic clips break than I have rubber straps.

Thats the main purpose i didnt go with quick release.

Coral why do you want to take them off?
So that they can fit into your dive bag?

I have them on my Esclapez freediving fins and they fit into my dive bag (Just).

Aussie

[coralcrazed]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

We were not too impressed with the innovative ones... Tilos has them with clips as well and we stock those in all sizes: Tilos Spring Straps With Quick Release Buckles, Fins, Tilos, Tilos Spring Straps With Quick Release Buckles

But the plastic clips defeat the purpose for many that want springs. As far as failures, I've probably seen a lot more plastic clips break than I have rubber straps.

I would not say that these are a solution... ST sent me the plastic buckled ones above in error and ended up geting the stainless buckle replacements. Larry can correct me if I'm wrong but The plastic buckles DO NOT lock against the pin AND even if they do there is still a possability that they would simply break. The ultimate would be a stailess buckle that locks on the pin.

The bottom line the tilos stainless buckles dont lock on the pin and therefor could fall off. I am forsed to add a feature tht would hopefully create a locking solution to the SS buckles on the tilos.

The only company that I'm aware of that offers a more permanent method are the apollos but you have to cut the pin and fin as it is a permanent solution than you are unable to remove the fin.

[coralcrazed]

Originally Posted by Aussie

Thats the main purpose i didnt go with quick release.

Coral why do you want to take them off?
So that they can fit into your dive bag?

I have them on my Esclapez freediving fins and they fit into my dive bag (Just).

Aussie

Yes so they can fit into the dive bag... The suitcase bags that I have seen will not accomodate my mares quatros with the spring straps connected. Not easily anyway. I also placed my original rubber straps that came with my mares in my save a dive kit so I can switch then out if under the rare off chance that something happens with the tilos and i'm on vacation. So, yes I would like to have my straps still remove withou having to cut off a zip tie. I have a couple of possible ideas on paper but I need to find about 20 ga. Stainless steel rod. Home depot does not have it. They only have copper, anodized and galvanized. I will have to look on mcmastercarr... to get what I need to complete whay I'm doing. I may be able to achieve what I'm doing with a simple carabineer... we'll see!