Freestyle Question for barefoot riders. Footholds??

[Shadow7874]

I ride barefoot and despite the turf tearing up my toes sometimes i dont plan on switching to shoes any time soon. Ive already dropped a few hundred $$ on parts for my pump swap plus a couple odds and ends (no power adders :frown: ) and i was thinking i should get some footholds while im doing all this work over spring break.
Are foot holds gonna kill my feet if i ride barefoot or should i just get some extra underpadding and ill be ok? I have no clue what type of holds im going to go with as i just recently had the idea to buy some. I wear a size 9.5 shoe if that makes any difference.

My other option is foot straps which i dont mind. I ride in a surf stance 90% of the time but im going to try a more freestyle approach this summer

 

[jeremy chambon]

i have foot straps in my sn sj ive rode two seasons with them and love them. to do some bigger tricks and surf your want foot hold and nows a good time if your ski is apart. im working on putting some foot holds in my ski right now its not that hard to do.

 

[Billybo455]

i ride barefoot in footholds. it's rough and i'm switching to shoes.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I couldn't do it but I have very soft feet and I know i would tear a toenail off everytime i kicked in. I don't know how guys do it.

What about using those thin shoes with individual toes? The Vibram Fivefinger baefoot shoes.
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/barefoot-sports/

 

[Waternut]

I know the feeling... I hate wearing shoes but I need the traction that shoes offer. I ran kiteboarding straps on my flatdeck barefooted and it was fine. If you want to go ahead and do footholds, I'd recommend just using underpadding with no turf on the top of the hold. The turf will destroy the tops of your feet.

 

[Shadow7874]

Hmm, perhaps ill just go with straps for now. Id love to cut my gunwales SXR style, fill the front recess where the pole mount it, install holds, and widen the tray a bit but its too much work for now since i dont have much time.

does anyone know where i can find the blowsion hardware at a lower price? $20 for a few bolts and inserts is a bit high

 

[Waternut]

Mcmaster has all sorts of fancy nut plates that will work and they're probably right next door to you. For one strap, the blowsion kit isn't too bad but for two you're looking at $40 and you can certainly get tons more hardware for that price.

 

[Shadow7874]

Any idea what size bolts the blowsion kit uses? And do the straps have a built in plate for mounting? I know it says something about a 3 hole pattern for the inserts. Basically I just wanted to make sure all i need is the straps plus the bolts/inserts

Its hard to spend much money on my ski since im not working cause of school but now that ive started spending a little i wanna buy everything!

These are the only ones i could find on mcmasters site that are stainless steel. Is it a bad idea to use regular steel? there are way more options there. Im kinda guessing the blowsion kit isnt stainless but i could be wrong
http://www.mcmaster.com/#threaded-inserts/=bf7ie5

The link takes you to the whole group of inserts but its this type

Stainless Steel
Inch System of Measurement
8-32 ___ .375" (3/8") 95807A100 $2.71 Each
10-24 ___ .500" (1/2") 95807A200 3.78 Each
1/4"-20 ___ .500" (1/2") 95807A300 3.86 Each

 

[2010brandingo]

yes, regular steel = bad idea. go stainless.

 

[MANFISH66]

yes, regular steel = bad idea. go stainless.

X2, stainless is a must and should b used whenever possible and even used when not possible! AND PUT SOME SHOES ON! save urself the pain and instead of medical bills you can buy more parts!!!

 

[Shonuff]

Put some damn shoes on.

 

[2010brandingo]

yeah, don't see how you ride without them??? i couldn't do half the stuff i do without shoes.

 

[kawasakit2me]

I couldn't do it but I have very soft feet and I know i would tear a toenail off everytime i kicked in. I don't know how guys do it.

What about using those thin shoes with individual toes? The Vibram Fivefinger baefoot shoes.
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/barefoot-sports/

Yeah, It's the possibility of ripping off toenail that freaks me out too.

..and agree with shonuff.

 

[Shadow7874]

Ill consider shoes but I like riding barefoot. Plus its nice to avoid the pale feet syndrome. I get the awesome tan lines from my life jacket and gloves already.

Anyone know of the blowsion strap hardware is stainless or not? the site doesnt seem to say but if it is stainless it would probably be easier if i just ordered from them

 

[kawasakit2me]

I liked riding without gloves... until I rode with gloves. :biggthumpup:

 

[MANFISH66]

Ill consider shoes but I like riding barefoot. Plus its nice to avoid the pale feet syndrome. I get the awesome tan lines from my life jacket and gloves already.

Anyone know of the blowsion strap hardware is stainless or not? the site doesnt seem to say but if it is stainless it would probably be easier if i just ordered from them

yes, it is stainless. And r u really trying to justify barefoot riding because of TANLINES!!! please tell us all ur kidding....

 

[2010brandingo]

Lol!

 

[Shadow7874]

Ive had no reason to wear shoes before and two reasons not to. The only thing i see changing that is footholds. But i find it much much more comfortable without shoes
Gloves are another story. Going without gloves is brutal.

I think ill go with the blowsion kit and some straps for now and work on footholds (and shoes...) at some other point.
Still, shoes+water just seems uncomfortable.

 

[Shadow7874]

Actually does anyone have the dimensions of the inserts and bolts from the blowsion kit?
Shipping its killer and i found a site that has the straps for $1 less each plus free shipping so i just need to find the inserts somewhere

 

[lakeboy183]

i could not ride without shoes!! i went an afternoon and my feet were almost bleeding!.. you can get neo booties for like $20 at the local diving shop