If you’ve been diving for a while, you know that the little things can make or break a trip. A fin strap that slips, a buckle that snaps, or a bungee that loses its tension can turn a relaxed dive into a frustrating experience. The Mares Bungee Straps are sold as a replacement part for open heel fins, and they come in a pair. They’re black and sized as regular. On paper, they sound straightforward. In practice, they’re a mixed bag that works well for some divers but not for others.
These straps are designed to replace the standard rubber or plastic straps on adjustable fins. Instead of a buckle, they use a bungee cord system that you stretch over your heel. The idea is that you can slip your foot in and out without having to fuss with a buckle each time. Many divers use them for shore entries, boat dives, or when they want to quickly remove their fins during a surface interval. The bungee material is elastic, and it loops through the fin’s side slots and then back over the heel. The regular size is meant for average foot sizes, typically fitting booties up to about 5mm thickness.
Key functional features include the bungee material itself, which is a durable elastic cord with a fabric covering. It’s stitched at the ends to keep it from fraying. The attachment method is simple: you thread the bungee through the fin’s existing slots and then tie a knot to secure it. There is no metal buckle, which means less corrosion risk in saltwater. The straps are also relatively lightweight and pack flat, which is a plus for travel.
However, there are trade-offs. The bungee tension is not adjustable. Once you tie the knot, the length is fixed. If you change bootie thickness or want a tighter or looser fit, you have to untie and retie the strap. This is fiddly, especially with cold hands. Also, the bungee can lose elasticity over time. After about 50 dives or a year of regular use, the straps may start to feel loose. Some divers report that the bungee slips off the heel if the fin is not designed with a deep heel pocket. It works best with fins that have a pronounced heel notch or groove.
Compared to traditional fin straps with buckles, these bungee straps are more convenient but less secure. A standard rubber strap with a stainless steel buckle offers more predictable tension and longer life. You can also replace just the strap without retying. The bungee system is faster to use, but it sacrifices that fine-tuned fit. Another alternative is the spring strap, which uses a metal spring coil covered in rubber. Spring straps are even more durable and provide consistent tension, but they are heavier and more expensive. Mares Bungee Straps sit in the middle: cheaper than spring straps, but less reliable than buckled straps.
Who is this product suitable for? It’s a good choice for divers who want a quick, no-fuss solution for warm-water diving with thin booties. It works well for travel divers who want to save weight and space. It’s also a decent replacement if your original fin strap breaks and you want a temporary fix. However, it is not ideal for cold-water divers who wear thick 7mm or 8mm booties. The bungee may not stretch enough to fit comfortably, and the lack of adjustability becomes a problem. It is also not great for divers who do frequent deep or strong-current dives, where a secure fit is critical. The bungee can slip or stretch under load, which could be a safety concern.
In terms of build quality, the Mares Bungee Straps are adequate but not premium. The stitching is neat, but the bungee material is similar to what you’d find on a generic utility cord. It does the job, but don’t expect it to last for years. Some users have reported the fabric cover fraying after a few months. The regular size is a standard length, but if you have larger feet or thick booties, you might need to buy two pairs and link them, which is not ideal.
Installation is straightforward but requires some patience. You need to feed the bungee through the fin slots, pull it to the desired tension, and tie a secure knot. A double overhand knot works, but a reef knot is more secure. Make sure the knot sits on the outside of the fin to avoid pressure points. It takes about 5 minutes per fin. Once installed, the strap feels comfortable against the bare foot or over a thin bootie. The bungee doesn’t dig in, but it also doesn’t provide the same locked-in feel as a buckle.
Overall, the Mares Bungee Straps are a functional replacement part that solves a specific problem: quick on-and-off. They are not a high-performance upgrade. For the price, they are a reasonable option if you value convenience over durability. If you’re a casual diver in warm water, they’ll work fine. If you dive in challenging conditions or want a long-term solution, you might be better off with a different strap type.
