: Is it worth upgrading to Yakima footbraces?
: Are Keepers that bad?
: Is Yakima pretty much the industry standard?

People may just have the impression that machined aluminum=quality and plastic=cheap. I've built with both Keepers and Yakima, and slightly prefer the Keepers. I occassionally paddle barefoot in warmer weather and find the Keepers footpads to be much more comfortable on bare feet. Word has it that Keepers are less prone to jamming due to sand than the Yakimas are, which I believe is why Betsie Bay Kayak (manufacturer of high-end production stitch-n-glues) uses them exclusively (we have a lot of sand here in Michigan.) But the Yakima ones are easier to adjust with your toes, if your toes are nimble enough.

Both are good.

Dean