Need recommendation on fins

[ntheath]

Hey everyone,

I currently dive XL jets when wet and turtles (XL as well i think) while dry. Both setups just aren't working for me as I'm either getting foot craps (jets) OR kicking harder/more often (turtles) to keep up with my buddies.

I previously dove a L pair of jets and enjoyed them, but when i finally decided to upgrade to a decent pair of booties, I had to go up a size in the jets to fit my fat foot (4E) and the booties. But, with the extended size of the XL, I'm, getting foot cramps pretty often. I suspect that they're just too large for my foot and I'm stressing it in the wrong place.

The turtles were required to fit over my rock boots but I find they are very flimsy and I end up working harder than my buddies to keep up.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations on fins which would fit wide foot (I am 4E but only 11 shoe size) but not be too long/big. I guess what I need is a fin with a larger than average pocket, but in a size which appropriately fits my overall foot size.

thanks in advance,
nick

[DA Aquamaster]

Mares fins have wide foot pockets. Over the years I have used the Power Plana, Power Plan graphite (both required some really strong legs but were really fast when properly powered) as well as the much softer and friendlier Plana Avanti and Quattro fins. The latter two frog kick really well.

But don't bail on the Jet Fin style design or the longer blade size just yet. With my size 10.5 EEE feet, I have noticed that a boot that is too narrow or a fin foot pocket that is too narrow will cramp my feet. XL Jets will work for me but only with a few wet suit boot styles that do not have much of a sole on them, and basically no one makes them anymore. Many of them will appear to fit fine, but after a short time in the water my feet will cramp. It has nothing to do with the power required for finning, but instead has to do with the otherwise not really noticeable compression of the foot side to side.

I found that XL OMS Slipstreams worked great for wet suit boots as the pockets are a bit wider than the Scubapro foot pocket, and for my dry suit boots the XXL OMS Slipstreams work great as they are large enough and wide enough without the massively too large pockets used in the XXL Jet Fins. On both those models the blade is just as large as on the XL Jet Fin but does not cause cramping. The blade also feels stiffer out of the water, but they kick about the same as the softer bladed Jet fins in the water. The major difference is that the stiffer fin has a little better feel and precision when backing up. A minor difference is that you need to control the tip and keep it down to a greater degree than with the Jet Fin in high flow as it won't bend back as much in strong flow when exiting in strong flow in places like the Ear, at Manatee, or the rabbit hole at Madison when the flow is up.

[ntheath]

Cool, thanks for the feedback. I hadn't considered Mares, for no particular reason, so I'll check them out.

nick

[sskasser]

Also try OMS Slipstreams. They were a bit too light for me, but the foot pockets seemed larger than my Jets.

[ntheath]

But don't bail on the Jet Fin style design or the longer blade size just yet. With my size 10.5 EEE feet, I have noticed that a boot that is too narrow or a fin foot pocket that is too narrow will cramp my feet. XL Jets will work for me but only with a few wet suit boot styles that do not have much of a sole on them, and basically no one makes them anymore. Many of them will appear to fit fine, but after a short time in the water my feet will cramp. It has nothing to do with the power required for finning, but instead has to do with the otherwise not really noticeable compression of the foot side to side.


I think I am having the same problem. I had a cheaper pair of akona booties which did not have a large soul. I "upgraded" to a pair of SP booties with a deck soul which was much beefier than the akonas. This is when I had to move up to a larger fin and really the start of my issues (although I must admit i've been putting up with the cramps for awhile). I'll add the slipstreams to my list to investigate.

thanks,
nick

[divindoc]

Give Hollis F1's a try, super-comfortable foot pocket, spring strap is adjustable for three different positions to allow for different-sized boots/booties.

[ntheath]

I had thought about the F1s too, but they are pretty pricey so probably want to try those out before buying. I've heard good things though.

thanks,
nick

[HeloDriver]

I have to say the F1 have been my favorite fins ever. I had struggled with fin pockets for years (I guess I have weird feet). I found the price to be similar to my Slipstreams and Diverites if you take into consideration that the spring straps are included in the cost.


Give Hollis F1's a try, super-comfortable foot pocket, spring strap is adjustable for three different positions to allow for different-sized boots/booties.

[JCDdiver]

I found that XL OMS Slipstreams worked great for wet suit boots as the pockets are a bit wider than the Scubapro foot pocket, and for my dry suit boots the XXL OMS Slipstreams work great as they are large enough and wide enough without the massively too large pockets used in the XXL Jet Fins.

Another vote for OMS Slipstreams.

[JCDdiver]

Give Hollis F1's a try, super-comfortable foot pocket, spring strap is adjustable for three different positions to allow for different-sized boots/booties.

I've heard good things from one of my buddies about the Hollis fins. I haven't tried them myself though.

[ntheath]

... I found the price to be similar to my Slipstreams and Diverites if you take into consideration that the spring straps are included in the cost.

Good point, I had not considered that. The springs can be pretty pricey by themselves. Do you dive the F1s wet and dry (i.e. with some type of drysuit boot)?

thanks for the feedback,
nick

[guau]

Sold my Hollis F1's last week. Too heavy. I am headed to OMS Slipstream.

My overall favorite is still an old pair of Power Plana.

[HeloDriver]

I dive them wet. I wear an XL and perceived the weight to be lighter than my slipstreams although I have not weighed them.

[double humper]

I have weighed them, and they are heavier than Jets and IMHO provide less propulsion than Dive Rites. D.H.

[divindoc]

I primarily dive the F1's dry, but have used them with wetsuit dives as well. They subjectively seem about the same weight as Jets, though if someone has weighed them and found them heavier I wouldn't dispute that; they're definitely heavier than Slipstreams.

I found the Slipstreams "bendy" just beyond the end of the footpocket, which I feel reduces the available thrust from the fins.

My dive buddy tried some F1's after I raved about them for so long and agrees they're a lot more comfortable for him than Jets, though YMMV.

ps - my fin locker is the nautical equivalent of Imelda Marcos' shoe closet, but I think I've finally found my last pair of cave fins - the F1's.

[TONY CHANEY]

FWIW: I have been diving OMS slipstreams for some time now. The fin performs perfect. The only down side is, for me and others, is the size of the foot pocket. The foot pocket was way too wide for several of us. Yes, we dove them with the inserts in order to take up some of the space. I read that one diver was trying to glue outdoor carpet in his. So, if you are looking for wide pockets then I look at the OMS's.
I picked up a pair of Hollis F1's from Living On the Edge and after 1 dive, I put the Slipstreams up for sale. After our dive I let Artic Mike try them and he loved them also. HeloDiver tried mine at Peacock and I think that he now owns a pair as well. As for the F1's: they feel heavy out of the water but really light in water. They come with the spring strap already installed and it has a loop that aids in getting them on and off. You have 2 adjustment holes. Good wide blades that make backup finning real easy. I am able to use one pair for both dry and wet. I hope that this helps.

[TONY CHANEY]

I guess that you picked up a pair. Good choice.

[TONY CHANEY]

That last post was for Charles. For some reason I can't edit, reply or use reply with Quote.

[sskasser]

That last post was for Charles. For some reason I can't edit, reply or use reply with Quote.

Sorry, weird NC divers that dive with people with questionable H-drill skills are not allowed these features. It's simply too much power to put into the hands of someone like that!


:smt044

[Arctic Mike]

Sorry, weird NC divers that dive with people with questionable H-drill skills are not allowed these features. It's simply too much power to put into the hands of someone like that!


:smt044

Doesn't the effort he put forward trying to overcome genetic limitations with the H-drill count for anything?

[HeloDriver]

I was hoping for an A for effort...

[sskasser]

There is no mercy. If there are extenuating circumstances, or extremely hard effort was put forward, then, there is still no mercy.

You guys lived in the same house with me for an entire week. I should think you'd have picked up on my merciless nature by now. Sigh. More pink duct tape is on order.

And no, there is no mercy.

[ntheath]

Ha, thanks for the recommendations. I'm going to check out the F1s - it would be great if I could use them wet and dry by adjusting the size.

What's wrong with being a weird NC diver? :)

[sskasser]

Ha, thanks for the recommendations. I'm going to check out the F1s - it would be great if I could use them wet and dry by adjusting the size.

What's wrong with being a weird NC diver? :)

Absolutely nothing WRONG with them! Some of my favorite booty-scooping cave-exploring island-diving h-drill buddies are weird NC divers! We just have to be very careful with what powers we grant them. You know, kinda like why you don't give your car keys to your three-year-old albino spider monkey when he's been drinking? :smt081

[divindoc]

Ha, thanks for the recommendations. I'm going to check out the F1s - it would be great if I could use them wet and dry by adjusting the size.

What's wrong with being a weird NC diver? :)

You can adjust them 3 ways - straps all the way forward, all the way back, or one side forward/one back. If you do adjust them frequently I'd suggest getting some extra itty-bitty locknuts to go on the threaded machine screws cause they're damn easy to lose!

[TONY CHANEY]

I forgot to say that when I use my thicker wet boots...no need for adjustment. They are about the same size as my boots for my dry suit.

[ntheath]

Tony, what kind of drysuit boots to you use? I have rock boots, they're like wearing big shoes so i'm wondering if the F1s will adjust to these wide shoes and still adjust down to my SP wet boots.