[flying_spanner]

I agree this thread has gotten a bit off track,

One thing I've noticed when it comes to spearfishing gear, what one person swears by, someone else rubbishes.

I think that swimming with a pair of Picasso Team Black's are like strapping lengths of 4" x 2" lumber to your feet, but my dive buddy Jonathon swears by them.

I didn't like the pair of Gary Fisher Power Fins that I tried, but there must be a good reason that those fins are almost reaching a cult status with spearo's here in NZ and abroad.

Fin choice is such an individual thing, there are many factors governing your decision,

"do you scramble over rocks or do you do mostly boat dives"
"are you a spearo, or are you a pure freediver going for records"
"how long to ship goods from the US or do I buy locally"
"is my wife gonna kill me for spending $500 on a new pair of fins"

(the answer to the last one is YES ABSOLUTLY!!!!)

Take all these factors into account and you may come to a final decision on a paticular type of fin, or you may try several before trying something which works for you.

So to answer your question "Cheap Fins or Expensive" I say cheap plastic blades are fine, I love my Immersion Esclapez. Others will swear by C4 carbon, omer ice etc etc and say that you get what you pay for.

Who's wrong? well neither of us, as it all comes down what works for you, as it's such an individual thing.