official - fin sizing thread - please add your info

[The Killer's me]

i have the Cressi Gara 2000 44-45 a bit big but i use fin keepers.
it is very good but i always think that i can find something better.

CheerzZz

[iceselkie]

Hey Harbour seal. I'd go with the smaller, the ones that fit right at the ball of your foot. you can stretch out footpockets (around the heel if necc.), fat socks compress at depth, and if you want the most use out of your fins : ie: in the pool AND diving most of the year round get the size that will fit 5mm and under. I can't wear a 7mm sock in mine, but i double up on 3's and that does the trick (I use MEC neoprene socks, theyre cheap like borscht). join up with the vanapneist http://www.vancouverapneist.com/ group, lots of local freedivers you can poll and possibly try on their stuff. TTYS!

[strangelove]

My shoe size can vary from 11 to 12, I use a cressi gara2000 46/47 with 3mm socks and omer 46-48 with 7mm. I've also notice a substantial size difference between the Picasso pockets and the omer pockets. The same size Picasso is larger than the omer.

[harbour seal]

Originally Posted by iceselkie

Hey Harbour seal. I'd go with the smaller, the ones that fit right at the ball of your foot. you can stretch out footpockets (around the heel if necc.), fat socks compress at depth, and if you want the most use out of your fins : ie: in the pool AND diving most of the year round get the size that will fit 5mm and under. I can't wear a 7mm sock in mine, but i double up on 3's and that does the trick (I use MEC neoprene socks, theyre cheap like borscht). join up with the vanapneist http://www.vancouverapneist.com/ group, lots of local freedivers you can poll and possibly try on their stuff. TTYS!

brianna,

thanks the excellent advice--good to think of fitting fins for all year around use and not just for the winter time. thanks to the all the sweet advice in this thread i am going to get the smaller ones (44-46 for my 10.5us shoe size).

also thanks for the hookup---i had never heard of the vancouverapneist group before. it would be amazing to actually meet some real live freedivers. i will contact the club and get my membership in the next couple of weeks.

thanks very much for sharing your wisdom,

sean
vancouver, canada


ps. you should add your fin types/ fin sizes / shoe size / sock size / fit info to the growing list of information in this thread

[iceselkie]

hehe no prob sean
as for my own personal fit, i have wide, yet small feet. My footpockets are sporasub 38-40, with waterway #2 blades. i wear anywhere from 3mm to 6mm comfortably, but rarely go barefoot in them. my monofin footpockets are mat-mas 38-41, same as above.

[uw_ikarus]

I use both bifins and monofins. My foot size is 40, and the Cressi Gara 3000 with 40-41 (barefoot) is fine. With my monofin ("Freediver" made by leaderfins) I chose the smallest number "S", and it turns out very comfortable (barefoot).

[Cornholio]

This is a great idea for a thread. I have to buy stuff mail order as the local dive shops only sell scuba gear. Last time I bought fins I had to send the foot pockets back as they were too large.

- make and model of fins you own Omer Millenium Ice
- size of fins 40-42 / 7-8.5
- thickness and type of socks worn 3mm Mares
- comments regarding quality of fit Too soon to tell, but seem good in the pool

- make and model of fins you own Mares Planar Avanti Quattro Power
- size of fins 42-43 / 8-9
- thickness and type of socks worn 3mm Mares
- comments regarding quality of fit A tight fit over socks, but very comfortable once on

- foot size and country 8.5 UK
- any additional fit/foot info I have quite wide feet. In terms of length I should be a size 7.5 or 8 (UK), but tend to need a larger shoe to accommodate the width

Although the Mares are labelled as being a larger size, they actually feel a little tighter than the Omer. I think that the Omer are probably wider. Will know more next month after I've spent some time in the Atlantic!

[Lockedin]

NOTE: These fins are a recent purchase, and have only been "pooled" twice, in the Pacific once.

make and model of fins you own: Omer Ice (OMER footpockets)
size of fins (46-48)
thickness and type of socks worn: 3mm Oneill Split Toe surfboots or 5mm socks
comments regarding quality of fit Slightly snug in 5mm, just right in 3mm - a bit difficult to don, but nice once they are on
foot size and country 9.5 - 10.5 US - Depending on make
any additional fit/foot info My feet are slightly wide at the ball, and I have MONSTROUS big toes!

SCUBA FINS:
make and model of fins you own: Force Fin Adjustables
size of fins N/A (They adjust size via thick nylon strapping and quick disconnect buckles - include instep pads for barefeet
thickness and type of socks worn: 3mm Oneill Split Toe surfboots or 5mm Soled boots
comments regarding quality of fit These are possibly the most comfortable fins I've ever owned.
Performance note These are NOT freediving fins! They perform similar to split fins, slighlty slow at the start, then picking up, and maintaining top end speed efficiently throughout the dive. Also they are horrible on the surface, as surface swimming doesn't really allow for the modified kick that makes them work. They DO accelerate well with a dolphin kick.

[hteas]

Amazing differences
I wear a US 11 EE
Sporasubs 44-46 with 3 mm socks max
Picasso 44-46 with up to 7 mm socks (but tight), great with 3 mm socks

[amihov]

Hi Sean I am from Vancouver and i am not a member of the freediving club i don't think that is wright to pay to meet people . Any way good luck my advice for fins is 2 types bay plastic fins for every day and once when you get better go for carbon C4 Falcon they are the best fins and people who make them have done lots of research to make them perfect.

[Tompa]

Didn’t read the thread so I don't know if this is a double but,
Normal footwear size = 41½-42
Technisub ALA size 40-42 no socks. Almost as tight as I want them, but three weekends in a row in them gave me blisters the size of ****** tried them with a pair of socks (the kind you wear out of the water) and then they were too tight giving me a cramp.
Technisub Stratos FP size 42-43. The foot pocket is narrow, so I use a size bigger then I normally need. These are a bit loose even with fin-holders. They didn’t give me blisters like the ALAs but still, when I have been out of the pool for a longer time I use “everyday-socks” or tape.

[sanso]

- make and model of fins you own
Cressi Gara 3000
- size of fins
42-44
- thickness and type of socks worn
none, for the cold season, I'll get some socks.
- comments regarding quality of fit
Itsy bitsy bit loose, perfect with 2 or. 3 mm socks
- foot size and country
42, Germany
- any additional fit/foot info
I chose the cressi gara over omersub for the better fit of the footpockets. The Omer were a bit too big and not as comfy, even though I do have wide feet.

[Jon]

Tompa,

I used to have a pair of Stratos fins but now use Sporasub Cruise fins for underwater hockey. I went down a size, from my 43 shoe size, and wear a padded running sock AND a pair of fin keepers with them. This seems to hold them on well and I don't get any blisters with them.

I also have an old pair of Palana Avanti full foot fins, they are about 16 or 17 years old but still work great when I supplement my monofin workouts with short bi-fins. These run a bit smaller than the Cruise's so I wear a nylon bicycling sock with them to prevent blisters. I tried a cotton running sock with them and it didn't work, my feet got rubbed raw, and my normal, padded, running sock were too thick to use with them.

Some of the guys I play hockey with use Duct tape to tape their fins onto their feet instead of fin keepers- they say it holds much better.

Jon

[deep thinker]

Just a quick late addition to the info I added to this thread.
The Picassos are a bit loose when worn without socks and after a good few hours in the nice warm water I visited these past holidays I had some mean blisters on 4 of my toes on my right foot and on my left ankle from my shark sheild. Next day I wore a nice lining of plaster on the affected areas and went back to diving with my 3mm socks, wasnt too comfortable but I did get a nice 1&half hour dive in before the pain got too bad and I had to get out

[cigarlung]

Beuchat Fins Competion Make Fit Great 45/46 With 5 Mil Sock On My Usa 11.5 Foot Size Thought This Might Help Someone I Do Like The Fins.