beginner spearfishing fins

[barra]

Im looking at get my first pair of freediving fins. I have just been you using little rubber ones for now. I have tried a pair of mares liberator x open pocket scuba fins before which made one of my ankles quit sore. It felt like I had a problem in my ankle joint. Ive never had that before doing any sport related activities. Will a freediving fin be less tiring then a scuba fin. Im looking at either picasso green starts or cressi gara 3000LD. Can anyone recommend one over the other. Ive just got into the sport so I dont know any one elses who I could have a test. CHEERS.

[deep thinker]

Ive got a pair of picasso black teams as my first pair of fins and I still use them quite effectively. I dont know about the greens but the black teams has a very sturdy footpocket and you can change the blades so should you wish you can upgrade to carbon blades at a later stage so you dont have to buy new fins just blades.
What I would suggest is that you go to the shop with the socks that you will be using with your suit. Id also say that even if you dive warm water, wear at least a 2mm sock with your fins they chave badly if you dont trust me, but back to the story. Go to the shop with your socks and try on both pairs of fins and kick your foot around for a bit, youll get a good feel for the fins this way. In the end go with the fins that feels the most comfortable...
Good luck

[hteas]

I really liked my Picasso Black Team foot pockets, but found the blades to be way too stiff for the long surface swims I'm prone to. The starts are a softer footpocket with the same blade as the Black Team, so are easier on the kick, but will still have the stiff blades. It may or may not be what you want. I really like the stiff footpocket of the Black teams, but found the blades too stiff for surface swims.
I went to SpecialFin medium BW blades and found them to be much better for surface swimming, and still were plenty good enough for 39m in Kona.
The only problem I had with them was I had to glue (3-M 5200) them into the footpockets. Picasso has different specifications of the location and size of the rails the foot pockets attach to. The worst problem was having one fin come unglued during a trip to Hawaii last winter. I was stuck using my Churchill body surfing fins for 2 days while the Picassos cured.
I'm now using Sporasub HDs with the SpecialFins blades. I don't like the footpockets quite as much, since they aren't quite as stiff, but they still work well, and the blades stay in without glue.
The Cressi's are a really good fin, but you will have to buy different foot pockets if you ever want to change blades (upgrade to fiberglass or carbon fiber).
Howard

[code2d]

I have gara 3000 ld and they are very durable. The blades are actually plastic with rubber inserts. It is all once piece with no assembly. I would say they are a good blade. I will probably move onto something harder later but these are awsome for now! They are semi-stiff for me but other call them soft. You can get a good amount of powerpower from them yet control. As the first fins I have got I suggest them.

[barra]

Thanks for the replys. So Howard, is it the softer foot pocket that makes it easier to kick or the blade. I would have thought it would be the blade.

[cummje]

I too use the 3000 LD's and started using them a couple of months ago. I definitely would not want anything stiffer. If you do beach entry's and are in the water for 2-4 hours, the softer blades are a must. The pocket on the 3000's is really nice and supple. I got them simply they fit my foot better. So you definitely need to shop around and try on different brands.

[bgill]

I use the Cressi 2000 HF fins.... They're pretty stiff I'm told. So far that has'nt bothered me. It took a few outings to the lake to get used to them but now they're like an extension of my foot! I LOVE THEM

I would'nt recommend HF's unless you have REALLY strong legs and weigh over 200 pounds. But if thats you....They'll work out just fine. If not I'd go with the "softer" fins.

[usmcspearfisher]

All depends on you really. You should go to your local shop and pick the brains of the folks there, and also try various models on just to get a feel. The Cressi HFs are a great fin and I have had a pair for quite some time. Also, I have a set of Omer Mil. Competitions that serve the job well too (I mostly use them for spearfishing - pole and Hawaiian sling). Finally, depending on how you like them, the Esclapez Aluminite (adjustable strap) are a great fin. I've often preferred open heel in many situations, and the Esclapez are great in that regard. Green are stiff, black are more stiff. Both are very nice.

[azapa]

I have Imersion Greens and Cressi 3000LD,s. Both have the same stiffness but the Imersion is cheaper (about 30%) and much better quality, I highly recommend it.

[minimate15]

I have both the Cressi 2000' s and the 3000's, and I can tell you that the 3000's are the way to go if your beginning, because they are softer than the 2000's so they won't be as hard on the ankles. You can get the 3000's for about 90.00 usd on LeisurePro.com

[vali]

i guess that what you want to hunt is verry important
i for example, if i go hunt mullets i prefer litlle fins in rubber...
because the mullet in black sea stays at shallow waters and u must stay hidden, the big fins is for no good
if u go spearing turbot of fishes in deep waters, freediving fins are most required
my fins are seac sub genesis, but i see that there are in fact exactly like picasso model
i-m v happy with my fins when i must go down
they are stiff indeed, but there are v powerfull and can take u deep in no time

[barra]

Thanks for the replys.
A mate just bought a pair of 3000LD's so I will try them out in a few weeks when the water gets a bit warmer. If I do have a crook ankle is there a softer fin then the 3000LD's.

[Janner]

For long surface swims and durability i swear by my Omer ice fins there soft enough to not give give you cramp (which you will get if you have stiff fins and aren't used to using them.) for long surface swims, but also stiff enough to get down to the fish if you want to go deep. http://www.spearfishinggear.com/Merc...000001/ice.jpg

Underwater you can only see the foot pockets so you look like james bond and they take a good beating. I regulary go in off of the rocks so my ice fins have seen a few good beatings now but there still going strong and they have a 3 year guarrante i believe.

Thats my two penneys worth anyway.

Ian