Another annoying fin-fit-question ;-)

[kontrajan]

Hi folks,

I am about to purchase some beginner-level freediving fins (actually, my first pair). I have rather wide feet, size 44-45, and am a beginner freediver. So I decided (from what I´ve read here on db.com) that I rather might need a soft fin like Gara 3000LD, Millenium Winter or E:Green. Since there is no store around my location which sells freediving equipment, I have to order online - this is bad, since I probably can´t check which fin fits best. I am interested in the following fins:

Cressi Gara 3000 LD (available at shop.deeperblue.com)
Omer Millennium Winter (not available there... :-((()
Omer Millennium Runner (available at shop.deeperblue.com)
Imersion E:Green (available at shop.deeperblue.com)
Beuchat Mundial Sport (available at shop.deeperblue.com)
Beuchat Mundial Competition (available at shop.deeperblue.com)

First question: Who uses one of these - which footpockets would probably fit my rather wide feet best? I am about to use either 3mm or 5mm socks with approx 44.5 foot size.

Second question: which blade is suitable for freediving beginners? I like the Millennium Runner, but I am afraid whether they are too stiff for a weak newbie like me Better choose another fin? The Millenium Winter is unfortunately NOT listed in my favourite store...

Thanks for your replies!!!

Jan

[hudasmt]

I have the Beuchat Mundial Carbone but its for narrower feet so you can take it off your list. From what ive read here, the imersion footpockets is the best for wider feet but i dont own one to verify it, the omer footpocket they said is wider in the heels area only. I hope this helps but i can only speak for Beuchat footpocket for now, i will soon receive my Spierre Carbon fins with Omer footpocket and will let you know ones it arrives and also the picasso footpocket with the DiveR fins. I'm also a newbie so i can be wrong.

[kontrajan]

Thanks hudasmt!

If you´re right with Omer´s footpocket, they are definitely NOT for me, since I have a wide forefoot and a slim heel :-/

Regards,
Jan

[davewastaken]

i recently bought my first pair of freediving fins and the decission for me came down to omer millenium comps and picasso team blacks and i ended up going with the team blacks because milleniums were to tight and would of been uncomfortable after a bit of time in the water for me. i have decent size feet aswell. i originally narrowed it down to these 2 fins because i picked up spearing a year ago and both these fins come highly recommended. i really like the picasso foot pockets and wear em with 3mm socks atm.

[kontrajan]

Thx again...

Any more suggestions from other wide-feet-divers?

Edit: wow, just found that giant fin-sizing fred...great information there, but somwhow confusing, too. I think I´d better order several fins and keep only the best-fitting, maybe... :-)

[Erik]

My only thoughts are that a soft fin is not just for a newbie diver. Many of us thought that a stiff fin would be better at some point, but end up getting softer fins in the long run.
Your soft-finned blades might end up being your favourites many years from now, especially if you invest in a fiberglass blade.
Footpockets are a tough one to guess- you really need to try them on if possible, because that is he most important aspect of the fins: the fit. If they aren't comfortable (after a few weeks of adapting to them) then it doesn't matter what the blades can do.

[Dennis77]

Hello.

Where do you live in Germany?

My first pair of fins, which I still own, are a pair of Gara 3000 LD. All of my shoes are in Size 45, more or less.
I have my Cressi in Size 45 and I use 2mm Beuchat Mundial Elaskin Socks. Maybe 3mm would fit also, but it feels perfect with this 2mm. I used this combination in the baltic sea at a temperature of 16°C for 1,5 hours and I didn´t freeze.

Regarding the stiffness; go for a soft blade. I once used the normal Garas for 3 hours in the red sea, and for me it was the pure Horror. My new fins are even softer than the 3000 LD and I love it.

[kontrajan]

Hi Dennis,

Düsseldorf :-) Und du?

Thanks for the infor regarding the 2mm socks, I wondered if they might be too thin, but that sounds great!
After reading a lot of threads here (and of course these posts here, thanks!), I definitely am sure that I need to try some soft fins. I think I´ll give tha Gara LDs a try. There is a german store which sells them, if they won´t fit I can return them.

[The Killer's me]

Omer foot pockets will be the best fit for wide feet...
millenniums r the best blades...

good luck

[hteas]

My suggestion is for E-greens. they are middle of the road on stiffness, they are the widest footpockets, and they are really tough. That's all I wear up here, especially in winter. I'm an 11 US with wide feet and narrow heels, and can wear my E-greens 44-46 with 5 mm socks and no fin keepers. Picasso, Omer, and Spetton 46-48 are all too narrow to be comfortable with the 5 mm socks, and I need fin keepers for all of them.