Trying Out Fins? San Diego, CA

[Blesum]

Do any companies have any demo fins for customers to try out before buying? For example, everybody says that carbon fins are so good that once somebody tries out, they will never go back. Seems like a fool proof way to gain business but I don't think anybody's demoing or renting these out. We're also supposed to make sure the fins fit us well and work well...

Over at http://www.freediver.net/freedivelis.../faq_fins.html it says...

No matter what recommendations you get, you'll have to get a pair of the fins and try them for half a dozen dives. You just can't tell what will work for you until you try them over a period of time. If they don't work as well as you'd like, then you have to try another pair for a period of time. The process is expensive and usually leads to a closet full of gear that you no longer use.

I'd like to find somebody with a closet full of fins that they no longer use around here in San Diego, CA. I'd like to upgrade from my plastic Cressi Rondis but don't want to buy fins that I won't like or want to use.

Anybody out there?

Or any angles/tips on getting demo fins from stores or companies before buying?

Thanks,

Blesum

[Bill McIntyre]

As far as I know, there are no companies or stores offering demo fins, so we have to rely on our friends. And of course that is hard because our friends don't have the same size feet or have the fins that we are interested in.

When I wanted to upgrade from my Esclapez Black Plastic fins, I was very lucky to have a friend with the same size feet and Picasso Carboprene fins as well as Matrix #4 fins with Sporasub foot pockets. I loved the Picasso fins and the pockets felt great, but there is no way I could afford them. The Matrix blades were too stiff, but at least I had a frame of reference. So I ordered the Picasso Black Team pockets and the Matrix #2 fiberglass blades, and I am very happy with them.

Another friend just got the $500 Omer Rekord 3 carbon fiber fins and says that they are a huge step up from his Omer BAT fiberglass fins. Luckily, his fins don't fit my feet, so I can't try them out.

[ROBERT REYES]

I got, c-4, 40, 30, 25, and 80, and a few old omer, and mares "carbon, plus bat, 20, 30, and a few others, if you care to travel.

[strangelove]

Robert

Could you write a little comment about each one of them.

[Blesum]

Originally Posted by ROBERT REYES

if you care to travel.

Thanks for the awesome offer. I'll keep my eyes open on cheap airfare specials - I may be going to Florida for a wedding a couple days after Christmas. Maybe I can swim over to you from there...

Any chance you'd be willing to sell the ones you don't use at a good price?

Robert, I have an interesting idea if others are interested...

I buy all your unwanted fins for X amount. If none of them seem suitable for me, I sell them to the next person for the same X amount. If I like a pair, I'll remove the pair from the group and sell the lot for X minus $100 or $200 bucks depending on the fins value to the next person on the list. That person gets to try out all the fins and then they go to the next person...

That way a bunch of us get to try a bunch of fins, get a good price and you get more closet space and money, Robert.

Could that be something worthwhile?

Thanks,

Blesum

[ROBERT REYES]

I am actually going to a pool, for testing all of them, and I will get rid of the c-4 25 FLAPS after that.
Swiming from Florida to here sounds like fun, :-) Blesum is in
better shape than me, no question about it.

[khel]

Bill, any idea how matrix #2 compare to c-4 30 for example?

[Bill McIntyre]

Originally Posted by khel

Bill, any idea how matrix #2 compare to c-4 30 for example?

I'm afraid not.

[surfinsd]

If you fit a 44-45 fins and want to try my Cressi Gara's you're more than welcome to.

I wish the ocean would chose between waves and visibility right now. I'm tired of 1-2 foot with 3-5 vis.

[strangelove]

Bill
is the Matrix 2 stiffer or softer when compared to the picasso carboprene.

[ROBERT REYES]

[I wish the ocean would chose between waves and visibility right now. I'm tired of 1-2 foot with 3-5 vis.[/quote]

The more I read you guys, the more I realice how lucky I am, with 100+ visibility, and 80F waters year around, and sometimes still I complain.

[Blesum]

Originally Posted by surfinsd

If you fit a 44-45 fins and want to try my Cressi Gara's you're more than welcome to.

I wish the ocean would chose between waves and visibility right now. I'm tired of 1-2 foot with 3-5 vis.

I'm a 9 and a half with most shoe brands. I'll take a look at my motorcycle boots and see if they translate to a 44-45 euro but I seem to think I'm a 42 although I do wear dive socks with my fins... My Cressi Rondi Lights are sized at 10-11.

Well, we have both today, SurfinSD - I fished in the Moyer Memorial kayak tournament today (2nd place in the other speices division - 4 more pounds and I would've won a new kayak!) Blacks was 2-5 this morning. Looking outside, Pipes and Swamis appear to be 2-4. And to top it off, there's 20' vis in La Jolla right now.

Now we have the opposite problem... Surf or Dive??

I'm gonna do both tomorrow!

-Blesum

[Haunas]

The Matrix fins are totally obsolete comapred to C4 carbons. Love mine just been trying to get ahold of Mark Labocetta since I had some issues with my C4 and need some warranty. If you do get Carbon Fiber fins make sure you permanently attach the rails with silicon glue or something like that. I did and mines popped and folded over at the angle where the screws are. I think the new C4's super falcon and mustang have addressed this problem. Overall way better than Matrix.

[ROBERT REYES]

Blesum
This is the omer foot pocket size 40-42, up to 9.5
the 42-44 is 10-11, and the 44-46 is
11-12. The 46-48 fits 12-14's.
Am also 9.5 .

[ROBERT REYES]

Haunas, I have always had exellent warranty with the omer gear.