new pair of fins

[GreekDiver]

Originally Posted by strangelove

GreekDiver

Have you ever try any of the C4's ?

Your post was great, comparing fins is one of the best ways to find what you want (in my opnion), since it is almost impossible to try a fin without buying. I went with the hybrids because of Marwan post and based on what I read about it also I've try the blue water special and was very impressed. But something is always needs to give, you get a more durable fin with the kevlar but is not as good as the carbon, that is what've learn with your post.
I've bought the Bat early this year, it is a very good fin for surface and long distances, but I think I've lost bottom time on deep dives, I've also felt them long , I was always hitting something at the bottom and spoking the fish, the rekord look to be as long as the bat, but you've got me thinking about buying a pair.

I use them for spearfishing and i love the rekords. I have tried the c4s (one day) but i thought the rekords were better. I cannot give a detail description because i dont own them. Rekords are awesome on the surface too btw.

I surf the medfish.com site a lot. From what ive read and heard, the rekords and Dapiran(carbon fin) are considered some of the best carbon fins for spearfishing.

http://www.medfish.com/forum/viewtop...highlight=fins

[Marwan]

im sure that the records are gret fins, i just dont like the omer footpocket, the hybrids in medium stiffness with a sporasub pocket are the fins for me. the medium stiffness doesnt put strain on your muscles as you surface, i guess the hard and very hard tend to do that. Unless youre a very big/heavy person, i dont think anyone should buy hard fins, obviuosly for heavier people any other stiffness might not be enough for propelling them so that makes sense, but like your experience harry, it put some strain on you..

[shoutatthesky]

Has any one tried the Picasso C3's ? I tried a pair. They are a carbon fin with attached plastic ribs on the edges creating a nice channeling of water but stil soft enough to get a suitable amount flex.
I have only had a pair of old short fins.
I tried some long fibreglass fins on the same day and they were just way too stiff for me.
I am a beginner but I know that effiency is the key. I am still learning what qualities in a fin make it the most effiency for me.
I'm not chasing fish, just depth and distance.

[GreekDiver]

Originally Posted by Marwan

im sure that the records are gret fins, i just dont like the omer footpocket, the hybrids in medium stiffness with a sporasub pocket are the fins for me. the medium stiffness doesnt put strain on your muscles as you surface, i guess the hard and very hard tend to do that. Unless youre a very big/heavy person, i dont think anyone should buy hard fins, obviuosly for heavier people any other stiffness might not be enough for propelling them so that makes sense, but like your experience harry, it put some strain on you..

Maybe the hybrid hards are too hard. I dunno. The rekords have a very flimsy front but get pretty stiff toward the middle. This helps with surface swimming and propelling you off the bottom with the stiffness in the middle. Even if the Hybrids were softer, the carbon fin just snaps back quicker. Like if you are looking down at your feet, the carbon fin straightens out quicker while the hybrid drags a bit longer to snap back.

I have no loyalty for products. If something is better, i use it.

Im 190lbs, 5'11 gym rat.

[spearheads]

That is just the type of fin i am looking for soft for long surface swims but stiff for deeper dives and quick for getting to the surface fast.

Every one seems to like the omer ice fins, i would buy the fins if i could get them in black or camo not transparent.

[strangelove]

Marwan

I am now getting a pair of medium hybrid and pair of medium hybrid, I am still waiting for them, I will let you know what I think, I am taking medium hybrid to Brazil, I do a lot of surface swimming there, and keeping the hard hybrid here in Alaska, I dive close to boat doing vertical dives, may be they would be good here, I just could not pass Sven deal 230 dollars a pair.
The cold weather here in Alaska is freezing my brain, I may just get a little bit more crazy and get a pair of rekords.

Have any one try the special fins carbon ?

[Marwan]

Originally Posted by strangelove

Marwan

I am now getting a pair of medium hybrid and pair of medium hybrid, I am still waiting for them, I will let you know what I think, I am taking medium hybrid to Brazil, I do a lot of surface swimming there, and keeping the hard hybrid here in Alaska, I dive close to boat doing vertical dives, may be they would be good here, I just could not pass Sven deal 230 dollars a pair.
The cold weather here in Alaska is freezing my brain, I may just get a little bit more crazy and get a pair of rekords.

Have any one try the special fins carbon ?

good luck man, maybe in that weather it is better to invest in wetsuits or something , let us know your opinion onceyou try, and i agree with you sven's offer was very good to pass...who knows, with all the reviews on omer rekord i might get a pair myself to see what all the fuss is about

[strangelove]

Marwan

I have already a dozen wet suits and too many guns !

I also went with the special fins because of the size, I really don't extra long fins, the hybrid after all the good reviews seems to be the way to go. They are resistent and also perform.
The db store also has C4 for a good price, another good question are the rekords better than the C4 ? What C4 should one get 25,30,40 probably the 30 and 40 are to stiff for you average guy.

[spaghetti]

Originally Posted by spearheads

omer ice fins, i would buy if i could get them in black or camo not transparent.

You're the first one I read making such a statement: transparent blades are so cool!
However, what you're talking about has a name, and it's the Omer Millennium Runner (black, plastic, even cheaper than the Ice but of the same shape and about the same stiffness).
For the rest I can't help much in this discussion: I have the Rekord 3 and suscribe what Greekdiver said totally, but I can't help comparing them to C4 and Hybrid.

[spearheads]

spaghetti Its just that i want to be able to see the blades thats why i dont like the transparent blades.
I think i might go for the rekord or the apnea power blades. The apnea blades are more in my budget than the rekord.
Any one got anything to say about the apnea power blades.

[Fondueset]

The Ice fins are great - I've had mine since early last winter - dove all winter with them in 4C water - air temps of -5c. They are by far the most comfortable fins I've ever used. I often swim long distances on the surface and they are great all-day fins.
The transarent blades reduce the fish's perception of movement and size. I've actually had fish run right into them.

For slightly stiffer backup fins I have Omer Millenium Runners - also very nice. Performance is exactly like a stiffer version of the ice fins. Both blades have a very good, even return. The runners are about twice as stiff and a bit better for deeper dives but still comfortable for surface swimming.

[spaghetti]

Originally Posted by Fondueset

For slightly stiffer backup fins I have Omer Millenium Runners - also very nice. Performance is exactly like a stiffer version of the ice fins. Both blades have a very good, even return. The runners are about twice as stiff and a bit better for deeper dives but still comfortable for surface swimming.

Are they so stiff? Interesting, Fondueset. Will you please help me chosing between Runner and Ice, since you know them both?
I'm presently owning the Rekords and the Millennium Winter, but the Rekords are too precious (pricey) as an everyday's fin, and the Winters are way too soft for diving any deeper than 8 meters with the amount of lead I'm wearing in this season. I'm between Runners and Ice.
Which would you pick for -18 meters spearfishing, no boat, rocky bottoms and long distance swimming necessary?

[Fondueset]

I would probably be inclined to consider the runners. They seem to be about exactly twice as stiff as the ice fins. If I set one of each on a flat surface and pick up the blade the runner blade comes up a little less than half as far as the ice before it lifts off the footpocket.

The Ice fins are really nice - and invisible!- but they are fairly soft and, while I've never felt they didn't have the jazz to get me off the bottom, I have occasionally overpowered them. I mostly dive 10-15 meters and they are pretty good in that range. You could allways email Mark Labocetta and see what he thinks. He's a very deep diver and has probably tried both.

FYI - my ice fins are now very scratched from rocks and mussels, but they are still quite transparent under water.

[spaghetti]

the jazz to get me off the bottom, as you say, is what the Millennium Winter (grey blade) are tragically missing.
Last week I was looking for bass in shallow water wearing the Winters, a 5mm wetsuit, 6kg lead on the belt, 3kg backpack harness and 0,5 kgx2 ankle belts. I made the mistake to give a peek at 18 meters and for a while I felt a chill of fear (yes, fear is the word) as I gave the kick to surface up and nothing happened...
Now I'm beetween stiffer and cooler alternative.

[Fondueset]

That's a bad feeling! You've got a solid criteria for comparing with the winter blades - I'd definitely drop Mark a line and see what he says. I've never used the winter blades - and that is a little more weight than I normally carry. I'm only at about 6.5 kilograms