OMER ice fins... opinions?

[TOOmas]

so im looking to get some new fins and i read these were good for shallower hunting/diving which is what i do. just wondering if anyone had any opinions, good or bad, about these fins. if they hold up, performance, etc... also, i have a size 12 (american) foot so what size do you get for fins? im kinda ignorant on the subject...

[Old Man Dave]

I bought some Omer Ice 3 fins two seasons ago. They're great fins. Perfect for hard surface swimming and down to 30 foot or so, which is my sort of hunting.

I have tried carbons (very expensive) and fibreglass blades but still prefer my Ice fins.

They have a 3 year guarantee which is good because many cheap plastic bladed fins break after a year or two, especially in colder water.

Many thousands of Omer Ice 3's have been sold and almost none have broken. Unfortunately I was one of only two people I know off whose Ice blades broke. Mine just snapped. It was replaced free of charge by Omer, no questions asked.

There are loads of threads about fins and for shallow dives and surface work Omer Ice 3's are highly rated.

I found the foot pockets a touch tight and went up a size using 5mm bootees.

Best way is always to borrow a pair to try first, if possible.

Dave

[spaghetti]

Many reputable forum members (Fondueset, Old Man Dave and many others) have the Ice, and they swear it's the best type of plastic fins they've ever had for shallow-intermediate freediving. No doubt you can trust them.
I only have to warn you that, according to Omer, some 3% of the Ice have had the issue of cracking blades. Not a big problem after all: the Ice have a 3 years warranty and you're entitled to receive new fins in replacement at zero expense if they get broken from the shop where you bought it from. But it's fundamental that you don't throw away the bill (I mean: keep the envoice or purchase receipt for just in case).
After all I would buy them, just hoping not to fall in the unfortunate 3%. In any case, for the above mentioned reasons, take care to buy them new from a shop or store who will grant a warranty and a purchase envoice/receipt (so don't buy from e-bay or from used items).
Hope this helps.
Post edit: oops dave, we were typing at the same time. I saw your post too late!

[Marwan]

add me in as one of those members spaghetti refers to..theyre great fins...i use them most of the time, although i have other fins in carbon etc... perfect for surface swimming and diving up to 20m...also they look really cool

[Magpie]

Not sure how reputable I am but I love my Ice too. Prefer something a bit stiffer past 10m, but as I rarely do deeper they're great. Good for surface swimming and stalking.

Had mine nearly 2 years now with no problems, they're very scratched but still transparent in the water.

[scottie3030]

i use the ice fins excellent bit of kit really good upto 10meters i think there a little soft for spearing any deeper but i did take them down to 20meters on my freediving course no probs

[TOOmas]

well thanks for all that, ive read a lot of all your posts so i can see that you all know what you are talking about. unfortunatly i didnt realize the price of them and since i am a poor high school student it might be a while... luckily it is january and there is a couple feet of snow so maybe i can scrap up some money before the season gets underway. and who knows, my birthday is coming soon but thanks again for the feedback, and advice is always greatly appreciated buy us noobies to spearfishing/freediving.

[spaghetti]

Originally Posted by Magpie

Not sure how reputable I am but I love my Ice too. .

Maggers since I've read your stories and watched your vids I rate you as HIGHLY top class reputable.
...but when I watch your avatar I rate you as ugly

[Magpie]

Bad skin runs in my family, please don't take the p1ss (makes it tricky to find a well fitting mask I can tell you!)

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by TOOmas

well thanks for all that, ive read a lot of all your posts so i can see that you all know what you are talking about. unfortunatly i didnt realize the price of them and since i am a poor high school student it might be a while... luckily it is january and there is a couple feet of snow so maybe i can scrap up some money before the season gets underway. and who knows, my birthday is coming soon but thanks again for the feedback, and advice is always greatly appreciated buy us noobies to spearfishing/freediving.

The Ice look ideal for spearing. The Omer foot pockets have a good reputation too. Transparent is the ultimate camo (you can always paint regular fins but it can get messy & costly). They were quite reasonably priced when I first saw them (I think £65-ish?) but they quickly went up in price -- perhaps when they found there was a market for them, pity. Hopefully some other brands will follow suit, I saw some cheapo clear holiday fins on eBay -- I think I posted an image or link-link on the forum somewhere -- so it is possible.

Meantime, the cheapest, proper full-size spearo-type fins I could find were Beuchat Competitions - about half the price of the Ice - and they went on sale shortly afterwards, typical! I have been very pleased with them so far (1.5 yrs of use now). I tried them on before buying and was surprised at how good a fit they were. They are much stronger & tougher than they look. They are bigger than they first look and encourage a slower cadence which allows more relaxed breathing, but no speed or power is lost. I paint mine "camo" periodically (it wears off quickly on gravel beaches).

[monchan]

I paint mine "camo" periodically

Hey Mr.X . Can I ask what kind of paint you use? and does it hurt the fins?

I has have some white plastic/ rubber diving fins I want to paint and am
not sure what to use.

Cheers

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by monchan

I paint mine "camo" periodically

Hey Mr.X . Can I ask what kind of paint you use? and does it hurt the fins?

I has have some white plastic/ rubber diving fins I want to paint and am
not sure what to use.

Cheers

I've used several different types. Artists acrylics (try small kids starters sets when on sale at Tesco or Lidls) - not cheap but a pretty safe bet. Interior latex paint - sample sizes are sometimes cheap & some include a sponge applicator; again pretty safe bet. The most robust but risky was some dabs of oil-based exterior paint left on a brush as I cleaned it. The Beachats have been forgiving so far.

I'm no expert on this but I have found layering useful for several reasons:
- it takes longer for paint to wear down to the fin
- it helps build up different colours, shades and tones (randomizing it).
- allow patterns to be corrected or developed
- if you put safer layers down first (e.g. artists acrylics) the damaging potential of later layers (e.g. exterior house paint) should be reduced somewhat.

You could see it as an artistic exercise although I just mix up the colours & try to create some weed-inspired shapes. Although the effect looks naturally distressed, it can end up looking a bit too homogenious - so the fin shape is easily decernible. So maybe next time I'll try creating fairly large odd-shaped blocks of muted colours (black, dark green -- some say reds look black or grey to fish) -- like the army -- to disrupt the outline shape more.

[monchan]

Thanks Mr. X,

I'll give the larger blocky shapes a go. My white fins when they get the sun on them kinda glo really bright. I'm sure it makes the fish near me scittish. I did try to stain them with ink from my old printer (only in one spot to test the ink) most of it just wiped off, but it did disscolor the fin. And didn't seem to harm the fins though. I thought about using this as a base color to help merge/ blend any paint I might put on top.
I'll try the safer paints you suggested see how it goes.


Cheers mate.

Bring on spring.

[Fondueset]

They rock. I've had them down to 55 feet in 36F water. Tremendously comfortable fins and they reduce your perceived movement. I've had fish swim into them. Had mine several years - most of it under heavy use a few times a week.

[Mr. X]

...I also sprayed a very small amount old fixative I found in the garage (used by artists to hold/seal charcoal & graphite drawings) on top of several layers of paint. Thought it might add an extra protective layer. I can't recommend it though -- very smelly and volatile -- it probably uses some horrible carcenogen which dissolves plastic.