2015 LUNOCET PRO

[finSailor]

Well, AA, no pressure but I happen to buy exactly same LAKE shoes based on your recommendation go Boa. I'll give my feedback soon, especially to you

But BIG NEWS! My Luno appeared today! Wouldn't have believed. Thanks @Ted Ciamillo, after all. Had to pay customs toll +60€ more, but that went all electronically and swiftly. I would add picture, but somehow DB does not allow me to upload.

Now I have to wait 1 hour and 32 minutes before I can go and test it in the local pool. Cleared that with the pool management, surprisingly that was ok after I've been splashing around with bi-fins some time there. My friends said it helped to ask permission when that young, insecurish girl had a shift, right after your workout when..you know

 

[Fredd]

Phillip, if that can give you any indication on delivery, I ordered my fin sometime end of April. I certainly fully understand the position you are in!!!

Sorry to say that doesn't seem to have any reference on when your Luno will ship/arrive :-( I ordered on the 17th March,
No Luno, No shipping reference and no response from Ted :'(

 

[Philip Fennell]

Sorry to say that doesn't seem to have any reference on when your Luno will ship/arrive :-( I ordered on the 17th March,
No Luno, No shipping reference and no response from Ted :'(

I'm encouraged that we've seen a number of people posting that they've received theirs so progress is clearly being made.

 

[finSailor]

ARGH! That was a very short joy after months waiting. Either LAKE does dot provide standard bolt holes or 'bolt-hole-pattern" in my Luno is misplaced. I cannot attach shoes to my Luno! Only 2 out of three bolts can be tightened, third is so misaligned that it is useless. Anyone with same experience? Is it shoes or Luno?

 

[Philip Fennell]

ARGH! That was a very short joy after months waiting. Either LAKE does dot provide standard bolt holes or 'bolt-hole-pattern" in my Luno is misplaced. I cannot attach shoes to my Luno! Only 2 out of three bolts can be tightened, third is so misaligned that it is useless. Anyone with same experience? Is it shoes or Luno?

finSailor,

If it helps you identify where the problem is I've attached two images here of the bottom of my Bont Riots and a standard Look cleat.

I hope that helps.

Philip

 

[finSailor]

Thanks a lot!

Based on measurements, it seems that LAKE has provided faulty shoes! Next I'm going to remove Shimano clutch from my actual cycling shoes (XLC) and see if they fit. Never noticed before that actually they have those 3 holes too..

 

[finSailor]

Ookay, it is now confirmed. LAKE sucks. I have XLC's nicely attached now to Luno. Pity, LAKE shoes would have had that Boa thingie and they kind of had better visual appearance to my taste. So beware LAKE shoes.

Anyways. Time to dive!

 

[Ted Ciamillo]

Hey Fredd - I have been emailing you. Sent one again yesterday. Can you send me an email with "Fredd" in the title - thanks

 

[finSailor]

My first workout with Lunocet Pro 2015, which is also my first Monofin (used bi-fins earlier). I kept the spring in default settings how it came, and play with settings later.

Despite of a hint to appear after 2pm to pool, when it should have been quiet, pool was pretty crowded today. I really didn't had clear lane, there was always someone on the way.

After warm-up swim around 500m, I geared up and took my first try with Luno. First 1/2 pool was awkward, I was not entirely sure what to do, but somehow I made some distance. When unsure, apply power, I thought. Damn. It was mind-blowing sensation of PoweRRRR and speed! I never thought it's possible to go this fast underwater. It was intoxicating feeling to see tiles flashing below and feel resistance of the water like wind in high speed.

I was so excited about speed, that of course I maxed my strength quickly with full speed 25m runs and had to keep a pause to regain some strength.

Then I thought to have a set of nice slow 25m dives to test different techniques. At the time there was a swimmer behind me, and we ended up going same steady pace, but me diving and he swimming it. I was always a lot faster despite just enjoying time underwater playing with techniques. I think I did a dozen or so runs and felt not really tired! That is also something I was not able to do with bi-fins, not even close. Sometimes I did 50m, but then I had to let that guy overtake me for another 50m so that I can catch my breath, and if I didn't, next 25m felt really bad. I think I need to work with O2 and CO2 tolerance.

Time to time I somehow had a bad start and Luno felt somehow off-balance. I was not able to get kick 'directly'..but applying more power sorted it out.

Actually the pool management did set a rule for diving in the pool: it is NOT permitted to dive longer distances than 50m, which I obeyd...this time I had no trained partner so it sounded logical to comply. 50m felt really easy, I'm eager to push my limits whenever I would have a trained buddy with me there..

I had to stop the workout because shoes were killing me. I'm planning to go to find a new pair of shoes tomorrow.

Anyways, that was great and fun first run!

 

[Chipswim]

Perfect report from Finland! Thank you Finsailor! Very nice to read....

Happy Turkey Day (Thanksgiving Holiday) everyone...

 

[finSailor]

I had my second workout with Luno yesterday. No worries, I'm not going to post all the details about every single swim/dive, just meaningful ones for this thread, I hope.

As I wrote in my earlier post, my XLC shoes were killing my feet. Yesterday I went out and found a pair of Shimano shoes with matching bolt holes. It is a winter season in Finland, so I had to search from 5 different stores before I found 'em. But for that same reason, I got a bargain, just 50€. I attached them to Luno immediately on the spot to ensure that boltholes really match. You should have seen clerk's face But Finns, except pensioners, don't bother you with questions, they just stare

Finally in the pool, I started as day before. But this time I was easily going for an hour after warmup. I started also to notice some changes in Luno. It felt more flexible, and not so stable sideways. It required more focus on technique to kick directly. Nothing I couldn't handle, but it was a noticeable difference. At the same time I started to feel a 'click' with every kick down!!

Surface inspection confirmed that spring was loosening not only up/down, but also penducle had a clap sideways. There was also noticeable point where penducle did not bend smoothly, but generated a 'click'. I'm not sure is this a feature you all have or is it just mine? I'd prefer it without a 'click'..

Compared to XLCs, these Shimano shoes fit better, but I had a sense of increased drag with them. Velcro straps (2) are longer and somewhat more elevated from the surface, so it might be that XLCs had (with 3 straps) better hydrodynamics after all. Anyone tuned their shoes with extra cover or similar to reduce drag?

I was also considering to change settings to more stiffer one, I kind of liked the very stiff feeling in the beginning. However, I did some very nice 50m dives feeling very relaxed with this more flexible spring, so maybe I explore it with this setting for a while. Today I had to take a break, so back to pool tomorrow..

 

[Apneaddict]

Leave it where it is set for at least 2-3 more swims and let it properly break in.

You may then want to add a pin for more stiffness at that time... But break-in is easier with it more flexible.

Don't try to overpower it... Just smooth, efficient freediving / swimming.

If you insist on using it as a sprint fin... I'd suggest (all) 3-pins.

 

[Philip Fennell]

...I started also to notice some changes in Luno. It felt more flexible, and not so stable sideways. It required more focus on technique to kick directly. Nothing I couldn't handle, but it was a noticeable difference. At the same time I started to feel a 'click' with every kick down!!

Surface inspection confirmed that spring was loosening not only up/down, but also penducle had a clap sideways. There was also noticeable point where penducle did not bend smoothly, but generated a 'click'. I'm not sure is this a feature you all have or is it just mine? I'd prefer it without a 'click'...

Very interesting feedback, thanks.

Do you think that there's any connection between the 'not so stable sideways' and 'also penducle had a clap sideways' or may be are you more relaxed this second time around so you're noticing the fin's more subtle behaviours?


Philip

 

[finSailor]

Do you think that there's any connection between the 'not so stable sideways' and 'also penducle had a clap sideways' or may be are you more relaxed this second time around so you're noticing the fin's more subtle behaviours.
Philip

Yeah, I was thinking the same. Also getting better fitting shoes probably play a role. They seems transfer more information about fin movement. However, the clap sideways and that 'click' is noticeable on dry too, and those were not there in the beginning. Maybe spring "breaking-in" gives other parts more room to move. It is amazing that how small, only few millimetre movement can be felt so well. At least I can say that the fin is responding and 'talking' to me

 

[finSailor]

Leave it where it is set for at least 2-3 more swims and let it properly break in.
..
Don't try to overpower it... Just smooth, efficient freediving / swimming.

Thanks, will do. I know I have to work out with my kick to reach ultimate smoothnessss..

 

[Chipswim]

I'd say keep writing finsailor!! It's interesting to those of us with a'15 in our future.

 

[divebike]

I had my second workout with Luno yesterday. No worries, I'm not going to post all the details about every single swim/dive, just meaningful ones for this thread, I hope.

As I wrote in my earlier post, my XLC shoes were killing my feet. Yesterday I went out and found a pair of Shimano shoes with matching bolt holes. It is a winter season in Finland, so I had to search from 5 different stores before I found 'em. But for that same reason, I got a bargain, just 50€. I attached them to Luno immediately on the spot to ensure that boltholes really match. You should have seen clerk's face But Finns, except pensioners, don't bother you with questions, they just stare

View attachment 39970

Finally in the pool, I started as day before. But this time I was easily going for an hour after warmup. I started also to notice some changes in Luno. It felt more flexible, and not so stable sideways. It required more focus on technique to kick directly. Nothing I couldn't handle, but it was a noticeable difference. At the same time I started to feel a 'click' with every kick down!!

Surface inspection confirmed that spring was loosening not only up/down, but also penducle had a clap sideways. There was also noticeable point where penducle did not bend smoothly, but generated a 'click'. I'm not sure is this a feature you all have or is it just mine? I'd prefer it without a 'click'..

Compared to XLCs, these Shimano shoes fit better, but I had a sense of increased drag with them. Velcro straps (2) are longer and somewhat more elevated from the surface, so it might be that XLCs had (with 3 straps) better hydrodynamics after all. Anyone tuned their shoes with extra cover or similar to reduce drag?

I was also considering to change settings to more stiffer one, I kind of liked the very stiff feeling in the beginning. However, I did some very nice 50m dives feeling very relaxed with this more flexible spring, so maybe I explore it with this setting for a while. Today I had to take a break, so back to pool tomorrow..

t I think we need a doctor to diagnose this is there a doc in the house? Neurodoc has about the most experience with the 2015, what's your diagnosis doc,all normal ?

 

[finSailor]

Thanks @Chipswim for the encouragement. But sorry, no Luno report today. I was planning to do the 3rd workout today, but forgot that the pool closes early on Sundays. Used an opportunity to do a bike workout today, it was unusually warm considering winter time. Just -2C.

 

[neurodoc]

I have not experienced any clicks with my 2015 save for one time when the bolts to one shoe were working loose and the shoe itself was clicking due to the metallic insert that has the bolt hole sliding about. Mine occasionally has a small squeak but this is cured by putting some rubber treatment (Armor-all in the US) on the spring. Is the lateral click reproducible by putting the spring across your thigh and pushing on shoe/flukes? Check to make sure you haven't lost a c-clip and had a bushing back out. There should not be a lateral click, so look over the fin and shoes closely. Maybe one of the flukes was not bolted on as tightly? As to shoes, I've found my best combination to be using neoprene toe socks, same as in my glide fin. If I use a full fin sock, I lose some of the heel cup traction on my heel.

 

[Chipswim]

Agree that heel cup traction is a valuable attribute for fin swimming shoes. Thought that would be a benefit of the heel mounted boa system AA described?

Our fins should be stealthy quiet... Doc's remedies should solve the sounds you hear. There should be zero lateral play... So the two are likely parts of the same issue.

From the pictures shown so far it is unlikely your fin is flexing all the way to the stops built into the hinge. That would click. If you think that's it I'd tighten the flex. The spring should be limiting before the stops engage.

We need to consider all possibilities for swimming propulsion. Water Jets have worked well before.

The photo is of a personal water jet system under development. Incredibly it actually uses rain for fuel!