another question about leaderfins

[lucaspano]

Hi guys,

I know that there are several posts about fins...and many about leaderfins. I was thinking to buy pure carbon bi-fins by leaderfins. I tried others friend's carbon fins in the past. Usually I swim with fiberglass or plastic, and now I want to try carbon.
I read a lot about leaderfins and I think they could be the good starting point fins to make the transition towards carbon. I have some doubts about the stiffness. Somebody says that leaderfins are very soft and if you want a medium pale, you have to buy the hard one.
Do you agree with that? is there somebody that has tried the pure carbon model ?

Thanks guys.

Luca

 

[MarcinB]

I've tried Waves Carbon in soft, medium and hard stiffness. Soft was useless for me, I didn't feel at all that I had fins on my feet. Medium is on the soft side too. In my opinion it's perfect if you want to dive for several hours or have to cover long distance. I have the stiffest C4 falcons (the old model with omer millenium foot pocket) and they are much stiffer compared to Hard Waves Carbon.

 

[lucaspano]

Thanks...I think that I will go for the hard pure carbon. They should be close to medium stiffness I guess. I have tried the c4 falcon once, so maybe thanks to this comparison I'm starting to understand the real stiffness of leaderfins. I think I will give them a shot.

 

[Apneaddict]

I'd make sure that the slightly-soft characteristic of their FG fins in fact carries over to the pure carbon ones as well.

I have Fins4U pure evolution 100% carbons and the medium is a bit firmer than most mediums IMO.

Not sure about the leaderfins ones however.

Worth confirming.

 

[Killa]

I don't think you want hard fins at all, anyway I don't see how feeling you don't have fins on at all while still swimming fast is something bad...

I would love to test them out side by side and compare times for 25m sprints though.

 

[MarcinB]

I I don't see how feeling you don't have fins on at all while still swimming fast is something bad...

I didn't say it's bad, I just don't like soft fins. I must feel some resistance coming from fins, otherwise I tend to overpower them. Everybody has to find the stiffness that fits best his style, strength and preferences.

Lucaspano, what are you going to use these fins for? Medium is the most universal stiffness that is OK for most people.

 

[lucaspano]

Hi guys, thanks a lot for all your replies!

I will use the fins especially for pure freediving. Therefore dynamic training in the pool and at the moment, for dives about 25 meters of depth.

I will not use them for spearfishing...I want them just for freediving. For spearfishing I will still use my plastic or fiberglass fins.

I have never had carbon fins, but as I said before I tried a couple...but you know...they are really expensive like c4 and so on...
Before to complete the transition towards carbon, I would like to understand this material and how it works. This is way I don't want to buy the best fins in the market, because I don't have enough experience with this kind of fins, so I think it is better to start with something a little bit more entry level.
Anyway I read a lot of good review about leaderfins, so I know that they are not the best, but they shouldn't be so bad and at the same time...who knows, maybe they work great for me.

I was thinking the medium stiffness because as you have underlined, it is a sort of generic starting point. I have strong legs and I like to feel the fins...so maybe they could work for me.

As I said before, my main doubt is that leaderfins stiffness seems to be overestimate.

Thanks!

 

[Apneaddict]

I would consider pathos footpockets, if in fact your feet will work with ther shape / sizing.

 

[MarcinB]

Lucaspano, what fins do you use at the moment? Maybe somebody on this forum used the same type and tried Leaderfins as well and could comment on the stiffness.

What style do you use for dynamic in the pool? Standard bi-fin kick or a monofin one? From my experience hard bi-fins are fine for monofin kick even if they are too stiff for the standard kick.

 

[kkdavids]

I will agree medium leaders are a little softer than most other brands, our pure carbon mediums are almost as stiff as their hards. The foot pocket used also has an impact on this, as the stiffer tendons on some foot pockets make the blade feel harder. Check out the weight comparison of leaders with their own pockets, compared to leaders with pathos foot pockets (difference of roughly 300grams a fin!)

 

[lucaspano]

I'm using fiberglass bi-fins mat-mas pro-uno, plastic fins Cressi Gara 2000 HF and Gara 3000 LD (this last one only for spearfishing and long distance).
Usually I have a bi-fin kick for dynamic in the pool.

I was looking your carbon fins KKDavids...do they come directly with pathos footpocket? and what about the round shape on the end of the blade?

Thanks again guys.

 

[kkdavids]

yeah we supply them with pathos foot pockets in our own pure carbons (with the rounded end), or with the leader blades

 

[MarcinB]

Lucaspano, I think you should choose medium stiffness. For the standard bifin kick a blade that is a bit too soft is a better option than a little too stiff one.

 

[lucaspano]

Thanks for the advice guys.

MarcinB...I agree with you about the medium stiffness related to bifin kick. Buying leaderfins blades, probably I have to buy the hard version if I want the medium one....
With other brand I don't think there is this problem.

As apneaaddict recommended me, I think that I would use pathos footpockets...I tried them once and they were very comfortable.

 

[kwtony]

I used the pure carbons in soft, paired with pathos footpockets. It is like heaven on earth. I dive to 60 feet and have never had any issue with pulling a fish off the bottom. In a few pinches ive used them in scuba, and they worked just fine. I do long drift dives and will dive all day in them. I can do crazy sprints underwater and rarely if ever get fatigued. They are great. I think most people wont have the chance to try either on. IMO They tend to like what they get and not even worry about them afterwards.

 

[lucaspano]

Eventually I have ordered the leaderfins pure carbon medium stiffness with their original foot pocket. I'm planning to change them with pathos foot pocket in the future but I was curious to try them first. They should be heavy but really soft.
we'll see...
I'll keep you updated after I 'll have the possibility to try them.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[merseyboy]

Eventually I have ordered the leaderfins pure carbon medium stiffness with their original foot pocket. I'm planning to change them with pathos foot pocket in the future but I was curious to try them first. They should be heavy but really soft.
we'll see...
I'll keep you updated after I 'll have the possibility to try them.

Thanks for the advice.

Hi, how did you get on with your Leaderfins?

 

[lucaspano]

Hi Merseyboy,

I bought the leaderfins pure carbon, I used them with their original footpocket which are really soft. The stiffnes of the fins is medium. I have to say that I was absolutely satisfied. I used them in the pool for dynamic, and at the sea for pure freediving and spearfishing. I did some dives in constant weight 30 meters depth and some variable weight dives at 40-45 meters depth. I have also fished between 5 and 20 meters. The fins work well, they are responsive, elastic and they push well in deep dives. They also allow you to cover long distances in the surface without destroying your legs. The only thing are the footpocket, they are absolutely confortable, but personally I prefer lighter and slitly rigid footpockets.

Eventually it was a great choice, I will upgrade them with other footpocket in the future, but untill now I'm really satisfied...and I payed them 180€...a very good price.

Good luck!

Luca

 

[maztbeck]

Can anyone help me ?
I have some leader fins neo carbon , i bought some salvimar k reinforced footpockets beacuse the footpockets that came with the fins were uncomfortable

Now i have fitted the new pockets they feel great however the blades have come out from the bottom leaving them only atached by the screws .
Should i use some sort of glue to stop this happening ?
I can post some pictures if needed
Cheers

 

[gobicles]

Can anyone help me ?
I have some leader fins neo carbon , i bought some salvimar k reinforced footpockets beacuse the footpockets that came with the fins were uncomfortable

Now i have fitted the new pockets they feel great however the blades have come out from the bottom leaving them only atached by the screws .
Should i use some sort of glue to stop this happening ?
I can post some pictures if needed
Cheers

Do the holes of the salvimar align properly with the holes made for the leaderfins footpockets?