Backpacking with bi-fins - lightweight/tough options ?

[portinfer]

Keen to find out about bi-fins suitable for travelling around with (rucksack type thing).

I have a pair of Waterway Captain Nemo's with Omer footpockets that are good but I was hoping to find maybe a lighter pair.

Anyone been backpacking with fins in a rucksack ?

I guess carbon are lighter but I worry about resilience.

Also I think that there are lighter footpockets than the Omers - can anyone recommend a good combination.

Not for very deep diving - maybe 20m max (on a good day) - sort of after recreational fins.
Ed

 

[x_yeti]

If you are only diving to 20m then get a pair of rubber bodyboarding fins. Short, indestructible and will easily fit into a backpack.

Enjoy the holiday!

 

[azapa]

I think -20m would be quite hard on stubby body board fins. At least I would use a full footed UW hockey type fin for that depth.

 

[mortenkv]

I have backpacked with UW rugby small rubber fins. Been diving to 20ish... no problem. Just remeber that you are wearing smaller fins so you must allow some extra buffer. But since you dont want to travel with lead either then negative buoyancy at depth are usually small (unless you borrow lead along the way) not a major problem

Morten - travelled 3½ months from Cape to Dar es Sallam this autumn with full freedive/spearo equipment.

 

[Erik]

I'd go with shorter fins too. Dont forget Stepanek's rubber-fins dive to 70 metres with a twisted ankle!

Check these: RESCUE FINS FOR LIFESAVERS

 

[trux]

I'd go with shorter fins too. Dont forget Stepanek's rubber-fins dive to 70 metres with a twisted ankle!

Yes, those fins (Naiads) are excellent for backpacking - in the 80's I travelled with them (especially on the Balkans - Black Sea and the Med) for many months. They are light, you do not risk breaking them, and they are more than sufficient for depths around 20m. I saw Rocketfins sell similar rubber fins too.

 

[portinfer]

Anyone got a pair of those short fins handy that they can weigh ?

I'm used to long fins so was planning on taking long fins - anyone got any weights on the lighter footpockets like those Pathos Fireblade ones ?

Would it be crazy to go for carbon blades ?

Maybe the answer is to get lighter footpockets for my existing fins - the Nemo's are pretty resilient.

Just thinking I might just get a bit of spearfishing in and also in strange places it might be better to have more powerful fins in case of currents (and running away from sharks) - also I expect water clarity might mean some deeper dives.

Ed

 

[azapa]

quite a potentiality random comment from me, but assuming that there are no currents to fight, just a mask, speados and rubber snorkel (easy to carry) are the ticket to real fun. I did this for some day trips out on smaller islands and didn't even miss the fins.

Just a nice breast stroke leg kick can get you miles if you are in no hurry. Even -10M recreationaly is quite easy, it took me a while but on 1/2 to 3/4 lung (i had no weights) I could cruise around reefs for almost as long as I do when I spearfish.

Good luck. Aren't holidays fun!

 

[Jon]

I'm with Azapa on bringing less and just doing the no-fin's thing. If you are going to carry a camera or speargun along then fins become necessary- or at least make things a whole lot easier.

My top pick would be a pair of Sporasub Cruise's/ Mares Avanti quatrro power's- or whatever they're called these days. I find my dynamics to be just as long with these fins as with my C4's. Fred (fjhonson) did some pool test with an underwater speedometer a few years back and found these to be one of the best performing rubber fins around. they are longer than the stubby rubber fins, but not as long as a pair of true freediving fins.

My second choice would be a pair of Aqualung Strattos fins. These are shorter than the Cruise's, but stiffer and would make for an easy to pack, but powerful, full foot fin.

Just my $0.02

Jon

 

[superdude171]

I use the mares quattro powers for underwater hockey and am starting to get into freediving and spearfishing. i am about to take them backpacking round malaysia, i think they are pretty indestructable, but quite heavy. i swam about 55m underwater with these fins a while ago.

Greg.

 

[azapa]

My second choice would be a pair of Aqualung Strattos fins.
Jon

My PB in dynamic was done with those fins. I love them, with my C4's I can't go futher.

 

[chrismar]

Quattros are good, but Alas, Naiads or those versions that monofin companies sell are perfect. Also, saver or UWH/UWR fins from the usual suspects are a good option.