Breaking the Ice

[ihab]

This is my second set of Omer Ice Fins that suddenly break :crutchfor no apparent reason.

I'm addicted to those type of fins due to the nature of my hunting....But this is becoming a bit inconvenient....First time around I was told that there is a small percentage of Ice fins that do break....Now it has happened again.

Some friends suggested it was due to my style of swimming....or maybe my legs are too strong (which they are).....But I'm not convinced.:naughty....Anyone with ideas or similar experience??

Cheers,
Ihab

 

[salibandy]

Maybe you're kicking them too hard. As you said, you have strong legs. Mutant adaptation to swimming in the ocean too much.

Poor you though, having 2 pairs break on you. Are your Ices coverd by warranty?

 

[spaghetti]

If you bought them new from shop (I mean not used, not e-bay) they must be covered by warranty, IF you still have the shop invoice/bill.
What can I say? I'm loving my Ice but I always bring a spare pair of millennium blades in my bag, just in case, you know...
My question to Ihab is: is this the old type with screws or the new type without screws? The older type is more likely to get broken than the new one, according to "statistics"...

 

[Old Man Dave]

I had an ice fin break after a year. It was replaced under warrenty but it took 3 months. Now a year later the other one has broken. They both broke mid blade not near the screw holes. I loved my ice fins. They really suited me. I bought them new from Scubaland in France. However I can't be bothered with another session of sending loads of emails, actually sending the broken blade back and the language difficulty plus maybe a 3 month wait. So I've given up and am using my older scuba style fins. Think I will invest in some new or second hand fibreglass blades (nemo's or similar).

Omer do seem to honour their 3 year warrenty but it's through the shop you bought them from. In my case a few quid saved in the initial cost has turned out to be not worth it. Jonny 250 broke a blade but he had bought his from Apnea in Jersey and they replaced it straight away having just seen a photo of the broken blade.

Dave

 

[ihab]

If you bought them new from shop (I mean not used, not e-bay) they must be covered by warranty, IF you still have the shop invoice/bill.
What can I say? I'm loving my Ice but I always bring a spare pair of millennium blades in my bag, just in case, you know...
My question to Ihab is: is this the old type with screws or the new type without screws? The older type is more likely to get broken than the new one, according to "statistics"...

Hi Spaghetti,
Actually, I broke both, with/without screws :blackeye....any suggestions to similar type fins that won't break ....I'm sensing that this is normal for the Ice fins...but they are perfect for surface swimming.

I invested in a pair of ‘special fins’ the outcome was very disappointing according to my type of hunting; which is 75% swimming ……25% diving….and there are a lot surface currents you need to push yourself through.

Cheers,
Ihab

 

[Gaz D]

Hi Spaghetti,
Actually, I broke both, with/without screws :blackeye....any suggestions to similar type fins that won't break ....I'm sensing that this is normal for the Ice fins...but they are perfect for surface swimming.

I invested in a pair of ‘special fins’ the outcome was very disappointing according to my type of hunting; which is 75% swimming ……25% diving….and there are a lot surface currents you need to push yourself through.

Ihab,

Sounds as though you hunt similar to me. I've just bought a pair of Cressi Gara Professionals, but am finding them too stiff. I've been handling the Omer Ice fins in the shop and am considering buying them.

What compromise did you arrive at in the end?

Have you come across the Omer winter fins? And if so, do you know if they are as soft/smooth as the Ice fins.

All the best,

Gaz D

 

[spaghetti]

Hi Spaghetti,
Actually, I broke both, with/without screws :blackeye....any suggestions to similar type fins that won't break ....I'm sensing that this is normal for the Ice fins...but they are perfect for surface swimming.

I invested in a pair of ‘special fins’ the outcome was very disappointing according to my type of hunting; which is 75% swimming ……25% diving….and there are a lot surface currents you need to push yourself through.

Ihab,

Sounds as though you hunt similar to me. I've just bought a pair of Cressi Gara Professionals, but am finding them too stiff. I've been handling the Omer Ice fins in the shop and am considering buying them.

What compromise did you arrive at in the end?

Have you come across the Omer winter fins? And if so, do you know if they are as soft/smooth as the Ice fins.

All the best,

Gaz D

Gaz I have both the Omer Winter and the Ice and I like them both (while I don't own the Gara Pro, this is why I don't have much to say about them, but I have a highly positive opinion of Cressi products in general).
The Ice are more thrusty and "snappy" than the winter, definitely, but still pretty soft: it's a real pleasure to dive and kick with the Ice, also if you go down 20 meters.
What scares me is that many people had their Ice fins broken, so that I always bring the winter blades in the bag as a spare (just in case).

 

[Gaz D]

Thanks Spaghetti,

I was out with my new Gara Pros again this weekend. Beginning to get used to them now, but still finding them a bit too stiff; they even gave me a bit of cramp at one stage - I was quite far out and didn't relish the idea of a long swim back. But took it easy and managed to get back in without too many dramas (and I always had the option of scaling the cliffs, if I really needed to).

I'm flush for money at the moment, so almost certainly going to get those Omer Ice fins, and maybe put the cressis aside until the summer, or maybe just keep as a back-up.

Thanks again for the information (big help),

Gaz

 

[DivingDane]

Millenium runners, guys, produced from the same base material as the ice but in black and pretty similar aas far as stiffness, response is concerned.

otherwise my choice would be the OMER Pegaso in the soft or medium as they are brilliant with lots of snap (fibreglass vs thermoplastic) but quite easy on the legs depending on which model you get. i have the luxury of both the Pegaso and the ice (and runner for that matter) and really like the Pegaso and Very little chance of breakage.

DD

 

[MOSELOVEN]

i just found this on medfish.....



http://www.maxinvisible.com/

 

[Gaz D]

Do they do invisible suits too? (I'm thinking of robbing a bank this summer)

 

[Gaz D]

It's the only way I'm gonna be able to afford purchasing all these new fins!