Buying new fins, C4 mustang 3 or VGR? + foot pocket, stiffnes and shop question

[Anders]

My birthday is coming up, and I know I'll get some money from my loved ones for new fins. So, which ones to get?

I'm currently stuck between the C4 mustang 3s' and the VGRs'. I will be using them primarily for spearfishing and occasionally some recreational freediving.
Some info: I do most of my diving down to 20m, but can go deeper if needed, possibly down to 30 m when I get a float line that's long enough. I mostly dive with a 7 mm suit and 10 kg's of lead, thinner suit and less lead in the summer. I'm 183 cm and 90-95 kgs. My shoe size is 44, sometimes I need 45. My current fins are plastic beuchat mundial fins, the "sport" edition I think, foot pocket size 45-46. The foot pockets are a perfect fit in 3 mm socks, but too small (to narrow) in 5 mm. I'm a reasonably strong swimmer, previously competitive. My ankles hurt in my current fins while surface swimming or after 2 hours+ in the water.

So to my questions:

Which fin would you recommend (and why)?

What stiffness should I get?

Will a foot pocket size 45-46 accomodate my feet with either 3 or 5 mm socks, or should I go with the 47-48 size? Part of the reason for choosing C4 is the foot pocket; I hope to be able to wear both 3 and 5 mm (maybe even 6-7 mm) socks in the same pocket.

Additionally: I will not have the chance to try the foot pockets before I buy them..
There is only one norwegian retailer that sells C4 and they are 500 km+ away. They also only have VGR fins, and only in stiffness 30 and 40 (they recommend the 40), so if I decide on something else I have to get it from abroad. Does anyone know of a good, cheap online store that sells the mustang 3?

 

[Bill]

I think that my experience will help you. Shoe size and Beuchat fit indicates that your feet are a little bigger than mine.
The 47-48 will probably be a very good fit with 5mm sox.
The 40s will be a little harder on the ankles than the 30s and every one that I know likes the 30s for spear fishing. At the end of a long day, comfort is far more important than material, foot pockets and flaps on C4s.
In California, where the difference in temperature was more than 10C from summer to winter, we wore two pairs of sox. 3mm for fit and another pair over the fin when the water was cold.

 

[Anders]

Thanks Bill, that was some good advice indeed!

Comfort is definitely important, and there is no point in wearing thick socks to shield out the cold if it's a tight squeeze in the foot pockets..