cressi gara 3000ld or omer ice?

[ulysses]

are there any good omer fins that are black (for some reason, I just don't like the ice see through)...

thanks again,

Jack

For the price of 1 pair of Ices you can buy 2 pairs black or green Omer Runners (same footpocket, same performance, different look).

Cheers,
ulysses

 

[strangelove]

i live in SC, so it's hard to find any good dive shops here, who is a reputable dealer to buy from online?

thanks, i think they are a little expensive, but i guess in the long run I'll be happier with the omer ice and the footpockets... I just hope they fit me, i have a weird foot, narrow heel, but sorta wide foot itself...

In U.S. if you have any problems, the omer representative Mark Labocetta will take care of you, no questions ask, you have nothing to worry here.

 

[Marwan]

i dont get it ulysses..the guy is asking for advice we give him personal advice based on personal experience if we have it that is...which should be helpful.. like with any item of diving gear..of course there is an element of personal preference like with any product..but isnt that part of the whole point of these forums...to share Experiences and benefit from eachother?
how did you find the omer ice by the way? did you try them?
cheers

 

[ulysses]

IMO trying various footpockets (with neoprene socks!) before buying is paramount.

For Marwan: this means, if you buy for first pair of freediving fins - which is Jack's case - do that in a local store where you can actually try various designs. Do you buy shoes on the internet that you have not tried before?

Cheers,
ulysses

 

[ulysses]

how did you find the omer ice by the way?

A plastic blade is a plastic blade

... and regardless of Omer's and other manufacturers claim plastic blades do not compare to fiberglass or carbon blades in terms of performance. After having switched to fiberglass & carbons there is no going back.

I tried the Ice. My impression: you can have 100% the same cool camo effect and similar performance, if you use empty footpockets without blades

Cheers,
ulysses

 

[Marwan]

oh boy.....:hmm
not all of us have access to diving shops that stock all brands..so you are sometimes limited..:head
besides all of that..you are bascially saying try it in the shop see what fits...in my case that wouldnt have worked with the cressi's as i described..

 

[Magpie]

Well my Ice are very close in performance to some soft Nemo fiberglass blades I tried, in fact I couldn't tell much difference, at far less cost and greatly increased coolness. Did anyone mention vanilla?

And the Omer footpockets are far more comfortable than the ones on the Cressi LD for my feet too. The Cressi felt fine sat on my sofa at home but after 15minutes in the water they gave me cramp in the foot arch. So trying them on in a shop would have been no use at all, not that I had that opportunity where I live.

I know at least 4 people here with Ice and all love them, and there's plenty more on Deeper Blue that do too, a quick search will show that.

 

[Marwan]

A plastic blade is a plastic blade

... and regardless of Omer's and other manufacturers claim plastic blades do not compare to fiberglass or carbon blades in terms of performance. After having switched to fiberglass & carbons there is no going back.

I tried the Ice. My impression: you can have 100% the same cool camo effect and similar performance, if you use empty footpockets without blades

Cheers,
ulysses

you cant be serious? so omer, esclapez, cressi, picasso, are all the same fins?? where have you been all my life

the same as empty footpockets...really?...my legs have grown stronger and i cant feel it, the things marketing people make you belive these days roflrofl and by the way, i really dont care for the camo that much..

plastic/carbon/fiberglass are all different...but then again just because carbon is better doesnt mean it will be better every time in every situation...i would not have trouble believing that the guy having to do lots of surface swims and rarely goes more then 10m to find a good plastic fin more suitable then carbon...for that situation...

cheers

 

[spaghetti]

Ulysses, paisà, I do not see any reason for being so argumentative.
This discussion is not about who's right, who's wrong and who's Mister SmartAss.
We're all just trying to help Jack by giving him our opinions and feedback, then at the end of the day he'll make an idea of his own.
Of course there's much subjectivity in this matter, but the objective things are:
-Cressi has sold hundreds of thousands of Gara fins, so they can't be bad at all: they are very good. But as a matter of fact, some people DO feel uncomfortable with their footpocket.
-Omer Ice: we may discuss wether they are worth all the extra bucks or not, but almost all the users I've been talking with agree that the Omer Ice perform better than the other Omer Millennium plastic fins.

 

[ickledevil]

Oh boy.. maybe I shouldn't have bitten back earlier, anyway have to agree with the pain comments on the garas, I also get severe pain and cramping in my feet after maybe 1hr diving. I get no problem with the Omers but that could just be me, what I can say is the Omers are definately softer foot pocket material. As for all plastic fins being the same, no they are not, just reading through specs will show you that and the fact companys offer the 'same' plastic fins in different hardnesses... including Cressi. As for how much I paid for my Omers and Cressis thats my business, but I will say you get the omers cheaper than I did at the time, and the cressis considerably more so. Here in the UK we are not all lucky enough to have shops to pop in as the sport is not widely known or done here therefore the market is very small.
On a final note for Jack,
Definately try on.. and swim with any prospective fins if at all possible. Also take heed of the advice on this forum it is wide reaching and from a very experianced bunch, as for should you spend the extra on Ice/Carbo etc. I cant answer that for you. When I first started all I used was an old pair of Mares Plana avanti fins, then upgraded them when my skill out grew them. True these days I have collected a lot of equipment but all of it has its place.
If your just starting go for the best compromise between what you can afford, a quality make and most importantly what your comfortable in. Should you buy the Ice? Only you know that but if your going to be doing a lot of spearing then they are an excellent fin. If your going to do primarily freediving then you could 'possibly' but probably not get some carbons or fiberglass fins for a similar price however I wouldn't recommend it until you are used to the ins and outs of the sport and have worked on your skills and training etc. If your in the Uk PM me you can try both my fins on and see what you like.

 

[ulysses]

Ulysses, paisà, I do not see any reason for being so argumentative.
This discussion is not about who's right, who's wrong and who's Mister SmartAss.
We're all just trying to help Jack by giving him our opinions and feedback, then at the end of the day he'll make an idea of his own.
Of course there's much subjectivity in this matter, but the objective things are:
-Cressi has sold hundreds of thousands of Gara fins, so they can't be bad at all: they are very good. But as a matter of fact, some people DO feel uncomfortable with their footpocket.
-Omer Ice: we may discuss wether they are worth all the extra bucks or not, but almost all the users I've been talking with agree that the Omer Ice perform better than the other Omer Millennium plastic fins.

Spaghetti,

let's be honest: the Omer Ice sell (at an exaggerated price) because of the cool camo effect, not because their performance is superior to other plastic blade fins.

However, our friend who opened this thread said that he did not care for or even disliked the transparent blades.

As to footpocket: the best advice is trying various brands (if that is possible) before buying. Who would seriously contradict that?

Cordiali saluti,
ulysses

 

[spaghetti]

As to footpocket: the best advice is trying various brands (if that is possible) before buying.

Yes that's for sure the best advice (if that is possible).

 

[ickledevil]

Glad we finally sorted out an answer of sorts. Jack hope your still following and maybe had a few giggles along the way. Joe

 

[IronLung]

I havent had the chance to try the fins mentioned (Omer Ice and Cressi Gara) but all the same I'd like to put in my two cents. my feet are very wide in the front and I have never ever found a pair of fins that I could wear for longer than 5 minutes without my foot cramping like crazy. That is untill I got a pair of Picasso Black Teams. I can wear those fins for hours (with a 1.5mil sock) without any discomfort. I dont know if you have wide feet narrow feet or anything in between but if you have wide feet, Picasso might be another option to look at.

Ike

 

[ickledevil]

Ooooo forgot about picasso.. well mentioned, Used to own a pair of picasso fins too (I also have wide feet) and they were a comfy fit. Wonder what I did with those... oh yeah they are floating around somewhere near Thurleston, UK. (Damn kayaks)

 

[e.m.p!]

are there any good omer fins that are black (for some reason, I just don't like the ice see through)...

thanks again,

Jack

Yes Jack, there are. (wonder they weren't mentioned yet). They have the exact stiffness and performance as the Ice fins. They're the OMER Millenium Runner (check their website). I've got them , they're dope and don't cost as much as the Ice but can do exactly the same... (except whacking fish)
Have fun.

 

[ulysses]

For the price of 1 pair of Ices you can buy 2 pairs black or green Omer Runners (same footpocket, same performance, different look).

Yes Jack, there are. (wonder they weren't mentioned yet). They have the exact stiffness and performance as the Ice fins. They're the OMER Millenium Runner (check their website). I've got them , they're dope and don't cost as much as the Ice but can do exactly the same... (except whacking fish)
Have fun.

In my arms, brother! :friday

Cheers,
ulysses

 

[Mr. X]

You could always "upgrade"/"sideways-grade"? to the ice blades later if you changed your mind, as it looks like you can buy just the blades now: Omer Ice from Apnea (although I've seen Seacsub spearo fins that look just as good for sale for less than those blades).
More at: Apnea Online Store - spearo fins

 

[Newbie_spearo]

Hi Jack,

Just a quick heads up, if you do happen to try a few pairs of fins before you make your purchase, I'd recommend you try them in the ocean or atleast not in an indoor pool. The reason I'm telling you this is because I bought a pair of picasso black teams, and they are great fins, but the first few swims I had with them were in a heated pool and they felt really good. However when you hit the ocean and its almost half the temperature this can change the characteristics of the blade. I still like my picasso's but they are a lot stiffer when I'm in the ocean and this makes surface swimming a little harder than I anticipated. Still with a bit of training and more ocean dives I'll be used to the stiffness and will probably enjoy the added "snap".

 

[Mr. X]

... However when you hit the ocean and its almost half the temperature this can change the characteristics of the blade.

...and the size of your foot. I wear neoprene socks in the sea in Winter but not in Summer, nor in the pool -- too hot & too tight.