Fin Lineup - Any Questions?

[ash]

I enjoyed Sven’s review, it was good to see the different Specialfins models compared as well as the Matrix blades getting a mention. I had a great time getting used to my Hybrids this weekend.

My initial impression on the surface and on my first dive was that they were way too soft (even though the blades are between hard and extra hard) but once I noticed how fast I was going for such a small amount of effort, I was convinced. The Hybrids had me descending much quicker than my plastic blades and with far less work, making for longer bottom times on almost every dive. Coming up was also quick and easy, while surface swimming was a joke – with noticeably less effort for more speed and no ankle discomfort at all.

All in all a great buy.

Ash

 

[rigdvr]

Re: to all my subjects

Originally posted by icarus pacific
My majesty only goes so far... :blackeye

about 3 inches from what Ive heard...

 

[w3ac]

Good one Rig.

Sven, great review. That was what I have been trying to find; a head to head comparison of the blades, especially with the Matrix/Waterway and the Hybrid. Looks like I gotta save some serious cash and get a Mastercard...unless someone out there is feeling particularly generous .

Brad

 

[cdavis]

Sven,
Thanks for a great review. Similar question to Jon on kick cycles. You mentioned two kicks to 30 ft with hybrids. That sounds fabulous. Would your case be equivalent to diving down a line ? How many kicks would it normally take you with plastic fins to get quickly to 30 feet, equivalent to diving down a line?

Thanks

Connor

 

[icarus pacific]

This is too easy.

Originally posted by rigdvr
about 3 inches from what Ive heard...

Hey! You liked the first 2" !

 

[icarus pacific]

Thanks much for the compliments folks!

Originally posted by Jon
Ok Svenster,

Give us the detailed breakdown between the C4's and the Pro Hybrids. I know that the Pro's are durable, but C4's, bought through OMER, now have a 2 year warrenty on them. Did you compare number of kick cycles to/from depth? Or time how long it took to swim a lap in a pool? I would imagine that the Pro's are more manuverable, do to the desgin of the blade, but how are they for the pure north/south action?

Jon

HUH? Kick cycles, lap times, down lines?? Hey when's a guy get to eat around here? :crutch

Seriously though, I've been talking with Mark at Technosport about doing a workup with the C4's and OMER BAT's, so stick around. Yes, he also let me in on the fact that he's backing the C4 against breakage- a very feature that I wish had been available a couple years and a hundred bucks ago. I don't know if it's just a C4 thing or that Mark's a class act, but either way, having that in their favor, the carbon thing gets smoother.

I didn't do the pool thing as that's not my thing and I wouldn't be dakine judge on the fins ability to rub out the penny stains on the lanes :hmm but I've zero doubt that the Matrix blades or the slighty heavier finish of the Kelpies or the Hybrids couldn't put the hurt on the dynamic numbers. The edging on the Specialfins tips would certainly help keep things in place. As far as kick cycles, yeah. Whatever. zzz (that one will generate some mail...)
And as far as going down a line, my experience with thaty is more along the er, lines, of kelp stalks and anchors. I really think that you couldn't go wrong with the Matrix's as far as their length doing the flex thing. The Hybrids are a bit wider and rounder, but again, I can't see where the additional flex gained from the carbon held in one piece by the Kevlar could hurt. Far as I'm thinking, the smooth push of these things, the Matrix especially, would make me think less about any issues of getting back up before the stars start shing brighter behind my stylishly mirrored Mantis mask. :king

 

[Murat]

Nice review, like to see head to head comparision of BAT and Kelpie soon...

 

[jodyfreedive]

Great Review Sven,
Even with a 2-year warranty on C-4, unless you only freedive in deepwater and have lots of time to full with sending the broke ones back and waiting for new ones, I just don’t see the purpose of C-4’s.

Martin Stepanek did 93 meters with Cressi Gara 3000’s which don’t perform nearly as good as the cheapest fiber fins. Maybe that's because he didn't have to worry about breaking his fins and could devote his full thoughts to diving.
Jody

 

[Jon]

Martin Stepanek did 93 meters with Cressi Gara 3000’s


Martin used a pair of C4-40's for that dive.

I have broken a pair of Sporasub PURE's in the past, but have never had a problem wreck diving with my C4's. They may not be able to take the same beating as a Speacialfin, but they do have a little bit of heft to them.

Any of the fiber/ carbon fiber fins will outperform a plastic bladed Cressi/ Picasso/OMER/ Sporasub/ ect..

Jon

 

[rigdvr]

sometimes its the comfort factor with fins. Andrsn uses the Gara 3000 and loves them, I can put a pair of jet powered fins on and not be a better diver than him. I have seen him make 2-3 min dives to 100+ feet with them while hunting the rigs...

 

[Mattedhead]

Martin did a 70m dive at the Hawaii comp in what i can only describe as "flippers." they are the cheap, supershort, pool excercise fins. .....sure why not.

 

[Jon]

You still get more energy out of a fiber/composite fin than plastic.

Anderson can do so well because he has those huge mutant lungs that he developed from living at altitude for so long.

I believe that Maritn hit 70 meters in Hawaii with just a short pair of rubber fins on- a true testament to his abilities.

I used to really love my old Picasso Black Teams, but now when I go back to them, mostly for scuba diving, they feel like boards on my feet compared to any of the other fins I own.

I wonder what Andy can do with some compsite fins on his feet?

jon

 

[Jon]

Here's a shot of Martin after his 93 meter dive.

Jon

 

[jodyfreedive]

Martin used a pair of C4-40's for that dive

I think your right. Someone needs to tell these guys http://www.bluewaterhunter.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/shop_fins.html They are also wrong on the depth. They say it was 92 meters, but it was 93.
Jody

 

[Mattedhead]

Here's martin with the kiddie fins

 

[Jon]

The man is a machine!

I wonder what kind of depths he'll be reaching now that he's started to use a monofin again?

Jon

 

[icarus pacific]

Originally posted by Jon
Anderson can do so well because he has those huge mutant lungs that he developed from living at altitude for so long.

Naw... he just sucks more. :mute

 

[w3ac]

Yeah, I thought Martin was a coach or something going down the warm up lines in those "flippers". I had no idea who he was until I was enlightened by Sasha. Kinda made me feel really inferior when he surfaced clean after 70 meter with those things and I blacked out after a 45 meter using Cressi hf's on a fun dive. Rumor had it that Martin sprained his ankle pretty badly and those were the only fins that he could use. Amazing stuff.

On another note, what is the verdict on carbon vs fiber? Never had a chance to use carbon but fibers are definitely way better than plastics.

Brad

 

[Jon]

So far it seems that fiber is winning out for Spearfishing because you can hammer on them more and the fin shape is more conducive to sculling and frog kicking- while you maneuver yourself in for the kill shot.

For pure Freediving I still like carbon better, but the fiber fins aren't too far behind. I have never tried out a pair of the hybrids, so they may very well be as good as Sven says they are, and would be a match for a carbon fin.

We should have many pairs of each for people to try out at Freedive-A-Palooza this July- after which I plan to thin out my closet of fins.



Jon

 

[unirdna]

Originally posted by Jon
after which I plan to thin out my closet of fins.
Jon

I'll believe that when I see it. You hang on to your gear more tightly than a fat man holds a cupcake.