Hello, I have been spearfishing about 8months now. I started with plastic fins and ended up buying some DiveR FG fins in med stiffness as I got a really good deal. I weigh 150lbs and I do a mix of shore diving as well as boat diving. So far I'm diving in 50ft or less (intend on doing deeper with more practice, maybe 60-70ft). The DiveR med blades are really stiff. Has anyone here used these blades and switched to CF? I've msged a few persons and some have told me to get Softs and others say Mediums so I'm torn between the two. Any advice on what stiffness would suit me and my diving?
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Fin stiffness
- Thread starterNicholas1986
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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With spearfishing/freediving fins, I would say that the vast majority of people would be better with soft fins, however I have never used the make your using so don't take my advice as gospel! For example I use Cressi Master Frog scuba fins which are a stiff fin and they're good for me, whilst I use a medium seac freediving fin but to be honest for distance, surface swims etc, I would be better off with soft fins, maybe the Cress LD. I have never ventured into fibre glass or carbon, way too clumsy for that 
I use the soft diveR innegra fins for swims over four hours especially when I expect to be swimming a fair distance. I dont get cramps from these blades & my legs feel good the next day. For drift diving when I wont be doing as much swimming, except for up & down, I use medium Penetrator composites; these give me better instant power from less movement. The difference is very noticable, I like the soft fins when I am swimming & mediums when I am under the surface. We are spoilt for choice.
If you don't mind... how much do you weigh? I know manufacturers match fin stiffness to body type. I'm thinking I should get a med stiffness CF since they will still be softer than my Med DiveRsI use the soft diveR innegra fins for swims over four hours especially when I expect to be swimming a fair distance. I dont get cramps from these blades & my legs feel good the next day. For drift diving when I wont be doing as much swimming, except for up & down, I use medium Penetrator composites; these give me better instant power from less movement. The difference is very noticable, I like the soft fins when I am swimming & mediums when I am under the surface. We are spoilt for choice.
Clumsy? Lol Thanks for the feedback.With spearfishing/freediving fins, I would say that the vast majority of people would be better with soft fins, however I have never used the make your using so don't take my advice as gospel! For example I use Cressi Master Frog scuba fins which are a stiff fin and they're good for me, whilst I use a medium seac freediving fin but to be honest for distance, surface swims etc, I would be better off with soft fins, maybe the Cress LD. I have never ventured into fibre glass or carbon, way too clumsy for that
Im 182 cm & a smidge
over 100kg. Body weight is important for making the choice but you also need to consider the intended use. I use medium stiffness for drift & deeper dives & soft for when I need to swim a lot. The "experts" would tell me that I should just use mediums for everything, but if I was forced to only choose one fin it would be the soft diveR innegras. I meet a lot of spearos at competition & on spearfishing trips so get to try & discuss a bit of kit. The first time I tried the diveR innegras was with a loaned pair from the manufacturer in the coral sea last november. In my boat team there was about 120 years of spearfishing experience between the four of us, & we have the best kit, we were all trying to use/steal the soft innegras from each other when we were chasing reef fish in the mornings, they were just that good on the legs without giving away any performance. I went back to my medium Penetrators in the afternoons when drifting for tuna, & realised then the difference in blade performance. If you are considering carbon blades, I would strongly recommend that you invest a wee bit more & get the innegras, they are worth it.
I have strong legs so I thought mediums would be right for me - my first fins were Mako fiberglass in medium stiffness. I suppose if I went diving every week I would have gotten used to these. But I don't dive consistently, so I got new soft blades and I like them much better.