Fins question...

[Trelawney]

Im looking to upgrade from my Cressi Gara 2000hf's. Can anyone recommend a good set of fins for spearfishing? Ive been looking at ICE fins and BAT 25s.

 

[spaghetti]

Both Ice and Bat 25 are good. The best doesn't exist as a universal category, but you may find what is best for you. It basically depends on your kind of hunting: deep or shallow, boat or shore diving, strong current or quiet waters, et cetera.
We've had a looooong discussion recently: you may find some interesting feedback here:
http://forums.deeperblue.net/hunting-equipment/66457-best-fins-spearfishing.html

 

[Marwan]

i dont know why but out o all the gear for spearfishing, fins are the most discussed

 

[Trelawney]

Thanks guys.

 

[spaghetti]

i dont know why but out o all the gear for spearfishing, fins are the most discussed

Are you sure, mate? Afaik, the most discussed subject is spearguns, while the less discussed is weights (I mean lead, belts, harness et cetera). And this just shows how WE are silly (including myself), because a correct weight set is 50% of what we need for successful spearfishing, while a gun is just a gun, even if I must admit that it's a much more fascinating object than a block of lead.
Back on topic, here's another recent discussion, useful for the initial question of this thread. Fondueset made interesting statements about Ice fins.
http://forums.deeperblue.net/hunting-equipment/69257-omer-millenium-ice.html

 

[covert]

Has anybody used immersion's before, and what did you think of them?

 

[strangelove]

I have a bat25, they are great for surface swiming but the bat fins lack a little punch for deep dives.

 

[Marwan]

covert i have immersion esclapez fins, they were my first pair, actually they are quite good, they were the blue blades, i think the model is discontinued now, very comfortable foot pocket, cool for surface swimming and even good to about 20m (i didnt try more)... i gave them to my wife, but still like them very much...

 

[covert]

Thanks Marwan, i got myself a set of imersion esclapez black fins, so far im pretty impressed but being very new spearing and freedivng as such, I am no expert on the topic, do they compare favourable to the cressi gara 3000 and omer milleniums?

 

[Marwan]

i also have a gara 3000 LD (softer version of the gara), i would say that the esclapez are better all over, the garas are better on the surface, but overall the esclapez wins in my opinion. Might not be the same for you though, i know that the black fins are the stiff/hard model for esclapez, so on the surface they could be a bit more difficult than the garas. I havent tried the millenium, but i hate the omer footpocket....

 

[covert]

Very interesting thanks for you input

 

[Huw]

I have just bought the imersion esclapez for my firs ever pair of long fins. After 2 years of successful spearing on scuba fins i thought i would progress on a little. I used a friends pair in the summer and really got on with them. I will post a little more on them once i have used them properly.

If i have learned one thing fromall of the discussions on fins, i think it would be that there is no 'perfect' or 'best' fin. Sure some are betetr than others... but i think preference is a HUGE HUGE issue. I chose the esclapez for my first pair mainly for price, but also because i knew what i was getting. Perhaps i will upgrade to the ices in the future... but for now the imersions suit me to the ground.

I am hesitant to say anymore as i havent used them for a long period of time, but from what i have experienced, its all good!



Huw.

 

[Marwan]

HUW,
i think youre on the right track, my advice to you is not to pre-judge, omer ice are more popular, but it doesnt mean they are better and an upgrade... i have both and in terms of performance the esclapez blue fins wins for me...