Fins stiffness choice

[assdksl]

Hello everybody!

Been looking around on this forum for few days and this is my first post.
This is a great forum with a lot of people that know their stuff in my opinion.

My experience with free diving is very limited so I decided to get a little bit more into it. Until this summer I only dived to about 10m with scuba fins or without fins at all and I kinda wanted to extend that depth a little bit.

So I'm kinda facing a dilemma here. I want to buy proper freediving fins for the first time.

I looked around for advice on stiffness and could not find a group that I fit in so this is the reason I'm posting.

I'm 1.87m (6'2") and 95kg (210lbs) and kinda muscular. I do lot of sports and all and I would say that I have big and strong legs (tho imho, in the water it's totally different thing regarding legs strength).

So what kind of fins should I get. I read that I would need stiffer ones but than some guys say that it's only perception of fining more effectively with stiff blades? Is that true?

Only fins that I can try locally (that I know of) are all kinds of Picassos. I imagine Power and Speed models are for beginners like me. I'll look around for other brands too.

From what I could see online, I liked Sporasub Spitfire Black and Spetton MF30 Evo Flex. That's because they have these "rails" all the way down the blades mainly. Does that even matter?

What do you think about these models compared to Picassos I mentioned? My feet are average I would say, not to wide or narrow, not too high arch either.

Sorry for the longer post anyway. I couldn't find the answer around so if there is some thread covering this, please direct me there.

BR

 

[Apneaddict]

If you want an inexpensive fiberglass pair, consider the fins4u.com fiberglass waves in their hard stiffness. It's the second stiffest they offer and should be ok for a big / strong guy.

The Pathos foot pockets are very highly regarded.

If you want something really inexpensive, the immersion e:green are a good starter fin and super durable / visible with the bright green plastic.

 

[assdksl]

Thank you for the quick answer!

I'll take a look around fins4u. I'm sure that they have something for me, the problem is I'm not sure what I need.

 

[Simos]

I think rails do matter, you will find it more difficult to control fins without rails as there will be more sideways movement. I am starting to have doubts on any kind of 'hard' fins for apnea, softer seems to be the way forward unless you want to be able to have speed 'bursts' eg for spearing

 

[assdksl]

Thanks for the replay Simons!

These are exactly the things that confuse me.
My motivation is not spearfishing nor competing really. I just feel good when diving and want to do more underwater or at least stay longer.
So, I guess, acceleration is not a priority.

What particular model would you recommend in my case regarding my size and build?

All the best!

 

[cdavis]

Rails limit maneuverability but increase efficiency. Soft fins are more efficient than stiff ones, even if you are quite strong, but have poor torque, acceleration, etc. Not much difference in top speed, just in how long it takes to get there. If you are not spearfishing, you will do better with a softer fin with rails. Softer makes it much easier to use a relatively straight legged kick, which is far more efficient. Soft generally leads to better technique. Many divers compromise and get mediums (me).

For all fins, its more important that they fit well and are comfy than any of the above. Try'em before you buy'em is best.

Connor

 

[assdksl]

Thank you Connor!
Now that's something I can understand.
So I guess I'll try to work it out with Picassos locally (or whatever they've got in the shop). If nothing fits I,ll try online. And in case that happens, do you have some recommendations regarding brands and models?

 

[hteas]

Footpockets:
Are your feet wide or narrow?
If narrow, Cressi or BEuchat are good starting points. If wide, Imersion or Picasso are good. In between look at Omer, Mako, Dessault, Pathos, and many others.
As Connor said, fit is crucial to your comfort in the water.
after that, the choices in blades is huge. Plastic, fiberglass, or carbon, and many stiffnesses aned brands. But start with footpockets that fit well.

 

[Simos]

Connor has explained things much better than I ever could! I don't know much about fins and brands, I have a pair of Cressi Gara Pros that I don't like much as they're way too stiff for me. I have narrow feet and the foot pockets are alright...

I used to think I needed stiffer blades and stronger legs but I now think I am much better off with really soft fins. To be honest the best fins I tried for me are still the rubber training fins I used to have but I have never tried carbons etc.

 

[Hurlow]

You didn't really specify a price range. Im likely built a bit like you, since im a bit of a gym rat, and am sold on carbons. I've tried C4s, and own GFT CARBONIO aero (med stiffness) and Bassofondo (soft) and think that moderately soft fins work well if you are not trying to set records. I use the Bassofondo more than any other fin, and get to 20 meters regularly without much effort. I can go further in the Aeros, but its just so comfortable all day in the softs. That said, they are known to be stiffer than some other carbons (like C4s) and certainly stiffer than some plastic fins, which I have little experience with.

 

[assdksl]

Thank you for all the replays guys!

@Hurlow:

Price is not that much of an issue, I just don't want to through the roof on the first try.
I imagine there has to be some trail and error period until I find what I want and being so new to this didn't want to rush to the top of the line stuff

But anyway, the more I read what you guys have to say the more I see the pattern. It seems to me that rigidity is not so necessary even if you weigh 100kg and that fit is the most important thing. So for now, I'll focus on finding the ones that fit me well. That shouldn't be that hard because I kinda have standard feet all around. Moderate in width and arch height.

 

[Simos]

Just to go back to your original post; you said you are currently doing 10m on scuba fins or no fins and wanted to extend it a little right?

Just worth having in mind that you can extend it A LOT without buying new fins etc but by freediving training. In fact if you just buy freediving fins and don't invest the time to train properly you might even find out that you can't even do 10m in your brand new freediving fins

 

[assdksl]

@Simos

No doubts about it.

What I meant is I was thinking about taking freediving course or something to help me extend that depth and underwater time. I wanted proper fins for that.

Training goes without saying.

I wouldn't dare to try to go deeper than I'm comfortable with the best fins in the entire world.

 

[Simos]

@Simos

No doubts about it.

What I meant is I was thinking about taking freediving course or something to help me extend that depth and underwater time. I wanted proper fins for that.

Training goes without saying.

I wouldn't dare to try to go deeper than I'm comfortable with the best fins in the entire world.

My personal advice would be to hold off buying fins, especially if you are intending on getting pool training. If you are going to be doing pool training you won't be *needing* freediving fins, in fact you are better off practicing proper technique with soft rubber training fins.

Apart from this most instructors/clubs have a number of different types of fins you can try etc and make a more informed choice.

In my naive world I don't see why freediving fins are needed at all in the beginning. The only cases for them I see are competitions/achieving PBs, spearfishing and other activities needing acceleration etc and significant depth (where you are quite negative and need the extra power on the ascent).

 

[cdavis]

Got to disagree with on shortfin use.

I use short fins (Churchills) in the pool for cardio laps and body surfing in the ocean. Excellent for both. Not so good if you are trying to learn how to properly kick longfins. The optimum kick styles are pretty different.

 

[assdksl]

I'll just go with Picasso fins I can try here in the shop. They cost around 60 euro so I can't go that wrong. Later when I get the better idea about freediving I might upgrade. But as for these Picassos, you guys suggest I go with the Speed model, right? That would be the softer one. Or maybe Power model is soft enough?

 

[Simos]

Again just my personal opinion, but get the softer fins for your first pair. It's not a question of price, you can actually 'go wrong' if you get fins you cannot drive properly because of stiffness as you will end up developing bad technique.

 

[Apneaddict]

Agreed.

A soft pair of plastics will get you to -20m or -30m without issue (with decent technique / equalization etc.)

Beyond that, going deeper, especially for a strong kicker it's much nicer to have something firmer.

Soft fins are GREAT for surface swimming and all-day use. Go too stiff and you'll burn out your legs on the way TO your dive spot - especially if your legs aren't conditioned and you don't use the fins regularly (at least weekly).

 

[cdavis]

Ditto on soft fins on the surface or down to 20+ meters, maybe less in cold water. Deeper needs good technique. I once wore a pair of c4 25s for several days of serious diving. Wonderful, felt fabulous and no negatives at all until I did a 30+ meter drop on a bottomless wall. When I turned to go up, nothing happened, kicking like crazy, no propulsion. I came up the first 10 meters on my arms. Scared me spitless. This was nothing but poor technique. I was bending my knees too much and over kicking the blades. Still, overall, I prefer a harder fin for all round use. If I had the $ and still used bifins, I'd have a set of C4 25s for anything but deep water and spearfishing.

 

[assdksl]

Thank you for all the answers guys!