First time freediving fins?

[sharpshooter123]

First off sorry I know there are a probably 1,500,000 of these posts on this site but was wondering what fin/foot pocket would you recommend for a newby that hasn't ever tried on any freedving fins before and has a wide foot (around the toes) and a narrower heel then normal. I want a fin that can bring me up form 60 feet without much work (heard that some are hard to get going on the way up) So ya any cheap recommendations are wanted.

Devin Dowdy,
Laguna Beach, CA

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Devin,

The best bet is to be able to try them out before buying since feet seem to come in different shapes, but of course that requires that you have friends who can loan them to you. I'm sure others will have recommendations, but I can only comment on two brands because that is all I've used.

Until last summer I was using Esclapez Blacks. They have a very comfortable foot pocket, but they are too flexible to bring you up very well from 60 feet here on the left coast where we have to wear thick wet suits and our buoyancy changes so dramatically with depth. Its not that you can't come up, but it just won't happen very fast. I have a size 10 foot and wear 44-46 fins, and you are welcome to try them out if they fit and you wish to do so.

Last summer I went to Matrix #2 blades with Picasso Black Team pockets. Matrix come standard with Dessault foot pockets, but when I tried a pair on, they were very painful on my high instep. Even though the #2 blades are toward the more flexible end of their 1-5 choices of stiffness, they give me much more thrust than the Esclapez, and I'm very happy with them.

I'm sure others will have a lot more input, but these are just the fins with which I have personal experience.

 

[sharpshooter123]

I have a size 12 foot in some shoes and a 13 in others but where size 12 booties comfortably (scuba booties). I don't want to pay liek 300 dollars for the Matrix blades. I am pretty clumsy and don't want a really expensive fins.

Thanks,

Devin Dowdy

 

[Bill McIntyre]

I have a size 12 foot in some shoes and a 13 in others but where size 12 booties comfortably (scuba booties). I don't want to pay liek 300 dollars for the Matrix blades. I am pretty clumsy and don't want a really expensive fins.

Thanks,

Devin Dowdy

I just did a search of Quicken, and it says that the blades cost me $172.38 from 20 fathoms, which must have included postage, and the pockets cost $90.12 from Picasso America. The pocket price sounds way too low, but I think I got a discount because I have a cute ass.

I may be wrong, but I don't think many fins will be much cheaper. And another way to look at it is that if you do a lot of beach diving, the fiberglass blades are more durable than plastic.

 

[sharpshooter123]

um yeah that is really expensive to me. I am only 14!!!

Devin Dowdy

 

[roy_nexus_6]

Bill how did you manage to fit Matrix blades to a Picasso foot pocket ? From what I have seen the Picasso foot pocket has a singel screw in the middle to hold the blade, while the Matrix blades are designed for spora or omer pockets with two screws.

I have OMER foot pockets and I HATE them with passion. They are way to wide for my foot and my heel slips inside them even with a 5mm neoprene sock.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Bill how did you manage to fit Matrix blades to a Picasso foot pocket ? From what I have seen the Picasso foot pocket has a singel screw in the middle to hold the blade, while the Matrix blades are designed for spora or omer pockets with two screws.

The Matrix blades come with no screw holes at all, or at least mine came that way. I just put a block of wood behind the fin to back it up and drilled a hole for the single screw in the Picasso. It works fine.

I had borrowed a pair with the Dessault foot pocket, and it was really painful on my instep. I had also borrowed a pair of Picasso CamoPrenes with this Black Team foot pocket and knew I liked it, even if I couldn't hack over $600 for the fins. So putting together the Matrix blades with the Picasso pockets seemed like the way to go.

 

[roy_nexus_6]

Bill,
Thanks for the explanation and posting the pic. I really appreciate it.

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Bill,
Thanks for the explanation and posting the pic. I really appreciate it.

My pleasure.

It occurs to me that the color of the blade may confuse someone. They were yellow when I bought them, but I used an industrial strength marker to dye them black. Of course kelp is yellow, so that may have been a dumb idea anyway.

Someone told me that they are selling them in black now, but I'm not sure about that.

 

[Alison]

but I think I got a discount because I have a cute ass.

Just because your a new member, dont think a statment like that doesnt need backing up
Prove it!!

 

[Bill McIntyre]

Just because your a new member, dont think a statment like that doesnt need backing up
Prove it!!

Well, you asked for it. I hope this will pass the porn filters.

Here it is after taking a fall on my bike a couple of years ago.

Isn't that cute?

 

[Huan]

Haha brilliant Bill , guess there was too much bruising for the flesh tones to show up!!
Welcome to this board.

 

[Alison]

You call that a bruise? lol if only the porn filters would let me show you mine
Still there potential for a nice ass. discount deserved

 

[cdavis]

Ah, Alison, you did deserve that one. Ten points Bill. Thanks to both for my laugh of the night.

Connor

 

[cdavis]

After that fun digression, back to the subject of the thread. Bill is right on, try'em before you buy'em is key, especially if you have an odd foot. You might think about cressi gara 2000s or 3000s. They are tough, cheap, and have a foot pocket that many people like. They will certainly do the depth you suggested. However, the blades can't be removed and upgraded, big negative if freediving really gets in your blood. Also they are not so good on the surface as fins with more angle to the blade and they don't fit everybody's feet, especially in neopreme socks (some people hate them). You pays your money and takes your chances. Just try'em first.

Connor

 

[DeepThought]

I have OMER foot pockets and I HATE them with passion. They are way to wide for my foot and my heel slips inside them even with a 5mm neoprene sock.

Maybe you can scrap some neopren or some other padding and glue it to the sides of the heel?
Have you tried measuring a smaller size pocket?