foot pocket switching

[jpma]

Hi All,

I'm currently using a Stingray(size 39-40) f/p with Specialfin Carbon blade, I used to wear the Cressi Gara 2000(size 40-41) the f/p feels very comfortable just solid enough for finning and it even feel ok with or without socks.

Not saying the Stingray is bad just that after sometime I got cramp on the side and the top part of my feet is tight and the med part of the f/p have an empty space which reduce power transfer efficiency during finning.

I came across this f/p online, the Sporasub Spitfire,
saw someone said it's like Gara f/p and with Stingray tendon.
However I can only find them selling in whole with the blade and f/p.

and also the the sizing is bit different, on Cressi I used 40-41
but the Spitfire have 39-40 or 41-42.

beside the Spitfire f/p, I also came across Cressi Modular f/p
which have similar shape as the Gara 2000 but their sizing is bit larger than the actual stated size.

Does anyone have any opinion on the sizing exchange between Gara 2000(or 3000 which have the same f/p) and the Sporasub Spitfire?

One more, will my Specialfin blade fit in Spitfire f/p too?


unfortunately, I don't have any access to these fins for a try around my area.
PS: or maybe I should just patch some rubber beneath the Stingray f/p to will up the gap.

 

[Fat Larry]

Hi All,

I'm currently using a Stingray(size 39-40) f/p with Specialfin Carbon blade, I used to wear the Cressi Gara 2000(size 40-41) the f/p feels very comfortable just solid enough for finning and it even feel ok with or without socks.

Not saying the Stingray is bad just that after sometime I got cramp on the side and the top part of my feet is tight and the med part of the f/p have an empty space which reduce power transfer efficiency during finning.

I came across this f/p online, the Sporasub Spitfire,
saw someone said it's like Gara f/p and with Stingray tendon.
However I can only find them selling in whole with the blade and f/p.

and also the the sizing is bit different, on Cressi I used 40-41
but the Spitfire have 39-40 or 41-42.

beside the Spitfire f/p, I also came across Cressi Modular f/p
which have similar shape as the Gara 2000 but their sizing is bit larger than the actual stated size.

Does anyone have any opinion on the sizing exchange between Gara 2000(or 3000 which have the same f/p) and the Sporasub Spitfire?

One more, will my Specialfin blade fit in Spitfire f/p too?


unfortunately, I don't have any access to these fins for a try around my area.
PS: or maybe I should just patch some rubber beneath the Stingray f/p to will up the gap.

I have been looking and trying as many fins as i can the last month or so. I have similar shaped feet to you by the sound of it and have stingrays and H.dessaults at the moment. With the stingrays i find i have little cramp on the side of my foot and a gap over the toes that causes the front of my foot to hit the top or the bottom of the pocket depending on where i am in the stroke and feeling like im losing power.. it is very annoying. I get this with lots of pockets (put it down to a high instep) , Seatec, stingray, gara modular, and to a much less annoying extent the Dessaults..

If i was able to dive without socks the old cressi pocket (2000 and 3000ld) worked fine for me.. however they're painfully tight with 3mm socks and so i had to start looking for wider pockets. I wanted to use the Gara modulars but the sizes are mad. Its like Cressi over compensated for all the people saying their pockets were to narrow. Even in a size down i couldn't use them. The sizes in the modulars do not correspond at all the rest of the cressi range so make sure you try them in the water before you buy.

I'd like to hear about the sporasubs as well. Im thinking i will make half foot pockets for the front of my feet and see how the spitfires go with 6mm on around my toes.

 

[Apneaddict]

Try the pathos foot pockets.

You can do a search here or check out the review on my blog.

They are likely the best foot pocket on the market and you can even use a hair dryer to get them to custom fit your foot.

They fit wide feet well and are the lightest on the market

 

[mrjomac]

Also heard good things about the pathos, but never tried them.

I am trying several footpockets at the mo and will probably be getting the Sporasub Spitfires.

I take a 44/45 shoe
The Gara Modular are at least 1 size bigger than molded cressi fin pockets.
I am currently using a 46/47 Gara Pro LD which fits great with a 3mm sock, just slightly loose with a 2.5 mm sock. I tried the Gara modulars yesterday and the 44/45 has just a slightly bigger fit than the 46/47 Gara Pro. The tendons on the Gara modulars are really stiff though so methinks I'd lose some of a good blade's flex and reactivity.

Omer Eagleray (same as Stingray??) 44/45 fit OK with a 2.5mm sock but was uncomfy at big toe/screw plate. Toes stick out the end of footpocket.

Also tried the Salvimar Delta one and wasn't really convinced.

My girl/buddy has the Sporasub spitfire lady 37/39 and they fit like a glove with a 2.5mm sock, she takes a 37/38 shoe so I'm gonna try the Spitfire 45/46. Have to get them online and see with a 2.5/3mm sock, nowhere to try them first round here.
The tendons of the Spitfire feel about the right rigidity, not over stiff and not floppy.
Imo the quality of the Sporasub footpocket is also better than any of the others I've tried, with cressi molded fin pockets coming a close second followed by the gara modular.

 

[jpma]

sorry for the extremely late reply.I've settled down with pathos foot pocket with 3mm sock, it is extremely comfortable and as mentioned above you can try hair dryer to improve fitting.

I'm using it for leisure dive and it feels like wearing shoes. The problem with pathos are you need to glue in the blade permanently and the ribs is very soft which to me is a good choice because does not constrict the flexion of the blade like my previous fins with stingray omer.

One more pathos are very suitable for wider feet. My feet is slightly narrower so I have to use socks to filled up the gap.
If you don't mind glueing your blade, then maybe consider pathos. They're very light too.

 

[FreeDivingJake]

The thing about Pathos is that the tendons are so thin they don't have quite enough support for a carbon blade, which can lead to breakage, see this thread... http://www.speardiver.com/fins-foot-pockets/3145-pathos-foot-pockets-review.html

Now, I have my own Pathos footpockets, so I'll speak from my experience. My initial impression was that they were the best footpockets I had ever tried. After a while I found them to be very uncomfortable, with or without a sock. The Pathos sizing is also weird, size 42/44 is a U.S. size 9/10... On most other Footpockets a 42/44 is 10/11. So watch out for that. If you can find a pair of old H Dessault footpockets that might be best, I've found those to be the most comfortable and all around solid footpocket I've tried.. But it seems you've chose the Pathos, not a bad choice, it's a good footpocket. But for me personally, I prefer something a little different. I do understand you can mold them a bit with a heatgun, I plan on doing that since they didn't seem to stretch very much on their own.

Jake