Glide fin - what size of footpockets?

[stefanoff]

I've decided it's time to switch to a hyper monofin and now I’m considering buying a WW Glide fin and I’m close to the end of the buying process
I am thinking of ordering a soft blade with 30 degrees angle . I still don’t know what footpocket to order (260 or 290). My foot is exactly 270 mm (my shoes are 42,5 EUR size)….which is closer to 260 than 290mm.
My feet got used to tight footpockets - I have a Russian monofin, similar to WW MD1 - at first I couldn't wear it for more than 10 minutes, now I can 'endure' much longer.
What do you think - would 260mm be too tight for me (well, this is a performance fin, comfort comes second, but...) or I'd better take the 290mm?
Thanks for your responses!

Lubo

 

[monkeyhatfork]

depends on whether you want to wear socks or not and what thickness. I ordered a size up on my glide and it fits snug with 3mil socks. but if you want a dedicated performance fin for just the pool I would go with the smaller size, everyones feet are different and usually don't qiute conform to the manufacturers sizes so its a hard call to make ideally try to find someone with a glide to try it. I would also discuss it with waterway when you order they might be able to help with your choice, especially since your ordering a custom fin.

 

[cal]

Hi stefanoff

I have two different WW Glides with both 290mm footpockets. My feet are 41.5 eropean size. I would go for the 290mm footpockets unless you are realy familiar with very tight footpockets. Experience also tells that every glide has a bit different footpockets (since they are handmade) which is the reason why I have two of them...

have fun, Michi

 

[trullalla]

stefanoff

my feet are size 39 and i fit in a 260 (and it feels nicely tight).

the new footpocket models (they changed the design around 8 months ago) are slightly wider in the lower foot and slightly narrower in the bridge area. and they are also slightly shorter than my fin.

you would die in a 260. go for the 290! (we sell quite a few monofins in our freediving shop, trust me!)

hope it helps

linda

 

[stefanoff]

Thank you all for the replies! Well, it seems clear - a 290 mm will be fine for me.
Linda, I'll listen to your advice. (I used to rock climb with 39,5 EU size climbing shoes and the best moment I had on the cliffs was when I took them off... I definitely won't do that with a monofin!

Lubo

 

[apneaboy]

I'm in a 42. I have the 260mm and they are pure pain after about 20 mins (was 10 mins when I first got them). IMPOSSIBLE to get on with no lube. Good performance though.

The 290mm move a bit when i'm swimming in bare feet, I can feel them slushing about, I know 'cos i've tried my friends but his is comfy and I can get it on with no lube. Loss of feeling of the water and power.

I think your half way between i'm afraid. So your options

Socks, comfort and duration 290mm
Pain, pain and performance and a good lube 260mm One problem though is that if your feet are slightly wider than mine you just couldn't wear them.

Can you get to try someones on somewhere first?

Linda do you know a reliable way of stretching the pockets without damaging the integrity or the glue? Cheers

 

[stefanoff]

I think your half way between i'm afraid.

Can you get to try someones on somewhere first?

Trying before buying is best, but there aren't many monofin freedivers in Bulgaria and I don't plan traveling in the next few months. Still, I can ask for advice on DB - and that's a pretty good option.
Who knows, someday Bogdan might start making 270 or 280 which will be perfect for my case...

 

[trullalla]

Linda do you know a reliable way of stretching the pockets without damaging the integrity or the glue? Cheers

i don't think you can stretch rubber really...with the use at depth it would compress alittle bit so you could have a little bit more space for your foot inside, but nothing would change with the length...
what i did once (and i wouldn't do it again) when i was being shipped a 240 (way to small for me) is to open the heel straps on both sides and re-glue them bigger. it was a real pain, but it worked. if you have some time to waste you can do that
or otherwise next time you can ask bogdan not to glue the straps and leave them open so that you can choose the length yourself. but keep in mind that glue these things is not that easy.

linda

 

[apneaboy]

Thanks, yeah the are a pain especially if you glue them wrong first time and have to do it again!.

The length of mine is okay. The girth makes it a bit tight.
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[dimitris33]

Hi,

Instead of openning a new thread I would look for a response on this.

My shoe size is 41.

I have a Nemo monofin (41-43 size and fits perfectly with a 5mm socks) and want to switch to the Glide.

After looking the waterway's catalog i've noticed that there are two models:

1) Glide Monofin (the yellow one)
2) Glide Fin (the black one)

The Glide Monofin 40-41size is for 260mm whilst the Glide Fin 40-41size is for 290mm...

So, I'm a bit confused...

Whats the difference between the two models???????

What size should I go for?????

Does the color makes any difference??? (btw I like the black one most)

thanks

 

[trullalla]

dimitris,
black glides have slightly bigger footpockets because they are for freedivers, while yellow glide are made for finswimmer and therefore have a tighter/smaller footpocket.
if you want the black glide you should go for the 290.

 

[dimitris33]

Thank you Trullalla,

Would like to have at least three responses from Glide users about the correct pocket size.

I've got one for 40-42 290mm

Two more are missing.

Come on guys!

 

[Ulf]

I have shoe-size 42-43 and my glide is size 290 finswimmers version. This is a very nice size for performance but it get uncomfortable after a while...

That size should work for you too...probably...but if you go for the freediver version you might like 260 mm if you want a very tight fit.
It depends on what you want to use the fin for and if your feet are flat or high...I have quite flat feet and can use slightly smaller footpockets than other people with the same shoe-size.

/Ulf L

 

[dimitris33]

I dont dive deep. I mostly like long surface swims for warm up/built flexibility and i'm recently trying to make dives hands free equilized using BTV, so, my dive area is limited to maximum 15-20 meters..

I'm not planning to use Glide on competitions (its not my level!) so I prefer to fit tight and comfortable but not too tight or loose.

My session duration at sea is usually about 1 to 3 hours.

Hope these elements helps to give me a good advice about the correct size.

 

[monkeyhatfork]

I have 9.5 shoe size u.s. and have the 330 glide pocket size, I think with these pockets the shape of your foot is more important than the size, my feet are not big but I have high arches so the front of the pocket will be too roomy but it will squeeze very tight at the entrance so I wear half socks to keep my toes from moving around and it fits tight. I,ve had mine over a year now and still have to take it off after about 45 min to let my feet circulate and after 1-2min I can put it back on and go another 45 min. I love this fin and it performs great but I'm now looking for something else for open water that I can use for longer time.

 

[nostres]

my dive area is limited to maximum 15-20 meters..

I'm not planning to use Glide on competitions (its not my level!) so I prefer to fit tight and comfortable but not too tight or loose.

My session duration at sea is usually about 1 to 3 hours.

Dimitris

If You dive 20m why would You need Glide?

Secondly, You wouldn't last one hour in it. For 3 hour session
You need "recreational" fin, if You want something better than Nemo
it should be as comfy as Nemo.


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[monkeyhatfork]

forgot to mention I have the black glide

 

[dimitris33]

Got the point...

Better to stay on Nemo then and save my money. I thought that Glide was like in Nemo in comfort (considering using the right footpocket size, not too tight not too loose) but with better performance.

Seems that Glide is strictly for competition level rather than recreational freediving and long surface monofinswimming for training.

True?

 

[nostres]

True

Glide is high performance fin mostly used for max attempt
or competition but far from Nemo comfort-wise

Did You look at
LeaderFins.com

probably better choice for You
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[monkeyhatfork]

keep in mind the glide fin was invented for finswimming not freediving so its acceptable for training finswimming just dont count on comfort over long duration my glide is very comfortable for 20-25 min then the pain starts and gradually builds till I take it of, I don't know if finswimmers feel the same pain or if they train so much they somehow get past it?