Help with footpockets

[RydDragyn]

I've already looked through the fin sizing thread, but didn't find any information specific enough to help my dilemma:

I don't live near a dive shop that sells freediving fins, and I have what I think are very unusual feet. They are very narrow at the ankle, but the point where the metacarpals meet the phalanges on the outer (pinky toe) side is extremely wide. I wear size 9-10 US shoes, with a width of a little more than 4 inches. See the attached photo to get a rough sense of the proportions (sorry if anyone thinks my feet are gross)
Does anyone on the board have feet similar to mine, and if so, what footpocket do you use? I've been strongly considering ordering either Beuchat or Picasso Black Team pockets, given what I've read about them, but I want to make sure...

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[octopus]

I guess my feet are not far off in shape. I find Cressi gara footpockets comfortable.
I can also recommend shoes Camper.

http://forums.deeperblue.net/bi-fins/63205-attaching-c4-blades-2.html

 

[rslomkow]

Your feet look similiar to mine.

I wear 10.5-11.5 (44 European) US (though my feet ar not that long) and at the wide point my feet are 4 1/4" wide, normal sized ankle and heel and medium high arch.

The best fin I have found for fit is the Cressi-Gara. I wear a 44-45 (US 10-11) and they fit perfectly snug barefoot.

I also have a pair 46-47 (US 12-13) for wearing with 3mm socks. I find them a bit tight around the ball of the foot and a bit loose in the heel, but quite usable for 2hrs.

I want to try appropriate sized Picassos. I have tried their largest size and it was way too big even with thick socks, but very wide and a low heel.

Omers for me have a loose heel and hard rubber in the heel that does not feel nice to me. My Sporasub H.R. Desaults are OK, but not as nice as the Cressis for comfort.

 

[deep thinker]

Hey you stole my feet rofl
http://forums.deeperblue.net/616615-post12.html
Picasso Black teams worked the best for me, nice wide pockets and you can change the blades. Dont wear em without socks though they make mean blisters prob cause theyre slightly loose when wearing them without. The garas was still a bit uncomfartable but they also say esclapez works well with our type of feet.

 

[RydDragyn]

Thanks everyone for their input so far. Right now I'm leaning towards the Picasso's because I dive in colder waters and will need to wear socks anyway.

So noone uses the Beuchats at all?

 

[Mr. X]

Hi, there is another current thread going on about spearo fins that you should read as it over laps this.

Yes, I use Beachat footpockets, my fins are Competitions and they fit great & they were considerably cheaper than the others. My feet are wide where yours are wide, although my heels are not narrow. I take size 46 (UK 9.5/10 USA 10/11 wide) -- I find European sizing more reliable (but not completely reliable) than UK & US sizes & the translation between these respective standards varies considerably. It sounds like your feet are a little smaller than mine.

For competitive freediving, you might want stiffer blades. Reading the other thread, though, it seems like Beuchat foot pockets have several satisfied customers on the forum. Actually, I haven't heard anyone complain about a fin yet -- it might be more useful if folk bitched about their gear a bit more. We are very lucky to have such a choice of excellent materials and equipment these days -- anything below par would likely die out quite quickly.