Hyperfin from Triton equipment

[Fondueset]

Yo. I've done quite a few dives now with my Triton. I don't have any more footage but the V bend does not ever seem to go beyond the shallow bend in the video. I've loaded and and kicked as hard as I can while watching the blade (not so easy!) and there is just not much V at all.

Now that my technique has come along it is unbelievable how much faster this fin is. At cruise it is completely impossible for my dive buddy with C4s to keep up. yesterday I did some close cruising along a breakwall and took some pictures while using the fin. It is not as comfortable as the fin-style pockets of the waterway nemo - but good for a couple of hours at least.

So far the best sock configuration seems to be turning my nylon out/open cell in socks inside out and using KY jelly on them. The biggest problem I've had has been getting the socks to slide in without wrinkling or scrunching my toes - the neoprene out trick seems to work nicely. I imagine smoothskin out socks would be even better.

If you are editing an existing message click go advanced and scroll down to where it says 'manage attachments' From there you can browse to the image file on your drive and upload it. Theres a size limit so you may need to resize the image if its too large.

 

[DivingDane]

Well worked out how to post photos, i have attached them to my previous post on page 4.

thanks guys.

will post how it goes in the water later today.

DD

 

[salibandy]

Oooh your fin looks pretty much like Fondueset's fin. But nice footpockets. Speckled and spotted.

 

[DivingDane]

Yeah i know it looks alot like fonduesets, which to e honest i am a little disappointed with (no offenece fondueset) i wrote max to find out why he made the fin different from yours, seeing as i asked for xactly the same fin he made for you??? havent heard back from him yet but will see what happens maybe there is a good reason.

on a higher note just got back from some pool training and the fin is MUCH better than the previous Waterway model 2 i've been using.

although i've only been playing with monos and still have a terrible technique iwas able to reduce the numer of strokes per 50m from 22-24 down to around 16 in just 45min of training with the new blade. so i think after i get used to the fin those numbers will continue to go down. the pockets fitted very well, only having to take my right foot out for a couple of minutes after 30min of use then back into training again.

and yes the foot pockets do look very cool only wish i had the cool batman wing to go with them, sigh...

not sure on V-bend yet, diving partner says he couldnt see any when i was doing my laps, but when i lay on my back and watch the fin i think i can see a bit of V-bend. will have to get some footage to make sure.

at the end of the day, the fin is still far better than anything else i have used so i'm still pretty happy, now just gotta get the technique right then look out PB's!

DD

 

[salibandy]

I think Fondue wanted an edge that was similar to mine too. I guess if the performance isn't affected, then it shouldn't matter too much, yeah?

I'm glad to hear that the fin is performing well for you. That's a pretty huge improvement from your previous mono. Impressive.

Pretty soon, everyone on the board will want one too, after seeing our reports. At least you got the speckled footpockets to make yours special.

Get some images of the v bend, or lack thereof, will you? Thanks mate.

 

[Fondueset]

I asked max about the diff - he said it had to do with the type of fiberglass. In my conversations with him I got the definite impression that his fins are made with pure performance in mind. From a sheer marketing standpoint I don't think he knows what he's got with those Wave style fins. They look really cool - though performance is probably the same - I'm sure he could sell a ton of them. The fins are also made for body-weight and height. Salibandy is very slight and it may be for us larger types the more traditional lamination is needed.
I noticed a similar change in number of undulations. I think I must use a lower amplitude/higher frequency kick in the pool though - mainly because I'm swimming under old folks in the slow lane - but also because I'm pretty strict about trying to have almost no knee bend. In any case I'm down to 2/3rds my previous with the hard waterway. In open water the difference is just incredible.

 

[salibandy]

I agree with you Fondue, the performance is probably the same. I also agree that maybe it has something to do with our measurements, as you say. He could probably sell more of the wave fins just based on looks though.

I got the cool fin.rofl

So far both types of fins haven't had any major issues. I know of another person ordering the fin. We'll see what she has to say about it as well.

But so far, the fin has been treating all of us great yeah? We're all well chuffed with the fins we have.

 

[Fondueset]

Its good to keep some superglue on hand - with these and pretty much any monofin. Its what they use to build them and there have been cases where the glue is bad for some reason. I had this happen on another brand monofin recently - it basically completely blew apart out in the middle of a small lake!.

My experience is limited but I would say Max is a very skillful fin builder. Mine fits perfectly and teh 'v-bend' seems just enough to help with directional stability. I also think it may actually be less with a harder kick - because the length-wise flexing of the blade strengthens it against bending along the edges.

This fin is very good at everything - slow undulations - slow swimming - but it really shines at high frequency/low amp - I fee like a torpedo!

 

[OceanMan]

Fin manufacturers often make waves when there is a split at the tip of the blade...

 

[DivingDane]

Hi Ocean Man

i dont think that is the case in these fins because the laminations are different aswell with salibandy's fin having wave shaped laminations verse fonduesets and mine having more tradional style straight laminations.

but both the material and lamination process are different between our fins so in effect Salibandy and i have 2 completely different monofins, but from the same maunfacturer which is pretty strange.

should hopefully have camera at training in the next couple of days so i will try and get some footage of the fin and we can discuss the Vbend issue. (if there is one).

Who you calling large Fondueset! i'm only 6'4" thankyou very much. hhahaha

but yes i am happy with the product, and it is improving my diving and at the end of the day that is what matters (still wish i had the wave though, Salibandy be careful i may have to fly to singapore and pinch it) mind you i havent compared it to any other Hyperstyle fin, that would be the major test.

DD

 

[Fondueset]

DivingDane, it's really not strange in the realm of monofins. I've seen threads about unannounced changes in the Waterway Glide and other fins. What we've got are really excellent custom hyperfins and a very good price!

 

[DivingDane]

No arguement there! the build quality is brilliant! and the attention to detail in fit of the foot pockets i am very happy with.

dont get me wrong it may sound like i am unhappy with the final product which isnt the case at all, with one brief training session i am already MUCH more effecient and that is simply to do with the fin. So as for that side of things there are no complaints.

like i said before the product i got was very different to what i ordered thats my only concern. so take that however you like i am just very much of the opinion that if you order something that is what you get, and if its going to be different then the customer should be advised first. that just comes from my backround in manufacturing and wholesale (mostly Spearfishing equipment, but thats another story)

it would be like ordering a Red Elios suit and recieving a green, it really doesnt make any difference to performance but its not the item you ordered.

So i will say it clearly so knowbody is confused, i am VERY happy with the quality and performance of my mono it is without doubt the best fin i have used in my limited monofinning career.

i did not mean to offend anybody or give anybody the wrong idea about the product. so my apologies.

DD

 

[salibandy]

I've got my mono secured under lock and key. Now you can't get to it. Muhahaha!

OceanMan, no my fin is not wave shaped because of a manufacturing error. As DD said, the laminations are wave shaped. (Thanks for standing up for me!)

Moral of the story is, we all got wonderful monos at a lovely price through an incredibly nice and patient guy and we want to share our good fortune with everyone.

 

[Fondueset]

DivingDane - Just to elaborate ad absurdum The impression I got from Max is that in his mind the type of Fin is a Hyperfin. Unless you specifically requested wave laminations - which I did not - he's going to build you a hyperfin based on your build and experience and the best materials he has available. Thats what he built for Salibandy - whos fin is too soft for me so I have recalled my Yakuza theft team. After I sell the rest of my children I may order another fin from Max and specify the wave pattern.

I think if Max started marketing 'The Wave' he could do really well just based on how cool it looks. But I also think he thinks of these fins purely in terms of quality and performance - and not so much how cool they look.

 

[salibandy]

Here there aren't Japanese Yakuza, it's the Chinese Triads. Haha.

You will never get to my fin. NEVER I say! Muhahahaha!

Jeez man, how many kids do you have? A soccer team?

 

[OceanMan]

OceanMan, no my fin is not wave shaped because of a manufacturing error. As DD said, the laminations are wave shaped. (Thanks for standing up for me!).

Well, not that I want to insist, but many monofins have wave shape laminations.
When you receive a fin with a split at the tip, the manufacturer often tells you to cut a wave shape (depending on the size of the split). It's a well known fact in finswimming.
Now, what do I know ? Yours may have been wave shaped intentionally.

 

[salibandy]

Well, it came like this. As you can see, the laminations are waves. While you may be right about how other monos, I don't think that's the case with my fin.

 

[DivingDane]

Damn that fin is sexy! no more teasing Salibandy. hahaha

still havent got a camera onto the fin yet but used it in training last night then swapped back to my WW, lets just say its safe to say that the waterway will NEVER be going back on my feet again it is now relogated to lending duties.

i figured i would compare the 2 side by side and its like driving an old 60's muscle car (WW) its fast but ruff and not very effecient and then getting into an Audi R8 (Hyperfin) it fits like a glove, silky smooth power delivery and great control.

these 2 fins really do show the evolution that monofins have gone through.

On a side note i also spoke to max in regards to why my fin was different to Saliandy's, due to my hight and relatively low weight but LARGE feet he needed to use a different fibreglass and production methed to get a fin that would flex correctly (which it really does) rather than sart with a sheet of fibreglass and machining away material he laminated extra fibreglass in different thicknesses along the blade to create the desired blade therefore the wave shape was not suitable for my body type. so i am very happy with the explanation and cn confidently say MAX knows his stuff when it comes to monofins and building them for a specific body type.

 

[Fondueset]

Glad you have made peace with your fin. I had mine out yesterday for a couple of hours photographing local underwater types. I once again had the peculiar experience of fish following my fin around on the surface - this time Freshwater Drum instead of Carp. The last couple of dives I've been more in my photo mode - not so much cruising or sprinting - but mostly down and up with long, stationary dives. The fin is great across the whole range of swimming styles but for sure cruising and sprinting are the most fun.

 

[DivingDane]

Yeah i'm just a picky bastard! mind you i'll have to give it to ADR and Watts when i'm down the coast and see what they say! they are the real test (alot more experience than i) however i WILL be watching the fin every second when ADR has it, never know what kinda frankenstein like modifications he would want to do!

have just been made aware of a fresh water lake not to far from my place which had a 65m bottom! so going to suss it out today, i may finally have found a reliable deep diving training location! yeah. the reef is great b ut very hard to find deep water without going a LONG way off shore (40miles +) and then you have to deal with current and weather.

so hopefully this lake will be freedive friendly.

DD