Ideal firmness/rigidity for a newbie?

[odd.i.c.]

Hi all!
I'm new to Deeper Blue and freediving and this is my VERY FIRST POST. I'm very glad this community exists! I'm taking my first freediving course (intermediate) in September. I'm VERY comfortable in and under the water and have my PADI open water cert. All this being said, I don't know anything about gear! I enjoy dolphin kick when snorkeling, so I think a monofin might be the way to go for me. I just don't know what level of firmness or rigidity I should be looking for. I think I should also mention that I'll probably only be investing in one fin to begin but that I would like to use it for competition as well as some recreation.
I think I'm going with a Waterway, but that's all I know. I would like to have a fin that would be appropriate for competition, but also not so difficult to use that it becomes discouraging (as it seems could happen from what I've read). Please help!
Thanks!!!!

 

[monkeyhatfork]

I am by no means a seasoned expert, but have been using monos a few monthes now and got a waterway1 medium about a month ago. I started with a much softer/smaller mono called a finis trainer which I used 4-5 days a week for a few months before I got my waterway. It helped me develope form and get used to the footpockets making the transition much easier. I can now use my waterway medium for hours and suffer non of the pain or cramping you normally hear about. I think it comes down to how much work you are willing to put in. If it's for competitons I would guess you would need at least a medium, your feet will likely cramp at first but if you put in the time after a month or so it becomes comfortable as your feet ajust to the workload. If its for occasional use I'd go with the soft, I would not recomend a stiff fin for a first fin, the medium provides more than enough power. It could also depend on your height, weight etc. if you are very thin/light you could use a soft for the same effect others might use a medium for.
Anyway this is just an observation of another new mono user, and I like the medium, hope any of this helps

 

[penguinator]

Learn from my mistake... do not get anything hard. If you have doubts, its better to be too soft rather than too hard. I ordered a carbon from sebak, with a 'hard' stiffness, and it is quite impossible for me to use (I am a complete beginner when it comes to mono). My next fin will definitely be a soft.

 

[Atlantis Fire]

I'm new, and I have never used a monofin, but I'm very experienced with bi fins, and I have a feeling that some of the same rules apply. For me, I've tried about half a dozen different fin designs, and it seems to me that the ideal stiffness really depends on your strength. The stronger you are, the stiffer fins you should use, depending on situation of course.

You could try out a pair of very junky, very hard plastic fins. Swim hard for an hour or so, and see what your muscles feel like. Don't kill yourself though. Then try a pair of cheap rubber ones. That's what I did to sort of get a feel for what was best for me. Just an idea....

 

[Erik]

Soft! Medium at the heaviest.

 

[odd.i.c.]

Hi All! Thanks for the advice. I'm going with the Waterway Nemo in a medium firmness. I've been told the Nemo has comfortable footpockets, which is a plus for a newbie like me. And I figure the medium firmness is a good way to go for a fin that I can keep using well into the future.

 

[goochi]

Hi There

It seems that there is a post in regard to monofin stiffness every couple of months. It is a good question for someone starting out as it can be an expensive mistake. I am up to my 3rd monofin for freediving and long distance swimming. Stiffness depends on intended use - sprinting = hard, long distance & general freediving = medium to soft. Be warned that different companies use different stiffness, a leaderfin medium maybe a Waterway firm. I would refer to 'Jon' dairyland diver, who is a DB mentor. He bought a Waterway Nemo firm and found that too hard. You may be better off with a soft option in this style of monofin. It can't hurt to follow him up as he is very approachable.
Cheers

Gooch