Leaderfins - "Omer" & "Freediver"

[t-m-d]

Hey...

I am planning to buy one of these monofins:

Leaderfins "Freediver"

http://www.leaderfins.com/cgi-bin/form.cgi/63eng?id=200&tm=1166189416

Leaderfins "OMER"

http://www.leaderfins.com/cgi-bin/form.cgi/63eng?id=255&tm=1166189416


But I have no experince in monofins (this is my first) so I would be glad to get some advice.

I have chosen to get a monofin with omer-footpockets since I'm more a recreational freediver than a competitor (so no need for super-power-fins). Since I heard that the omer-fottpockets should make life much more easier (comfy) that's why I chose to get one of these (please comment if I'm wrong).



As far as I have understood the "Freediver" model has an angle blad as opposed to the "Omer" model. The "Omer" model has wings though.

Anyone used these fins before?! And how important is the angle blade?! Which one is "better"?!

Thanks,
Toni

 

[SanderP]

Well, I guess it really depends which one do you think is more important...

Like you said, one has wings and doesn't have the angle and the other one has an angle but doesn't have wings.

I think I'd choose the "Freediver" model becouse of the angle. The angle helps to keep your knees more straight and for most it's easier to swim. And many say wings aren't that useful. So it's really up to you.

The best solution would be, ofcourse, a monofin with an angle AND wings.

 

[Fondueset]

They make such a model - I think it is just called wings.

 

[monofin_diva]

they have a model with the angle and wings.. it's the "wings* model.

it's the one i'm ordering myself (FINALLY) for xmas.

http://www.leaderfins.com/cgi-bin/form.cgi/63eng?id=199&tm=1166207317

also, you may want to contact ivan.. he's on the forums. i dont know if you're in the US or not, but he's the US representative for leader.. his screen name here is asturven.

i know someone that got the *wings*model here and he likes it for the most part.

as far as tips for using a monofin, it was my first introduction to swimming. just make sure someone is in the pool with you. it may be awkward to you at first, whenever i let someone try my fin they usually go under quickly and end up trying to kick the fin off and i have to come in and help them.

if you can dolphin kick then you'll love a mono- plus the speed it gives you and more efficiency!

i hope this helps.

but contact ivan, he can help you pick the proper fin and hardness. he helped the other person i know here to pick their fin and we've spoken before. he's very helpful

 

[demasoni]

Hi t-m-d,

I have the Leaderfins Freediving with wings mono in soft stiffness. This is the first mono I have bought and like Monofin Diva stated, I'm quite happy with it. I bought it from Ivan (Astruven) and he was great to deal with.

I have tried a mono without an angled blade and the angle on mine makes swimming (especially) on the surface easier and more comfortable. The OMER pockets are great, work well, and they're extremely comfortable. You can wear them for hours on end in the ocean. If you can, make sure you try some OMER pockets somewhere first to determine the right size for a good, snug, but not too tight fit. For example, I have a US 9 foot, and wear a 40-42 (US 7-9) pocket and my three longest toes peek out of the front of the pocket.

True, your foot won't be as snug in an OMER pocket as it would be in an open-heel mono, but the OMER is more comfortable and you can help fill out the extra "dead space" by wearing socks (I wear 2mm socks).

I chose the soft stiffness as I personally don't like hard fins and I'm not that big of a guy - 140lbs, 5' 7". So far I don't have any problems getting back up from depth - still working on refining the technique though! :head

The wings seem to stabilize the fin, especially for dynamics in the pool. It does add weight to the fin, but I don't notice the weight in the ocean.

Hope this makes sense, good luck with your purchase.

 

[t-m-d]

Thanks for all the answers! It has really been helpfull!

The only reason why I didn't choose the "Wings" model right away is the price :head

I have one more question though. I'm quite uncertain about which size to choose (as many others are in these forums). Since I have a foot size 41 I would think that a omer-footpocket size 40-42 should be the right one. But I have a Sporasub pocket on my long-fins in the same size 40-42 and it's HUGE (leaderfins told me the Sporasub pocket is quite similar to omer)! Since I would like to use the fin without socks I'm not shure what size would be best.

Should I pick the 38-40 omer for my monofin or should I pick 40-42?!?!? I'm affraid the smaller size will be to small, but then I'm afraid I will have to use socks all the time if I choose the larger one.

And is it even possible/reasonable to use the fins without socks?!?! Or will this be painfull?

// Toni

 

[Fondueset]

The Spora foot pockets are boats compared with the Omers. It depends how huge - but my feet sloshed around in my sporas - but Omers the same size are perfect. It would be idea if you could find some to try on. I allways were 5 or 3 mil socks, of course. In my research I've opted for comfort and ease of use over efficiency - so I'll be getting the wings model with the omer pockets on a distance fin (soft). I can allways get a more efficient fin later.

 

[Zaboez]

According to Leaderfins these wings do not give any advantages. I consider, that monofin only it becomes heavier also all. About a angle the same.

 

[uw_ikarus]

Hi T-m-d,

I can only undesscore what demasoni states. I got a medium stiffness which is comfortable anyway. For my foot-size of 41 the OMER foot-pockets "S" are fine (no socks). In doubt ask the Leaderfin guys for more help...

Good luck, have fun !

 

[t-m-d]

Hey UW_IKARUS!

Your post is really helpfull but one thing just confused me. You write you have a foot size 41 (the same as me), but you write that your monofin is size "S". On LeaderFins.com they write that "S" size equals foot size 36 (???)

What size monofin do you have?! And should I get a "L" = 40-42?!

Eager to hear the answer, since this is the last doubt about size I have....

Best regards,
Toni

 

[uw_ikarus]

Hi t-m-d

Well, I found a number 38-40 on the foot-pockets of my monofin. Sorry for misleading you, normally this is adressed to as "S" (at least for males), but seems that for leaderfins "S" corresponds to 36. So the next higher number may do it. Don't forget, I use the fin with no socks

 

[uw_ikarus]

OOppps. my last post was for Toni...

 

[t-m-d]

For those that wonder, if the fin I finally ordered, made me happy:

I bought a "Leaderfins Freediver" model
I chose the size 38-40 even though my feet normally use size 41.
I chose to get ekstra wings and protection.

Here is the fin:

http://www.t-m-d.dk/privat/Leaderfins_freediver.jpg

As you can see, ordering a fin with extra protection and (small) wings results in a fin with huge wings Actually the wings I got are bigger than the "Leaderfins Wings" model. And as an extra neat bonus it has these nice three funky looking small wings on top of the blade.

The size i chose was the right choice. I wanted to use the fin bare footed and this is what it's really good for. It fits prefectly on my feet and after just three practices I don't feel any unconfortability at all! Since I HATE socks and I swim mostly in the pool the choice of size was good.

All in all I'm really happy for my new fin and I must thank MAKSIM a lot for being so helpfull and kind. He was the Leaderfin guy I was in contact with when asking about it and ordering it. THANK YOU!

Since this is my first fin, I cannot say if it's better than other fins. But I can say, that the service from Leaderfins was perfect and the fin is very comfortable.

And of course lots of thanks to all the people in this forum, that helped me with all their good advices!!

Best regards,
Toni

 

[SanderP]

Maksim is indeed a great guy, I've talked to him on phone about their different monofins a few times.

I'm sure you made the best possible choice (to get the wings also). Congratulations on your new fin and good luck diving with it!

 

[kkdavids]

I will certainly second the Maksim comment, as being the UK rep for leaderfins i have many dealings with him

i would like to add that going for the size smaller that you would normally with the omer foot pocket, seems to work out about right

 

[uw_ikarus]

Seems that the Omer footpockets tend to be oversized: Similar to Toni my footpockets are labelled as "38", whereas my standard size is 40-41. My Cressi Gara 3000 (I hate socks) are labelled indeed as 40-42 (phew, some confusion around). Bah !!