Monofin Poll - PLEASE PARTICIPATE!!

[Fondueset]

I've been working with Tropol giving them feedback on freediving fin design. They are kind of new to the freediving market - having built mostly fins for finswimming.

I'd like to get some opinions about what everyone looks for in a freediving fin.

Roughly there are three categories:

Recreational

Competition - Dynamic

Competition - Constant

I'd like to get opinions about:

Blade hardness

Blade Size

Blade Angle

Buoyancy

For the above 3 categories. Also - what are your priorities - what do you look for in a fin?

You can check my Tropol Monofin post for info about what their current fin looks like. I know some have suggested a 30% angle for the blade - but if you look at the diagrams in that thread - the current angle - which is basically the same as my other 'hyper' style fins - is measured by Tropol to be only 15degrees (whereas other manufacturers might call it anything from 23 to 27) My concern is that doubling the angle may actually create drag - similar to what we saw with the Lunocet. - Anyway - fire away! I'm just gathering at this point.

 

[Fondueset]

also - here is Lubos Polak's direct email - he makes the blades and designed the fin.

l.polak@tropol.cz

 

[ericvrp]

Hi,

This is how I measure the footpocket angle with dvd covers.
Eric van Riet Paap - Just an intermediate step: Monofin footpocket angle

cheers,
Eric

 

[DivingDane]

constant weight: medium stiff blade, with little or no V bend. neutral bouyancy, incompresssable pockets so that there are no changes in depth, 22-25degree angle no more (my back isnt flexible enough to drive any more angle) colour dont care, material dont care as long as it is efficient.

dynamic: pretty much my triton Hyperfin, comfortable but very solid pockets, soft blade, good angle and a bit of floatation to make the recovery stroke easier.

recreational fin: 20 degree angle built into the actual blade (like bifins) not in the footpocket, comfortable left/right footpockets with water direction rails down the sides. medium/soft blade good for cruising and playing around in 20-30m. this fin would be fibreglass not carbon mainly so that it can be bashed around a bit. very similar to the Leaderfins freediving Sport carbon, but with hyper style pockets and t shaped water rails.

DD

 

[Lil Dragonfly]

What's finswimming?

 

[Tony Babowicz]

What's finswimming?

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mfB_lqhc5g]YouTube - Finswimming[/ame]
Watch this video. It shows some real good finswimmers.