Monofin stiffness???

[Mermaid Magnolia]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about blade stiffness. I have seen several guides that say stuff like:
- If you are tiny / have low weight, pick soft blade stiffness
- If you are of average built, pick medium stiffness
- If you are tall and/or heavy, pick hard stiffness.

Ok. But. WHY? That is my question. Why shouldn't a small, skinny person pick hard stiffness if that person wanted tons of propulsion?

I am a speed demon and I want as much as propulsion as possible. I have medium height and weight. Should I, or shouldn't I pick (extra) hard stiffness, and why or why not?

Curious about what you all have to say!

 

[HLanger1955]

The "Freedivershop" (www.freedivershop.com) gives the following hints: < 65 (143 lbs) kg body weight : soft, or medium (soft), when you're in good shape. 65 - 90 kg (199 lbs) : medium (soft ), and hard when you're a good swimmer, over 90 kg they say go for hard. I'm 176 cm tall with a weight of 65 kg and I'm fine with a medium (soft) Waterway glide. On the whole the guys of the "Freedivershops" are right in my opion...

 

[HLanger1955]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about blade stiffness. I have seen several guides that say stuff like:
- If you are tiny / have low weight, pick soft blade stiffness
- If you are of average built, pick medium stiffness
- If you are tall and/or heavy, pick hard stiffness.

Ok. But. WHY? That is my question. Why shouldn't a small, skinny person pick hard stiffness if that person wanted tons of propulsion?

I am a speed demon and I want as much as propulsion as possible. I have medium height and weight. Should I, or shouldn't I pick (extra) hard stiffness, and why or why not?

Curious about what you all have to say!

I forgot : I think there's some physics behind. Beyond the issue of muscular strength, I think being a low weight guy it is easier to keep a good horizontal position with a soft blade. The undulating movement with a monofin causes a reaction - compensation -of your upper body. Thus, with a stiff blade it may be more difficult to control your position in water..

 

[Nathan Vinski]

I would say go as soft as possible.

I'm using a molchanovs level 1 stiffness and it's the most powerful monofin I've used.

My opinion is the same for bi fins. Hard stifnesses can replace good technique, for power, at the cost of being harder/ more tiring to use. If you have good technique and can generate power properly a soft fin(s) will be better.

I'm pretty sure alexey uses and recommends the softest stiffness as well if you ask for advice when buying the mono.

 

[Mermaid Magnolia]

Thanks guys, this has been very helpful! I won't ever pick a hard, then.

 

[penguinator]

I was also really torn between stiffness choice. I ended up getting a Molchanov 1.5 stiffness based on their recommendations (I'm 85kg, and a cyclist (big fat legs)).

 

[hteas]

Another factor is that using a fin that is too stiff will make you feel like you are going really fast, but you are in fact going slower. Pool work allows a diver to find out actual speed.

 

[Pesce]

There's one thing that hasn't been discussed and it's the use you plan with you mono. Hard monos are more for finswimming (races) while for dynamic/snorkeling you need soft blades. If you go for depth training, a bit stiffer blade than for the pool. And don't forget that each company has its own scale of stifness. What is hard in a maker X could be medium in maker Y