This may be obvious to most on this forum but for those beginners looking to buy here are a few observations regarding open heel vs closed heel free diving fins.
A brief back ground will help, I dove for years (scuba and “free diving”) with Jet style open heel fins (White Stag Hydrostreams), about 10 years ago I bought a pair of open heel Cressi-Sub Garas and they became my primary fin for all diving except Tech. I was in a new world, I was amazed at how much better I moved through the water compared to the “jet” fins, although I always noticed some foot cramping when I was in the water for extended times.
Then about 2 years ago I found an old pair of H Dessaults full foots at a marine flea market and started using them just for swimming, when they failed I bought a new pair of Sporasub H Dessaults full foot and in the last year they gradually became my primary fin (with a 1 mil sock). Why? They just seemed more comfortable then the open Gara’s.
Now for the point of this dissertation, as stated I have now used full foot fins exclusively for a better part of 2 years now. This Saturday I had to take my Sporas into my LDS for warranty issue so I was left with my Gara’s. Got up this morning for a swim, grabbed the Gara’s and booties and headed for the beach. Hit the water and immediately felt the difference, did not have near the control or power transfer with these fins. Heel felt like it was flopping around. The cramping came back almost right away. All in all it felt like some thing was “broken”. I could not believe how much different the full foot fins were compared to my open heel fins. Then only positive I found with my old Cressi Subs were that it was easier to get in and out of them. That was it!
John
A brief back ground will help, I dove for years (scuba and “free diving”) with Jet style open heel fins (White Stag Hydrostreams), about 10 years ago I bought a pair of open heel Cressi-Sub Garas and they became my primary fin for all diving except Tech. I was in a new world, I was amazed at how much better I moved through the water compared to the “jet” fins, although I always noticed some foot cramping when I was in the water for extended times.
Then about 2 years ago I found an old pair of H Dessaults full foots at a marine flea market and started using them just for swimming, when they failed I bought a new pair of Sporasub H Dessaults full foot and in the last year they gradually became my primary fin (with a 1 mil sock). Why? They just seemed more comfortable then the open Gara’s.
Now for the point of this dissertation, as stated I have now used full foot fins exclusively for a better part of 2 years now. This Saturday I had to take my Sporas into my LDS for warranty issue so I was left with my Gara’s. Got up this morning for a swim, grabbed the Gara’s and booties and headed for the beach. Hit the water and immediately felt the difference, did not have near the control or power transfer with these fins. Heel felt like it was flopping around. The cramping came back almost right away. All in all it felt like some thing was “broken”. I could not believe how much different the full foot fins were compared to my open heel fins. Then only positive I found with my old Cressi Subs were that it was easier to get in and out of them. That was it!
John
