Purchasing my firs monofins

[Grummy]

Hi folks, I am preparing to purchase my first monofin and I am looking for some guidance. While Price is an object I am not looking for a barging basement fin either. I have been diving with Waterway Bi-fins for 7-8 years and really like them for hunting. I am looking to start diving a monofin to greater pursue the artistic side of freediving. While deep diving is not my first goal it is something I want to pursue in the future. I don’t necessarily want to start using a monofin for hunting I just want to use them to go out and swim.
I am looking for some guidance in terms of a good starter fin and some pointers on getting started. I have looked at; Leader Hyper, Special Fin dolphin FRD and Waterways glide. I have by no means ruled out other brands or models, these are just ones I found that I like.
Any assistance would be appreciated

 

[monkeyhatfork]

if you are looking for instant fun without having to work much at it and easiest transition from your bi-fins go with waterway nemo(a plus that you will allready know your pocket size) or similar, they are weak in comparison to a glide or even model 1 but they are fine for recreational diving, I have a glide and love it, nothing beats the hyper type fins for performance and efficiency but they require good technique to get the most out of them and will take you some time getting used to the footpockets, you could also go the oldschool route and get a model1, this is your cheapest option and while they are no longer the fashion they have taken divers too depthes over 100m and 200m distance in pool so there is nothing wrong with going oldschool. I tend to go with waterways cause its so easy to order through PFI or FII click paypal and they handle any issue, they can also help with sizing, stiffness etc. Otherwise I think the tropols look very good

 

[Kajojek]

Yes, I also recommend you something from waterway. I recently got Model 1 and am fully satisfied with it. The foot pockets are pretty comfortable and the performance is pretty good too, definitely better than most bi fins. Like Monkeyhatfork said, fins like glide are amazing but it takes lots of practicing and they won't be as comfortable.

 

[Fondueset]

Another vote for the Nemo - best entry-level recreational fin. Very sturdy and the bifin footpockets are an easy transition. If you're rollin' in dough the C4 monoflap is another killer option.

 

[Grummy]

Thanks for the input. I had not giver much attention to the nemo but it looks like what I set out to get. I have dealt with PFI before and given the opportunity I would gladly give them my business. As for the C4 monoflap, it may be where I end up but I am still in the training wheels stage. I will probably be ordering a fin in the next week. Looking forward to monofinning in the new year.
Thanks again

 

[JennyWren]

I've got a Nemo too, love it. Soooooo comfortable, I love diving in it.

 

[Kars]

I've myself started with a WaterWay Classic fin, Model 2, medium distance. Since a few years I got a Hyperfins, a hyperfin style torpedo footpocket style monofin.
As what to recommend, well that's not that easy, depends on how certain you feel you want to monofin, how much you like it. To me monofinning feels very natural, diving with bifins actually feels a kind of weird now I think about it

Anyway if you feel uncertain I recommend a second hand WaterWay Classic or Nemo fin. Go with a soft (er) blade. In the beginning you'll need time to learn the coordination and that is much more difficult when you're muscles are working on full power.
Have also some smaller bi-fins to learn (normal snorkel fins are fine) to warm up, to learn the techniques etc. Actually at the monofin club we trained for 1 hour and of that was 40minutes with the bifins!

Buy a monofin snorkel too.

After 6 months or a year your technique and muscles have developed, you may have saved up some cash, you may have tested some other fins, new fins may be ready (I feel much for the upcoming Tropol freediving fin). But more importantly you've a much better feel for what you really want in a fin.

I still have my WW classic fins, and they are still very nice, and when I go to pool I'm happy to invite people to try my record breaking fins, after all did some depth records with my first fin!

My diving buddy also started and swam with my classic fins, for about 12 months and bought a WW glide 30 degree strength 2 (1 - soft / 5 - Stiff ). She has now taken it over 150m, surpassing her teacher

I hope these comments are useful to you, happy new year!

Love, Courage and Water,

Kars

 

[Fondueset]

I agree with Kars - soft fin - medium at most. The Nemo runs stiff so I would go soft for starters. Things you will find in the world of monofins are durability and comfort - many fins are lacking both! My Tropol is the only hyper-style fin I've used that never causes me pain. The nemo may be uncomfortable at first - your feet will fight with eachother! - but you will adjust and then it is very nice. I wore mine over 6 hours continuously on several occassions.

Kars- bifins seem really gross to me any more - I'd rather go without!

 

[DivingDane]

Agreed go traditional stylen fin or Nemo first, i used a friends model to a couple of times and went out and bought a Triton Hyperfin first up and i regret it.... i LOVE the fin but i never gave myslef the oportunity to learn the CORRECT technique first (which is only really doable with a traditional style fin) as the Hyper stabilisation i feel helps keep your techniue stable so i have come to rely on that.

now presently going back to the beginning with LITTLE rubber swim fins to refine my technique and train the specific mucle groups for mono technique, THEN i'm going back to a traditional fin (Triton Monofin) then back to my hyper before going for some PB depths inEgypt.

anyway sorry for going off tangent but my vote is for a Classic fins like WW Model 1 LD etc.

DD

 

[Aldan]

I've got Nemo from WW and besides it is a good value for any monofin beginner, it is also great for swimming pool practise in my opinion. You can wear them an hour with no pain at all. However not the best option for competitions, less powerful than Glide or similar. All guys I know use Glide for competitions.