Special Fins Hard Blade

[island_sands]

Well i was trying out my new SF Hard blade this weekend, find them very hard in the foot pockets... quite tough going in comparison to my Europalmus.

Is it because I just need to get used to them.. will my feet become "flexible"?

 

[Tbird]

I have the same fin and also find it tough on the feet. However you get used to it though you probably can't ever imagine that happening right now. Essential is wearing neoprene socks to prevent blisters. For CW and dynamic I find the fin just terrific.

 

[Jon]

I found that it depends upon what foot pockets you have them mounted in. An OMER foot pocket seemed to make the blade stiffer and a Sporasub pocket made the blade a bit softer.

Jon

 

[samdive]

which foot pockets do you have? the wrap around ones like the waterway fins or the hard, foot shaped one like on a regular fin?

I had the hard regular fin type ones first and hated them - I eventually swapped my fin. I now have a Special Fin Dolphin with a hard blade and waterway style wrap around pockets which I love.

I sometimes get foot cramps but find doing some stretches just curling up my feet and sitting on them before I put my fin on helps. Anything that curls up the arch of the foot. I have ridiculously high arches so it helps with rubbing if they are a bit stretched out first too.

I know other people also had problems with the hard foot pockets - one thing you can do is cut/file them down a bit so they don't rub on your ankles. Mandy Rae did it to hers so maybe she can show you in Hawaii - if that is what you have.

S

 

[kelsea]

Hi there
Nice to hear comments on SF mono's as I have just ordered the Monofin Colored & also had concerns about the foot pocket.. Am interested to hear what model you have & how it goes in pool training?
See you in Hawaii! I am also there for the PFI Intermediate Course. Really looking forward to meeting other fellow fishes ><))> Should be a blast!!

 

[island_sands]

HI.. sorry didn't see the replies to this!

The foot pockets already came with the blade so i am not sure what make they are... to be honest the material of the foot pocket around the ankle is soft. Its the underside part of your foot that feels like i am finning on a concrete block. The blade itself is great, although it's half the size of my europalmus?

Will take it down to the pool again this weekend and feel it out.

 

[Jon]

Sam,

A couple of questions for you. When you talk about Mandy's fin, do you mean her fin with the OMER footpockets on it? Also, are you now using the S.F. mono like Martin has- with their version of an open-heel pocket on it? What kind of time are you talking about wearing it for comfort- minutes or hours?

The reason I ask is that I've got a S.F. mono with the omer pockets on it and I can wear the thing for over 4 hours without any discomfort. I also have a Waterway, which is a faster fin, but the footpockets are so painful I can only wear it for a few mintues at a time. I'm wondering about getting a new set of footpockets for it and gluing them onto the blade.

Thanks,

Jon

 

[samdive]

well I guess I like the ones you hate and vice versa. I had the blue fin on your picture and HATED the foot pockets - I found them really stiff and they bit into my ankle bone. Now I have a Specialfins Dolphin which is more like the waterway on the left - but then I started out with waterways fins and went through the pain barrier with them years ago - now I can wear it for hours but it did take some getting used to - as do most people I think. Worth it if you can be bothered with the pain! But if you like the Omer pockets - stick with them

 

[Jon]

Sam,

I get some foot pain across the top of my feet, but I get that with my bi-fins as well if they have OMER pockets on them. Sporasub's would have been a better choice for my foot- but then some people like Addidas while others where Nike. :hmm

Did you find the Specialfins pockets to be more comfortable than the Waterway? I still thinking about switching out the foot pockets. The Specialfins is much more comfortable to wear, but the waterway fin allows me to do a quicker dynamic with less effort- even if it does hurt my feet more. I don't want to just sell off the fin, but would rather experiment on it to make it work.

Jon

 

[Donna]

Ouch Jon! I have the SF like yours, and although its fine across my feet, after a while it hurts just under my ankle bone - it rubs and feels bruised. I need to 'shave' the foot pocket but have heard horror stories about wrecking the footpocket if you do it wrong! Its the same problem Sam had with hers I think..the footpocket is too high for our delicate little feet

If you do change the pockets, please post how you get on, it might be an option for me to, as like you, I like the fin, but the pain it causes after a while puts me off using it!

Donna

 

[island_sands]

ouch !! i have a blister as well but from my europalmus...

i wouldn't even know how to change the foot pockets without trashing the fin

 

[Donna]

neither would I - but I'll get Martin to do it, that way I can blame him if it goes wrong

 

[samdive]

the pockets on my Specialfin are lined with neoprene which does make them more comfortable - you could try glueing some inside yours and see if that helps - should def help the blisters

do you wear socks? I always do - half socks in the pool and full ones in the lake so that helps

 

[Jon]

I acutally have a "sock system" that I wear with my monofin. I wear a nylon biking sock as a base layer and put a 3mm wetsuit sock over the top. I've found that I get fewer blisters this way compared to just wearing a single 3mm, or 5mm, sock. This works out ok if I plan on doing a long surface swim or some long swims in the pool. If I am just diving for fun, like on a wreck, I wear a single 5mm sock and don't have any probelms with blisters.

Sam, Do you like the S.F. mono pockets better than the Waterway, or is it that they both are more comfortable for you than the OMER pockets?

I tried a Finis monofin on at the pool the other day and thought that their pockets were much more comfortable than my waterway pocket, but wasn't sure if I wanted to buy one of their fins just to rip the pockets off- a local swim shop had a sale on some of their models which are meant for butterfly training and wouldn't work at all for freediving. Still, it gave me the idae to put a different pocket on the fin.

Are you using 3mm socks in the winter time? I would freeze if I wore anything less than a 5mm around here in winter.

I wouldn't be too afraid of doing a little bit of slicing on an exisiting footpocket- as long as you go slow, cut a little bit at a time, and use a sharp knife. I have no problems with the OMER pockets on my ankles, just across my fore-foot. I have the same problems with them on my bi-fins as well.


Jon

 

[iceselkie]

Jon, are you talking about the Finis footpockets with the adjustable straps? i saw finis has a fibreglass monofin ("competitor") now with breier-looking footpockets, which i've heard suck too.
http://www.lane4swim.com/fincommon.html

 

[Jon]

I just got a call back from Finis, in California. They told me that they DON'T sell their footpockets seperately.

I might have to email Jyri and see what he could send me.

Jon

 

[Asturven]

Jon,

I represent Leaderfins here in USA, maybe I can help you.

Tell me exactly what are you looking.

Send me a PM and I will try to do my best.

Cheers

Ivan

ivan@freediveforlife.com
www.freediveforlife.com

 

[Pablo]

Hey Sara, you have a new mono :friday :friday :friday :friday

Have you pictures???

 

[island_sands]

Hey Sara, you have a new mono :friday :friday :friday :friday

Have you pictures???

YEAH!!!!! but the blade is really hard and also very small in comparison to the one you saw. no pictures yet.. must make a plan

I got the bag too which is a very cool bag for monofins. you can fit about 4 of them in it and its got pockets for all your bit and pieces. still have my trust blue and white one though

 

[Pablo]

A PLAN

Why did you pick a small and hard one??? it must hurt??? hmm I'm on the DB now... shaca must be arround :mute )

I know the blue and white one... first class bag!!!