Specialfins Dolphin Carbon or Leaderfins Hyper?

[pthread]

Hello,

I'm about to buy my first monofin, and would be interested in either a Specialfins Dolphin Carbon or a Leaderfins Hyper. I'm aware that trying to compare the two is probably like comparing apples with pears, but I would appreciate some advice from people who tried one of either or even both.

What advantage does the angled foot pocket of the Hyper give and how "soft" would the Dolphin Carbon be if ordered as "soft"? Is the foot pocket really as bad as mentioned in some threads here?

I would like to use the fin for DYN as well as CW/Open Water stuff. Hence fragility is an issue.


Cheers,
p

 

[Fondueset]

sorry if you read the first one - wrong fins.

I would not get either as a first fin. The hyper will be superior for freediving.

 

[pthread]

sorry if you read the first one - wrong fins.

I would not get either as a first fin. The hyper will be superior for freediving.

Now I'm confused. Which one would you suggest, if not one of these two?

 

[Fondueset]

Grain of salt - because I've not used either of these - though I own several Hyper-style fins - which are practically identical with the leaderfins.

The problem with them (in general - again I cannot speak to Leaderfins Hyper durability or sizing) is getting one that fits and the fact that they generally only last a couple years. Getting a hyperfin you can wear in open water - with neoprene socks can be a real struggle. Then you must also be prepared to repair it from time to time as the footpockets come unglued or whatever. Also the rubber breaks down from pool chemicals and sunlight.

However - blade angle and footpocket energy storage make the Hyper style superior. The angle optimizes power transmission and allows you to glide with a relatively straight body for dynamics.

For open water recreational diving and as a first fin I like and have owned the Waterway Nemo - cheap, sturdy and comfortable - but with only 11 degree blade angle and conventional bi-fin style pockets. As I've said elsewhere - I have owned two and they are on their second and third owners now.

I now use a tropol M4 - this is a hyper style fin but the pockets are molded eurethane - so predictable size, very comfortable, unaffected by pool and sun. Drawback is - only 15-19 degree (depends on how you measure) blade angle and, like all hyper style fins - expensive.

I also have two Triton hyperfins - though the blade finally snapped on one (my fav )- the other is a good fin but wears holes in my feet.

It really depends if you want to do recreational diving in the fin - at some point comfort compromises force transmission a little. - Then there is durability.

 

[pthread]

Grain of salt - because I've not used either of these - though I own several Hyper-style fins - which are practically identical with the leaderfins.

That's ok.

The problem with them (in general - again I cannot speak to Leaderfins Hyper durability or sizing) is getting one that fits and the fact that they generally only last a couple years. Getting a hyperfin you can wear in open water - with neoprene socks can be a real struggle. Then you must also be prepared to repair it from time to time as the footpockets come unglued or whatever. Also the rubber breaks down from pool chemicals and sunlight.

That doesn't sound very promising.

However - blade angle and footpocket energy storage make the Hyper style superior. The angle optimizes power transmission and allows you to glide with a relatively straight body for dynamics.

For open water recreational diving and as a first fin I like and have owned the Waterway Nemo - cheap, sturdy and comfortable - but with only 11 degree blade angle and conventional bi-fin style pockets. As I've said elsewhere - I have owned two and they are on their second and third owners now.

Noted.

I now use a tropol M4 - this is a hyper style fin but the pockets are molded eurethane - so predictable size, very comfortable, unaffected by pool and sun. Drawback is - only 15-19 degree (depends on how you measure) blade angle and, like all hyper style fins - expensive.

This, however, sounds promising.
How expensive is "expensive"?

It really depends if you want to do recreational diving in the fin - at some point comfort compromises force transmission a little. - Then there is durability.

Most of what I do is DYN and the occasional lake dive/holiday, hence power transmission is important.

 

[Fondueset]

Theres a whole thread dedicated to the Tropol. You'd have to check with them for pricing. I like mine for dynamic - though it lacks the full angle of some of the other hyperfins. is their site. Tropol Technology&Sport

http://forums.deeperblue.com/monofins/83327-tropol-monofin-fondueset-review.html

A couple other people have them now too.

Also Rocketfins is getting really good reviews - and Starfins look promising.

The Waterway Glide has a solid rep as well.

Tropol is the only one with molded synthetic footpockets however.

 

[pthread]

Theres a whole thread dedicated to the Tropol. You'd have to check with them for pricing. I like mine for dynamic - though it lacks the full angle of some of the other hyperfins. is their site. Tropol Technology&Sport

Says 350 EUR, that's £300, which would be the same price range as the Specialfins Carbon with Wings, so in the expected ballpark.

http://forums.deeperblue.com/monofins/83327-tropol-monofin-fondueset-review.html

Looks quite adorable. :inlove

What sort of delivery times do they have? (I wanted to have one by middle of July)

A couple other people have them now too.

Also Rocketfins is getting really good reviews - and Starfins look promising.

The Waterway Glide has a solid rep as well.

I'll look into these as well. I found the Glide quite interesting as well, but from my fellow diving club members I know that the delivery times can be somewhat erratic.

Tropol is the only one with molded synthetic footpockets however.

Shoesize is important. I've got a EU (womens) 41 1/2. That makes me a size 2 (per PDF on the Tropol website) and probably still leaves some space for socks.


Thanks for all the advice! :thankyou

 

[Fondueset]

l.polak@tropol.cz - this is email for Lubos Polak at Tropol - best to talk with them about deliver, size - fin stiffness (go softish)

 

[monkeyhatfork]

I'll second the vote for tropol, I have a tropol and glide and the tropols fits better and the supported heal help with comfort. Probably cheaper for you than for us in the states, we have to add about $130-40 between shipping and international wire tranfer fees. And the material for the foot pockets is so smooth you can wear them barefoot with no blisters.

 

[Fondueset]

I tried a little experiment today. I put socks OVER the fin - just cut the toes out of some 3 mil socks and rolled them over my Tropol footpockets.

Gosharooney they sure was comfy! Perfectly warm too.

 

[pthread]

I contacted Lubos with my many questions. After reading Fondues review thread it sure sounds like a very good fin.

Now I just have to suppress my excitement until I have the fin.

*wanders off to the pool with training fins* :martial

 

[vali]

inthe pool the monofin is quite good....
but in the CW is the best.....after you will go down with monofin is very improbably that you will put your bifins again in your foot.....
and the mono are good as well for seasighting to....
you will be able to go much deeper than with bifins....
i have a payr of dolphin from specialfins, with omer footpocket and medium stifness....
i-m sorry now that i didn-t order mono with stiff blade, and you must know that usually the omer footpocket can break...
it hapenned to me and now my mono is in estonia to be repaired....
the monofin will change your life, if used properly

 

[Jon]

I used to own a SpecialFin's Dolphin Carbon fin and hated it. I've owned a few other fins, but now use a Triton Hyperfin. I would go with some type of hyperfin before I'd spend money on something like the Dolphin. The Tropol seems like a good one to go with, but I've never used that particular model.

I also started using the socks over my footpocket for diving last winter. I would wear a pair of 3mm socks inside the footpocket and cut the toes off of a pair of 5mm socks to wear over the pockets while diving under the ice.

Jon

 

[pthread]

Thanks for the advice, all!

I emailed Lubos from Tropol and already got a reply. It doesn't seem to be an issue to get the fin for July (which is when I need it).

The "cutting off toes" idea is great, it'll definitely help during those lake sessions in fall.