"starfins" hyper

[nostres]

Mail man made me really happy today. My STARFIN arrived today, left Kiev Jun 19th, 10 days later at my door in Chicago. Thank You Alex!

For all interested let me warn You - I won't be doing 5 page "Fondueset style" review but I'll share my experience the best I can. For now I am giving You plenty of close-up pictures so You can appreciate this superb quality.
Also, I plan on taking this fin quite deep this summer in cold waters of Lake Michigan and I hope to deliver decent video for YouTube.

In winter I should be taking it even deeper in warm waters of Hawaii, until then fin win experience lots of abuse in various pools by various people, hope to make videos as well since I don't have any DYN videos yet.


1) The PACKAGE - simple and solid, made of cardboard that was folded in clever way protecting crucial parts of the blade. Arrived safe and spotless.

 

[nostres]

2) FOOT POCKETS - huge and soft, finally! I have foot pockets that are easy to slide into, are comfy and don't hurt. I asked for it to be that way and they listened, Alex asks to send pictures of feet with cm dimensions in widest and longest part of the feet.
First thing I did after opening package was to slide my feet into my new mono. Then I started watching "Daybreakers". As much as I hate "vampire" movies this one is different and I really like it. Almost one hour later, the only reason I pause the movie is because my feet DON'T HURT!
I just have to share it, no BS guys. I feel like I am wearing NEMO or OMER foot pockets. I don't know if this is standard for STARFIN or it's because I specified "I want big, comfy foot pockets" but it's actually amazing to have hyper fin on my feet for 55 minutes and not to suffer!
Material feels different than the smooth one on Glide, this one is like high density neoprene, very soft and flexible.

 

[nostres]

3) QUALITY - let the pictures speak for themselves, close up shots will show enough details like nicely finished round edges of the blade.

This beauty is well made, nothing is uneven, it is symmetrical like Subaru.
Blade has different waves with "steps" or "cascade" kind of pattern I've never seen before (see back of the blade)

 

[nostres]

more pictures

 

[nostres]

4) ANGLE - I asked for 25-30 deg, not sure if it's there, probably not.

Looking at the fin from the side (see pic. below) it looks flat like WW Model 1 but after You slide Your feet in, then You realize how is angle achieved.


This is great looking fin and I am very happy so far, that's without even getting wet, don't want to say things too soon. I hope to give You insight from the pool tomorrow depending on the traffic in the afternoon (have 5pm open swim)

If not, I'll be on lake all weekend

Thank You again Alex for high quality job and fast turnaround

 

[Fondueset]

Your getting closer to five pages

Where do you dive in the big lake?

 

[nostres]

Your getting closer to five pages

Where do you dive in the big lake?

:naughty

There is only so much one can tell about the fin without diving with it. And then, why would "Sunday diver" try to reinvent the wheel after so many pro swimmers said "this is the s***" Then it is

I Like to dive off Waukegan (north) depending on Wreckrunner's boat avail.
All marinas in Chicago are OK for playing around but shallow and with boring bottom. All sand, nothing like rock formations on Your side of the pond.

South side Chicago by water intakes (better don't get too close) allows to hit 50ft of water within kayak trip, other than that it takes boat to do decent line training

 

[Fondueset]

I've got a spot just a couple hundred meters off the beach that is over 120' - ten minutes from my house - but this time of year the boat situation is crazy.

I was run over by a bayliner doing about 25 knots on father's day - came within 35 feet of my omer Shardana - with it's 5-foot high flag and strobe. I had to dive for the bottom.

I've also got a lake right across the street - though its only about 80 feet.

When things quiet down a little I'll hit the deep spots - until then it's mostly under 60'.

I've got one of those Starfins coming my way too - shipped last sunday. Mine is a distance fin - my Tropol has a sprint blade and is good for depth - so I thought I'd go for cruise. Between the two of us we should have it pretty well covered I sent Alex a video and he told me my technique is good - but old fashioned for 'simple fins' - that I should bend my knees a little on the downstroke. So I'll be working on that!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EBGe55ie5U]YouTube - Just a little monofinnage Tropol M4[/ame]

 

[nostres]

Nice!

I thought You might need just this one more mono to complete collection

Did You provide feet measurements for custom pockets? Mine are sweet and I finished movie in comfort. If every Starfin fits like mine, freedivers are gonna love them.

Looking at the last pictures what do You think of the angle?

Finally, bending knees shouldn't be a problem since most freedivers are experts of this techniquerofl
It's NOT bending them that's hard

 

[Fondueset]

I have hundreds of hours 'not-bending' practice (finally feel like I've got it: perfect time to work on something else )- but I think I know what he means - it is a slight 'natural' not bending - not 'pushing'.

I think the angle looks close to my Tropol. I also think for a depth fin angle is not such a big deal - bottom line is how it works for you in the water.

I get the feeling Alex really knows what he's doing so I left a few things up to him.

I asked for 28 degrees... We'll see!

 

[Fondueset]

Wow! the fin arrived this morning!!

The packaging is a study in Cardboard Origami. Somehow they've folded cardboard into a perfectly shaped fin box - without any exposed edges. I was careful to preserve it out of respect

As Nostres has said - build quality appears excellent. I did not opt for the black blade because I've noticed how quickly I lose my dive buddy with his black Waterway Nemo in hazy conditions - I think blade viz contributes to safety though I do think black blades look cool.

I'll also echo Nostres about blade angle - it appears about the same as my Tropol. That said - it is not a huge priority for me. I'm on the fence about how much it even matters - and the effects of the huge footpockets more blade angle requires.

The blade is beautiful and the workmanship is a cut above any other hand-made hyperfin I have seen.

In one of the pics below I've overlaid the fin on my Tropol - aligning the 'shoulders' to give an idea of relative blade area.

The footpockets are sized for wearing with socks and it would not be possible to wear the fin without socks. At first try they seem a little too wide and not quite long enough - my big toes are nominally scrunched, this is reduced by wearing socks however. Its close enough though that I will have to try it to see - which I'll do either tonight or tomorrow.

I will say these are the softest pockets I've ever seen on this kind of fin.
It is also the first time I have gotten a fin that really does accomodate 5 mil socks.

Short story so far:

Excellent quality - blade and rubber are perfectly finished.
Unusually soft footpockets.
Blade angle is conventional.
The fin is quite light relative to my Tropol.
Very streamlined and beautiful!
My Wife likes it

 

[nostres]

OK great, so it's slightly narrower and slightly longer than Tropol

Interestingly it looks to me like foot pockets on Your fin are closer than mine, with very small gap between them. Maybe You have wider feet?

I sent feet measures - 11cm widest, 29 cm longest + pictures!

And what are the black lines at the edges of the blade, rails??

Soft and good looking fin indeed.

 

[Fondueset]

Mine are 27cm - but I think also 11cm at the widest - or 10.5 - but Alex did not ask for width - just if I had wide feet. I think my feet are sort of wide - but not extremely. I think the width is more about accommodating socks - which I need for very cold waters. (though I have put socks on the outside of my Tropol and worn it down to 46F so far.

Yes - there are small black rubber rails along that part of the fin.

Can you get a picture from directly above your fin? The wide-lens on your camera is, I think, distorting it's dimensions. How wide is your blade?

 

[Alex "STARFINS"]

Hello Fondueset & Nostres,
I glad that you got the fins already.
By the way about foot pockets - you had different queries ! Fondueset asked for possibility the use with neoopren socks, and you Nostres simply for the comfort viewing of tv or video of house rofl
I wait your after test opinion !
Good luck...

 

[nostres]

27 3/8" wide


No rails, I am assuming it has to do with blade stiffness - Your fin is softer so it gets rails right?

 

[nostres]

and you Nostres simply for the comfort viewing of tv or video of house rofl
I wait your after test opinion !
Good luck...

Alex, this is called "cozy and dry test", after that time for tough and wet test

 

[Fondueset]

Hi Alex!

I forgot to say how FAST I got this fin! Something like 10 days from sending the money - and Alex said that was slow!!!

The Postal woman gave it to us and said 'Wow! This came far really fast!'

I think it is a very good test that Nostres and I have different needs - he needed a good strong fin for watching television and I wanted a soft fin that would be attractive to Carp.

Seriously - I think Nostres is quite large and wanted a depth fin - whereas I am less large (but still large of course) and wanted a distance fin with room for socks.

I just tried it on again and I think I am paranoid about toe scrunching - but will see tomorrow. Tonight I will wear it to bed for the 'bedroom slipper test'.

Alex - Thank you for the perfectly timed birthday present! Also, please thank your box-making artist

(I will make more pictures to show the detail of this fin later - it is truly excellent)

PS - same width here nostres.

 

[Alex "STARFINS"]

It was little joke about "dry test" !!!
Realy - i`m made "dry test" with Fondueset hyper too :t , but only 20 min !
Somebody ask about rails , other not ! My opinion is doesn`t matter !:head We installed it many years, but last 3 years not and nobody ask it more ! Only one freediver from Lithuania few weeks ago and now he very like our hyper without rails :t

 

[nostres]

Yesterday I got to put first scuff marks on Starfin and let me tell You it's not movie watching. Meaning there was a little pain involved BUT:

- first cramp came after 40 minutes and wasn't very bad
- most troublesome area was ankles which we know is the weakest link in chain of propulsion. This is hard to avoid with any monofin unless we're talking
Lunocet with bicycle shoes.

Swimming with Starfin is pure pleasure, I can do decent speed with minimal effort or I can kick hard for really fast sprint.
Pool was little crowded making it hard to focus and relax but I tried both - kicking and kick-kick-glide. This is what I'd expect from this level of fin, very powerful and stabile

now off to the lake for long distance cruising, surface swimming and shallow diving
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[Fondueset]

I had mine out in the bay yesterday for 2 hours. I used 3 mil socks and I would say the footpockets are a little loose from side to side and the big toes
press lightly against the end.

Bottom line in terms of comfort: After two hours I had NO PAIN!! I was able to take the fin off and walk immediately.

I did no deep dives because, starting at about 30 feet, boats 500 yards away are almost unbearably loud. At 37 feet I was feeling it in my chest.

I did a lot of surface swimming and and horizontal cruising however. Heres a breakdown of impressions so far:

Footpockets: First I have ever used that did not kill my feet the first time out.
Easy on and off - a little loose and short with 3 mil socks and probably better with 5mil. Also first fin ever that actually accomodates socks without pain. Power transmission is fine.

Blade: Responsive but not floppy.No V-bend. Blade is soft as ordered but has good power on the way up. Ideal for sustained cruising and very easy to swim with. Alive and responsive feeling.

Buoyancy: Fin is gently buoyant to about 10 or 11 feet - which is precisely what I asked for.

General: Overall quaility is excellent. The fin is lighter than my other hypers and feels tuned to my specificiations. In terms of customization it feels like a completely different class of product. I would advise anyone ordering from Starfins to give precise and accurate information - no eggagerating foot size as with other manufacturors - because these guys know what they are doing.

Pictures and video when my dive buddy gets back in town.