Thoughts on these fins...

[Broseidon]

I need to buy some new fins for the season - I'm looking to spend around £60.

Does anyone have an opinion or experience of any of the below?

Beuchat Mundial Competition
https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=1_27&products_id=816

Imersion Aluminite
https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=1_27&products_id=166

Seatec Vela
http://www.spearo.co.uk/images/st-vela-l.jpg

 

[badlander]

The seatec vela was my first pair of long fins.They were a good pair of fins and pretty indestructable.

 

[speardaver]

i've used both the green and blue immersion fins over the years and found them to have one of the most comfortable footpockets i've used.
The black ones can feel quite stiff tho and the blades are not changeable when they break(which i have managed to do a few times)!
If the pockets were a separate item i would deffinately use them with my carbon blades!

 

[Broseidon]

Is it best to buy fins with interchangable blades?

The SeaTech Vela's are the only one of the three like that.

 

[speardaver]

I think you'll find that the beauchat's are changeable as well, i use a pair of those pockets on some Fisher Power Blades that i got from New Zealand.

 

[Broseidon]

I think you'll find that the beauchat's are changeable as well, i use a pair of those pockets on some Fisher Power Blades that i got from New Zealand.

Oh, ok! It didn't say so on the website but I'll trust you

Do you think fins with interchangable blades are the way to go? Where do you actually buy new blades from?

 

[speardaver]

I think it is a good idea to be able to change them if you are as bad as i am at looking after gear!!
I think that most places you can buy the gear you can also buy blades only!!
Also it is nice to be able to upgrade the blades without the cost of more foot pockets!

 

[Broseidon]

I think it is a good idea to be able to change them if you are as bad as i am at looking after gear!!
I think that most places you can buy the gear you can also buy blades only!!
Also it is nice to be able to upgrade the blades without the cost of more foot pockets!

Yup - I'm not the best at looking after things! Inter-changable blades it is then!

Now all I need to do is decide between the Beauchat and the Seatec ones! :duh

 

[ashly122]

Yup - I'm not the best at looking after things! Inter-changable blades it is then!

Now all I need to do is decide between the Beauchat and the Seatec ones! :duh

Hey Broseidon, i've only just come across this post, just wondering what fins you went for in the end? as i'm looking into getting some fins as this is my first full season in spearing although i'm away from may to early sept.
Any info would be much appreciated

Cheers
Ash

 

[Broseidon]

Hi Ash,

In the end I went for Omer Milleniums - really great fin, couldn't be happier! I went for the Black medium blade, I got them from Apnea.co.uk who I'd definately recommend. At £62 + VAT they're a really good price!

https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=1_27&products_id=182

If you really get into spearing they're a good choice as you can easily change the blades - the Omer footpockets seem to almost be an industry standard for blade manufacturers.

I'm going to get some Leader Blades for this season - either the Glass or the Carbon ones, not decided yet:

Glass:

Stereoblades Waves camo and alga

Carbon:

Stereoblades Waves Carbon

Any more help I can give on buying first season essential gear? - just ask!

 

[ashly122]

Hey Broseidon,

Thanks very much for the info on fins, the Omer Milleniums look like a good choice,
I have a nylon weight belt at the moment which i got given to me, are the rubber belts better?

Cheers

 

[Broseidon]

I have a nylon weight belt at the moment which i got given to me, are the rubber belts better?

I bought an Omer Nylon belt and to be honest, I've had a bit of trouble with it. The issue is that to get it tight enough to stop my weights moving around, I have to tighten it to the extent that I makes me feel ill.

The best thing about a rubber belt is that it's got a bit of 'give' in it meaning that it can be tight but still allow you to breathe, unlike a nylon belt which has no give at all - I'll be getting one before the season starts.

On a separate note about the fins (which I'm sure you're aware of!) make sure to buy them a size too big so that you can wear them with decent sized neoprene booties!

Make sure to get a good stringer and a knife! I went for:

Omer Mini Blade Knife - really well made!

https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=1_28&products_id=559

Omer Marco Bardi Stringer - again, brilliant bit of kit!

https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=1_34&products_id=317

Have been really impressed by the quality of the Omer gear.

Have you got a gun yet?

I went for a Seatec Gabbiano 90 from spearo.co.uk - great gun but don't go for the Elite version (like I did) as the reel is pretty pointless and the 20mm rubbers are a bitch!!!! I've used the gun with 16mm rubbers and it was SOOO much nicer to use!

 

[badlander]

I've just got a pair of those Leader Fins camo blades. I'll let you know how they perform when i finally get them wet. I went for the medium flex.

 

[Broseidon]

I've just got a pair of those Leader Fins camo blades. I'll let you know how they perform when i finally get them wet. I went for the medium flex.

I noticed that mate, you said they seemed really flexy, you went for the medium hardness, right?

Would be great to hear how they perform in the water - keep us updated!

 

[Anders]

Hey Broseidon,

Thanks very much for the info on fins, the Omer Milleniums look like a good choice,
I have a nylon weight belt at the moment which i got given to me, are the rubber belts better?

Cheers

Rubber belts are far superior to nylon (or any other non-stretch material) for freediving purposes. Make sure you place it on your hip, not the stomach, as long as it's not way too slack it should sit tight there without any issues. My belt (I use five 2 kg weights for my 7 mm suit) does not move at all no matter how much time I spend in the water. I have yet to go much below 20 meters so there is a possibility it might be a problem below that depth, but I doubt it as long as you put it on correctly..

 

[ashly122]

I bought an Omer Nylon belt and to be honest, I've had a bit of trouble with it. The issue is that to get it tight enough to stop my weights moving around, I have to tighten it to the extent that I makes me feel ill.

The best thing about a rubber belt is that it's got a bit of 'give' in it meaning that it can be tight but still allow you to breathe, unlike a nylon belt which has no give at all - I'll be getting one before the season starts.

On a separate note about the fins (which I'm sure you're aware of!) make sure to buy them a size too big so that you can wear them with decent sized neoprene booties!

Make sure to get a good stringer and a knife! I went for:

Omer Mini Blade Knife - really well made!

https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=1_28&products_id=559

Omer Marco Bardi Stringer - again, brilliant bit of kit!

https://www.apnea.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=1_34&products_id=317

Have been really impressed by the quality of the Omer gear.

Have you got a gun yet?

I went for a Seatec Gabbiano 90 from spearo.co.uk - great gun but don't go for the Elite version (like I did) as the reel is pretty pointless and the 20mm rubbers are a bitch!!!! I've used the gun with 16mm rubbers and it was SOOO much nicer to use!

Thanks for all the info, the first thing i got was a gun, i got a beauchat mundial 75cm,
my other half got me a cressi killer knife, an omer fish stringer and a few other items.
Just need to get some fins, and a rubber belt after everyone's info.

thanks again

 

[ashly122]

Rubber belts are far superior to nylon (or any other non-stretch material) for freediving purposes. Make sure you place it on your hip, not the stomach, as long as it's not way too slack it should sit tight there without any issues. My belt (I use five 2 kg weights for my 7 mm suit) does not move at all no matter how much time I spend in the water. I have yet to go much below 20 meters so there is a possibility it might be a problem below that depth, but I doubt it as long as you put it on correctly..

Thanks Anders,

will take your info on board.

Cheers
Ash