who makes the best fins?

[aahunt03]

Who makes the best freediving fins out on the market? Also, when is Riffe coming out with their new fins??

 

[efattah]

I would vote for waterway blades.

Eric Fattah
BC, Canada

 

[skarz]

I know absolutely nothing about fins.... could someone give me a little insight? Carbon, Fiber, Plastic, i don't get any of it. And why "freediving" fins. Can't i just buy some comfortable ones from Wal-Mart?

 

[maros]

fins

hi skarz, i use Cressi Gara3000 with full satisfactory, 5 years ago I started freediving with SeacSub Genesis, quite tough blades but good for deep diving. I think the OMER Millenium Competition are one of the best too. My choice is Gara3000 if I go to better fins I buy some carbon fins, maybe C4 carbons.

 

[Snorkel Bum]

Specialfins, everyone who gets them aer VERY satisfied. I love mine to death and would never let anyone touch them or buy them off me!

 

[cdavis]

Depends on you, fins are extremely specific to the user. I have been super pleased with specialfins, but it would be quite possible for you to get better performance with a different brand if they fit your legs and style better. I'm still trying to decide which of two different specialfin blades is best for me.

Connor

 

[Pablo]

waterway (matrix) for price/performance... hard to beat!

 

[aahunt03]

where can I get a set of Specialfins?

 

[Veronika]

www.specialfins.com . But you could also have a look at www.sebakfins.com.

Veronika

 

[Snorkel Bum]

yeah... I suggest emailing Jyri: Jyri@specialfins.com
He helped me with my millions of complicated questions and even spent a while trying a find a way to get the cheapest shipping and also got me a photo of my fins before he sent them!!!
Send him my regards

 

[alexluchetti]

just to ask another fin-related question. can anyone advise on soft med or stiff blades? i am sure it is a personal thing, but i don't know whether to go for soft of medium (female, not that strong, fairly small build)...how soft is soft? help...
cheers
alex

 

[mjacobs]

Fins and stiffness

I think Specialfins Hybrid Pros are the best fin on the market. A close second are the fiberplastic fins by OMER, Waterway, Matix, etc. The best stiffness depends on your size and the depth you dive.

For a small framed female not particularly strong and not diving much below 20 metres, go for a soft blade.

Mark

 

[alexluchetti]

thanks for advice - but who said anything about not going deeper than 20m? do you still advise soft fins even if i intend to go well beyond?
cheers alex

 

[mjacobs]

Originally posted by alexluchetti
thanks for advice - but who said anything about not going deeper than 20m? do you still advise soft fins even if i intend to go well beyond?
cheers alex

Depth is one of the criteria, along with size. Are you currently diving deeper or do you just plan to? The deeper you go the better legs you'll need to come back up. How are your legs? Are you a serious bicycler, ballet dancer or runner or something else athletic leg-wise? Your post sounded not. Also, the smaller you are the less power and less fin you will need to propel yourself through the water column. Don't buy stiffer fins if they will just make you cramp up. It's best to try a few before buying and then you will know. It's not a decision to be be made by anyone other than yourself, but if you can't try first, then buy more than one pair. You will naturally gravitate toward the pair that suits you best.
Mark

 

[mjacobs]

One more thing, Alex...

Different fins for different purposes. There is no perfect fin for one person for all purposes. For lots of surface swimming a softer fin is better. For diving over 30m most people seem to prefer a stiff fin. For diving to 20 to 30m most people seem to prefer a medium fin. Personal size and strength must also be calculated.
Mark