ssimps(Offline)

considering a new pair of fins for when diving abroad in a thin wetsuit and was considering the force fins, don't like jet fins in a 2mm shorty as they are too heavy. Mainly looking for similar manouverability as thejet fins and figuered these might have it... Anyone used them and can offer their opinions or even alternate considerations.

Cheers

__________________
Stu

Don't let it end with a bend!

Seydlitz(Offline)

Must have more money than sense!!!

lizardland(Offline)

That about says it all.

I used to have a pair that I thought might be a good idea for travelling light with (in fact I've got them on in my avatar pic) -- luckily I inherited rather than bought them. Horrendous, they churn up silt and you can't do anything but flutter kick in them.

I have a very cheap and very light pair of fins that I got from the local shop's bargain bucket which I take where weight is a problem, like on caving trips. Dumped the straps, drilled a couple of holes in them and threaded some bungee through instead. They're fine.

__________________
Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you?

www.westons-cider.co.uk

The Lot isn't the only place to dive: http://www.lulu.com/content/613554

Icarusflies (Online)

If you want jet like fins but lighter go for the OMS slipstreams....I use them even when diving dry and I like then...they are neutral in the wate.

Steve

Bitropey01(Offline)

Here's a solution that works for me - and if you've got more money than sense it may work for you too! I wear XL jetfins in my drysuit (too big and heavy to take away and dive with a shorty - as you say) If you get some smaller reef boots (scubapro delta for instance) you can buy another pair of jetfins (Size L) and wear them abroad (i just borrow my wifes) - they are way smaller both in the pocket and blade - and lighter! I wear size 9 boots. That should solve the problem and remove the temptation to buy turboforcesplitspeeddemonultrafins

tim (Online)

Yes, I tried some for a few minutes on a dive at Mal's DIR have-a-go day a couple of months back. One of the have-a-go-ers brought some, and since I'd never tried them, I borrowed them.

The first observation was that they were very very light and I couldn't use them at all to adjust trim as I can jetfins. Second observation was that my standard modified-frogkick which gets me along nicely with jetfins did absolutely nothing with force fins - they appear to need a completely different finning technique which didn't match mine at all. Third observation was that moving my feet I couldn't really feel the fins, and using them to balance in the water didn't work for me at all.

(And then I discovered how much they cost - they looked so basic I had assumed they were along the lines of 'a tenner from Lidl' dive kit).

I would very strongly recommend that any DIR divers curious about them try someone else's force fins in the water before even spending a couple of quid on a pair from a car boot sale, unless you're sure you can find someone else to sell them to at a profit.

In summary, I gave them my best shot, I was extremely uncomfortable with them, they didn't suit my (fairly GUE-esque) use of fins, and I disliked them greatly.

Tim

deepocean(Offline)

Hi,

I tried the FF in 1 dive. I can say that doing the helicopter turns with the 'standard/classic' (the one in the avatar of lizardland) FF is not as easy with Jetfin. Swimming straight is good though. But you are not as agile as with Jetfins.

I would love to try Slipstream btw. My Jetfin XL pockets are too small voor my thick soled wetsuit boots. I wonder which size Slipstream I then would need.

GoDiva(Offline)

not very DIR reply, but I used to be able to do all the kicks with my mares avanti3's before I o my jet fin (clones).

__________________
"Miss Dodgy-Pockets" or "Miss Lime-Green, Clear-Skirt Mask"

lizardland(Offline)

That's exactly what I found. No "feedback" as it were, you'd no real feeling of any response from your feet. I found that a bit off-putting.

__________________
Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you?

www.westons-cider.co.uk

The Lot isn't the only place to dive: http://www.lulu.com/content/613554

tim (Online)

I was diving with some Avanti 3 fins last weekend when someone else was using my jets. I've also borrowed Quattros a few times to take to the Red Sea. I don't think I can tell the difference between the Avantis and the Quattros.

I find them perfectly OK to dive with, can do all my fin kicks fine, the differences being that they're lighter so less good for trim adjustment, I forget they're longer and bump into things more, and I find that whilst my legs feel much less fatigued during finning, a single flick of the fins doesn't move me as far. I get a bit less balance-feedback from them than from the jets.

In summary, I'd happily dive with Quattros or Avantis if they were what I had to hand, but prefer my jets if I can get them.

Tim