porsche060
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How do they compare to regular fins?
Are they worth the extra $$ for them?
Are they worth the extra $$ for them?
Any comments about Force Fins?
- Thread starter porsche060
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I fnally tried em ...and I like em. That's all I carry now.
Fought the urge for years. Was diving with Mares Power Planas and then in the 90's I switched over to USD Rockets. Grew to like the shorter blade fin style and probably would have stayed with the Rockets. But then I saw an add for a sale on the "original" Force Fins and took the leap. Amazing difference in foot comfort without loss of any funtion ...at least in terms of the diving I do. Speaking of which, my diving is all tropical and liveaboard.
I can not comment on how Force Fins would compare with conventional alternatives in non-tropical or high current environments but for me they fit the bill and we very much worth the investment. I can maneuver as well as I ever did in longer/stiffer blade fins and with much less energy.
Fought the urge for years. Was diving with Mares Power Planas and then in the 90's I switched over to USD Rockets. Grew to like the shorter blade fin style and probably would have stayed with the Rockets. But then I saw an add for a sale on the "original" Force Fins and took the leap. Amazing difference in foot comfort without loss of any funtion ...at least in terms of the diving I do. Speaking of which, my diving is all tropical and liveaboard.
I can not comment on how Force Fins would compare with conventional alternatives in non-tropical or high current environments but for me they fit the bill and we very much worth the investment. I can maneuver as well as I ever did in longer/stiffer blade fins and with much less energy.
I love my Force Fins! Used to use a long blade fin, and the FF are like freedom to me, due to the short size (I'm only 5'4") and they offer excellent precision for turning, with plenty of power for kicking across the lake. If you get them, be sure and put the bungie straps on them, they are so much easier than the regular straps that come with them. If you can try a pair out first, do- they will feel light on your feet, but give them a chance- you will grow to like that. They are designed to use the large muscles of your legs, therefore reducing fatigue, which I never think about leg fatigue when I'm diving, so I guess they work, lol.
You also don't get your fins confused with someone else on dive boats- because most people look at them and think, no way would I wear duck feet! You can always find yourself in videos and photos easily, too.
You also don't get your fins confused with someone else on dive boats- because most people look at them and think, no way would I wear duck feet! You can always find yourself in videos and photos easily, too.
yes, they are worth every penny. Price wise they are cheaper than the Atomic Splits, unless you get one of the special ones.
As for their abilities, your gonna have to try them and look for a flaw. People will say that can't do this, they can't do that, but then I do this, that, and the other thing that they can't decribe called (sculling).
If you look at any of the fins on the market (other than FF) you will notice there are really only 2 styles of fin, a) short and stiff (Jets, rockets, turtles), b) long and soft (plana avanti, volo power, and all of the splits)
Type 3- force fin which doesn't really conform to either because its short and soft.
If you can't find someone local that will let you try their pair out, buy yourself a set of the orignals or pro's and give yourself about 10 dives you'll never dive anything else. Just give them 10 dives (uninterupted) to get used to how they work and feel. After a while you forget all of the bad habits that you formed from "other fins" and when you go back you suddenly go "what the ..." when you feel all of the problems that other fins have.
As for their abilities, your gonna have to try them and look for a flaw. People will say that can't do this, they can't do that, but then I do this, that, and the other thing that they can't decribe called (sculling).
If you look at any of the fins on the market (other than FF) you will notice there are really only 2 styles of fin, a) short and stiff (Jets, rockets, turtles), b) long and soft (plana avanti, volo power, and all of the splits)
Type 3- force fin which doesn't really conform to either because its short and soft.
If you can't find someone local that will let you try their pair out, buy yourself a set of the orignals or pro's and give yourself about 10 dives you'll never dive anything else. Just give them 10 dives (uninterupted) to get used to how they work and feel. After a while you forget all of the bad habits that you formed from "other fins" and when you go back you suddenly go "what the ..." when you feel all of the problems that other fins have.
Since this is the Force Fin forum, most people who visit here will already be converts (or undecideds). To see what’s said by some others, consider such threads as:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175113
Most of the opposition takes the form of “I don’t like them”, “such-and such a stroke can’t be done in them” or “they don’t have power”. Similar comments are made about split fins.
Taking those arguments in reverse order:
Power: One test is to swim laps and time yourself. If Force Fins (or splits) don’t have power, they won’t give you better times. I think people who say they don’t have power are reacting to the fact that they don’t seem to provide much resistance to kicking. (I consider that a good, not bad, thing). Granted, the test is not completely scientific because changing strokes prevents it from being a double blind test. My results are that the only pair that beats my Force Fin Pros is my Atomic splits, and then just barely.
Strokes: Specific strokes aren’t as important as what you want to accomplish. Granted, I can’t back up as effectively with anything but my paddles. Otherwise, I can do everything I want to do quite well, and usually best, with my Force Fins. These include acceleration/speed, tight turns, helicopter turns, not disturbing silt, and surface swimming. The techniques are a bit different, but can still be very effective.
Dislike: I can’t refute that.
I briefly mentioned splits above. Although I get a bit more speed from them, I haven’t mastered many alternate strokes with them. And they take more room when packing for a trip.
Why don’t I use Force Fins exclusively? The LDS where I teach doesn’t carry them.
So I use inexpensive full-foot paddles in the pool. I use splits or open heel paddles in open water with students. Which paddles? Aqualung Blades that I converted to years ago from my rockets and jets. For all other diving, it’s my Force Fins.
Yes, I’m a convert. Besides what I said above, they’re the most comfortable to wear and are extremely durable.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175113
Most of the opposition takes the form of “I don’t like them”, “such-and such a stroke can’t be done in them” or “they don’t have power”. Similar comments are made about split fins.
Taking those arguments in reverse order:
Power: One test is to swim laps and time yourself. If Force Fins (or splits) don’t have power, they won’t give you better times. I think people who say they don’t have power are reacting to the fact that they don’t seem to provide much resistance to kicking. (I consider that a good, not bad, thing). Granted, the test is not completely scientific because changing strokes prevents it from being a double blind test. My results are that the only pair that beats my Force Fin Pros is my Atomic splits, and then just barely.
Strokes: Specific strokes aren’t as important as what you want to accomplish. Granted, I can’t back up as effectively with anything but my paddles. Otherwise, I can do everything I want to do quite well, and usually best, with my Force Fins. These include acceleration/speed, tight turns, helicopter turns, not disturbing silt, and surface swimming. The techniques are a bit different, but can still be very effective.
Dislike: I can’t refute that.
I briefly mentioned splits above. Although I get a bit more speed from them, I haven’t mastered many alternate strokes with them. And they take more room when packing for a trip.
Why don’t I use Force Fins exclusively? The LDS where I teach doesn’t carry them.
So I use inexpensive full-foot paddles in the pool. I use splits or open heel paddles in open water with students. Which paddles? Aqualung Blades that I converted to years ago from my rockets and jets. For all other diving, it’s my Force Fins.
Yes, I’m a convert. Besides what I said above, they’re the most comfortable to wear and are extremely durable.
uwfoto
Registered
I have been diving with FF since the mid 80s and I dive with FF Pros since they were introduced. Its not uncommon for me to carry a lot of uw photo gear with me and my FF Pros give me the ability to kick ahead of the group to get set up for shots. My legs do not cramp up. A big advantage to FF is they use your large leg muscles more that lower leg muscles. Both of my knees have been completely rebuilt including ACL. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is what keeps your lower leg in line with your upper leg. Any other fin causes my knees to dislocate because of the force being applied by the lower leg instead of upper leg.
Just a real world experience to help your decision.
Just a real world experience to help your decision.
Dennis at Nekton
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I am really looking forward to trying a pair of Force Fins on a Nekton Diving Cruise in Belize over the Christmas holiday. Bob Evans is the guest celebrity and he is bringing a load of Force Fins for all guests to try. I am not a Force Fin user yet, and have never had a pair on my rather large, skinny feet. But from everything I have read and the info from people I have spoken with, and posts on this forum, I am betting I'll love them. I'll let you know after diving with them for the week.
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That's a nice, low impact (on the wallet) way to get a pair of Force Fins on your feet. Wish that option would have been available a year or so ago ...and maybe it was and I just didn't know about it.
All things considered though, I have absolutely NO regrets in terms of cutting over to the Force Fins - even with the added risk of buying before trying them.
Poseidon v
New
I bought a pair a few years ago, tried them in my pool, and returned them the next day. I personally couldn't get any propulsion from them. I went to a pair of twin jets and was much happier. They were priced higher than my twin jets, especially the higher end models going for $500 and up. I might consider trying them again if there was some kind of tryout session in my area of California.
dpbishop
Contributor
I do a lot of long surface swims on this time of year ( lobster season), usually on my back. Force fins beat everything else I've tried for power and comfort. You have to learn how to kick with them. It's not the same.
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