Picking the Right Fin for YOU.
Question: ForceFin makes so many different fins and they are often hard to find in the local stores, how do I pick the right fin for me?
Answer: Forcefin makes many different fins because every diver is different and the wide selection allows each diver to fine tune his/her body, technique, expirience, strengths and weakness to find the best fin for YOU. Rest assured that all of the fins in the ForceFin line carry the same heritage of testing and refinement to make each as good as they can be for their intended purpose. Of course, they also share the trademark footpocket.
The Prime Line of fins are just that Prime. They are purpose designed for the recreational diver and meet the needs of technical and miltary divers around the globe. Just because ForceFin makes the Extra Line (Extra Force and Excellerating Force) they are not neccasarily better for you. The Extra Line are named appropriately, they are extra in every way, they are extra control, extra thrust, extra stabile, but are extra expensive (sorry Bob, but they are, worth every cent, but still expensive).
So to pick the fin for you, lets start with your background. So answer the following questions
1) Are you (or have been) a competitive swimmer
2) How much do you dive?
3) Where do you dive? (ie currents, tropical, cold, penetration)
My basic recommendation for all Divers/swimmers new to the ForceFin line is to start with the basics; the Original or the slightly stiffer and more responsive Pro Fin.
These 2 fins represent all of the characteristics of ForceFin and won't break the bank. Most divers find that one of these fins will do everything they want and don't need to buy more. If you are a competitive swimmer (or simply dive A LOT) the TanDelta maybe a better starting point for you. Of course don't forget the Original Split fin, named the Foil Force. This easy kicker will refresh your mind as you forget about kick and just enjoy the woderful mysteries of the underwater world.
All three of the Original Shaped fins will perform wonderfully, their differences lay not in the strength to use them, but more in the kick frequency that you will use to go a given speed. The stiffer the material the slower your kick frequency will be, but this will also allow greater speed, but of course greater speed requires more leg power, as no fin can overcome the friction of pushing you through the water, and if you remember physics: friction is proportional to the square of speed. I have found that the ProForce is a great comprimise between flex and stiffness to allow me an optimum kick frequency and speed, giving me fantastic endurance to cover ground if I need to. Which is the reason that I highly recommend this fin to all divers.
Once you are fimiliar with the ForceFin Prime lines you may want to evaluate the Extra Line and the Adjustable line.
The Extra Line contains 2 of the best fins I have ever used; the Extra Force and the Excellerating Force
These two are incredible, but beware, incredible or not, they are a lot of fin, and they may be too much for many divers. You can see my previous dicussions on these here.
So that leaves the adjustable line. This is the most diverse line in the catalogue, but these are all pretty much specialist fins. If you need to change your bootie or go to a drysuit boot or go skin, this pocket will do it for you. In this line we have everything from the leg busting MultiForce for in pool workouts, Body boarding shredders RipForce, to the Fishermans friend the Float Tube Fin designed to allow the largest of Wader Boots to be securely held. The final fin to talk about is the Adjustable Force which looks similar to the Float Tube, but remember the Float tube has an oversized footpocket, this is the normal size and will fit dive booties and drysuit boots alike. The Adjustable has the advantage of fitting comfortably to any size boot and even barefoot, with the added advantage that you can add any of the ForceWings to the fin (see ForceWing Thread). Although ANY of the ForceFin line can have the Comfort Insteps added to reduce the size to fit your wetsuit booties. Which is my SOP, I wear XXL fins with my Drysuit boot and slip the instep in to snug up the 3mm wetsuit bootie.
Question: ForceFin makes so many different fins and they are often hard to find in the local stores, how do I pick the right fin for me?
Answer: Forcefin makes many different fins because every diver is different and the wide selection allows each diver to fine tune his/her body, technique, expirience, strengths and weakness to find the best fin for YOU. Rest assured that all of the fins in the ForceFin line carry the same heritage of testing and refinement to make each as good as they can be for their intended purpose. Of course, they also share the trademark footpocket.
The Prime Line of fins are just that Prime. They are purpose designed for the recreational diver and meet the needs of technical and miltary divers around the globe. Just because ForceFin makes the Extra Line (Extra Force and Excellerating Force) they are not neccasarily better for you. The Extra Line are named appropriately, they are extra in every way, they are extra control, extra thrust, extra stabile, but are extra expensive (sorry Bob, but they are, worth every cent, but still expensive).
So to pick the fin for you, lets start with your background. So answer the following questions
1) Are you (or have been) a competitive swimmer
2) How much do you dive?
3) Where do you dive? (ie currents, tropical, cold, penetration)
My basic recommendation for all Divers/swimmers new to the ForceFin line is to start with the basics; the Original or the slightly stiffer and more responsive Pro Fin.
These 2 fins represent all of the characteristics of ForceFin and won't break the bank. Most divers find that one of these fins will do everything they want and don't need to buy more. If you are a competitive swimmer (or simply dive A LOT) the TanDelta maybe a better starting point for you. Of course don't forget the Original Split fin, named the Foil Force. This easy kicker will refresh your mind as you forget about kick and just enjoy the woderful mysteries of the underwater world.
All three of the Original Shaped fins will perform wonderfully, their differences lay not in the strength to use them, but more in the kick frequency that you will use to go a given speed. The stiffer the material the slower your kick frequency will be, but this will also allow greater speed, but of course greater speed requires more leg power, as no fin can overcome the friction of pushing you through the water, and if you remember physics: friction is proportional to the square of speed. I have found that the ProForce is a great comprimise between flex and stiffness to allow me an optimum kick frequency and speed, giving me fantastic endurance to cover ground if I need to. Which is the reason that I highly recommend this fin to all divers.
Once you are fimiliar with the ForceFin Prime lines you may want to evaluate the Extra Line and the Adjustable line.
The Extra Line contains 2 of the best fins I have ever used; the Extra Force and the Excellerating Force
These two are incredible, but beware, incredible or not, they are a lot of fin, and they may be too much for many divers. You can see my previous dicussions on these here.
So that leaves the adjustable line. This is the most diverse line in the catalogue, but these are all pretty much specialist fins. If you need to change your bootie or go to a drysuit boot or go skin, this pocket will do it for you. In this line we have everything from the leg busting MultiForce for in pool workouts, Body boarding shredders RipForce, to the Fishermans friend the Float Tube Fin designed to allow the largest of Wader Boots to be securely held. The final fin to talk about is the Adjustable Force which looks similar to the Float Tube, but remember the Float tube has an oversized footpocket, this is the normal size and will fit dive booties and drysuit boots alike. The Adjustable has the advantage of fitting comfortably to any size boot and even barefoot, with the added advantage that you can add any of the ForceWings to the fin (see ForceWing Thread). Although ANY of the ForceFin line can have the Comfort Insteps added to reduce the size to fit your wetsuit booties. Which is my SOP, I wear XXL fins with my Drysuit boot and slip the instep in to snug up the 3mm wetsuit bootie.