58 years old, looking for fins to help with efficiency?

[TMHeimer]

I've been using splits for 10 years. They are supposedly good in cramp prevention, but I started potassium pills at the same approx. time, so who knows?
I found I got plenty of speed.
I have found the last couple of years not so much.
Somewhat disagree with scubadada--I am as old as I am.

 

[tridacna]

How many opinions now? Almost as many as posts. Just go try a pair or two at your local dive store in the pool. Figure out which you like best. Good luck!

My niece is a Jr Olympic swimmer. She’ll outfin 99% of everyone here in a pair of flipflops.

 

[Hank49]

Hi @Hank49

Sorry, but, do you have a personal interest in these fins or is it purely experiential?

Just sharing experience. I would’t use long blades for body surfing a grinding shore break however.

 

[Photo Girl]

jet fins

 

[dmaziuk]

My niece is a Jr Olympic swimmer. She’ll outfin 99% of everyone here in a pair of flipflops.

You can't fin in flip-flops: they fall off all the time and you have to dive to retrieve them. That is, anyone here finning in flip-flops, I can outfin them too.

 

[Marty Bess]

This response may not be what you are looking for, but....

I was in your position when I was a few years younger than you. It was not just my age--I had severe osteoarthritis in my right knee, cause by a series of athletic injuries during my youth. I bought a pair of fins that were supposed to do what you want--Mares Volo Power. They worked as advertised. they were easy kicking fins that propelled me along nicely

Then two things happened at about the same time. I began working on technical diving, and I got the knee replaced. The Mares Volos were a problem for the tech diving, because they are designed for flutter kicking only, and technical diving requires a lot of different kicking techniques that are best performed by stiff blade fins. I bought the fins I needed for the tech diving and kept the Mares fins for open water recreational diving. Before long, I decided that I liked the fins I was using for technical diving better for all diving, and I sold the Mares fins.

I am now a decade older than you, and I own and use several pair of stiff blade fins. Because I have to carry around heavy gear for tech diving, I make sure my exercise routine keeps my legs strong. As a result, I have no trouble with that kind of fin, despite my age, and I plan to keep it that way for as long as I can.

So my advice is don't give in to age until you absolutely have to. If you decide that for the diving you will do both now and the future the easy kicking fins are just what you need, then that is what you want. But please make your choice based on the kind of fin you need for the kind of diving you will do, not because of an assumption that you are going to be losing leg strength soon. You are far too young to give in to old age! You want your legs to be as strong as you can make them for as long as you can, because you need leg strength to continue a suitable quality of life, whether that includes scuba or not.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

--Dylan Thomas​

I thought my question may have been presented vaguely, sorry.


My wife and I are in pretty good condition and run 4 days a week. My legs are not as strong as they were 5 years ago when I was cycling in the Rockies where I live but gave it up after a really bad crash. Still though fairly strong legs and good lungs. I do have one bad knee from an injury wakeboarding.

 

[Ayisha]

I highly recommend the UTD Precision Neutral fins as an excellent, efficient, lightweight fin. They're the same size and shape as the Jetfins but have a deeper, more comfortable foot pocket and are just over half the weight. I have them with the spring straps. I found them nearly 5 years ago and my search was over, never looked back.

Take a look: UTD Precision Fins - Neutrally/Positively Buoyant · UTD Scuba Diving

 

[Marty Bess]

Hi @Marty Bess

What fins do you dive now? What is it that you don't like about them, size, stiffness, weight? What kind of diving do you do? What kicks do you use?

My wife and I are in pretty good condition and run 4 days a week so with that said the fins we have are the Oceanic Viper Fins: Oceanic Viper Open Heel Fins. We only scuba in warm water places like Cozumel, etc. I knew my fins were not cutting it while in Key West a month ago and the current-swell was hard for me to deal with. I don't dive enough to know if I need a stiffer fin or what?

 

[Marty Bess]

What @boulderjohn said. Jet fins. Just because they’re stiff doesn’t mean they have to tire or you or make you sore for propulsion. Go at your own speed. They’re only taxing if you have bad technique or are using flutter kick for the whole dive. Actually, they’re the best fins for currents and if used properly with actual finning technique, you can overcome your “efficiency” need. I think this is a personal fitness/ finning technique problem and you’re trying to fix it by buying a softer fin per se. Try do a little mobility and light calisthenics with your legs. Only 5 mins a day if you want. Everyone has 5 mins to spare, get at it! Get those legs better!

Your assumption is incorrect I'm in pretty good shape, my question however was vague.

 

[Marty Bess]

I highly recommend the UTD Precision Neutral fins as an excellent, efficient, lightweight fin. They're the same size and shape as the Jetfins but have a deeper, more comfortable foot pocket and are just over half the weight. I have them with the spring straps. I found them nearly 5 years ago and my search was over, never looked back.

Take a look: UTD Precision Fins - Neutrally/Positively Buoyant · UTD Scuba Diving

Thanks!