Help w/Wife's Fins, She Doesn't Like Deep 6 Eddy's

[rob.mwpropane]

Hey guys, so I had bought my wife a pair of deep 6's about a year ago. In her defense, she's tried them multiple times, say's she just can't seem to get them down. So I'm here for help. She wears a 5mm bootie, and I believe size 7 shoe.

What fin should I be looking at? Obviously, whatever the opposite of a tech-ish type fin is.

Fwiw, I dove my deep 6's yesterday @ Dutch Springs and I loved them. I feel like I could frog kick / glide all day long in those. Modified flutter also amazing. Just didn't want to sound like I was dogging Deep 6, they're great....just maybe not for her....

 

[scubadada]

Fins are a personal choice, too bad there is not an easy way to try several pair.

Several SBers have spoke up for Scubapro Go Sports lately. I have dived with two people in SE FL recently who thought quite highly of them. I'd like to try out a pair as travel fins. My usual fins are DR XTs

 

[delacrue96]

I've tried both a split fin, Atomic Aquatics for about 8 years and now recently switched to a paddle fin, Mares Avanti Quattro Plus. I've used them during boat dives in Hawaii and cold quarry dives in the NE. Our whole family, my husband and two boys dive with the Mares. I'd recommend trying them.

 

[jgttrey]

What is your wife's specific problem with the Eddy fins? I'm a fan of them, but fins are personal. It's hard to recommend an alternative if we don't know what she didn't like about the Eddys. Opposite of tech doesn't give us too much to work with other than immediately call to mind split fins, which is probably not what you have in mind.

Too stiff? Uncomfortable foot pocket? Wrong buoyancy? Does she exclusively flutter kick or does she need a fin that is good for frog kicking/helicopter turns, etc.? Tell us what itch needs to be scratched.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Good stuff, thanks. I appreciate the feedback.

After reading around today I still keep wondering if she's got a kicking problem more than a fin problem. She's not 100% comfortable in the water yet and I'm beginning to think it might be a lack of experience. The fins that were mentioned look good though. I cringed when I saw Scubapro mentioned, but $120 isn't too bad, the Mares I saw for around $130 or so. Both inside the budget, so thanks!

If anyone else has advice I'll take it...

 

[rob.mwpropane]

What is your wife's specific problem with the Eddy fins? I'm a fan of them, but fins are personal. It's hard to recommend an alternative if we don't know what she didn't like about the Eddys. Opposite of tech doesn't give us too much to work with other than immediately call to mind split fins, which is probably not what you have in mind.

Too stiff? Uncomfortable foot pocket? Wrong buoyancy? Does she exclusively flutter kick or does she need a fin that is good for frog kicking/helicopter turns, etc.? Tell us what itch needs to be scratched.

Yeah, i guess I could of added more. She say's they hurt her knees when she does frog, and tire her out with flutter. I'm thinking they're too stiff, but I'm leaning towards it's a her problem, less so the fins...

I think she would like to flutter more, even though I keep telling her I can modified flutter all day in Deep 6, and frog should be the go to anyway...but it's coming from me, so she's less apt to hear

 

[jgttrey]

IMHO, almost any of the "tech" fins will be hard for a newer diver who wants to flutter kick most of the time. They're just too stiff for that. I personally almost never use a flutter kick, but it does take a while to get comfortable frog kicking.

I haven't tried the Go Sport fin. I did borrow the wife's regular "Go" fins (which she wore with a bootie and I used barefoot). I thought they sucked. No backbone at all. Maybe the Sport is stiffer, but the regular Go fins had no power at all - felt like I was diving with noodles.

A tech-ish fin that is smaller and not so stiff is the Hollis F2. Wouldn't be my choice if I was moving more than a single tank or had to fight a current, but perfectly fine for casual recreational diving. Better than fine, because I can still do all the tech kicks. It just doesn't have a lower gear like Jets or F1s. But it is more flexible and light. It's a treat in warm water in single. It does have a pretty blockish footpocket and appropriate booties are needed (i.e., something to help fill that big pocket).

The biggest deal is figuring out what she wants to do and buying the fin for the diver she is now rather than what she might want later when she gets more comfortable with different kick styles. I've learned that the hard way - buying fins for my wife based on what I'd get if I were her, rather than getting fins that suit her diving, which is different than mine.

 

[Marie13]

Hey guys, so I had bought my wife a pair of deep 6's about a year ago. In her defense, she's tried them multiple times, say's she just can't seem to get them down. So I'm here for help. She wears a 5mm bootie, and I believe size 7 shoe.

What fin should I be looking at? Obviously, whatever the opposite of a tech-ish type fin is.

Fwiw, I dove my deep 6's yesterday @ Dutch Springs and I loved them. I feel like I could frog kick / glide all day long in those. Modified flutter also amazing. Just didn't want to sound like I was dogging Deep 6, they're great....just maybe not for her....

Which size fins does she have? Small/medium? I have a pair of these. They are less stiff and are also lighter than the larger sized Deep6 fins. See my avatar for how flexible they can be.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

The biggest deal is figuring out what she wants to do and buying the fin for the diver she is now rather than what she might want later when she gets more comfortable with different kick styles. I've learned that the hard way - buying fins for my wife based on what I'd get if I were her, rather than getting fins that suit her diving, which is different than mine.

This ^^^ hits the nail on the head I think.

Which size fins does she have? Small/medium? I have a pair of these. They are less stiff and are also lighter than the larger sized Deep6 fins. See my avatar for how flexible they can be.

She wears L in Deep 6. We tried the smaller size, but with booties they didn't fit (was way too tight even loosened the highest part), so we traded in for L.

 

[-JD-]

From what I understand, OMS Slipstreams are slightly heavier and slightly softer than the Eddys. I'm diving a large pair that I picked up used and have been pleased so far.
I also dive Force Fin Pros frequently which are surprisingly effective for frog (actually easier as I am still getting used to the Slipstreams)

I was up at Dutch last weekend too, shame I didn't know then.

If you want to experiment, I use a 5mm size 9 semi-soft sole boot - so probably close enough, but at the other end of the fit range. Either if I'm @ Dutch, or I'm close to 476 where it changes to Toll you could swing by to borrow ...

I have:
Atomic "Smoke On The Water" Splits (the stiffer compound)
OMS Slipstream
Force Fin Pro
Force Fin Hockey

Actually, I'd be interested in trying the Eddys vs the Slipstreams if we find an overlapping Dutch day.