Fin Fit and Stiff Tusa X-pert Zoom

[pmackey]

Hi. I'm a long-time snorkeler, but a new diver, getting my certification this weekend. I bought my mask, snorkel and booties from my local dive shop, but I bought my fins online. I bought the Tusa X-pert zooms. I ended up buying the stiffer black ones by accident. I have a size 8.5-9 foot (women's) and the website said to get a M/ML. So that's what I got. My concerns: 1) The fin seems a little too big. (and yes, I tried them on with the booties) I'm not on the last buckle ratchet, but my heel only comes out a tiny bit. The toe area seems perfect, and the fin is not falling off at all, but I get a little bit of play when I vigorously shake my foot side to side. What do you think? My boyfriend said he'd buy them from me if I decide to get the xs/small. (his feet are just a tad bigger than mine). Second question: is the stiffer composite model too burly for me? I'm a strong, athletic, but fairly slender girl, 5'5", 135 lbs, a big mountainbiker and a decent swimmer, having grown up in Florida. But I'm not an "expert diver" obviously, and I don't get to swim all that often, living in Denver. When I buy the xs/smalls should I get the colored less stiff kind? I was thinking maybe the stiffer model would be a nice compromise between a split fin and a paddle fin and give me more hovering control. What do you think?

thanks!

 

[aznlmpulse]

I can't really speak from experience, but my gf just recently purchased the blue/ less stiffer xpert zooms..and she zips around the water with no problems....She's about...5'1", 105, used to be a life guard, so a pretty strong swimmer. She loves them.

hope this info helps.

 

[scubatoys]

You sound like you are right on the cusp... With a 9 women.. that's a size 8 mens and that is normally the crossover point between the xs-s and the m-ml. So much depends on how heavy the boot is. With a very lightweight soft sole boot, I'd say you'd be in the xs-s. If a heavy hard sole, probably need the m-ml. I don't know if you got them from us... but if so, just give me a shout on Monday, and I can shoot out a pair of the smaller ones, then if they fit better and your boyfriend doesn't want them, we will send you a RS slip for the m-ml.

 

[pmackey]

You sound like you are right on the cusp... With a 9 women.. that's a size 8 mens and that is normally the crossover point between the xs-s and the m-ml. So much depends on how heavy the boot is. With a very lightweight soft sole boot, I'd say you'd be in the xs-s. If a heavy hard sole, probably need the m-ml. I don't know if you got them from us... but if so, just give me a shout on Monday, and I can shoot out a pair of the smaller ones, then if they fit better and your boyfriend doesn't want them, we will send you a RS slip for the m-ml.

Thanks, I think you're right, I am right on the cusp. I have a fairly light bootie, the basic Oceanic, cheap all-purpose warm water bootie. I played around with a pair of medium scubapro twin jets yesterday, to compare. They were a tad better fit although there was still a little play. I liked them better than the zooms, although I'm not sure whether that was because of the fit or the fin. I also liked the open toe in the twinjets. Unfortunately the twin jets are pricey! I got the fins from scuba.com.

 

[bgi]

The stiff zooms are not the same animal as the standard stiffness. My wife and I much prefer the standard zooms. We can zip around with little effort with the normal ones, while the stiff ones tend to wear us down quickly. They have a fairly wide foot pocket. They fit a "healthy" side-padded booty (dacor 6.5mm and oceanic neo classic) well without side-to-side wiggling.

hope this helps.