Fin question from a new diver

[ketchupkm]

I'm just getting in to diving so please pardon my dumb question. I'm taking my open water dive certification class in a few weeks, but have not yet started it so my knowledge about diving is limited at the moment.

Anyway, my friend loaned me his new Mares Avanti Quattro open heel fins along with a pair of dive booties to try out in the swimming pool before I buy a set myself. I had a question about fins in general. Each fin has this sort of removeable inner sleeve inside the foot pocket. What is this for? I looked at other fin models and some had this as well. Should I leave this sleeve in or remove it when wearing my booties? When trying on fin with booties for fit should I leave the sleeve in or take out? I'm sure my local dive shop will help me with this when I go in to purchase a pair of fins, but just thought I would get a head's up first.

Thanks!

 

[scarefaceDM]

That sleeve is just to keep the pocket of the FIN from crushing and becoming deformed when stored. Or when you pack it for travel. You take it out when you want to use our fins.

Having a deformed foot pocket can cause you a little pain in the foot. Some fins have stiffer pockets as some are softer. Store your fins with the foot sleeve to keep the form of the pocket true. Or shove gloves hood booties in the pocket to help keep the pocket properly formed.

Stephen

 

[meesier42]

that little thing is to keep the shape of the cheap rubber/plastic parts they use from deforming while being shipped. Always remember when you buy crap not made in the US that its actual cost is likely less than 10% of retail price.

You can keep the little things in there when not in use to keep the rubber in shape and potentially lasting longer

 

[ketchupkm]

Thanks for your help. I'm very new to this if you can't already tell!

 

[hokie_diver]

that little thing is to keep the shape of the cheap rubber/plastic parts they use from deforming while being shipped. Always remember when you buy crap not made in the US that its actual cost is likely less than 10% of retail price.

You can keep the little things in there when not in use to keep the rubber in shape and potentially lasting longer

So Mares fins are crap since they're not made in the US?

Whose fins are manufactured in the US?

 

[meesier42]

ForceFins are not only made in the US, the molds are hand made in the US which are made from US sourced parts, the Urethanes are sourced in the US and the fins are cast and finished in the US. They are completely made in the US, even the cardboard they are packaged in comes from a US company.

 

[covediver]

Thanks for your help. I'm very new to this if you can't already tell!

I lifeguard at a pool used by scuba classes. You can always tell when we get a new class because those inserts get left behind. Some people use them for a while, most don't.

Seems like a lot of fins have them nowadays, especially the well built ones since most cheap fins would want to keep product costs low and wouldn't include them. Some designs may not need them but questions about Forcefins are best left to the ambassador in residence.

Don't hesistate to ask a question about a piece of equipment if you don't understand its function. I recall the first time I saw those on a pair of fins when I worked in a diveshop in the 1980s. A customer asked what they were for and before I could answer he was told they were used to size fins for a better fit, that if the footpocket was too big the insert would give a tighter fit. I guess it would but that was not what they were for.

 

[Osseous]

ForceFins are not only made in the US, the molds are hand made in the US which are made from US sourced parts, the Urethanes are sourced in the US and the fins are cast and finished in the US. They are completely made in the US, even the cardboard they are packaged in comes from a US company.

Which explains about $40 of their ludicrous prices~ Their website shows one model for nearly $800?!~ They'd better come with a herd of turtles to do the work for that many clams!!!

 

[hokie_diver]

ForceFins are not only made in the US, the molds are hand made in the US which are made from US sourced parts, the Urethanes are sourced in the US and the fins are cast and finished in the US. They are completely made in the US, even the cardboard they are packaged in comes from a US company.

Great, but is everything that's not ForceFins "crap"?

There are plenty of things made overseas used in diving and otherwise that are quality items.

 

[castanagajt]

Honestly, I would go with a fin that you can afford. Just try out his fins and maybe finish the class with it. When you find others try a split fins type. It's hard to push a product these days.

IMHO For a start fin you can go with the Aqualung Blades 2 it's user friendly. Another one, that I like is the Tusa xpert zoom usually comes in blue and black. Others that I used that I liked was the Apollo Bio fins and the Scuba Pro Twin jet.

Oh one more thing, when looking for the right fin, make sure that you find a boot that you like and fit then match the size of the boot with the right sized fin. Just my experience, for some weird reason I have come up with a conclusion that Deep See boots fits better in the foot pocket with Aqualung products against other brands. Akona well fits in the other products. But don't take my word for it, just make sure you are sized up with the right boot and fin.