Fins
- Thread starter Cha_
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Bubbletrubble
Contributor
In my experience...
Split fins tend to be faster but less powerful and less maneuverable than conventional blade fins. If you have a propensity to get leg cramps or experience regular leg/hip pains, you might find that certain fin designs (split fins?) are better than others. I like to frog kick, and the blade fins work better for this style of kicking.
What it comes down to is this...you need to try out the fins in the water in full scuba gear under the conditions similar to those you'll be diving in. When you are demoing the various fins, make sure that the fins fit your feet/booties/boots. If the fin foot pocket is too small/big or the fin strap is too tight/loose, it will negatively affect performance and comfort. Also, you might want to pay attention to how the buoyancy of the fins can affect your trim.
Try both types of fins to see what works best for you. I haven't found a huge difference among the split fins on the market, but then again it's been a few years since I did my own tests. I own a pair of Tusa X-pert Zooms (splits) for wetsuit diving, and they work just fine. Ever since I got a drysuit, I've been using the XS Scuba Turtle fins (blades). I purchased a pair of APS Mantarays (blades) for travel. They're rather short/stubby, lightweight, and pack nicely. I can do all the kicks I want in them, but they aren't very powerful. Every fin is a compromise.
You should be able to get a decent pair of fins for under $100, but feel free to spend more if you like.
The first dive fins that I ever bought were a brand new pair of Tusa Liberators (blades)...for $25. Due to inflation over the years, these same fins are now priced at $30. They're made of plastic. They aren't super-stiff/powerful. However, they're good enough to use while you're figuring out what fins are the best match for your needs/style of diving.
Split fins tend to be faster but less powerful and less maneuverable than conventional blade fins. If you have a propensity to get leg cramps or experience regular leg/hip pains, you might find that certain fin designs (split fins?) are better than others. I like to frog kick, and the blade fins work better for this style of kicking.
What it comes down to is this...you need to try out the fins in the water in full scuba gear under the conditions similar to those you'll be diving in. When you are demoing the various fins, make sure that the fins fit your feet/booties/boots. If the fin foot pocket is too small/big or the fin strap is too tight/loose, it will negatively affect performance and comfort. Also, you might want to pay attention to how the buoyancy of the fins can affect your trim.
Try both types of fins to see what works best for you. I haven't found a huge difference among the split fins on the market, but then again it's been a few years since I did my own tests. I own a pair of Tusa X-pert Zooms (splits) for wetsuit diving, and they work just fine. Ever since I got a drysuit, I've been using the XS Scuba Turtle fins (blades). I purchased a pair of APS Mantarays (blades) for travel. They're rather short/stubby, lightweight, and pack nicely. I can do all the kicks I want in them, but they aren't very powerful. Every fin is a compromise.
You should be able to get a decent pair of fins for under $100, but feel free to spend more if you like.
The first dive fins that I ever bought were a brand new pair of Tusa Liberators (blades)...for $25. Due to inflation over the years, these same fins are now priced at $30. They're made of plastic. They aren't super-stiff/powerful. However, they're good enough to use while you're figuring out what fins are the best match for your needs/style of diving.
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Cha_ what you are asking is a difficult to answer. Its like asking which is better Ford or Chevy and if you want a truck or car.
As BubbleTrubble stated the best advice is if possible get in the pool and try out diffrent types of gear and so forth. As to your question though the best reviews are for the blade fins it appears that the Scubapro Jets tend to get the best reviews and as for the splits it tends to go to the Apollo Bio Fins. I personally use the bio fins and have fallen in love with them.
Again though dont go and buy because some one recommended them go and try them out and see which works best for you. If possible attempt to plan ahead and buy well rounded gear that will meet most all of your needs and this will be a great financial relief in the long run!
As BubbleTrubble stated the best advice is if possible get in the pool and try out diffrent types of gear and so forth. As to your question though the best reviews are for the blade fins it appears that the Scubapro Jets tend to get the best reviews and as for the splits it tends to go to the Apollo Bio Fins. I personally use the bio fins and have fallen in love with them.
Again though dont go and buy because some one recommended them go and try them out and see which works best for you. If possible attempt to plan ahead and buy well rounded gear that will meet most all of your needs and this will be a great financial relief in the long run!
Cha_, save your money... Go to a used dive gear shop, craigslist.com, or pawn shop and find a 10.00 set of Fins. For now that is all you need. Go log some dives. Buy a set of good fins next year, by then you should know what you like/ dont like about what your using. Which in turn will help you decide what to buy.
Also try split fins first then paddles. If you try the paddles first the difference in effort will make the split fins feel like you don't have anything on and unnatural.
DevonDiver
N/A
It depends a lot on your diving goals.
Split fins excel in straight-line, efficient and rapid finning. However, not many experienced divers have any need to value those characteristics; prefering a slower, more relaxed pace and the ability to maneouver themselves precisely and with dexterity in the water.
That said, for general open water diving split fins are going to be fine. If you want to develop an interest in photography, wreck or cave diving then you will need to identify a more stiff-bladed paddle type fin that provides better static and maneouvre control.
My personal preference for fins are Force Fin Pros. These suit my individual diving needs perfectly. This is because I predominantly dive within the confined spaces of shipwrecks and because ForceFins offer the least strain on my lower limbs (which are pretty screwed from years of military service, martial arts and playing rugby).
My second choice would be Scubapro Jetfins or OMS Slipstreams.
However, many novice divers take some time to decide their diving goals and preferences. Such requirements are normally determined only as a result of gaining more experience underwater. For that reason, it may not be advisable to spend a large amount of money on a specialist fin (whether bladed, split or otherwise) until you have a clear understanding of your specific needs.
Split fins excel in straight-line, efficient and rapid finning. However, not many experienced divers have any need to value those characteristics; prefering a slower, more relaxed pace and the ability to maneouver themselves precisely and with dexterity in the water.
That said, for general open water diving split fins are going to be fine. If you want to develop an interest in photography, wreck or cave diving then you will need to identify a more stiff-bladed paddle type fin that provides better static and maneouvre control.
My personal preference for fins are Force Fin Pros. These suit my individual diving needs perfectly. This is because I predominantly dive within the confined spaces of shipwrecks and because ForceFins offer the least strain on my lower limbs (which are pretty screwed from years of military service, martial arts and playing rugby).
My second choice would be Scubapro Jetfins or OMS Slipstreams.
However, many novice divers take some time to decide their diving goals and preferences. Such requirements are normally determined only as a result of gaining more experience underwater. For that reason, it may not be advisable to spend a large amount of money on a specialist fin (whether bladed, split or otherwise) until you have a clear understanding of your specific needs.
NuclearOOPS
Contributor
In the pool we used full foot fins, which I absolutely hate. They killed my feet. I bought a pair of atomic splits for my open water checkouts. While doing the checkouts, I also tried a pair of mare avanti quattro. I definetly preferred my splits. I still love my splits, but I have found I prefer to frog kick. The splits will frog kick, but not as well as a set of paddles. When its comes to helicopter turns, they will do those, but also not as well, and I have found the back kick to be nearly impossible. No matter how hard I try I always seem to go forwards. I've tried two sets of paddles. XS Scuba Turtles, and Hollis F1's. I didn't like the turtles one bit. They just didn't seem to propel me very well. I love the F1's and will be buying a pair very soon. I could do all the kicks and they proppelled me quite well compared to the turtles. Could be that the blade is a little longer. I might try the OMS slipstreams, just because they're neutral buoyant, but I'm pretty set on the F1's. Like the previous have said. Try out as many as you can before you purchase. If I had tried more It would have saved me some money. I bought my atomic splits for around $165, but had I known the finning style I preffered and had the oppurtunity to try the F1's, I could have saved myself around $65
This one here, and the junk shop is how you outfit to go "diving" for a couple of hundred.
Then when you want an extreme upgrade you will with patiece do it again for 5 hundred.
The best manufacturer is the one that leaves the most in your pocket
for other things like diving, or beer, or cha cha.
DevonDiver
N/A
Where possible, try out as many types of fins as you can. This will give you a better understanding of the pros and cons to different design features, materials and concepts. Don't opt for any 'high-end' expensive fin until you have a firm idea about what your requirements are. Many dive centres will let you trial fins if you are serious about making a purchase. Definitely try a set of ForceFins and Jetfins.
I started out with a set of Mares X3. These were good quality generalised and economically priced fins. They offered sufficient propulsion, control and manueovreability. As divers upgrade to more specialised fins, they often appear for sale on Ebay and Craigslist as real bargains. If you can get a second-hand pair of these in an auction, then your immediate needs would be satisfied - and you could save money for the future, where you could make a more informed personal decision on an ideal set of fins for your evolving diving needs.
Have a look at these threads, which details an intelligent review of Jet/Force/Split fins:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/368297-fin-review-sp-jet-fins-vs-force-fins-vs-blade-normal-fins.html#post5705345
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/381416-fin-review-2-0-split-fins-vs-all-others.html
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