Force Fins 12.04.07

[Blair Mott]

Welcome to Force Fin’s Equipment Sub- Forum. I welcome any questions or comments concerning Force Fins. With so many fins to choose from I would like to provide answers to any questions you might have about our fins. I am also interested in hearing about any of your experiences with our products.

 

[jimorus]

You either love them or they are the dumbest looking things that will never work.

I have been using them since 1997 and love them.

I partially tore my Acchilles Tendon 5 weeks before or first ever big dive trip to Curacao. we had 17 dives and had been certified for 6 long months. A friend from work suggested i borrow his force fins as my Blades may have been a little tougher on my leg.

At first I was too embarassed to put them on. I hobbled to the back of the boat and put on the Blades. I went down and couldn't swim the length of the boat I came back up and asked them for the "other fins" from my bag. I did four dives that day and the hardest part was walking to the boat. We did 35 dives that week.

Whether the the lower air consumption was from the fins alone or the fins and more experience, by the end of the week I was staying down fro 45 minutes instead of 25.

I came home and bought my own pair, Original Force Fins, blue, 89 dollars on sale I tried the Tan Deltas after about 100 dives and didn't feel they were 300 dollars better than the originals.

We have almost 400 dives since then and I used the Original Force Fins on all bit 4. 3 with the Deltas and one in the aquarium at Disney with paddle fins, never again will I use paddle fins.

My friends laugh at them, my wife says they embarass her, all of the dive boat people look at me like I am a bit off and they are the most faded old looking fins on any boat we have been on. On the other hand they are comfortable, easy to find in the pile, easy to recognize in the water and easy to pack. When some of our gear was stolen, the thieves ignored my fins. I can move backward with small ankle movements and swim into the same currents as anyone else including the young fit divers and would not give them up for anything from the dark (paddle) side, although I may pick up a set of used Pro's from ebay just to have then in case of emergency.

The old pink ones fade to a color similar to a faded flourescent orange and seem pretty visible in the water. Those are the ones I am looking for.

I realize I have no style and no taste but it works for me

jim

 

[Blair Mott]

What a great read. You hit it on the head people ether love them or down right hate them. These fins help illustrate that pure pressure survived long after high school. On the boat you will get “WOW what interesting fin! Tell me about them” or “ What custom party did you swim from” They are the strangest looking fins I have ever seen ,but they are also the most natural looking fins I have seen on humans. “I judge the intelligence of my fellow divers by what fins they wear” Thanks again for the great read I appreciate you sharing. By chance does the Safety Neon Yellow Force Fin interest you? You mentioned you like the color of being able to be seen underwater.

 

[cyclone3565]

I purchased a pair of Pros a couple of years ago and this year for Christmas my wife ordered me your "spring" straps. I would not dive with anything else. They are the best. Thank you for being there for us.

 

[Blair Mott]

Very pleased to hear that the fins are right for you! What kind of diving do you do and where do you dive the most? Thanks for the support!

 

[Chatterton]

Years ago when I started commercial diving, I had a pair of regular Force Fins that I used for the couple of times a year where I needed fins instead of boots on a job. They were rugged, they worked, and the upturned ends made walking in/out of the water a little easier. I loved them, but I hated the nylon straps. I never used them for scuba because of the straps.

Then I saw Kevin Gurr diving in Mexico with a pair of Excelerating Fins with the bungee straps and he loved them. I bought a pair, loved them, and bought another pair of Extras. The bungee straps make them easy on/off in rough weather, they are comfortable, sturdy, and they are (in my eyes) stylish. I am not sure they measurably move me through the water any faster, but they have a nice, easy, comfortable kick that I like?? On the negative side, they are slippery on the deck.

The most amazing thing about FF is other people's reactions?? Over the years I have tried a lot of gear that has drawn attention, and rightfully so. The first trimix setups with stage bottles got some looks. The first rebreathers got a lot of comments, like my favorite, "John, why are you taking your vacuum cleaner diving?".

I have tried electric suit heaters, Full Face Mask manifolds, underwater tools, and even u/w music setups, but nothing continues to attract attention like the FF's?? Any time I get on an open boat with my fins, I always get comments. My stock reply is that some day they will all be wearing, in spite of the fact that they have been around for years?

There is a certain commeraderie amongst FF divers that has developed due to the social reaction of our peers?? I like to use stuff that works for me regardless of social issues, and I assume other FF divers think the same. I also fully realize that what works for me is not necessarily going to work for everyone else? If I want to blend, I can always wear my OMS fins (which are also good fins) but to me that seems an awful lot like bending to social pressures??

Cheers

JC

 

[Otter]

Ok...So I really don't care about the looks I get from other divers. JC has given them a reasonable review. I have fins that work, but I am always looking for something that works better. Problem is that dropping a $150 or so on a set of fins that MIGHT be as good or better than what I use now (which work) is not a very prudent use of funds.

Is there anything like "DOG Days" planned that we can at least try these things out in Open Water?

 

[Blair Mott]

Thanks for the interest! We are still working on planning " DOG DAYS " , but in the mean time you should be aware of the Force Fin 30 day Guarantee! Dive them as much as you can in 30 days if you are not satisfied return them and Force Fin will refund your money no questions asked. Although we would like the feedback!

 

[Footslogger]

Been diving since the early 70's. Started with USD Otaries (believe it or not), switched to USD Rockets, then moved to Mares Power Planas, tried the Mares closed heel Volo Races, eventually went back to my trusty Rockets. But ...2 years ago I decided to try the Original Force Fins and I'm HOOKED !! I could give a flip less that they are not Main Stream and look different.

All my diving is tropical and liveaboard. I dive with a camera and don't swim very fast or far. Force Fins give me everything I need without the long blade and confined foot. I personally wear mine with a 3mm flipper slipper (Body Glove) for a little thermal protection and cushion around the instep.

It took me many years to try them. Wish I had switched earlier. Bought a pair of PINK (yeah ...she's a girly girl) for my daughter for Xmas a year ago and now she's hooked too. She's 31 now and had been diving with Tusa Imprex fins since she was about 12.

MJ

 

[meesier42]

Is there anything like "DOG Days" planned that we can at least try these things out in Open Water?

If you are on the East Coast, I have been talking with Blair to try and get one going out here. I am hoping to get a handful of fins and basically have them available for all to use. I don't know any of the specifics yet, but I am hoping to get one in late May down in the OBX area, likely I will try to do a Saturday in Hatterass and Sunday in Morehead City. There are few better places to test the abilities of the fins than the deep open water currents off the OBX. Depending on how things go, I may try and do a trip to the Northern Fl Keys as well. I will follow up with information as soon as I can, but it won't be until at least late March into April before I know anything firm.

Between now and then, if you are in the MD/DC/VA area and want to try them PM me and I'll do my best to get you in one of my pairs. I am going diving on Saturday, and likely again in a week or two, then again at the end of Feb. Just to warn you, the quarrys are between 37-42F right now. We will be at Bainbridge this weekend and Lake Millbrook at the end of Feb.