Force Fins and 800 yard swim

[mullannix930]

I'm getting ready to take a Watermanship test, for a Public safety Dive team. One of the tests is an 800 yard snorkel swim. i can do the swim in the time set, but my feet are killing me. Most of the pain is in the balls of my feet. I changed to split fins and it helped, but the pain is still there. I know they fit ok, so that's not the problem.

My next step would be to Force Fins. My concern is how they compare in speed. I am ok speed wise, but don't want to work harder to keep my speed. So, how are the Forcefins Pro or Excelerating Force when it comes to speed compared to split or blade fins?

Also, any idea when the excerating or the flying force will be brought back to market.

 

[DCBC]

I find that they give good speed with little effort. They definitely cause less leg stress than many other types of fins on long swims. In the U.S. Navy study, the Force Fin Pro realized the least amount of effort at the same speed (Force Fin: US Navy Research on Fins). Perhaps why they are chosen for the SEAL Teams. That about say it all. Good luck with the test!

 

[danvolker]

I'm getting ready to take a Watermanship test, for a Public safety Dive team. One of the tests is an 800 yard snorkel swim. i can do the swim in the time set, but my feet are killing me. Most of the pain is in the balls of my feet. I changed to split fins and it helped, but the pain is still there. I know they fit ok, so that's not the problem.

My next step would be to Force Fins. My concern is how they compare in speed. I am ok speed wise, but don't want to work harder to keep my speed. So, how are the Forcefins Pro or Excelerating Force when it comes to speed compared to split or blade fins?

Also, any idea when the excerating or the flying force will be brought back to market.

The excellerating Force Fins or SD1's will be a great deal faster than any split fin...the technology difference is like comparing the athletic potentials of Bruce Lee to those of Larry the Cable Guy ( aka the split fin)....One is precise and effective, the other is funny but pretty sloppy

 

[Rand]

When I did my 800 yd snorkel swim for divemaster, I had been using FF originals for about 3 years. Right before my swim, another diver came up to me and told me "You don't want to do your swim in those fins, these split fins are much faster." Stupidly, I swapped fins with him, having never used splits before. I barely made it back to the start point, and was way past the time needed to pass the swim. When I got out of the water, my calves and insteps were so sore and cramped, I couldn't walk. The pain continued into the following day.

About a month later, I repeated the same swim, this time in my FF Originals. I knocked over 6 minutes off my time, and I was able to walk with ease afterwards.

I would suggest, as a public safety diver, that you do the test in the fins you will wear while working. I'm not a public safety diver, but I would guess that Force Fins' short length alone would make them a good choice for that type of diving. I wear them while wet, dry, and with doubles, and they perform flawlessly.

If you can find a pair of Hockey Force Fins, I would highly suggest getting them. I've used Originals, Pros, Excellerating, and Hockeys, and the Hockey FFs are by far my favorite and IMO, the best performing.