Force Fins - Not exactly vintage, but going away.

[DanBMW]

Just an FYI - I recently heard from Bob, and he will no longer be making these fins. He has about 150 pair left and when they are gone, the only ones available will be used ones. I've used them for many years to dive and swim and admit, that they are not right for all of my situations, but for swimming and most of my diving, I find them less tiring and easy on my legs.

 

[broncobowsher]

Bought a set used in the 90s (garage sale)
They were my pool fins when I had a house with a pool in it. Small enough that I could use them for laps, but were still effective as a fin. Later they transitioned into boat fins. Again the compact size. They just pack into the boat and are part of the anchor recovery rig. In the 25 years I owned them the only thing that aged was the ankle strap covers rotted and fell off. Beyond that they sit in the bottom of my boat in the same condition as I bought them in that garage sale 25 years ago. May not be the greatest, but they are functional and fit my need.

 

[Nosmosis]

Just an FYI - I recently heard from Bob, and he will no longer be making these fins. He has about 150 pair left and when they are gone, the only ones available will be used ones. I've used them for many years to dive and swim and admit, that they are not right for all of my situations, but for swimming and most of my diving, I find them less tiring and easy on my legs.

Now that Jonathan Byrd is a tech/cave diver he stopped using them. I assume he was their other customer.

 

[tridacna]

Now that Jonathan Byrd is a tech/cave diver he stopped using them. I assume he was their other customer.

Incorrect. He still uses them for rec diving. Not for caves. Nothing new here. And there are a dedicated bunch of us on the board who still use them.

 

[Nosmosis]

Incorrect. He still uses them for rec diving. Not for caves. Nothing new here. And there are a dedicated bunch of us on the board who still use them.

Lol, I have always wanted to try them actually, but not sure they would be my choice for day-to-day diving.

 

[happy-diver]

Now that Jonathan Byrd is a tech/cave diver he stopped using them. I assume he was their other customer.

Hey yeah, who gives a rats arse about your ignorant disrespectful assumptions
or I could look at your comment from a different angle and have a good laugh

Ironically!

 

[jadairiii]

Lol, I have always wanted to try them actually, but not sure they would be my choice for day-to-day diving.

I picked up a pair cheap at a marine flea market. I found them really funny to use maybe because of how I use fins. they have no "up stroke" at all, so your leg just sort of flys up, down stroke, if found, was nothing special. So for me, I only got 1/2 a stroke. I use them for body surfing.

Worth trying if it doesn't cost a fortune.

 

[JMBL]

I find them less tiring and easy on my legs.

My feeling exactly when I've discovered them. Tried them in several situations and was never disappointed, even in rough conditions. Just one drawback : you must learn to dive with them, so it's like learning to fin again for a few dives. But that's well worth the effort.

Now that old age is slowly creeping in, I love them even more : my aching joints can't bear other fins for long...

 

[lowwall]

Another big advantage is they don't stress your feet. If you suffer from foot cramps, they are definitely worth a try.

I found them really funny to use maybe because of how I use fins. they have no "up stroke" at all, so your leg just sort of flys up, down stroke, if found, was nothing special. So for me, I only got 1/2 a stroke. I use them for body surfing.

That's intentional, your muscles are a lot stronger on the downstroke, so Bob designed his fins to maximize that. The easy recover on the upstroke fools people into feeling they aren't effective, but I've tested them against the ScubaPro Go Sports when flutter kicking and they are essentially equal in speed and power while being more compact and comfortable. And they are amazing when used with a butterfly (aka dolphin) kick.

The big drawback is they aren't great for frog kicks, if you contort your ankles some you can get them to work but it's not really what they are for.

This all applies to the standard Force Fins and the stiffer FF Pros which is what you are most likely to encounter. Bob has made a bunch of other designs, some of which are supposed to be good for frog kicking, but I have no experience with them.

 

[DanBMW]

As far as speed on a normal dive, I have found them to be equally as fast as any other diver I'm with and most who like to challenge me. They are an acquired taste and do take a dive or two to really believe that they work. I love the swim fins for swimming PT and generally use them for most dives. Too bad that future generations will not have the opportunity, unless someone buys the forms and uses the correct material. Bob does not make it sound easy.