Heck Yeah, Jetfins!

[dmaziuk]

No muscle aches afterword or cramps while using them in the water?

She swims. It helps.

 

[george_austin]

* sigh * Apologies, that did sound more than a bit harsh. Let me try to explain.

I grow weary of hearing about how one piece of scuba gear is the 'be all and end all'. No such thing and never will be.

Consider the progression: As a beginning diver, one is all about how to stay down longer and fin more effectively. Jump ahead to the high tech divers and they are all on rebreathers (SAC? who cares?) and diver propulsion vehicles. (DPV's) Fins, who cares? Jump ahead to those lucky few who go down in acrylic bubbles to depths that no rebreather pilot will ever see. Are they divers? Sure. SCUBA. Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. But now you are completely inside of your gear. I can't wait to see what will be next...

You might like the Dive and Let Dive thread. ;-)

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I finally figured out the secret to the original rubber straps, which I was having a heck of a time with adjusting and locking in place—it’s silicone o ring lube. In fact I rubbed it all over the fins, they look much better, and the fin straps work fine now!

Bungees solve that problem as well. They last years and cost a quarter to replace.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I finally figured out the secret to the original rubber straps, which I was having a heck of a time with adjusting and locking in place—it’s silicone o ring lube. In fact I rubbed it all over the fins, they look much better, and the fin straps work fine now!

I got rid of the original straps and replaced them with those heavy black rubber bungees they use for strapping down ladders and things on lumber racks. I use the 12” short ones and I make stainless “C” clips from 1/8” rod stock. I remove the galvanized hooks from the straps and replace them with my home made clips. Then I put the clips through the bungee holes and squeeze the ends of the clips into the holes in the fins with a pair of channel locks. Works better than spring straps, cheap too.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Jet fins are the fin that so many love to hate, but in the end they can’t get away from them. I tried to get away from jets for years, but in the end I always go back. It’s the only fin I use now.
Got mine from Leisure Pro years ago for $61. Found another pair at a garage sale. Traded a guy on SB for a size swap. Jets are actually a remarkable fin with all they can do. And with the most obvious kick, the standard flutter, they suck. They can do everything else that all other fins can’t do. One thing I learned to do is not overkick them. All it takes is a flip of the ankle and you move. Put both feet together and slowly undulate your body and it’s like you are using a mono fin. Frog kicks from the modified no silting kick to the full rangle frog kick, they work like no ther fin. I have experimented endlessly with them and I’m still finding new ways to make them work. Try straightening out your body and just fliping your feet like you are doing calf raises, you will jet forward with almost no effort.
They are almost indestructable. They are simple, only one material. They have no moving or attached parts. They are not flutter kick specific like so many other fin designs.
Scubapro tried to discontinue Jet fins several times but you can thank our military and the tech diving community for demanding that they not stop making them. Now SP realizes through a huge resurgence in sales that there is no way they will be able to stop making them.
Jet fins are the only fin that has a size that will fit a size 15 combat boot.

 

[undrwater]

I envy those of you who can get your toes beyond the foot pockets.

 

[lowviz]

You might like the Dive and Let Dive thread. ;-)

OK, OK. I took my spanking and left...

 

[JamesBon92007]

They are almost indestructable. They are simple, only one material. They have no moving or attached parts. They are not flutter kick specific like so many other fin designs.
.

I have a pair I bought several years back on eBay for $30 including shipping and they looked like new, except for the straps. They didn't even have any scratches on them. I'm fairly certain they were made in the 70s. My girlfriend bought a pair at a used beach stuff place on Hawai'i and they looked like new, except for the straps. I think she paid $20.

There have been many imitations over the decades and they are still coming out with new ones, and now there are identical copies but made from futuristic plastic materials. Some claim that they out-perform the originals but I wonder if they might be too light, and will they hold up over time. I had some kind of ScubaPro plastic fins that suddenly fell apart. Some say the originals are too heavy for travel fins but they fit in my carry-on and I'm always under the weight limit so to me it's not an issue. I wouldn't mind trying the new, plastic ones but I figure it'll cost me about $180 to find out if they are actually any better. Plus I'm not sure if they come in basic black

 

[lowviz]

...//... but I wonder if they might be too light, and will they hold up over time. ...

Nah, it is really easy.

If you are 'head heavy' then go with jets. If you can hang in trim without fins, then go with Diverites.

 

[george_austin]

My XL Jets weigh in at 6.3lbs with stainless straps. My Hollis F1's weigh in at 7.4 lbs and I travel with either one no problem. However - the Jets make a big difference and outshine the Hollis when it comes to being able to keep my feet off the flora and fauna underwater. Those Hollis F1's . . . if you let one slip over the side, it's likely gone baby gone unless you dive in immediately and fetch it.
If anyone wants a single F1, there's one about 500 ft deep off of the Ellie (sic) rig in Southern California. That was day one too.
My Jets are probably 21 or 22 years old and still holding up fine - Reef Seekers Dive Shop - 75.00$
They're BLACK of course but I have a yen for either the Cocktail Olive Green or Orange ones.