After waiting for what seemed like a really long time (3 months) I finally was able to get a set of Hollis fins. The fins were for my wife who wears a size 7 Akona 5mm neoprene boot with a 1/2" felt sole. I had ordered the Regular size F1s as they were supposed to be for size 7-9. She normally wears either size L jetfins or Tusa Splits depending on where/how we are diving.
The Hollis fins while being described as "rubber" seem more like some form of plastic/elastomer compared to the rubber jetfins. The spring straps they come with are of a very nice design and the heel cover with molded finger hole is very comfortable and makes removing them in surge under the boat very quick. Prefitting them before the dive we decided not to adjust (tighten) the fin straps as they were adequately holding her foot inside the footpocket. The footpocket itself is fairly deep and would seem to easily fit a boot tip of a drysuit.
My wifes impression of the fin were not particularly good. Despite her size 7 boot and the Hollis Regular size being for size 7-9 the fin seemed fairly loose on her foot. She was unable to functinally flutter, backfin, helicopter or generally move around with confidence. During the remainder of the boat trip she ended up using her other fins we had brought along.
My impression however was much different. I wear a size 10 Akona 5mm neoprene boot with 1/2 felt sole and the Regular sized Hollis F1 fit me like a glove. I normally wear XS Scuba Rockets with spring straps but decided to try the F1s after my wife left them on the deck of the boat. The F1s were easy to slip on and the foot pocket was very very comfortable to my foot. The spring strap was not too tight and my foot never felt loose. I was photographing everything from turtles to gobies in clear water with fine white sand and was able to hover inches above the sand and frog kick and helicopter without disturbing anything. Backfinning was easy enough although the Rockets being stiffer may be a tad easier for this kick. What really wins me over with the F1s compared to my Rockets design though is that when I decided to flutter kick I could do so smoothly unlike the rubber planks I am used to.
I would not describe the change from my normal fin experience (wetsuit - Rockets, drysuit - DiveRite fins) to the Hollis F1s as extraordinary but along most particular uses/kicks except for backfinning the F1s exceeded my normal standard. At this point the F1s are replacing my Rockets as my standard equipment.
The Hollis fins while being described as "rubber" seem more like some form of plastic/elastomer compared to the rubber jetfins. The spring straps they come with are of a very nice design and the heel cover with molded finger hole is very comfortable and makes removing them in surge under the boat very quick. Prefitting them before the dive we decided not to adjust (tighten) the fin straps as they were adequately holding her foot inside the footpocket. The footpocket itself is fairly deep and would seem to easily fit a boot tip of a drysuit.
My wifes impression of the fin were not particularly good. Despite her size 7 boot and the Hollis Regular size being for size 7-9 the fin seemed fairly loose on her foot. She was unable to functinally flutter, backfin, helicopter or generally move around with confidence. During the remainder of the boat trip she ended up using her other fins we had brought along.
My impression however was much different. I wear a size 10 Akona 5mm neoprene boot with 1/2 felt sole and the Regular sized Hollis F1 fit me like a glove. I normally wear XS Scuba Rockets with spring straps but decided to try the F1s after my wife left them on the deck of the boat. The F1s were easy to slip on and the foot pocket was very very comfortable to my foot. The spring strap was not too tight and my foot never felt loose. I was photographing everything from turtles to gobies in clear water with fine white sand and was able to hover inches above the sand and frog kick and helicopter without disturbing anything. Backfinning was easy enough although the Rockets being stiffer may be a tad easier for this kick. What really wins me over with the F1s compared to my Rockets design though is that when I decided to flutter kick I could do so smoothly unlike the rubber planks I am used to.
I would not describe the change from my normal fin experience (wetsuit - Rockets, drysuit - DiveRite fins) to the Hollis F1s as extraordinary but along most particular uses/kicks except for backfinning the F1s exceeded my normal standard. At this point the F1s are replacing my Rockets as my standard equipment.
