MaxAir Swim Fins - Stay Down Longer with Less Effort

[Shotmaster]

Been a diver since 1973, started with jet fins, I have bought more than a dozen different fins and tried another dozen over the years. After a few dives I always wound up back in my jet fins. The versatility was hard to beat. I just bought Scubapro Seawing Novas, been very happy with them so far. The first fins that I have gotten excited about since my first pair. So I think I can say that after all the hype and claims that have come over the years about fins, don't tell me, "show me". I am sure I am not alone. I sure if most divers went and looked in their closet, there will be one or more sets of fins collecting dust. I bought my daughter some nice fins, they were hot pink, blade style fins. She was having difficulty manuevering in them so i gave her my original size small jet fins that I had at her age to try out, after her first test swim, she wanted to know why I gave her those crappy pink fins? I just laughed and said that I thought she would like them better because they were a nice color. She told me to sell them, and she was keeping the ugly black ones! LOL. She is like a fish now, and has no trouble keeping up with me.

 

[TECreation]

The Hollis Bat Fin was mentioned much earlier in this thread. It looks and performs very similar to jet fins. Here is the summary performance curves of the analytical testing. You can get more detailed discussion of how these tests were done on the website . Since the smoothed lines are mathematical curve fits of the data you should not put much relevance into the data beyond where there are actual data points.

One thing that becomes clear is that when swimming at what most of us consider normal there is little difference between fins. That is because normal is slow. When swimming slowly the swimmer's base breathing rate becomes the controlling factor in air consumption. Where these fins really shine is when it is necessary to crank it up. Please note the speeds shown here are averages for the entire course which starts from a dead stop and includes 5 - 180 degree turns. This in no way reflects straight line speeds. (I will get more of these up as time permits.)

 

[Shotmaster]

If you are convinced that there is a significant improvement in efficiency, I am retired Military and have personal friends still on active duty that would be interested in testing them. If they do what you claim, they could certainly fund the development and purchase. They would be interested in the greater speed and/or reduced workload. One of our favorite exercises is known as the "Flutter Kick". Doing 1000, four count Flutter Kicks (4000) is a warm up exercise. Best be sure you are correct, these guys know their business. If you are confident of the technology send me a PM and I will introduce myself, then you can decide if you want take the chance that somebody may tell you your baby is ugly, but if it works, you could make bank.

 

[The Chairman]

The Hollis Bat Fin was mentioned much earlier in this thread. It looks and performs very similar to jet fins.

Not really... I dove jets for about 40 years. Saw no reason to change even after trying dozens of fins. Then that sent me a pair of Bat fins (F1s). Whoa... I just love them from the foot pocket to the supple tips.

 

[TECreation]

If you are confident of the technology send me a PM and I will introduce myself, then you can decide if you want take the chance that somebody may tell you your baby is ugly

I will take you up on that. We are nearly neighbors. Please contact me through my website so we can make arrangements directly.

 

[TECreation]

Then that sent me a pair of Bat fins (F1s). Whoa... I just love them

By your post it is presumed you preferred the performance of the Bat fins. I have not directly tested the Jet fin yet but if you say the Bat is better then logically the MaxAir likely has an even better performance lead over the Jet fins. Time and availability of the fins and the test pool are the only barriers to direct testing.

 

[TECreation]

Since we have been talking frog kicking I pulled together some samples of the MaxAir with a frog kick. Now I am not offering this as samples of great frog kicking but to illustrate how the vanes grip the water on the power stroke and feather into the flow on the return stroke. You will also see some side slicing going on. That is what I would call less than optimum technique. On some paddle fins that works somewhat but not on the MaxAir. With the MaxAir all you really need to do is point your toes to pull the fins together and you will feel yourself lunge forward. The return stroke is effortless.

 

[scubadada]

Since we have been talking frog kicking I pulled together some samples of the MaxAir with a frog kick. Now I am not offering this as samples of great frog kicking but to illustrate how the vanes grip the water on the power stroke and feather into the flow on the return stroke. You will also see some side slicing going on. That is what I would call less than optimum technique. On some paddle fins that works somewhat but not on the MaxAir. With the MaxAir all you really need to do is point your toes to pull the fins together and you will feel yourself lunge forward. The return stroke is effortless.

You're right, that's pretty crappy frog kick.

Interesting design, but, I have to admit, I'm skeptical of your testing. In some ways, reminds me of Force Fins. Time will tell

 

[TECreation]

You're right, that's pretty crappy frog kick.

I hope you do not think that is what I call testing. That is simply a video of someone trying the fins. Go to the website to see testing. Granted the efficiency testing is based on the flutter kick (which is what the fins were designed for). It has been the people who have been trying the fins who have been saying they like the frog kicking too.

 

[scubadada]

I hope you do not think that is what I call testing. That is simply a video of someone trying the fins. Go to the website to see testing. Granted the efficiency testing is based on the flutter kick (which is what the fins were designed for). It has been the people who have been trying the fins who have been saying they like the frog kicking too.

No, my skepticism is based on all the videos, graphs, etc., you have presented in this thread and on your website. I have never seen objective data on this topic. It's not like you can put the fins on the equivalent of an ANSTI breathing simulator