Need Lightest Fins On Market – Please Advise

[CycleTourist]

I am looking for the absolute lightest fins available. Current best option so far is trimming down a set of Mares Razor Carbons to make a short travel fin.

The reason I am looking for this is I travel for long periods by bicycle and want to go snorkelling and freediving when I get the opportunity. I have spent a lot of time, research, effort, and silly amounts of money to reduce my overall weight by even a few grams here and there, so I really am after the no-holds-barred lightest possible fins I can lay hands on.

I saw some purpose made short travel fins, but they appear to be heavier than the full-length Mares I mentioned above, as I guess they are made a cheap and heavy materials, so already I am ahead.

Its kind of difficult since not a lot of manufacturers list the weights, it doesn't seem to be a super-important factor for this sport. If you know of some lighter options please suggest, and I would also welcome tips on lightening existing fins. Is there a niche of the diving world that is obsessive over weight savings? somehow I think not, since underwater it doesn't matter that much, but if there is it would be a useful group for me to learn from. It has been a really interesting undertaking for me finding/making the lightest gear possible, and here is another problem to solve

Thanks

 

[redacted]

Take a look at Force Fins. Price is high but you may find some good deals in used models.

 

[CycleTourist]

Thanks for that suggestion, these look promising and I like their thoughts on fin design (though I have little experience to relate it to the real-world). I've sent a message asking them for weight measures. It looks like their Slim Fin might be lightest at around 2lbs. The Mares Razor Carbons are 960g in my size, so if I trim them I may still come out ahead of the ForceFins. But they might be too stiff if I trim them, and also I can probably lighten the Slim Fins by replacing the neoprene with thinner material, and using Dyneema or Vectran webbing instead of the nylon and bungee.

---------- Post added April 9th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ----------

Hmm, I came across these, which apparently were made by the man behind Force Fins, way back in 2000. They look light too, except for the foot area.

 

[Brian G]

I found these a while ago. I have no idea how they perform, but they sure are light at about 350 grams.

Travel Fin

 

[Sieg@VU]

New Accel Travel Fin made by Aeris - short, light & powerful based on initial information. Should start shipping very soon: AERIS : Accel Fin

 

[buddhasummer]

Aqualung HotShots are very light and small. Hollis F2s are also light and relatively small.