Replacing my beloved fins

[kathydee]

Mike,

I think those force fins deserve a proper funeral !

 

[Blackwood]

I know a lot like the Hollis. I have never used it but put one on on land. For me the springs felt too "springy"

Yah, it is a bit springy, but it looks cool as all hell which makes up for it.

 

[Guy Alcala]

Guy,

The secret to removing the XL Jets from a Rockboot is simple, one blast of Mcnett's spray in the foot pocket pre-dive.

No need to alter the Jet's from their original state. I like getting out of BW and carrying out some salt water in each pocket for a quick sand off my boots.

I also like that once the foot is in, it's suctioned in tight, not comming off accidently. Just a squirt of the Mcnett's and your fins don/doff effortlessly.

I agree that silicone will solve the problem, but I'm not a big fan of using it. I used to use silicone speed spray in the bindings/on top of my X-C skis to keep them from icing, until we found out that it really wasn't very nice environmentally. In fact, the company that used to market it for skis no longer does.

Putting a couple of drain holes in the foot pocket does seem to break the vacuum, as well as dump the water. I normally stuff my mask and gauges into the foot pockets after I emerge, and I usually forget to drain them first, then wind up turning them upside down to do so and dump my mask/gauges on the ground. Sure, I could probably train myself not to, but it still happens often enough to be an irritation.

That's all by the by, because I don't have rockboots, and my problem with the XL Jets is that they are too big, not too small. The large jets I don't mind dealing with, because I've only dived them in warm, calm water. But I dive the XL jets in the ocean, and it would be way too much work getting them off if they were as tight as my Ls while I was holding onto the boat, dealing with waves, have cold hands etc. Getting one of my legs leg into a position where I can remove the fin requires a two-handed effort owing to past injuries, so futzing around two-handed any more than necessary with a fin just isn't an option for me in those conditions. I've never had this kind of fit problem with rubber fins that have a better-shaped foot pocket made out of less stiff rubber, so it's not as if it's insoluble.

No, I need a paddle fin that fits my turbosoles better, without needing a crowbar to get it off.

Guy (off to swim laps)

 

[mikeguerrero]

When is the wedding and when do we get to meet the bride? Can't wait to see which fins he goes with...

 

[limeyx]

Yah, it is a bit springy, but it looks cool as all hell which makes up for it.

I would definitely give them a try as on our last cave trip the springs on my jets were literally rubbing me the wrong way and my heels basically died.

I had to pad them with a cut-down 5mm neoprene hood this entire year so far and I think they have just healed. Odd. came on all of a sudden.

 

[mikemill]

Dude,

I've been trying to tell him that since I saw him in those Force fins doing some kick ass back finning.

I was speechless when I saw him doing what I thought would be impossible with those force fins, I was wrong.

But I thought, damn this dude is a big guy, Mike M is not small by my standards, and he moves his battle ram (gear), have you seen this guy back kick with double HP119 Worthington's, while under a pair of force fins?

Well, I have seen him since he was in my Mini's double class and Essentials class. It is a sight to see when those force fins start moving him backward.

I almost wish I had that sound that huge garbage trucks make when they start to back up, you know that beep, beep, beep sound.

Would be cool to place that on the video I have of him going backwards with his Force Fins.

Can't wait to see this dude with a pair of non force fins doing a back kick to his monster gear, will be a sight to see.

Beep beep vroooooommmmm beep beep

Mike,

I think those force fins deserve a proper funeral !

Took you long enough to post here I'm keeping those fins for any future single tank diving.

When is the wedding and when do we get to meet the bride? Can't wait to see which fins he goes with...

Picked up the Hollis ones. We'll see how they go this weekend.

 

[HenrikBP]

Picked up the Hollis ones. We'll see how they go this weekend.

It'd be great to hear how you like them.

Henrik

 

[kathydee]

Took you long enough to post here

It took some restraint !

I'm keeping those fins for any future single tank diving.

Once you have the hang of your new fins, I bet your floppy force fins end up in the closet collecting dust. Just be patient with the learning curb.

 

[mikemill]

It took some restraint !



Once you have the hang of your new fins, I bet your floppy force fins end up in the closet collecting dust. Just be patient with the learning curb.

NEVER! I'll wear them just to spite people

 

[Gombessa]

Re: Back kick
Considering that people are amazed (and sometimes refuse to believe until they see it) that I can back kick in my current fins I'm not too worried about that

The back kick is a strange beast. I can barely move at all without fins if I'm fully geared up, but somehow could slowly but manageably back kick without fins on, even with doubles and a stage. I don't think the fins do much of the work at all for the back kick, and suspect that anyone who can reliably perform a back kick can do so with most any fin on. I'm sure on net some fins work better than others, and suspect any of the jetfin-type paddles to be quite similar (more to do with the profile of the foot pocket than anything else).