Travel fins

[buddhasummer]

My buddy swears by his seawing nova fins. He has three sets now for whatever it is we're doing. I have F1's, the extra weight helps keep my floaty feet under control in my DS.

I certainly found them to be fast but found them less than ideal for frog kicking. The Seawing Gorillas, being stiffer, frog kick better but due to size are for me bit of a pain to pack, definitely light enough though. I know version two is supposed to have addressed the very high rate of version one hinge breakages but I still wouldn't trust them on a liveaboard.

I'd hoped the F2s would have been the perfect travel fin, small, light, robust with reasonable power but the foot pocket on the small is gargantuan and even with a shorter third party spring I cannot get a good fitting.

Onto the Accels...

 

[Nemrod]

I certainly found them to be fast but found them less than ideal for frog kicking. The Seawing Gorillas, being stiffer, frog kick better but due to size are for me bit of a pain to pack, definitely light enough though. I know version two is supposed to have addressed the very high rate of version one hinge breakages but I still wouldn't trust them on a liveaboard.

I'd hoped the F2s would have been the perfect travel fin, small, light, robust with reasonable power but the foot pocket on the small is gargantuan and even with a shorter third party spring I cannot get a good fitting.

Onto the Accels...

Thanks to you, I now own a pair of black Accels in XL with the red color kit. You are possibly going to be considered a bad influence if you tell me you do not like them.

N

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I have used the Hollis F-1's since 2008. I was one of the original consumer testers for the fin and so mine are the prototypes that were sent to me to evaluate. Both the originals and the yellow tips. They are a big fin. I have traveled with them with no issue but my new travel fins are the HOG Tech 2 fins. I also use them for wreck and other overhead diving. Std with spring straps, very responsive. lighter than the F-1's and at a decent price. But the reason they are my travel fins is that they are short. Like 20 inches and will fit in most carry on bags.

 

[ams511]

I have used the Hollis F-1's since 2008. I was one of the original consumer testers for the fin and so mine are the prototypes that were sent to me to evaluate. Both the originals and the yellow tips. They are a big fin. I have traveled with them with no issue but my new travel fins are the HOG Tech 2 fins. I also use them for wreck and other overhead diving. Std with spring straps, very responsive. lighter than the F-1's and at a decent price. But the reason they are my travel fins is that they are short. Like 20 inches and will fit in most carry on bags.

Jim, what are the weight of those fins? They are made of rubber so are they heavier than either the Hollis F-2 or the Aeris Accels? I want to get another set of fins and I am debating between the F-2s, Accels, Exps, or Warp 1s.

 

[Wingy]

Finally lashed out and bought a new pair of fins - Aeris Accels after they were recommended by someone who forgot their quattros and borrowed a pair and were extremely impressed. Very small fin so good for travelling - I just need to try them out myself now!

 

[Nemrod]

I ordered an XL but I am thinking to order a Large (Regular) also for trying and return one pair. I think Scubatoys might be mad at me but I buy lots of stuff from them periodically so they will just have to put up with me pestering upon them.

Size 11 shoe, 5mm thin sole boot, what think? I use an XL Jet but a regular Quattro. I think I messed up, woe upon me. Dang it.

N

 

[buddhasummer]

I ordered an XL but I am thinking to order a Large (Regular) also for trying and return one pair. I think Scubatoys might be mad at me but I buy lots of stuff from them periodically so they will just have to put up with me pestering upon them.

Size 11 shoe, 5mm thin sole boot, what think? I use an XL Jet but a regular Quattro. I think I messed up, woe upon me. Dang it.

N

According to Aeris chart you'd be a regular which is from 10-12. The foot pockets are not small. Good luck.

---------- Post added November 4th, 2013 at 10:49 PM ----------

Thanks to you, I now own a pair of black Accels in XL with the red color kit. You are possibly going to be considered a bad influence if you tell me you do not like them.

N

I don't hate them

 

[NautilusCairns]

As the airlines get meaner and my camera gear gets heavier I also just recently went with the Aeris Accels for travel fins. So far I have only been out once for three dives and they were fine even in a bit of current. Next week I'm off to the Solomon Islands and a couple of weeks after that up to PNG so I should have a good idea of how these fins perform. I did change the straps as they looked a bit flimsy.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Jim, what are the weight of those fins? They are made of rubber so are they heavier than either the Hollis F-2 or the Aeris Accels? I want to get another set of fins and I am debating between the F-2s, Accels, Exps, or Warp 1s.

I can't say about salt water as I have not had them in it yet. But they are slightly negative in fresh. I'm going to guess they are close to neutral but don't take that as gospel. I don't get to wrapped up in neg vs positive vs neutral as I can easily adjust for that. And negative fins are not going to make that much difference if you buy new boots that are positive as heck or allow too much air into your drysuit feet.

As to weight the HOG's are 3lbs 3 oz each for the XL's on my postal scale compared to 3lbs 15 ounces for the F-1's in XL. so 12 ounces each or so lighter. Maybe enough to make a real difference on some flights.

That will vary a little with different sizes. For example the medium HOG's are 2 lbs 7 ounce each.

 

[Nemrod]

The airlines have been caught cheating on their weigh scales with up to five pounds indicated over actual. This way they get to charge for the overage even though you are actually under limit. My goal is to get my kit down to 35 pounds including the bag. I am not sure these fins will knock any real weight off my Mares Avanti Quattros, which are not exactly heavy either. But they are long.

N