What is the context of your FIN preferences?

[tursiops]

Superficially, they most closely resemble my DGX fins. I see no real distinction in shape . . .

Those are the DGX fins that are no longer on their website?

 

[drbill]

My fin preferences depend a lot on where I'm diving. At home in temperate waters I love my Apollo Bio-Fins with spring straps. When I travel (usually to tropical destinations), I take my US Divers (now Aqualung) Blades due to their light weight and power. I gave up on Jet fins decades ago. Too heavy to travel with and I can't frog kick!

 

[TMHeimer]

I've used split fins for over 10 years because they are apparently good to prevent cramping (to which I am prone due to heredity), I am never in a rush diving so speed doesn't matter, I'm almost never in wicked current, and I won them at a "treasure hunt" so they were free.
My spring straps are about the same age and are a million times better than screwing with buckle straps with thick gloves or mitts on.

 

[nolatom]

I don't think I qualify for this discussion.

I dive mismatched fins. They're fine, whichever one I put on whichever foot.

About 7 years ago, I was helping on a "drilling trip" at Stetson Bank, on the SPREE (Frank's/Wookie's boat), where you drill (big pneumatic drill) to make holes in the reef substrate for new mooring anchors to be cemented into). You have to be fins-off since you're standing on the bottom. So you put your fins somewhere where they will stay put.

But one of mine didn't--and drifted off who knows where, probably off the bank and into the deeper water (these were the boxy square fins that were popular 20 years ago). Frank--always the gentleman--gave me an orphan fin from the boat's supply of same. It's silver and longer and more slender than my faded-green box fin.

I guess I'm not that particular. And I'm easy for my buddy to spot.

 

[ZzzKing]

Doesn’t that make you swim in circles?

 

[Bigbella]

Those are the DGX fins that are no longer on their website?

Yeah, they are there, but oddly not; weirdly enough, they are now branded. Same listing; straps; same or similar images; but mine have no insignia . . .

OMS Slipstream Fins

 

[Diver-Drex]

Drysuit gets Turtles, jet type fins. Wet I’m wearing Deep See Pulse open heel fins. Both are basic, no frills fins. The Turtles are negative and have a big foot pocket, both needed with the drysuit. The Pulse are light, neutral-ish and travel well. I frog kick about 95% of the time.

 

[JackD342]

Over many months, I’ve read articles on fin selection and SB posts on diver fin preferences. I’ve tried different fins and I’m confused by my experiences. Help?

In summary, from my reading, JET type fins have a very strong and undeniable following..... so I bought a pair of Deep 6 Eddy fins. Of all the JET type fins I’ve tried, the Eddy fins are at the top.... but I haven’t been out of the pool with them. I have no doubt that I’ll like the Eddy fin when I’m just maneuvering around, but to move fast somewhere, they are much slower than my little pool training fins... much slower for equal or more exertion in the pool without any dive equipment on. At the end of a recent pool fin swim comparison (with no equipment on), I came up with the following analogy that I’d like to share and hear your related comments. Please.

For this analogy here is my experience using my JET type fin and pool fins. JET fins are typically used while scuba diving.... with equipment creating much drag in the water. Pool fins are (typically) used with no equipment and thus minimal drag. Therefore, I’m thinking the JET fins are more powerful (low gear) and the pool fins are less powerful (high gear), and not able to overcome increased drag from Scuba equipment, so with equipment one kicks and goes nowhere. So is my pool experience with no equipment an unfair comparison to what I’d experience diving? Expanding on this, I’d guess SPLIT fins are more like a medium gear fin.

Does my analogy make any sense? If not, what am I missing?

On the flip side, is it possible that I don’t have the leg power to drive the bigger JET type fins. I don’t dismiss this possibility, but I’m doubting it. Any validity?

An important distinction is not made clear in your question. Is your pool work on scuba? Or are you surface swimming? Do NOT equate relative performance on the surface to relative performance underwater. The intended use affects the design/shape, and of course the best kicking style.
And yes, split fins are very efficient for short flutter kicks, but terrible for a big wide kick. Often a good choice for a diver with limited range of motion, perhaps a hip problem.

 

[nolatom]

Doesn’t that make you swim in circles?

Oddly enough, it doesn't ;-)

 

[TMHeimer]

I don't think I qualify for this discussion.

I dive mismatched fins. They're fine, whichever one I put on whichever foot.

About 7 years ago, I was helping on a "drilling trip" at Stetson Bank, on the SPREE (Frank's/Wookie's boat), where you drill (big pneumatic drill) to make holes in the reef substrate for new mooring anchors to be cemented into). You have to be fins-off since you're standing on the bottom. So you put your fins somewhere where they will stay put.

But one of mine didn't--and drifted off who knows where, probably off the bank and into the deeper water (these were the boxy square fins that were popular 20 years ago). Frank--always the gentleman--gave me an orphan fin from the boat's supply of same. It's silver and longer and more slender than my faded-green box fin.

I guess I'm not that particular. And I'm easy for my buddy to spot.

Yeah, I did that for a while years ago after one went missing on one of my first boat dives. The DM said he knew the guy who probably took it by mistake and it's probably in Fiji now, as that's where he was going. At least they were very similar and the same colour.