Are
they called fins or flippers? Fins or skegs? Back when I started riding
the waves (1960s) life was simple: swim fins were called flippers and
board
fins were called skegs. These days both are called fins. Well... this
page is about flippers. Information on skegs is here.
For starters, which swim fins are for you or me? No correct answer! To
paraphrase Paul Gross, "What kind of swim fins should I use with a mat (or paipo)?
Everyone has a unique set of needs, so no one size or design fits
everyone." (See more relevant swim fin information at p. 30 of the 4th Gear Flyer Riders Guide, as of Nov 5, 2021.)
A good overview
on swim fins is provided courtesy of eBodyboarding.com. Read
another useful review by The Little Pink
Shop at Croyde Bay [my link to the PDF version here].
Flexspoon has some information on Deet's reformulated UDTs and the
modifications made by George Greenough. More on the UDTs [PDF version, 500k]. Another water enthusiast
passed along his suggestions for trimming
down UDTs for increasing power & flex and decreasing
discomfort. For more
information on swim fins see the Wikipedia
article. UDTs are now being distributed by Voit (for more info call
Ph:714-232-7227 Ext 2, or see the surfmatters.blogspot).
An interesting article on the history of swim fins (and paddling
gloves) appeared in the on-line bodysurfing magazine, Swell Lines: Swimming Propellers: History of the Swim Fin. Stock, Kyle. (2014, April). Swimming Propellers: History of the Swim Fin. Swell Lines: The Bodysurfing Magazine, 1(2). Retrieved April 21, 2014, from swelllinesmag.com/2014/04/18/455/ (and a PDF when the link swerves away).
Table of Contents/Shortcuts
Did you know that Benjamin Franklin
is credited with inventing
the
flippers and paddling gloves? Even earlier, in the 15th century,
Leonardo Da Vinci experimented with various devices to improve the
human physical condition: wings, vehicles and swim fins.
Read the interesting table
of analysis
on the relative thrust performance of various surf/swim fins (and web
gloves).
The methodology, as posted to AS, is posted
here.
By Alt.Surfing's "sdbchguy."
Project Swin Fin Metrics: How long are your swim fins, how
wide, and how much do they weigh? Can you slip your foot into the
pocket? This project is just starting up... measurements are welcome
(to the 1/8th of an inch). See a very basic table of data here. Complete the Swim Fin Metrics Form.
Here are
links for some "flippers" or swim fins
My Jouney Through Flippers. I
was a long time user of Churchill's (when they were still made of
rubber and had a more flexible blade). For years I searched the used
fins racks for old Churchills, often buying off the rental bins.
Eventually these venerable Churchills were no longer to be found and my
collection was cracking and dry rotting from use and old age despite
fresh water rinses after every session. After buying, borrowing and
testing many, many different fins I have settled on three models: the Viper
V-5 Flex (Orange Dot)
and V-5 (Yellow Dot) stiff blade models for warm water
and Hydro Techs for cold water (to accommodate 4mm-7mm of
fin socks).
Ultimately, the "best fins" for any user depends upon many factors,
including but not limited to foot
size and shape, surf style
(bodysurfing, prone boarding,
drop knee or kneeboarding), blade flexibility,
blade design, floating/non-floating, weight, and surge thrust. Also,
feel free to visit my "rant page"
on trying to find a pair of fins that didn't wreck my ankles or squeeze
my feet. Hopefully by sharing my experiences others will have a better
idea on what is best for them.
Update #1 for November 2013: A new swim fin is in my
quiver, the DaFin.
I had been waiting awhile to actually give this fin a test drive in the
water rather than spending another bunch of dollars on an unsatisfying
fit or function. Although the Vipers will be my go-to swim fin the
DaFin is a nice addition and because of its wide foot pocket will
better satisfy my need for a cool-cold water swim fin (relative to the
heavy and wide bladed Hydro Techs). [Notice: I have worked out a
distribution deal to supply DaFin swim fins -- proceeds will defray the
costs for opeating the MyPaipoBoards.org site -- I will only endorse
& sell swim fins that I actually use. Contact me at: paipodude@mypaipoboards.org]
Update #2 for
November 2013:
Another new formulation swim fin will NOT be in my quiver -- the Vektor
Viper. I recently attempted to try on a pair of large yellow Vektor
Vipers but could not come close to putting my foot into the foot
pocket. Apparently the space between the foot pocket and ankle strap
has been narrowed. I was also quite amazed at the flexibility in the
stiff blade yellow model's blade relative to the regular Viper Yellow
Dots -- the outer blade ridge stiffeners actually bend very easily. How
this translates into use in the water remains to be seen... especially
for somebody who can not even place a foot into the pocket. I also
noticed that the ankle strap is much more stiff and rigid than the
longtime Yellow and Orange Dot models.
Update #3 for
2014/2015:
Some time during the past 12 to 18 months the DaFin
has become my fin of choice. The transition really took off during my
trip to Puerto Rico in January 2014, after switching out my
"underperforming" Vipers for my pair of DaFin swim fins. After using
them at a couple of different surf breaks in the PRNW the transition
had become complete. I probably used my Vipers a couple of times in
Costa Rica during March and June 2014, but it became obvious to me that
the DaFin was my preferred fin. A big plus is being able to use the
same size in warm tropical and cool/cold waters of summertime N.
Oregon. I would probably step up one size if planning to use DaFins in
cold water where 5 to 7mm of fin socks would be needed. Another
advantage of the DaFin over the Vipers is weight -- DaFins weigh nearly
have as much! Both DaFin and Vipers are floaters.
Vipers V5 Yellow Dots vs. DaFins Swim Off: Some Random Comments
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DaFins
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Vipers V5 Yellow Dot |
Wide foot
pocket, more power for catching a wave, more drag when extending legs
to conform to wave. The DaFins blades tend to be depressed by the wave
causing drag--this is not a factor on a open-faced, more powerful wave.
Hands down the cool/cold water swim fin due to larger, flexible foot pocket (think 3+mm wet socks).
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Narrow foot
pocket, longer paddles less stressful, captures energy from the wave
when extending legs to conform to the wave. The Vipers remain neutral
to the wave and capture the wave's energy--this is beneficial when in a
flat section of the wave or when the planning surface benefits from
being elongnated. Stiff and narrow foot pocket negates cool/cold water use unless you have a narrow foot.
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Note: Fins are approximately the same length (but were photographed in a non-controlled environment!).
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Notes on Other Items of Interest: Fin
Socks, Fin Tethers and Fin Care
A good selection of surf fin accessories and discussion can
be found on eBodyboarding.com's site that I have reproduced
here. Here are my "a-b-c's" of fin accessories:
Use fin socks for protection! For warm water wave riding, lycra
fin socks should provide sufficient protection to keep your toes,
feet and
ankles from blistering. Sometimes you will need to move up to a heavier fin sock
in warm water use that have open heals and are about .3mm to .5mm in
thickness (thicker 1mm to 2mm models are also available but might make
the fin too tight). Cool and cold water socks are made of the same
materials you find in a wetsuit and are similar to ankle high socks.
These wetsuit socks can be found in
thicknesses ranging from 1mm to 5mm. Do NOT confuse wetsuit socks with
booties. The booties' stiff soles will usually cause fitting problems
with your fins (there are some exceptions, e.g., the strap over the foot fins made by Force Fins).
I swear by fin tethers! When I first started bodysurfing and
paipo
boarding in the overhead, crunching surf of Puerto Rico's west coast in
the late 1960s there were not many options other than using tennis shoe
laces (that and my girl friend's old nylons as a "lycra sock"), or
losing fins. The last time I neglected to use fin tethers was early one
Sunday morning at San Diego's Big Rock, a sucking left breaking on a
shallow ledge reef. I took off on a fun 4-footer, lined up in the tube
very nicely, but the furball in back ripped by flipper right off. With
no extras in my surf bag and a late morning flight to catch I was
without option! Never again! Fin tethers come in a wide variety of
string and nylon loops, narrow and wide ankle wraps, and velcro and
plastic snap closures. I prefer the nylon loop (less ankle rubbing),
wide strap velcros. Preference will vary, but if you find yourself
riding cold water waves in cold air temps then I highly recommend
acquiring tethers with long ankle wraps and pull tabs. Why? In cold
water you need to wrap the straps around many millimeters of
wetsuit/socks and the tabs are for easy removal when your fingers are
freezing.
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O&E Fin Tethers (Fin Savers)
What I like about these fin tethers
- strap width is ideal at 1-3/4 inches wide (the velcro portion is 1 inch
wide),
- strap features nice soft padding for the ankle,
- a pull tab for easy removal,
- strap is 17 inches long so it should fit easily around your ankle (plus
fin socks and wetsuit), and
- swin fin
leash strap is a durable nylon material.
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The secret to long lasting fins is proper fin care.
First and foremost, do not leave the fins exposed to the direct sun for
extended periods of time as the heat and rays degrade the rubber and
plastic fin material. Second, rinse the fins in fresh water after each
salt water or chlorinated water use.
The next recommendation I have never used before but it makes sense in
the same way one cleans and treats an automobile's interior hardware to
prevent cracking, color degradation, dry rot and to add softness and
luster to the fins:
- Vaseline cream you can buy at a dive shop or
- 303 Aerospace Protectant found in automobile supply companies (and elsewhere) or
- similar products for UV protectant and dressing for vinyl, leather, rubber and plastic surfaces.
It might be frustrating finding your supplies
at local surf shops. One good option is eBodyboarding.com and another
is the river/kayak oriented company, NRS.
Also, be sure to search the internet for your specialized needs.
Need to Modify Your New Formulation DaFins?
Review by John Hughes
Last January at the Surf Expo I found out the DaFin had switched to
making their fins with Maylaysian rubber. This is the same type of
rubber used in the new UDTs and is supposed to be the best rubber in
the world. I have been using DaFins for many years now and have been
very happy with them. I have one pair of oversized fins which I use in
the winter and another for wearing barefoot, which are the ones I use
the most here in sunny Florida.
I finally ordered a pair and was excited to test them out and see the
difference with the new material. The previous compound has always
worked well with plenty of power in a compact fin and a very
comfortable foot pocket that I can wear for hours without a problem,
other the two small pukas that they would consistently rub on my right
foot.
The new DaFins can be recognized by the "Made in Maylaysia" printed on
the box. The fins themselves have no origin on them and the "Made in
the USA" is no longer visible on the bottom of the foot pocket. The
thing that is immediately noticeable is how soft and pliable the rubber
is compared to the old DaFins. The foot pocket fits like a glove and
when in use you can feel that the fin blade flexes more evenly across
the length of the blade. The old fins would deflect sharply around the
toe end of the pocket due to the blade being less pliable. It is not
something that would be noticed if not compared to the new fins.
Whether or not the new fins are more powerful is difficult to discern
but they certainly feel as though they are. In that respect they are an
improvement over the old ones.
But here is the rub (literally). After a session in some head high
swell that required some serious kicking these fins tore my feet up,
leaving some nice scabs on both feet at the opening of the foot pocket.
Needless to say, I was disappointed with this and I examined the old
and new versions to figure out why this was happening. It became
apparent the the new fins were not finished as well after popping out
of the mold. I could see that the USA fins had a rounded radius on both
the inside and outside edge and had also been hand sanded to de-burr
the mold seam.
On the new Maylaysian fin there is a sharp edge where the pocket
contacts the foot, and the mold seam has been roughly cut away, leaving
plenty of edges to wear my skin. Being the relentless tinkerer I am, I
decided to come up with a fix for the problem. After some
experimentation I decided to melt the sharp edges off using my propane
torch and a metal spoon. I heated the spoon with the torch and when it
was hot enough I ran the heated spoon over the edges until they melted
into a smooth surface where they contact my foot. The plan worked well
except for a sticky residue that was left behind. I was able to remove
that with some isopropyl alchohol. I have to wait for the scabs to heal
before I can know if this was a good fix. But I will give an update
when that happens.
UDTs Revisited, 2014
A Random Comments Review on Facebook by John Hughes
I told myself I wasn't
going to use Udt's again, but when I saw the latest and greatest
version I couldn't resist. Me and the Voit guy, Mike Maslowski at the
Surf Expo. (Jan 12, 2014)
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(Jan 12, 2014)
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The
new ones are considerably more flexible than before. Hopefully this
will mean more power w/o the foot torture. The UDT,s are a little loose
w/o booties and a little snug with the 3 mils. fortunately I have D
width feet or they would be too small. I suspect I will be customizing
them before too long. (Jan 13, 2014)
I finally had a chance to try out my UDT's and I am happy to say that I
was able to use them for over an hour w/o my feet screaming in agony.
The new formulation is a major improvement. You can feel the increased
flexability immediately and I noticed I was able to kick outside much
more quickly than before. They are still a burly fin but more user
friendly. I was riding my mat and the waves were about knee to waist
high. I can't say conclusively whether I was getting into waves any
better. I may need to try them in bigger waves to get a feel for that.
The big difference to me is that I was able to use them right away w/o
feeling that I need to make major mods to them. If I do customize them
it will probably be to make them more maneverable in the shifty
beachbreak that we have here. (Feb 2, 2014)
Length (tip to heal): 18.5 inches Weight: 2.75 lbs each.
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UDTs Revisited, Update March 2014 (@ Aquatic Apes on Facebook.com)
Review on Facebook by John Hughes.
I
went mat surfing w/ the new, improved UDT's this morning. This time in
better waves- waist+ high with some groundswell push behind it. I chose
to try them barefoot, fully expecting to be out of the water in ten
minutes with major foot pain. To my surprise the fins were very
comfortable and I was able to get a 1 1/2 hour session in with no
problems.
The new, more flexible rubber compound is a major improvement in
comfort and power. I was impressed with how quickly I was able to power
through the shorebreak to the outside. Although they are still a burly
fin, my feet and legs are adapting quickly and I anticipate being able
to use them without cutting them down and customizing them. The only
thing I had to do was add a strap pad to take up the slack without
using booties. (March 2, 2014)
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Additional comments and discussion at the Aquatic Apes group page in Facebook.com, (March 2, 2014)
Post script: Those fins are toast, errr, modded. Learn more plus lessons learned from John's March 4, 2014, posting to Aquatic Apes.
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Modified UDT/DaFin Comparison Test: Surprising Results
Review by John Hughes (March 20, 2014 @ Aquatic Apes on Facebook.com)
As
promised I did some performance tests on my newly modified UDT’s. For
comparison I switched between the UDT’s and DaFin’s, which I currently
use. My first session was on my 4GF Omni surfmat In 2-4 ft semi-clean
beachbreak surf. This was initially the only session I intended to do
but the results were so surprising, I felt I needed to do another test.
To change the variables my next session was on an HPD paipo that I had
borrowed from a friend, in 3-4 NE swell with some groundswell energy.
In each case, I caught several waves on on the UDT’s and DaFin’s,
paying close attention to 1) how quickly and easily I could make my way
to the outside 2) how the fins compared when getting into waves and 3)
comfort. My conclusion in a nutshell: DaFin’s are a superior fin in every measure.
- The the amount of time it took to get outside to the waves was about the same with either fin.
- I actually had a harder time getting ino waves using the UDT’s. The
lag time it took to power up the UDT’s caused me to miss waves I would
have easily caught with DaFin’s. The quick response and higher kick
rate of DaFin’s allowed me to maneuver into position and kick into the
drop more efficiently.
- Comparing comfort it is a no-brainer. DaFin’s are so light and
comfortable that you forget they are on your feet. The UDT’s however,
always made you aware that you had a heavy and cumbersome device
attached to your feet. The strain on my feet and knees was constant,
and noticeable even after the session was over.
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DaFins & Modified UDTs laying on an HPD. Photo by John Hughes.
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My conclusion is that
DaFin’s are a superior fin because they are FAR MORE EFFICIENT than the
UDT’s. They provide the same or better performance with considerably
less energy expenditure. There are, of course, many fans of the UDT’s
and for them it is the best fin. These results are just my opinion
based on my experience.
John Hughes on Facebook.com at the Aquatic Apes group page (March 20, 2014)
Additional comments and discussion @ Facebook.com.
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Other users' random comments on fins:
- "A friend has
been using Duckfeet for a long time partly because likes the
stiffness
of the foot area and the flex of the fin area. Seems the new fins have a flexible foot area that
she finds less effective. Any suggestions or alternatives?"
- "I
use XL Redleys. Stiff enough, with a bottom flow through hole
that
keeps the sand out. Looking for XXLs for the winter to put over 2 or
3mm socks."
- "There are
some very interesting new fins being made with the UDT Duck
Feet mold -
check on those, as they are being made with some varying rubber. Also,
try several pairs of the Voit original Duck Feet - they vary as
to
stiffness. I find the orange/blue work well for me.
Stiffness in fin blades is, to me, kinda overrated. As I have several
sets of fins handy , I may have to repeat Terry Hendricks' fin
test with both
stiff and less stiff UDTs to see what the real thrust difference is.
I'd suspect very little and the comfort of a less stiff large blade fin
( as
opposed to a small blade fin like a Churchill or Viper) sure is worth
10% thrust...if in fact there is that much difference."
- "When I had
back problems (and fins really exacerbate them) I was bodysurfing with
very wide river rafting webbed gloves-and no fins. Now
that I use both, it's all 2 stroke takeoffs, and fin stiffness isn't so
important."
- "Myself, I
don't think really stiff fins are a good thing anyhow, providing the
fins have enough blade to really accomplish anything. In fact, if one
is using sizable fins, reasonably long, then stiffness might be a
drawback; analgous to a question on surfboard fins and flexibility,
when they bend they direct water in a direction that works better. With
short, dinky, wide fins, well, that's another story, but that hasn't
seemed to prove most effective. I think of Churchills and all
that
genre as great fins for people who don't use fins much. When I tried
them, I found it was a lot like having no fins at all. But I started
out with diver's fins and a paipo way back when and free diving well
before that. I was used to large fins with substantial thrust."
- "I have not
used Duck Feet in over 20 yrs, after moving to the old compound
Churchills (average foot area but flexi fin
area). The new
compound fin are on Churchills is very stiff. I have tried Redleys
(both the stiff and the flexible), older design Techs and
something
else but none were to my liking. There are several types I have not
tried -- being in the water using them is different than getting fitted
in the store. Fins are likemany other things in life, people love
some types and hate others."
- In response to
the statement, "Stiffness in fin blades is, to me, kinda overrated," a
user replies, "Depends. Longbod bodysurfers in thick walls get good
speed with fewer, more powerful kicks. Short guys on thinner
waves or in shorewhomp can get by with shorter, more agile fins.
Kneelers and spongers can't get the usable power out of a long stiff
fin because they're not kickingwith their thighs, so a floppy fin makes
more sense for them."
- What you
need for flippers?
The
balance you want to look for in flippers (besides comfort of course) is
between long distance
cruising, i.e. paddling out and cruising the line-up, and
acceleration/burst speed for spin and take off etc. Probably most mat
surfers are using UDT's from Prof. Greg Deets. (parsimony@
earthlink.net), or Voit at 1-800-925-9283. Most people under 170 pounds
or so cut them down following Greenough's modification. First
flattening the ribs a bit then taking a little at a time off the length
to hit their personal best compromise. You mlso many need to trim the
strap
a bit as they are very stiff overall and generally not too comfortable
for most.
Regular DuckFeet
and Vipers work ok. I have used them. But my favorites
are Flips at www.flipsswimfins.com They are hand made by the
man who
designed them (John Piatt). Come in 3 models, the Original being the
biggest and what I have. Much more thrust than DuckFeet, less than full
sized UDT's. Super comfort and one size will fit everyone, barefoot,
7mil hardsole booties, and you tiny girl friend. They attach with an
elegant strap and buckle set up that take a bit of getting used to but
works well. They are super light and pack flat for travel; the strap
set-up means no foot pocket. Downside is they take a bit of playing
with to put on and take off so not so easy in pounding shorebreak over
jagged lava/granite reef.
You do need lots
of power as the earlier you can get planning and up
and riding on a mat the better. You can do late take offs but they
aren't ideal and if you miss can be disasterous for your mat. Bodyboard
fins like Churchhills just do not provide enough power. Last week I
watched someone in Santa Cruz repeatedly get in so late he just went
down with the lip...left behind. And he is in pretty good waterman
shape. You can catch waves but you will get lots more and have much
more fun with biggah flippah.
Enough ramble. The
surmatz forums are hereby baptized! Wink
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 by
DrStrange
http://surfmatz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4
- Got a pair
of Viper V-7's. Pool tested vs Original DuckFeet vs Flips Original
(biggest ones)
Comfort:
No contest. Flips beats everything except my wife's fleece bedroom
slippers! Both the Ducks and the Vipers gnarl on the old toe knuckles;
a pain I'd forgotten about using Flips lo these many many months. This
was with 3 mil fin socks.
Convenience:
Switching back and forth highlighted the hassel of Flips buckle set up,
esp w/ foggy goggles on making harder to see. Also, that sort of
squishy feel when kicking was noticably mildy annoying when comparing
Sprint/Acceleration:
Shoot the moon from the bottom of the poot w/ dolphin power kicks: not
much difference really. Maybe Vipers by an inch or two vert surface
clearance.
Cruising speed
(timed): Big, slow scissor kicks for distance. Actually pretty close
timing laps in 25 meter pool. Ducks the slowest a little, Vipers and
Flips near tied for 1st maybe edge to Vipers by a couple secs per 50
meters.
Alternate cruise
method (number of kicks per 25 meters): (Each foot counts one kick)
DuckFeet=46 Flips=40 Vipers=36 Several trials and almost identical
results each time.
Conclusions:
Vipers V-7's win by a bit if you discount pain. Also, maybe because of
heavier weight or the big strakes to guide water but the Vipers felt
most controlled and easy to change direction. Also, noticably less
tendency to surface splash; none w/ the Vipers, some w/ the DuckFeet,
quite a bit w/ Flips. Also, w/ Flips I have much more tendency to bend
knees more (bicycle style) and loose power. Just have to toughen those
toe-knucks.
Posted:
Oct 14, 2007 by DrStrange
http://surfmatz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=80
- Just got flips swim fins
last night and tried them out today. One very cool feature is one size
fits all so arctic to tropics, you are good to go. Got the Originals
(biggest) instead of the ProSurf model. Original’s blade about as long
as Duck Feet to toes but the working part extends back under
your foot
so it is really longer. It also varies from 2-3 inches wider. Took them
out in the surf and first thing I noticed was it is definitely burlier
than the Ducks. I need to get stronger to fully utilize it; that’s what
I was after in a new fin. Definitely easy on the feet but since it’s a
bigger/stronger fin, moving more water, it is harder on psoas and
quads. Takes more umph to get them moving and keep them moving. Caught
a couple waves I might not have w/the DuckFeet and really noticed the
lightness of the flippers for lifting them out of the water once up and
running. Seemed easier to initiate dolphin kick with the Flips. Since I
try not to use my feet to steer I didn’t notice if they were much
different there.
Only negative was that the straps kept loosening and I had to reach
down every once in awhile and pull them tight. Easy to do though and
that may stop happening once the strap material is broken in a bit. Oh,
one other negative on the flips was that they are so light that I had
trouble doing the small amplitude rapid flutter kick; couldn’t keep
them submerged. The Ducks stay in the water easier. Likely for this
reason, the Duck Feet beat the Flips by little in the rapid small
flutter kick.
Follow-Up
on Loose Straps: Talked to John Piatt last night (Flips maker). He said
to prevent this from happening adjust front strap and slide foot out.
Fold extra length of strap toward toes and then back UNDER the strap
and insert foot. Tighten upper strap to where you want it, unbuckle it
and do the same with the extra length--fold it toward toes and then
back under the strap and snap the buckle. This way, foot pressure on
the loose end locks it in place.
- Well I jumped
right in after seeing only a few posts about these and my flips fins Originals
arrived yesterday. Tonight I put them on and went out in 2 foot waves
and was pretty impressed. They're reasonably comfortable and pushed me
through the water really well after about ten minutes of use. I too had
to keep tightening the straps. The front toe strap is a little loose
and seems to be at it's tightening limit. Some attention will have to
be paid to those things. I really like how light they are. Sand and
gravel flushes right out. I like them.
- It's the UDT's
that some consider "blanks" and if you handle a pair you will
immediately see why. They are huge and heavy and stiff. IF you are a
big, hunky hunka manhood you could likely use them as is but otherwise,
a little mod will make them work better. When you're are using fins for
surfing where you need long cruising ease and short burst power from
same fins they are best tuned for your body size/leg length and muscle
power. Duck Feet are shorter and softer. I like them a lot.
Also I like Flips.
The the Original model is somewhere between Duck Feet and UDT's in
power and though they take a bit of finicky finiking to put on and take
off, they are very comfortable and one size will fit you barefoot or in
7 ml hardsole dive boots and also fit your 5' 100 pound girlfriend who
wears a size 3 shoe. Plus they pack flat so travel well with a deflated
mat in your suitcase or knap sack.
- Currently own
black modded UDTs and DaFins. I had Flips and the V-7s.
If the V-7s fit me right I'd prefer them over the others. I'm in NJ and
always ride beachbreaks though with very short to short paddleouts. I
didn't give the Flips that much of a chance because I didn't like the
strap hassles and they loosened up very easily. I felt like I was
loosing energy on every kick. The UDTs are rather new and fit best with
a 3mm bootie but it's still warm here. I've used them a couple times
with fin socks and I can see why they are great for points and long
paddleouts. They feel a little like overkill for my beachies and my
legs aren't strong enough to get the best out of them yet. The DaFins
ride short but work good for me, easy to get moving. I tend to take off
later than with any of the other fins. Most comfortable but I did need
a fin sock because of blisters on the side of my ankle. The V-7 was
kind of between the UDT and DaFin. Could do the long stroke but still
easy enough to bring em up to speed sort of like the DaFin. Hope that
helps. jd.
- I got the Rip
Force Fins
for winter in New York for ease of use with all my booties 3, 5 and
7mm. I think it was kind of worth the price. I couldn't justify
spending on those speed bump things though, so i just use them as is.
They are very comfortable and they give me good propulsion too, not
like my ScubaPro Jetfins
but my jetfins don't fit over 7mm booties. If you are in a cold place i
think they help make life just a little bit easier. factorypond Wed Nov
19, 2008 on http://surfmatz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=195
- I bodysurf all
the local reefbreaks and points around where I live, mainly because we
have no good beachbreaks. I
have been going hard recently in some great waves, mainly around the 3
- 5ft range but I am really interested in finding out more about
swim-fins specifically for bodysurfing. I am currently using Vipers
but finding the large size for winter (for finsocks) not quite
comfortable enough.
I would really appreciate some informed comment about fins for
bodysurfers as opposed to bodyboarders - the reefs I surf have a lot of
water moving around and they tend to be further out from shore so I am
looking for a little length without going into diving fins - some power
without discomfort. -- Milo260
- Greetings from
Cape Town, South Africa. I also tried the vipers and they made my
feet cramp.
I also didnt feel like I was getting much speed. I am currently using
Cressi Free-frogs (closed heel) and they are amazing. I also have apair
of Mare Avante- very comfortable. Some people think these fins are too
big but I am 6ft4 and they really work for me.Regards Clinton
Fins for the Styling Ladies?
High-healed designer
flippers. Are gold fin tethers, matching nylon fin socks and mini-skirt
wetsuits included?
Feel free to send me your own flippers/swim fin solutions and why they
work for you. |