Thursday, 8 July 2010

Scuba Diving - snorkeling, fins


Very happy with these, with some caveats:



Size runs large; I wear size 11 running shoes and the 10/11 fins were too loose; the next size down, 8.5/9.5, fits perfectly: toes have plenty of room, yet heel does not slip out.



These are a perfect length for pool work: longer than zoomers and shorter than most other fins, and lighter too.



They are advertised as being good for bad knees, which is why I got them, but they are a little stiff for that claim. They are made from a much stiffer plastic than most fins, plus there are two thick plastic ribs extending out along the bottom of the fin, making them very stiff. I was able to shave these ribs down and get better flex, fine for my knees now, but this may shorten the life of the fins. Cressi Light Swim Fin, Pool and Training Short Blade Full Foot Fins, 8.5/9.5

I was looking for fins that would be easier to walk with when going into or out of the water when snorkeling at a beach, while still providing a thrust boost over bare feet, and these did the job nicely. Comfortable fit.

I purchased these fins for travel to Mexico and utilized them for snorkeling. Because they are smaller, they pack well and fit perfectly. I would highly recommend them and they are a bargain compared to other fins.

I purchased these fins for travel snorkeling based on the amazon reviews. For the most part I am satisfied with the fins in the water, although I would say they are a bit to stiff. I was hoping that with some wear they would loosed up, but this has not been the case.



Sizing on the other hand leave much to be desired. I typically wear a men's size 9.5-10.0 shoe and purchased the 8.5-9.5 fins. Upon purchase, I noticed the fins are labeled 43-44 (European), which I have found typically translates to a 9.5 to 10 or sometimes a 10 to 11 shoe size in the U.S. Still the length of the fins are not altogether that far off. the width however is considerably looser than desired - I would expect they fit an individual with wide(er) feet. I tend to wear standard width shoes with a bias towards narrower fits. The loose fit causes me to experience foot cramping very quickly in open water. I bought a pair of 3mm fin socks and paired the two together. With the socks, the fins really seemed to hit a groove. They were much more comfortable and did not cause any cramping (90+ minutes of continuous use in open water).



Conclusion: fit seems to be the biggest issue with these fins. If you can find a good size for you, they can be great travel fins. I would just prefer a bit more flex in the fin blade.

I bought these solely based on the Amazon reviews and they turned out to be just as good as advertised. I took them to Chankanaab Park in Cozumel Mexico and they were fantastic for snorkeling there. They fit well and because they are smaller they packed very easily and are easy to carry. For what its worth, I wear a size 11 shoe and the 10 - 11 size fit perfectly. Highly recommended.

My young children have had swim fins of their own. I have used fins belonging to others before, but I have never owned a pair of my own until now.



Love Em! I swim laps in an Olympic Pool as my children attend their swim classes. I wear a men's 10.5 to 11 -depending on the shoe; These fins fit great!

I have rediscovered how fun it is to swim under water. -Dolphin Kick style like "Patrick Duffy's 'Man from Atlantis'" tv show I saw as a kid. Ha!

Note: These are training fins. They are not as stiff nor as large as diving fins. They would be fine for most snorkling outings though I'm sure.

These fit my seven year old perfectly, but the white part you see in the product description is so incredibly short that basically the flippers do not propel you through the water. They're more like oversized shoes than flippers. My daughter found it much easier to swim barefoot. My wife and I have been snorkeling for years, we got a great mask and snorkel for our daughter, but these flippers were very disappointing. - Snorkeling - Training Fins - Swimming - Fins'


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