looking for an open heel fin under $50 any suggestions?

[CRAZYBOBC]

i found three from lp any thoughts
genesis response
genesis aquaflex (looks like mares plana avanti)
oceanic v-drive
any others
fyi just breaking into scuba have only used full foot
need open heel for diving in the northeast (long island)
thanks

 

[ScottyK]

Hey Bob,

I used to use the V-drives. They are pretty good fins for the money. I switched to Jets, which give better propulsion and fine control. If you can pony up $10 more, I would recommend the Jets ($60 at LP). When you get over the sticker shock of buying all your gear, you can add a pair of spring straps to them, or make your own. If you want V-Drives, you can have my Blue Xl pair for $25 (PM me).

I'm not familair with any of the others you listed. Good Luck choosing.

Scott

 

[d33ps1x]

But be warned that the original straps are quite ghettolicious and you will be wanting to follow up with spring straps right away so they really aren't $60 fins after all.

But do a search on Jetfins on here and you will find they come well recommended and are worth the price which is still half the price of a pair of snake oil splits.

 

[VTernovski]

I have Mares Quardos, size Regular if you want. cheap.

 

[Walter]

I've dived Jets with rubber straps for 20 years. You don't need the springs. No one has ever been able to tell me a good reason to replace the straps.

 

[d33ps1x]

I've dived Jets with rubber straps for 20 years. You don't need the springs. No one has ever been able to tell me a good reason to replace the straps.

I think ghettolicious is wicked!

 

[ChrisJones]

I got some Cressi-sub pro lights (55 from lp) and I like them fine. The frogs are under 50, or were the last I checked. Remember that there's some hefty shipping on top of a pair of fins.

Chris

 

[VTernovski]

I've dived Jets with rubber straps for 20 years. You don't need the springs. No one has ever been able to tell me a good reason to replace the straps.

have you ever tried spring straps? if you haven't, I suggest you give it a try, you may not go back to original rubber straps, and will bite your elbows for not switching sooner.

 

[Walter]

No, I haven't. My rubber straps break every 4 or 5 years. It's not like it's inconvenient. It's certainly cheaper to replace the rubber straps every four or five years than to buy 1 set of spring straps.

Again, no reason.

 

[ScottyK]

I got some Cressi-sub pro lights (55 from lp) and I like them fine. The frogs are under 50, or were the last I checked. Remember that there's some hefty shipping on top of a pair of fins.

Chris

I'm sure the pro lights are fine, but stay away from the Frogs. Jen had a pair of them, and they're too flimsy. If you have any kind of leg strength they just bend like reeds and you don't go anywhere.

We got caught in a current doing an inlet dive, and I had to tow her out. We got her a different pair on the way home from the dive.

I still have them laying around in a closet somewhere because I'd be embarrased to sell them to anyone