TN Traveler
Contributor
OK – as promised, here is the report on a week’s worth of diving with the “Hockey” fins. This was a trip on the Cuan Law, diving throughout the British Virgin Islands -. 19 dives in 5 ½ days.
First of all – the fins are heavy – even heavier than my Excellerating Force Fins.
They are size XXL and I used 2 comfort inserts with my 3 mm, soft soled, size 10 boots and they fit perfectly.
Once in the water they were outstanding. Slow flutter kicking did take a little more effort, since they don’t flex quite as easily, so there is less rebound at slow, easy kick rates. Now, if you need to go, into a current and kick hard – WOW. I am a moderately in-shape, 64 year old, but when I wanted to go, they went. I had no trouble actually out accelerating the dive instructor leading our dives – and she is mid-20’s, wearing Mares Volo Power Fins and very fit. I could not sustain top speed as long as she could and eventually she would catch/pass me, but it sure got her attention (we did this several times when heading back to the boat). She really wanted to try them, but they would not fit.
What really impressed everyone was when we ran into a pod of Dolphins when returning from a dive and everyone jumped into the waster with masks and fins to try and see them – with these fins, I could duck under the surface and be at full speed with just a kick or two and get closer to them than anyone else (and no, I’m not going to claim that I could catch them
).
Where these fins really excelled was with Frog Kicking and Back Kicks. I was shooting video (for the first time ever) and I quickly found that slow, smooth movement was necessary to get reasonable images. Frog Kicking was effortless, allowing easy movement with just a flick of the fins. They also were great for back kicks when trying to position for the best shots.
And the best part of all of this, I did not have a single leg, foot or toe cramp the entire trip. This is even more amazing since I had not been diving since December (excluding one short pool session) and my muscles were definitely not accustomed to these movements.
I did let a couple of the other divers try them – most of them were diving with Split Jets and I heard nothing but positive comments after they used them. Many saying they had never felt fins that felt as good, on their feet and legs.
All and all, I am very happy with them. I think these are Jet Fin killers (if people can get over the sticker shock). Bob really has a winner in these!!
As a side note, my wife was diving Foil Force Fins, for the first time, and once she got over the learning curve of kicking from her hips, she loved the fact that she did not have any cramps and how effortless they kicked at speed. Her only complaint (and this may be a problem) is that they did not do well sculling or frog kicking, which she does more than I realized, when she takes pictures (so I may have to find her another style of FFs). She loaned hers to a couple of women on the boat who were complaining about cramps and they just loved them (she dove with the boat’s full foot fins once, and hated them).
PS - still don't have a FF T-shirt
First of all – the fins are heavy – even heavier than my Excellerating Force Fins.
They are size XXL and I used 2 comfort inserts with my 3 mm, soft soled, size 10 boots and they fit perfectly.
Once in the water they were outstanding. Slow flutter kicking did take a little more effort, since they don’t flex quite as easily, so there is less rebound at slow, easy kick rates. Now, if you need to go, into a current and kick hard – WOW. I am a moderately in-shape, 64 year old, but when I wanted to go, they went. I had no trouble actually out accelerating the dive instructor leading our dives – and she is mid-20’s, wearing Mares Volo Power Fins and very fit. I could not sustain top speed as long as she could and eventually she would catch/pass me, but it sure got her attention (we did this several times when heading back to the boat). She really wanted to try them, but they would not fit.
What really impressed everyone was when we ran into a pod of Dolphins when returning from a dive and everyone jumped into the waster with masks and fins to try and see them – with these fins, I could duck under the surface and be at full speed with just a kick or two and get closer to them than anyone else (and no, I’m not going to claim that I could catch them
).Where these fins really excelled was with Frog Kicking and Back Kicks. I was shooting video (for the first time ever) and I quickly found that slow, smooth movement was necessary to get reasonable images. Frog Kicking was effortless, allowing easy movement with just a flick of the fins. They also were great for back kicks when trying to position for the best shots.
And the best part of all of this, I did not have a single leg, foot or toe cramp the entire trip. This is even more amazing since I had not been diving since December (excluding one short pool session) and my muscles were definitely not accustomed to these movements.
I did let a couple of the other divers try them – most of them were diving with Split Jets and I heard nothing but positive comments after they used them. Many saying they had never felt fins that felt as good, on their feet and legs.
All and all, I am very happy with them. I think these are Jet Fin killers (if people can get over the sticker shock). Bob really has a winner in these!!
As a side note, my wife was diving Foil Force Fins, for the first time, and once she got over the learning curve of kicking from her hips, she loved the fact that she did not have any cramps and how effortless they kicked at speed. Her only complaint (and this may be a problem) is that they did not do well sculling or frog kicking, which she does more than I realized, when she takes pictures (so I may have to find her another style of FFs). She loaned hers to a couple of women on the boat who were complaining about cramps and they just loved them (she dove with the boat’s full foot fins once, and hated them).
PS - still don't have a FF T-shirt
