Omer Stingray foot pockets review

    I installed Speardiver carbon blades in OMER Stingray foot pockets, here are my impressions. The Stingray foot pockets have a very nice finish and a soft comfortable pocket. The foot pocket tendons are a good medium stiffness. This means they'll provide good support for the carbon blades and a stiffer backbone for hard kicking. I don't like very stiff tendons because they don't allow flex at all in the back 2/3 of the blade which is hard on the knees.


    The Stingray footpocket tendons have a T slot and require tendon rails to be glued onto the blade edges. The tendon T slot accepts the rails well. The stingrays accept a conventional blade back edge, but for it to go all the way to the end of the slot a small recess needs to be shaped in the back edge of the blade. The recess is not absolutely necessary as the blade fits deep enough in the foot pocket regardless.


    OMER Stingray foot pockets are available from FreediveStore.com in a nice range of sizes to suit most divers. Speardiver fins are available installed in Stingray foot pockets Speardiver Carbon Fins.


    Pics of the Stingray footpocket and a Speardiver carbon blade with a reshaped back edge.



    Those are the same ones Dan that I used and something popped inside of them and my blade was all weird remember, you could see it when I swam. Not sure exactly what happened though.

    Thank's for that input Dan, I'm really happy with my H.Dessault pockets and Speardiver C90 med blades.
    Cheers, Don

    "Great mother ocean brought forth all life, it is my eternal home'' Don Berry from Blue Water Hunters.


    Spearfishing Store the freediving and spearfishing equipment specialists.

    Edited once, last by Don Paul ().

    Everything I've heard about the Stingrays has been rather positive, with them being much softer and more comfortable than the milleniums. I have however read that they can be somewhat difficult to fit certain blades into since the Stingrays have a rather large angle (I believe 22 degrees).

    Edited once, last by theshred ().

    TheShred you will really like the H Dessault footpockets that Dan has, I use them as well on my Speardiver carbons and they are super comfortable. My Dive R's are my back up with a pair of H Dessault's in them.

    Well there's one positive review. I'll keep it in mind. At this point I've been considering heading to some shops (there are 2 freediving shops in San Diego) to try on various foot pockets just to get a sense of which fit the best. I will say that in looking at blades, the Speardiver fins have caught my eye, as they seem to have gotten great reviews, are priced quite reasonably compared to carbon fins from C4 or anyone else I've seen, and I like the idea of supporting a small, American company a bit more than say Omer. We'll see though. Still need another couple weeks of work to let my wallet recover from that Drysuit I just got.

    Edited once, last by theshred ().

    They cramp my feet BAD! So if anyone wants some OMER Stingrays in 7-8 let me know!

    Edited once, last by Matt ().

    I'm using them with my DiverR'S and LOVE them. One thing you have to pay attention to is the installation. The pocket is designed to have the blade farther back in the foot bed area than most pockets. If you don't install them all the way back to the little nipple in the bottom of the pocket they will bend at the arch of your foot. Some blades may require some modification to allow the blade to go in far enough.


    I've tried basically every pocket available through the magazine and for me these work best.


    FYI,,, I wear a 42-44 but in these I wear a 7-8. They seem to run big for the sizing.

    Quote from Dan

    Why do you think the stingrays cramp your feet? Are they the right size for you (consider if you're using socks)?


    Which footpockets at what size fit you well without cramping?


    Beuchat 7-8 are my favorite pockets

    Quote from Adrian

    What is the actual size stamped on the footpockets?


    my bad...they are 7-8 41-42......I wear 2mm Akona booties with them with Spierre blades and my wide feet just get cramped up after an hour. I have to wear booties with a little traction because they are very smooth on the inside also which I do not prefer.

    Edited once, last by Matt ().

    I tested several for an article recently. I was trying to measure a difference in speed or efficiency from pocket to pocket using the same exact blade. I didn't find a significant difference in speed or efficiency between the following pockets:
    Omer Stingray
    Piccasso Black Team
    Mares
    Beuchat
    Capt Nemo


    I did find significant differences in comfort/stiffness and major sizing variability. I didn't actually test the old Omer pockets because they are so uncomfortable.


    I ended up keeping the Beuchat pockets for myself, haven't had a blister since. And I just hit PB for depth and time this past week. Using DiveR Carbon fibre blades.


    C

    First of all I must point out I'm an amature freediver/spearo


    I chose them because I have a broad foot and found them most comfortable in the shop, however they do cramp my feet after a wile....

    I have a narrow foot and the Stingrays really felt comfortable in the store, but that's all I know.


    In a side note, I reached a PB in both deepest grouper and deepest dive with the Speardiver fins in Pathos pockets. I could not be happier with them.

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