Looking for recommendations- freediving fins

  • Looking for freediving fins for my teenage sons but, after days of research, feel more confused than before (see my intro post). (after reading Spearboard I was convinced that Mako competition freediver fins were what I wanted...then I found this forum and realized I need to restart my research). I would appreciate insight/opinions/model suggestions. My sons are 16/17, 6ft/145lbs-ish, athletes, mainly will be freediving to spearfish, around 40ft max, inshore reefs, S. FL and Bahamas, rarely swim long distances- more up/down than distance. They currently SCUBA dive and use open-heel with no problems, but is closed foot better for freediving? I'm also looking for pole spear/sling suggestions (will post on that thread). Budget friendly, but solid value products...they'll stick with this sport, but my budget is tight. Thank you so much for any input!

  • Open heel fins are the worst fins for freediving, spearfishing and scuba diving. Why people buy them I can't understand. I guess when you only spend 30 minutes total in the water it doesn't matter. The loose fit amounts to a lot energy loss when kicking, resulting in little propulsion and quickly tired legs.
    Speardiver C90 are good freediving fins https://spearfishing.store/fin…on-spearfishing-fins.html

  • Yup, go with closed heels.
    Dan, I think open heels are common in scuba because they like their booties a whole lot (walking on shore or boat with tanks) and often don't swim any major distances.
    That said, I love using freediving fins while on scuba - especially if there is current and I need to chase after fish for underwater photography/video. I am not a commercial spearo so I don't spear on tanks...;-).
    BTW, I think you'll see more and more scuba folks on long fins in the years to come - and, sadly, more reef damage as a result...


    Back to the OP. For budget fins, plastic fins are just fine. A lot of us had plastic for our first pair of fins and they are near indestructable. I have taken mine down to 100 feet, so in that sense, carbon is not really needed. What is more important is that the foot pocket fits the shape of the diver's foot (if it is too tight, you can get cramps) and that there is room for a thickness of sock adequate for the waters, they dive in. Others can help you on the latter. Maybe 3mm in Florida? Or 1.5mm?
    Different brands have different shapes of foot pockets and often divers mix and match blades and foot pockets, but most plastic fins don't have detachable foot pockets, so with those, you really have to go for the brand of foot pockets, when you decide.


    For how wide the pockets are, it's tricky as few people have tried all pockets. But here is a list I lifted from another dealer on another forum:
    From widest to most narrow:
    Omer, Picasso, Sporasub, Pathos, Beuchat and Cressi.
    (Those were the ones he had tried on).


    Adding in some more comments from other users to that list and it could look something like:
    Wide to narrow: Immersion, Picasso, Dessault, Omer, Sporasub, Pathos, Beuchat and Cressi
    (This is just a compilation of different divers' feelings, so not sure how accurate it can said to be. E.g. some call Omer normal, some call them wide. But I think, on this list, only Beuchat and Cressi are really narrow and the rest are normal to wide).


    I have had Omer, Pathos and Cressi. I have quite flat and wide feet and the Cressis are indeed narrow. So much so that I cramped up. Then I had Omer Stingrays that I found much more comfortable and now, I have Pathos. You might think that Pathos are narrow according to their place on the above list but I think they are still quite wide as they fit me well.

  • Dan and Diving Gecko are right on. I would like to emphasize the plastic freediving fins.


    First, freediving fins; these are important because unlike the scuba your boys will need to hold their breath freediving. To assist them they need proper fins and those fins they wear while on scuba will not cut it. Freediving fins will give them the speed without the energy (conserved energy is very important for freediving.


    Now to elaborate on the plastic. There will always be a need for plastic fins. No matter if your boys upgrade to carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc. they will still have a use for plastic. Plus, plastic is way cheaper and versatile. I wouldn't really take carbons on the reef, for example. I don't have the money to replace them that often since I push off the bottom and go on caves and such.


    As far as Mako goes, if your are getting your information solely from Spearboard your results will be skewed in favor of Mako. They are a sponsor and per the rules there is no bad mouthing allowed. I would never trust Mako with "complicated" or "important" gear, for lack of a better term (i.e., gun). I feel with the reported malfunctions of gear it would be irresponsible for me to suggest them for such gear. For something not as complicated or important (i.e., weight belt, or arguably fins) it's a gamble. I personally have not been satisfied with even the simplest of gear and have vowed to save my money from further disappointment.


    I apologize to any Mako supporters. Just one man's opinion, no offense intended.

  • One more thing, if you want suggestions of specific fins give your price range per child and I'm sure others will given their perspective based on what they have used. Myself included. I'm sure you have an idea of your boys' feet (i.e., wide, narrow, flat). Give that out too.

  • Thank you all :) Price range- ideally around $100/pr but now I think that might be too low. Foot width-pretty average, not narrow and def not wide (their body type is lean, overall.. a swimmer as opposed to a football player). Also, a note regarding durability around reefs.. my sons are pretty diligent about buoyancy control and are very careful about not touching corals, so I think durability would come into play more in the boat (a weight dropping on fins, etc).

  • Sounds kind of like my feet. I use Omer Stingrays. They are closer to $180 though. My buddy wears Omer Eaglerays which are slightly cheaper. I do not know how the fit is on them, but I will say that I like those blades more than the Stingray blades I think (just by look and touch; they are much softer and flexible). I am not too sure of any foot pocket/blade combos that are $100 per unfortunately.

  • Beware that the Gara 2000, if they are even still made, are supposedly super stiff. I had the 3000LD which are softer. That helps a lot with surface swimming.


    I do, personally, think that some of the cheaper plastic fins could be an option. I base that on a few freediving instructors beginning to carry them in the Philippines. The first one, I know who did, is also a very good spearo (not that it matters much) and he said he was incredibly surprised about the performance of them. He said they were pretty snappy - which is often not said about anything other than fiber fins. I trust that guy's opinion on the matter a lot as he has never pushed a sale, quite the contrary.
    I think he used to sell them at about 100 bucks. Mundo something was the name. Aquamundo, I think. I don't know if they were locally made or whether they came out of a factory in China under many different brand names.


  • Unsolicited plug: I have purchased two guns from Mako, both the enclosed track, and the first one was apparently a short production run of American mech reverse trigger handle. Both excellent guns, in my view. I sold the American mech one to some mexican buddies a year ago and they use it every day, sharing it, with no problems. I'm a bit surprised, based on my experience, that there would be issues about Mako quality. Your mileage may vary, of course.

  • I'm just here to share my experience. I purchased leaderfin ICE stereoblades. Didn't have any problem with the blades but the footpockets were too loose and I didn't like the plastic they used at all. It did not hold shape and the opening to put your foot in was not circular or uniform between the two foot pockets even. Leaderfins is based in Estonia or Latvia, so returning the footpockets was no option as shipping would be far too expensive. What I did was purchase the Mako footpockets only. They fit much better with little tolerances but will allow me to fit my foot in with a dive sock. The plastic looks much better visually but it is also lighter, and holds form much better. Also around my ankles where the leaderfin pockets used to have gaps because of the loosey goosey plastic is a nice seamless snug fit contouring where my foot fits in the fin. In hindsight I wish I had purchased the foot pockets alone first for fitment, then gone on to purchasing whatever blades I needed.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member to leave a comment.