Salvimar Delta-one foot pockets review

  • In search of more foot pocket options I found the new Salvimar Delta one foot pockets. They looked pretty slick so I ordered them.


    ftpocket.jpg


    I'm foot size 11 and with conventional foot pockets such as omer and H Dessault I wear size 42-44 which fits me very well without socks and with thin socks. Based on this information I was recommended the Salvimar size 43-44. I've already had experience with different foot pocket manufacturers that their numbers/sizing doesn't mean much without a point of reference, and thought being European it will probably be too small, so I ordered the next one up as well which is 45-46 to make sure I'll be able to test them.


    The foot pockets arrived today. At first glance they appeared as slick as in the pictures. On further inspection I saw that the footpocket tendons were very soft, IMO not giving the blade enough support. Trying the 43-44 size on it was a tight fit, I don't think I could get in with a Lycra sock. At this size I also felt the top of the pocket putting significant pressure on the area 3" up the foot from the toes.


    The 45-46 foot pocket was too loose and felt like the back of the foot pocket at the heel wasn't gripping at all and could come off in the water. The sizing not being suitable for my foot still didn't preclude the foot pockets from being used by someone with a different size foot, although I felt that the back of the pocket had a shape that doesn't grab the heel very well.


    Next was installing blades in the foot pockets to give them a try in the pool. I made a quick initial attempt to push the blade into the foot pocket to see where the rails need to start and end on the blade. It looked to me like the blade went in really shallow. I marked the depth at the back edge of the blade, pulled it back out, and proceeded to push something thin into the foot pocket slot to see how deep it really goes. I was surprised to see how deep it went in. I grabbed a flashlight and shone it inside the slot to see what was obstructing the back edge of the blade. In the slot I saw a rounded tab which at first glance appeared like a post connecting the bottom of the foot pocket to the sole. I thought what a PITA and decided to try and snip it out. I then realized that it runs all the way to the back of the slot.


    This means that any blade that goes into the Salvimar Delta one foot pocket has to have a channel cut into the back edge. I'm never going to do that to any blades. Even if the foot pockets were worth it, which they're not, it will probably compromise the integrity of the blade. That's it the foot pockets were useless. Needless to say I was pissed. Knowing myself that I'd probably have the foot pockets lying around for a year waiting to find some use for them, I decided to make sure that I'll get rid of the eye sore now. Tendons sheared off pretty easy by the way just pulling them apart.


    SalvimarFootpockets01.jpg


    The foot pocket with the bottom cut out to expose the tab. What a dumb idea.. even if the thought process was to help align the blade sideways and/or take some pressure off the back of the blade if standing on the floor with fins on.


    SalvimarFootpockets03.jpg


    BTW those are the same foot pockets Pipin / Persistent uses for their fins.


    SalvimarFootpockets04.jpg

  • That sucks, save the recipt...destructive testing write off.
    I guess they want divers to use their blade and make re-bladeing with non OEM blade a hassle.


    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.

  • Well they could have mentioned that before I paid. I'm sure they've had the same reaction from others already. Since they didn't give me a heads up I must assume they purposefully withheld the information.

  • Stupid design.


    Amazing the backward thinking of some companies.


    Who the hell is going to cut a line down the middle of a $200-400 blades.


    I really want to see what a Persistent blade looks like out of the pocket. I bet they just cut the end of the blade off where it meets the tab instead of cutting the blade to form around the tab.

  • Strange. I haven't heard but good things about these footpockets. In Italian forums everybody likes them and use them with different carbon blades without doing any modifications to them.


    BTW, soft tendons is the new "trend" in footpockets. Rubber material avoid carbon fiber to be as reactive as it could be.


    Maybe you got a bad badge? Did you contact the manufacturer? Maybe you should send these pictures to them...

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

  • Just a case of follow the crowd. I was warned about the Salvimar foot pocket by my contact in Europe. I disregarded it because I didn't clearly understand why he was saying that the blades don't fit into the footpocket properly.


    We've discussed this before and I'm compelled to say again that soft tendons is not a good thing and it's not a new trend. Pathos already went that way, had many blades broken, and switched to making stiff tendons. Overly stiff I might add. If anything it was an old bad trend.


    Even if the tab was gone I wouldn't order any more foot pockets from them, I was not impressed with the other aspects of the foot pocket.

  • What a waste of time and money, nice report Dan thanks.


    Knowledge and facts can be costly, but not a waste of time. Many divers pay this price when they buy a mask that fits in the store but not in the sea, we give the mask to a friend or sell at a loss, but we learn something. All I know is my Pursuit stuff has been put to Dan's torturer test and evaluated and discussed
    in a open forum before it is brought to the market. Knowledge is power, but it comes at a price.
    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.

  • Knowledge and facts can be costly, but not a waste of time. Many divers pay this price when they buy a mask that fits in the store but not in the sea, we give the mask to a friend or sell at a loss, but we learn something. All I know is my Pursuit stuff has been put to Dan's torturer test and evaluated and discussed
    in a open forum before it is brought to the market. Knowledge is power, but it comes at a price.
    Cheers, Don ,


    I agree to a certain extent. however, using your example, a mask that doesn't fit you... may still fit others perfect. Same as wetsuit cuts... or fin pockets. It's one of the most depressing things about diving in Norcal. Back in Hawaii, I had a bunch of well-stocked freedive shops to go in & see/feel/test gear out before buying. Here... nothing decent within an hour's drive. :(


    I've heard good things about the delta one pockets, but from a retailer/mfgr standpoint, I can easily see how that tab would be a deal breaker with many easier alternatives available. The search for good pockets continues... :D

  • Your right Fuzz, but we all learn something at each of our levels; I learn the the cool mask that sticks like glue in the store, leaks under my nose. Dan learns a Hi tech Italian foot pocket doesn't fit his foot and requires a blade slot cut to work with his blades. I just needed more coffee......:D And should have left the development and quality line out.:D
    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.

  • Your right Fuzz, but we all learn something at each of our levels; I learn the the cool mask that sticks like glue in the store, leaks under my nose. Dan learns a Hi tech Italian foot pocket doesn't fit his foot and requires a blade slot cut to work with his blades. I just needed more coffee......:D And should have left the development and quality line out.:D
    Cheers, Don


    I learned last weekend... that my mask that fits great on land & in water... but leaks like crazy if I smile or laugh underwater. :D

  • I could be wrong but I believe these footpockets were initially made for/by Effesub who is no longer in business. And just like Marcos mentioned, people in different forums seem to be very happy with them. Thank you for the review Dan.

  • This kevlar patch must be responsible for the tightness/lack of flexibility of the pocket above the toes I described earlier. What's the point for this reinforcement other than to use as a marketing gimic, I've never seen or heard of a foot pocket failing in that area.


    Marco, I'd like to see a link to the Italian reviews. I wouldn't be surprised if the reviewers are all affiliated with Salvimar as in the case of the 3 posts I found on deeper blue.


    BTW as far as Hatch customs, I can see that they're not terribly serious about producing a good fin just based on the foot pockets and rails they're using. I've been meaning to do a thread about rails for a long time, this may prompt me to do it.

  • From the Hatch page; this kevlar patch must be responsible for the tightness/lack of flexibility of the pocket above the toes I described earlier. What's the point for this reinforcement other than to use as a marketing gimic, I've never seen or heard of a footpocket failing in that area.


    I don't think it has anything to do with failure prevention. That area seems to get the most pressure on a downstroke. I think it's a way of mitigating some of the flex in the pocket material. Stiffening that particular area should translate into better power transfer.

  • I would guess that the idea is to limit stretch in order to direct power to the blades. I can tell that they wouldn't work well for me since my feet are about as tall as they are long and wide, but I can see how it could be a good thing for those someone who they fit well.


    Looks like Fuzz and I were typing at the same time.

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