Do I need new fins?

I found that I can't significantly and permanently change the way I kick to adjust to a fin that's too stiff or too cumbersome. I can do it for short periods of time as long as I'm making a conscious effort, but inevitably at some point I slip back into the most efficient kicking style that particular fin demands, which will be wrong as you described if the fin is too stiff. A prolonged effort has that effect with all equipment we use. The body finds a way to adjust in the most efficient manner regardless of how we think it should perform.

Past deciding that you'll be getting carbon blades, and choosing a company who's blades are known for durability and have a warranty for failure under normal use, stiffness and flex pattern are the most important factors in determining the right fin for you. It starts with the footpocket that fits you best and is most comfortable. Then a blade which combined with the characteristics of that particular footpocket will give you a fin with an overall stiffness and flex pattern that's perfect for you.

Normally the change in performance from plastic and even fiberglass fins to carbon is so significant, that the diver will perceive a big improvement as long as the fins are not extremely stiff or extremely soft. Most divers will then stay with those fins even if they're not "ideal" because the body will make small permanent adjustments without them noticing. The ones that don't are divers that have particular issues like knee or ankle pain, or divers that are very in tune with their performance and want the ultimate. Such divers now have a point of reference with their current carbon fins and can infer whether a softer or stiffer fin is needed. For me selecting the right stiffness is well worth the investment. To give you an idea of how far I go, at a time when the right stiffness footpockets were not available to me I weakened the tendons of my Pathos footpocket 3 notches at a time on the top and bottom of the tendon, testing the fins each time, until I achieved the stiffness and flex pattern I wanted.

For a long time I wanted to take the guesswork out of buying carbon blades. I've achieved this to a degree by familiarizing myself with the different footpockets and blades available on the market. Then if a diver can't bring in their fins I still more or less know what they have if I'm given the brand and model of the blades and footpockets. And can then deduce the fins they're looking for using the old fins as a point of reference. This doesn't always work because I can't know all of them. For example in your case I'm well familiar with the characteristics of the Nemo footpockets, they have a nice stiff sole and a little stiffer than moderate tendons. I can also say that the manufacturing has been consistent. But I have no idea about the C4 blades. I've seen some that were soft like noodles with a poor flex pattern and useless IMO.

For someone coming to my shop we'd simply go to the pool and have them try a few different stiffness blades. If I was dealing with someone I couldn't see in person, the best approach to get the stiffness and flex they're looking for would be to send me their complete fins and let me know in percentage how much softer the new ones should be. Not difficult to achieve if the same footpockets will be used for the new fins. A little more involved if they're looking for different footpockets.

Dan made some excellent points. The most important one being finding the foot pocket that fits you best and is most comfortable.

Up until the last 2 years or so, I never really put much thought into the tendons of the foot pockets and how much they impact the performance of a particular set of blades. The difference can be quite dramatic. I only realized this after switching from my normal Omer Melleniums to a new foot pocket that had much softer tendons and putting the same blades in them. Blades that I thought were too stiff in the past became noticebly softer and much more to my liking.

My suggestion to your question of concern is to try the blades in a foot pocket with softer tendons.I don't have any experience with the Nemo foot pockets, but I know from years of use, that the Omer Milleniums are very stiff.

I know what I want out of a blade in terms of stiffness and flex and quickly determine just by bending the blades (out of a foot pocket) with my hands and know wether or not I will like them and that they will perform the way I want them to.

I have only become quite "pickey" about foot pockets since diving the warmer waters of the GOM and not having to use socks. My feet are much more sensitive and I am able to notice much smaller details while diving barefoot. I am also diving much deeper than I normally would in Cali and also shooting much larger fish on a regular basis.

Noticing the difference is not always something that comes easily with new fins, blades or footpockets. I often don't realize the differences until I go back to using fins I have already used after trying new combinations.

A good way to truly realize effiency is to count kick cycles to a predetermined depth. But it's not always the best way to determine what the best fin is. It seems to me that most people want smooth effortless kicks with maximized efficiency. While I think that is an important aspect, I think that being able to put brakes on a big fish is also equally important. If I am trying to kick hard to keep a big AJ from getting into the structure and running deep, a softer more effiecient ascent/descent blade is not what I am looking for. I prefer a stiffer blade on the back end and soft on the front. It's amazing how much the stiffness of a foot pocket tendon can effect this on a particular blade.

Quote from John Hanson

Dan made some excellent points. The most important one being finding the foot pocket that fits you best and is most comfortable.

Up until the last 2 years or so, I never really put much thought into the tendons of the foot pockets and how much they impact the performance of a particular set of blades. The difference can be quite dramatic. I only realized this after switching from my normal Omer Melleniums to a new foot pocket that had much softer tendons and putting the same blades in them. Blades that I thought were too stiff in the past became noticebly softer and much more to my liking.

My suggestion to your question of concern is to try the blades in a foot pocket with softer tendons.I don't have any experience with the Nemo foot pockets, but I know from years of use, that the Omer Milleniums are very stiff.

I know what I want out of a blade in terms of stiffness and flex and quickly determine just by bending the blades (out of a foot pocket) with my hands and know wether or not I will like them and that they will perform the way I want them to.

I have only become quite "pickey" about foot pockets since diving the warmer waters of the GOM and not having to use socks. My feet are much more sensitive and I am able to notice much smaller details while diving barefoot. I am also diving much deeper than I normally would in Cali and also shooting much larger fish on a regular basis.

Noticing the difference is not always something that comes easily with new fins, blades or footpockets. I often don't realize the differences until I go back to using fins I have already used after trying new combinations.

A good way to truly realize effiency is to count kick cycles to a predetermined depth. But it's not always the best way to determine what the best fin is. It seems to me that most people want smooth effortless kicks with maximized efficiency. While I think that is an important aspect, I think that being able to put brakes on a big fish is also equally important. If I am trying to kick hard to keep a big AJ from getting into the structure and running deep, a softer more effiecient ascent/descent blade is not what I am looking for. I prefer a stiffer blade on the back end and soft on the front. It's amazing how much the stiffness of a foot pocket tendon can effect this on a particular blade.

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I found the biggest benefit to upgrading to my carbon blades was not needing to choose between a "stiff" blade that feels like kicking boards and a soft blade with no backbone. My c90's seem to do both, they are soft and easy when im kicking in that style, surface swimming is a breeze with no flapping, but if i need to swim against a current or fish they compress like stiff springs and rebound with power. My earlier experiences with plastic blades was the opposite, gara 2000's were like boards, 3000's like noodles.

One other thing Dan pointed out to me a while back (and touched on a bit above me). Something many divers dont seem to realize they should really take into account. The same brand footpocket of the same size from different batches can have dramatically different properties and tendencies.

It seems the only real way to know what effects your tendons will have on your blades is by personally feeling the stiffness of the exact footpockets you plan to buy and understanding its effects. Or buying from someone like Dan whos felt enough pockets to know how they react and give you exactly what you want. But it seems that expecting a certain make/model of footpockets to be the same (or softer) can end badly in certain situations.

Can you borrow blades from friends and do some FP and blade combos and test them? I would try a few and get someone to film you also so you have some decent data. Then you can see if your diving is something that is a product of the gear or if you are just not using optimum form when you aren't paying attention.

My fins are a tad too stiff because I am like John and want that stopping power and immediate thrust as opposed to waiting for the snap back. I am confident that at the end of every diving day I am kickin the way you describe. But it is because I am physically and mentally tired and I am not paying attention to form and, as Dan said very well, my body is trying to be efficient cos it's tired and lazy
I feel like I would still do it then, even with softer fins just out of laziness and fatigue

It's possible. Please contact me through the store, I don't catch all the posts in the forum, and don't want it to look like I'm ignoring you if I miss your post.

Pathos run normal as far as I'm concerned. I had a few guys say they're nice and wide. They're definitely not narrow.

Pathos are a perfect fit on my foot. Semi-wide and really really soft. Love them.