just discovered speardiver.com

    This forum is incredible.
    The directions said to share some info about me...
    I've been freediving and spearfishing since as long as I can remember. Its interesting reading all of the conversations here. I never realized there were so many different things to consider. I'm a little behind since I've had the same teak gun (my father made) for the past 15 years and the same stringer.
    I live in FL.


    I finally decided to log in because I want to try some new blades.
    I've had the old cressis for years. They are about shot. I bought some omer millenium fins a few years ago thinking I had lost my cressis. The foot pockets are comfortable (being a female - at least they fit my feet) but you may as well swim barefoot if you ask me.


    I like the idea of getting something a lot more rigid. I can break most things, so the carbon fins sound like they would be a bad idea? I also dont want to spend a ton of money on blades. I just want to get something solid and strong that is more rigid than the plastic cressis that Ive been swimming in (and anything would be better than the Omer Millenium fin).


    I dont go very deep - just usually under 40/50 feet. I often swim in the tide, so I need something with a lot of power.


    Does anyone have any recommendations? Also, does anyone know of a store where you could try out different blades to see how they feel?


    Thanks for your help!

    I have fiberglass blades that I bought from Dan years ago and have not taken care of them at all. My blades are solid and have never given me a problem.


    I hear the carbon fiber ones that he has now are even tougher than the fiberglass blades I have, and are far more flexible.


    check out the online store on the top right hand side of the page.

    Welcome Alison. I wouldn't assume your gun is out of date. In my experience a custom gun will kill fish forever. :)


    Look into some fg speardiver fins or the new modular cressis. I love my c90s but if you are a gear killer stay away from cf

    i like to spear fish

    Welcome Alison great to have you on board. I have been using Speardiver C90 in Med for boat dives and rocky
    shore dives through the surf and they look like new. I have the blades in H.Dessult pockets, the effortless power is addictive.


    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.

    I suppose I was playing the conservative and going along with the traditional notion that cf is more fragile. Mine are plus two years old and look pretty much brand new.


    I type corrected

    i like to spear fish

    Welcome Alison, you have found a bunch of nice folks willing to share knowledge and experience without the BS of some other forums. Enjoy.

    Dustan Baker

    Thanks for the welcome.


    Those carbon blades look beautiful (that picture - of the beat up gear is about right). I'm no pro and knowing that I polverize stuff, I cant bring myself to spending 300 on something that will look like I dragged it behind a truck (I'm sure after I've had some really good ones I would change my mind - but my cheap nature is also a problem).


    I was looking at the fiberglass fins4u because they were around $100 and you could pick different rigidity. Are those any good? Are there any other "entry level" fiberglass blades that anyone would recommend? Are there any places that sell used blades?


    I guess once I figure out which ones to buy I'll be asking you about rigidity. I'm leaning toward gettinng the most rigid fin I can (just because the Omers stink- and I wish the cressis were harder). I read a few other posts about how smaller divers shouldnt use super rigid fins. I guess I want someone to explain that a little better. What would really happen if someone smaller got into some rigid fins? Are there any outliers? I'm 5'5 @110# - I'm happy with 6# of weight (I know - not necessary) - and I like to shoot things in lots of current :)

    I know Dan carried some great fiberglass blades for a while but am not sure of he has any left. Those things are indestructible. I have a pair in #4 stiffness (very stiff) and they take a serious beating and are as good as new. I am VERY tough on my gear....never rinse....stand on rocks/jetty..shore entry dives on rocky bottom..basically beat the ever loving crud out of them. After years of such abuse they are still perfect. There are cosmetic blemishes and scratches on them but functionally they are ready for many more years of similar service.


    I was also hesitant to spend a bunch on fins and thought my plastic Sporasub fins did the job but there is certainly a noticeable difference in power. The fiberglass fins are leaps and bounds better than plastic. I have also dove someone else's carbon fins (Dans blades on a H Dessault finpocket) and they are fantastic. So incredibly light, kind on the ankles and the power was off the charts. $300 may seem like a lot but it is worth every penny IMO. Saving up for my own pair....if I could just keep away from other outdoor goodies on my wish list I would already be diving a set of them now. Good luck with your search.

    Quote from LunkerBuster

    Welcome Alison. I wouldn't assume your gun is out of date. In my experience a custom gun will kill fish forever. :)


    Look into some fg speardiver fins or the new modular cressis. I love my c90s but if you are a gear killer stay away from cf


    I've never used fiberglass so I'm no expert but I can tell you this. I pretty much abuse my Dan 90s (not sure if they're Pursuits or Speardivers....:D) I leave them in the boat, throw shit on top of them, get them stuck between rocks laying on the bottom....
    I've had to replace the zip ties once. But the fishing line idea looks enticing....and I've torn parts of the railing off. I just bought some "Mighty Bond", a Philippine version of super glue, and put them back on.That was in May.
    I'm really trying to beat the piss out of them so I can TAKE the piss out of Dan...but to no avail. :D


    Oh yeah. Welcomd to Spearboard.

    Welcome! Speardiver carbon blades are worth every penny, I beat the hell out of mine and although they are scratched they show no signs of structural damage. There is a writeup and a couple pictures of Pantoja's fins on here somewhere and it looks like he beat the shit out of them and they loved every minute of it. I jumped from plastic split fins to CF fins because by upgrading to the best I avoid wasting money on mediocre fins I wouldn't be happy with or wouldn't last.

    I think you need softer, longer blades. And then adjust your kicking style to longer, smoother strokes.


    I would try DiveR soft and medium blades.


    What part of Fl do you dive? I'm sure you can find someone with a few blades to try out.


    C

    Quote from Alison

    I was looking at the fiberglass fins4u because they were around $100 and you could pick different rigidity. Are those any good?

    fins4u are Leader fins marketed to the UK. You can see the label on the fins in their website, it says Leader. Keep in mind all the prices are in British pounds, so if you see 100 that will end up about $160, plus whatever shipping is from Europe which isn't cheap.


    Leader fiberglass blades are very poor performers at any stiffness. I wouldn't recommend them even to replace plastic fins. Leader carbons (really carbon/fiberglass sandwich) at medium stiffness only, are decent entry level fiber fins. Soft and hard stiffness are poor performers.


    The Leader carbon fins medium stiffness are available at Leader Stereoblades Waves Carbon - FreediveStore.com for $160. Unlike other spearfishing gear shops :rolleyes1: we don't rebrand the Leader fins and sell at an inflated price. At this time included in that price we also install Speardiver tendon rails. The Leader tendon rails are poor quality and do not fit well in footpockets.


    You'll need to get footpockets. I don't recommend the Leader footpockets. They're a copy of the omer Stingray footpockets which would be alright, except they're manufactured too soft which results in poor energy transfer to the blades.

    i got some leader carbon fiber fins from dan and there the best! not a better fin out there for the price!it sounds like there a must buy for what you want and for the price you want also. hope this helps. and enjoy

    Quote from Chuckd

    I think you need softer, longer blades. And then adjust your kicking style to longer, smoother strokes.


    I would try DiveR soft and medium blades.

    Chuck, I've been considering for a long time introducing fiberglass blades similar to DiveR, but with correct angle and better rails. I can't make a decision, I guess because hard as I try at that price point I can't justify fiberglass blades, although I'm aware other people are buying them. Can you please help me by explaining the reasons and point of view of someone choosing fiberglass blades that cost $100 more than carbon, and are heavier and less responsive than carbon. I promise I will not argue, I just really need to understand the rational to make a decision. I'm actually wrestling with the decision at this very moment. To me the reasons in favor of the fiberglass fins is to give DiveR some well deserved competition, and that they'll match the Speardiver wetsuit patterns. Me being a practical diver these reasons don't seem to be enough.

    I agree with you Dan. I dont see why people own fiberglass fins when they cost as much as Carbons.

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