cressi modular foot pocket concern

Hi Justin,

It's unlikely you'll get another opinion on these footpockets, they're relatively new and few people are using them.

The shape of the new Cressi Gara modular footpockets have nothing to do with the old gara plastic fin footpockets, nor with the LD Professional (which are a POS IMO, footpocket under the blade is a bad gimmick). The Gara modular are comfortable, but suitable for a narrow foot only. The tendons have good moderate stiffness, the sole is stiff for good energy transfer.

The special fin blades will fit.

omer Stingray foot pockets have stiff tendons. They probably bump up the stiffness of your soft blades quite a bit. I'm sure you'll notice a difference switching to the Garas, with the fin becoming softer. I'm not familiar with special fins, but IF their soft is anything like Leader fins soft, then the blades need a foot pocket with stiff tendons. BTW Kevlar is an unnecessary gimmick, the colors look nice that's about it. The purpose of Kevlar is to dissipate energy, not the best material for a fin. Consequently Kevlar fins are slower than carbon, which defeats the purpose.

Don't worry about the angle, it will work.

If adjustment is necessary, it's easy to do. The blade can be shaped with a belt sander without negatively affecting its durability.

To suggest the right size footpockets You'll need to provide your actual foot measurement. Put a ruler against the wall and stand on it with your heel against the wall, measure where the furthest toe ends. Also measure the width of your foot at the widest part.

The Leader fins carbon blades soft is very soft, but that's not bad in itself, it has no snap. Leader fin footpocket tendons are also very soft, and so is the sole. You can fold/roll up the whole footpocket and put it in your pant pocket.

A 60 Kg person should use a soft blade. I don't know much about sizes though.

Quote from justinpma

I just measured, length is 26.3cm width is 9.5cm.

The best fitting Pathos footpocket size for you is the 42-44.

Very cool watching you help out Dan, you are not pushing your product just giving good advise and your opinions... One of the reasons I like being here

Quote from Dan

The best fitting Pathos footpocket size for you is the 42-44.

I push, I just do it gently

Quote from Dude george

Very cool watching you help out Dan, you are not pushing your product just giving good advise and your opinions... One of the reasons I like being here

I'm no body's cheerleader, but 4 years ago I thought I knew all I needed about the fins I use... but I was wrong.
Dan went as far as to send me two different makers pockets so I could fit a busted up left foot.
Every thing I have bought from Freedive Store.Com (suit, wt.vest,fins,PPd's,wt.belt,GoPro,mask,knife,exc) has been top shelf, and shipped out in record time.
I plan on using and enjoying his products for a very long time.

Don Paul

No fan club guy either that stuff leads to the gang or mafia mentality that is the antithesis of what I am about, when I first joined I was always looking to see if it would show up here as a lot of praise was always being heaped on Dans products, it did not appear and I have actually bought some small items from Dan and can say the service is great and he is always willing to answer or advise.

Several years ago when I started my self-directed journey into spearfishing I noticed that most of you guys wore funny long fins without straps on the back of them. I thought to myself mayhap there is a reason for such folly. So without the guidance of sane or rational thought I threw a dart and got pair of green bladed Picasso beginner fins. The Black team fins had world record but you had to be in iron man tri-athlete to use them so that left me the green ones. I use them up until this year.

I was online ordering some equipment for use in the Philippines and causally mentioned I wanted to eventually upgrade to a better fin he quickly told me of a once in a life time opportunity to buy a pair of fiberglass blades that were dropping as a line.

Well who could resist such a recommendation, as we aren’t going to carry them any more because they suck and we will dump this pair on you for next to nothing. I agreed to buy them figuring they were cheap and I could see how much better the would be over the plastic boards I began with. He also sent foot pockets with the deal and they had a pair of Vortex blades in then so he threw. Them in.

Ok when I arrived here in the Philippines I had the Fiberglass blades in the foot pockets that came with the Vortex blades. The very first day we arrived the China Sea was badly misbehaving. Still I rushed in where angels feared to tread. I instantly lost one of the fins in the surf and never got to test them. However I installed the Vortex blades in the Picasso foot pockets and they were stiffer I guess and proved to be a definite improvement over my old Picasso Green ones. I was able to push myself around better. Ankles got tired the first few times I used them but soon adjusted NP and they were superior to the old beaten green blades I had for all those years. Side note they can take a beating.

Well I still want to upgrade to a better pair. Carbon, Fiberglass, or Magic Plastic that was the question. Every manufacturer writes great marketing blurbs so how could you go wrong with any of them? Well several ways of course but the real struggle came down to is carbon to delicate much less expensive. Remember I do not go so low for so long as to justify 2 less kicks per 30 cycles and $450 dollars and risk breaking them on the reef, which keeps bumping into me.

I finally decided to get a pair of Cessi Modular with the specially developed new plastic-tec polymer more reactive than carbon. (Ya Ya save it). They too touted the balance of foot pocket and blade importance for efficient transfer of power. Plus I could upgrade them to carbon if they were comfortable because we all knw the will come out with a carbon blade (You think! What are the Chances?) Once again I rushed into the sea after waiting 8 weeks for the freighter to deliver them. They did in fact offer superior performance and the blades were way more reactive that the Vortex or the Picasso green blades had been. I truly noticed a better stroke and smoother propulsion. I was excited because it was a definite step up until 4 hours later my left foot’s outer edge along the bone and tendon began to cry. I tried them again the next day but they are too narrow and I can’t wear them without pain. Interesting side note I wear size 12 to 13 and these were way to big lengthwise. (Go Figure)

So remembering I am in the Philippines and time and tide wait for no man. I took the blades and went to the hardware store purchased some bull dog glue and glued the Cessi modular fin blades into my Picasso Foot Pockets. I am currently using them to this day maybe as you read this lengthy post (Sorry about that). They are a defiant improvement over my previous setup. However I suspect there may be better-configured fins and footpad combinations out there. So What would you suggest for a big guy 280+ pounds in the wet over 5 hours a day not going down over 15 meter, entering from the shore, and bouncing off the reef occasionally that would up his game intake.

I don’t have access to multiple foot pockets to try on not blades to test. I live in .Wisconsin When I am home and the Philippines when I am spearfishing. I will post my measurement tomorrow Dan:thumbsup2:

I read about the pathos foot pockets and they were on my short list but I still am at a loss as to what kind of blades to marry them to given my personal dive environment and physical size. I do have a Wong spear gun and I did ask Daryl what he would recommend. He hasn’t gotten back to me yet but I bet it will be the Patho’s and Moana which I see Dan has some reservations about. I respect your observations what would you suggest?

I would crank lose the dollars if I was reasonably certain carbon could withstand mild abuse and the return in performance was upgrade sufficiently over my remarkable current configuration ifyou thought they would fit me comfortably. (Yes the measurement point taken) I humbly await your guidance and opinions.