Pathos Foot pockets with Leaderfin Blades

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Well my cressi’s have pretty much bitten the dust. They are still usable but with cracks in blades and ripos in the foot pocket their days are numbered. I tried out my friends carbon fins with the pathos pockets and they felt awesome. I opted for the fiberglass blades because frankly after seeing people’s carbon fins break often I am skeptical of carbon.

The fiberglass is not as light as the carbon but it kicks good. The pathos pockets are awesome, so much more comfortable then the piece of crap nemo pockets. I think these are going to be my fins from here on out. Frankly swimming with cressis after using them , feels like swimming with weighted boards. This comesbittersweet because I always liked diving as good as people with fancy fins using my cheap fins, but oh well.

Captain Nemo Fins and Pockets

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The next set of fins I tried was the Captain Nemo fins.  This was my first foray into the fiberglass fins which are supposed to be better than the plastic fins. How the various fins materials transfer energy to the water is kind of unknown to me.

The nemos looked way cooler then the plastic fins and upon first using them, they seemed to kick way better. It just felt like they had more snap then plastic. I was very happy with them at first but then after diving with them a few days I didn’t like them.

Constructed from an advanced Composite Fiber compound Captain Nemo Power Fins provide the freediver with unmatched performance, durability, and power.

Composite Fiber materials are revolutionising fin technology. This modern material is impact resistant, has a high modulus of elasticity, excellent resistance to scratching, superb energy transfer, and unmatched durability.

The problem was the foot pockets. They did not cut up my feet like the riffe pockets but they caused cramping and major discomfort once I had been diving in them for a few hours. Using them multiple days in row was a nightmare, and after a little bit I switched back to my cressi HF.

Cressi Gara HF

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Cressi sells two models of plastic freedive fins, the HF and the LD. The HF stands for “hard fin” and the LD stands for “long distance”. I originally tried the HF but as a beginner I found it too stiff.  I should have switched to the LD but I tried the Riffe fin instead. I think the LD is probably the perfect starter fin. Its fin is soft and easier on the leg muscles and the cressi pocket is very comfortable, but I digress.

After using the riffe I swtiched back to the HF and I found it to be wonderful. Once my legs were used to using long fins they did not feel stiff at all, and the pocket is so much more comfortable for my feet then the riffe footpocket.

I have used these fins for several years now and have been pretty happy with them. The only thing is they don’t last forever. I know I don’t treat my gear as well as I should, so keep that in mind. But over time the cressis just break down from the sun and heavy use, kicking off the bottom etc. The blades eventually crack, at least for me. I keep using them even with cracks in them, but I am probably going to check out some other fins soon to see if I an get a little more life out of them.

Riffe Silent Hunter

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Riffe Silent hunter fins were the second long freedive fins I have owned. They are plastic and like anything riffe, relatively expensive. The fins are large and soft which I feel is better starting off. I originally had cressi gara HF but they felt like I had a boards strapped to my feet so I traded them in for the Riffes, the irony of that is I eventually went back to the cressi’s and still use them today.

The Riffe fins were easier on my feet initially then the cressis, in terms of cramping my feet and leg muscles.  The riffe fins were comfortable for surface swimming , which is primarily what you use them for as a beginner diver, so they worked out well in that respect.

The main issue with the Riffe fins was their foot pockets would chew up my feet over time. I would have to wrap my toes with surgical tape in order to protect them. I would wear the fins with neoprene socks, but this did not keep them from tearing up my feet.

Eventually I broke one fin after stepping off a swim platform; I did not jump off the platform. Riffe sold me another blade and it was kind of a nightmare to get it into the pocket. Estimate Tax Payments Federal Tax Rates