buyin new fins. please help

[baghira]

I own a pair of fins sporasub variant

I was going to buy new effesub whalebone. Did anyone try them?
and most of all, are their booties standard, so that I can excange other brands of blades?
Thanks

[Lockedin]

Trux has a great thread:

http://forums.deeperblue.net/bi-fins...eird-fins.html

And another, specifically about the Whalebone, though (as threads do) it drifts more to the conventional split fins. Some strong opinions there!

http://forums.deeperblue.net/bi-fins...ing-bifin.html

Personally (With NO Whalebone experience) I've used:
Conventional, cheap bi-fins: (nasty thigh breaking paddles) Bad for Scuba AND Freediving

ForceFins: Terrific Scuba fins - I went farther, on less air than every buddy I ever had, including my instructors who swear by split fins; until I began freediving...(I have not tried the ForceFin freediving fin). Also they are extremely durable (great for banging around in the rocks, while lobster hunting).

Longblade Freediving Fins: OMER Ice to be exact. VERY powerful yet efficient, and the blades are invisible underwater (great for hunting). These are so good that I only use my ForceFins for lobster hunting in the rocks, when I feel that the OMER's might get wrecked.

Give us a review, if you can get yours hands on them.

Have fun

[baghira]

sorry maybe for being inpolite, but I really have no idea how does a bloody forum works, but I am doing my best and try.
I got all basic information about these whalebone, I also got my hands onto these fins, but yet I heard nobody who have tried them

[trux]

Originally Posted by baghira

sorry maybe for being inpolite, but I really have no idea how does a bloody forum works, but I am doing my best and try.
I got all basic information about these whalebone, I also got my hands onto these fins, but yet I heard nobody who have tried them

No problem. Forum works just like any other discussion. Certain rules are to be respected (please check the FAQ), but generally if you know how to behave at a discussion with a group that includes people of different ages, nationalities, races, religions, and other kinds, then you won't have any difficulties here either.

As for the Effesub Whalebone fins - if you tell you got your hands on them, then I do not quite understand why you did not try them yourself? We would love to hear about your experience. Nobody posted any personal review about them here yet (AFAIK), but last month there was a review in the French freediving magazine APNEA. I did not see the article, but will try to get the issue and post about it here. I only heard that the review was allegedly quite positive.

However, the question is how is it with their reliability and durability. I imagine that the whalebone and the glider may be a weak point and may break after a while. If the fins are not sussificently reliable, then even if it is otherwise excellent, it may be a big disatvantage. But maybe I am wrong and the reliability is no issue with it.

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by baghira

I own a pair of fins sporasub variant

I was going to buy new effesub whalebone. Did anyone try them?
and most of all, are their booties standard, so that I can excange other brands of blades?
Thanks

The effesub footpocket (= Master Evo Pro) can be mounted with other blades. Actually, from what I have seen the footpocket seems to be the best part the whalebone fin! The plastic blades do not have a touch and feel that induces much confidence.

Cheers

[armandozx]

where exactly can we get the effesub foot pocket? I have seen no one that carries this product. Would one have to go directly to effusub & buy it !

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by armandozx

where exactly can we get the effesub foot pocket? I have seen no one that carries this product. Would one have to go directly to effusub & buy it !

I have seen/inspected it in a gearshop in Perugia/Italy. If you google "master evolution pro effesub" you will find a couple of euro online-shops that carry it.

Cheers

[armandozx]

So can you tell me exactly what you think of it?

If you could compare it to the sporasub footpocket.

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by armandozx

So can you tell me exactly what you think of it?

If you could compare it to the sporasub footpocket.

I would have bought it on the spot, IF only they had stocked my size

In general the design of the footpocket is more akin to the Beuchat footpocket than the Omer or Sporasub. The materials used appear to be softer than those used on the Milleniums. The fit more snug than Omer/Sporasub. Sporas tend to be wide at the heel and tight at toe opening. The assembly kit puts less strain on the blade (weak point of all screw assembled fins). The incision at upper part of the heel is what all my running shoes have (for a good reason I reckon).

Cheers

[armandozx]

Oh man I am so happy to hear that! seriously I believe you every time I look at them I wonder how good they would look & most importantly feel!

[baghira]

yep thanks for all guys.
I will see what is available on the market and decide. Yesterday some of my friends saw me in apnea and told me that the only prob is the fins.
The footpocket of effesub looks quite interesting, as for the blades I am quite sceptic, I do not know if is is a gimmic or reliable.

[trux]

Personally I think it is a unreliable gimmick, but since the fins are relatively inexpensive (I see them for 79€ for example here) it may be worth buying them only for the foot-pockets (I did not find them yet individually for less than 71€ here). The fins certainly work relatively OK despite being gimmick, and even if they break apart after a while, you'll have excellent foot-pockets (and nice looking blades for your collection )