Omer Bat or Pegaso Fins

[av8405]

Hi all, I’m new to the Forum and this is my first posting. Has anyone had any experiences, good or bad, with either the Omer Bat or Pegaso full foot fins? I’m intending to upgrade my existing fins for a more appropriate set, using them to swim for reasonably long periods on the surface, combined with dives to an average of 10 – 20 metres, and perhaps an occasional one to 20 – 30m. With this information would you recommend Soft or Medium blades on the fins (Hard would almost certainly not be appropriate given my diving preferences) for me?

Also I gather that Omer foot pockets are wide. I’m a UK size 11/Europe 45/46 and would be wearing 3mm socks with them, so would 44-46 or 46-48 be the best choice? I don’t know if I’m going to be able to try them on in advance as the Scottish dive stores don’t stock any free diving fins.

Carbon fins, while good, have their own drawbacks and at this stage in my free diving evolution, I’m not too keen to spend £200+ on a pair. Fibreglass seems a happy medium, offering more power and durability than thermoplastic compounds.

Any advice gratefully received!
Thanks
Andy

[ulysses]

Hello Andy,

Considering your regular shoe size (45/46) and the neoprene socks you will need size 46-48 pockets.

However, forget the fins you are considering, except maybe the Omer Millenium footpocket.

The BAT blades are totally flat, i.e. they don't have an appropriate angle where the blade enters the footpocket (normally 12-18°). Not very comfortable, not very efficient. Actually, I am happy to send you a pair of BAT 20 or 25 blades for free, if you pay for postage to the UK.

The Pegaso is rediculously overpriced (apparently, the advertising costs are bearing down on the consumer ). At this price you can buy the Omer Records 3 under the 'original' branding Mack VI by PVE
=> Bienvenue sur le site d'Histoires d'eau
or even C4 Falcons at the currently discounted prices
=> http://www.scubazar.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=251

If, however, you prefer fiberglass over carbon blades Kaleidos/XXone are the way to go
=> Pale Kaleidos - 160.00Euro : Scubazar, Aquista qui la tua attrezzatura subacquea
=> http://www.bluworld.com/test/Scheda&...20Kaleidos.pdf
=> http://www.apneateam.it/Fai%20da%20t...gio%20Pale.htm

I am yet to find a spearo who has managed to break them and when not having a boat available, i.e. starting from shore with lots of surface swimming and hunting at moderate depth, these are my favorites.

As for the blade stiffness (3 hardness grades to choose from for Mach VI; 5 hardness grades for Kaleidos/XXone), you would need to provide more information regarding your approx. weight and fitness level.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
ulysses

[Crazys13]

great post! That's information that lots of people need to know! Thanks for the insight!

[cww180]

Originally Posted by ulysses

Hello Andy,

Considering your regular shoe size (45/46) and the neoprene socks you will need size 46-48 pockets.

However, forget the fins you are considering, except maybe the Omer Millenium footpocket.

The BAT blades are totally flat, i.e. they don't have an appropriate angle where the blade enters the footpocket (normally 12-18°). Not very comfortable, not very efficient. Actually, I am happy to send you a pair of BAT 20 or 25 blades for free, if you pay for postage to the UK.

The Pegaso is rediculously overpriced (apparently, the advertising costs are bearing down on the consumer ). At this price you can buy the Omer Records 3 under the 'original' branding Mack VI by PVE
=> Bienvenue sur le site d'Histoires d'eau
or even C4 Falcons at the currently discounted prices
=> Pale Falcon - 175.00Euro : Scubazar, Aquista qui la tua attrezzatura subacquea

If, however, you prefer fiberglass over carbon blades Kaleidos/XXone are the way to go
=> Pale Kaleidos - 160.00Euro : Scubazar, Aquista qui la tua attrezzatura subacquea
=> http://www.bluworld.com/test/Scheda%...20Kaleidos.pdf
=> http://www.apneateam.it/Fai%20da%20t...gio%20Pale.htm

I am yet to find a spearo who has managed to break them and when not having a boat available, i.e. starting from shore with lots of surface swimming and hunting at moderate depth, these are my favorites.

As for the blade stiffness (3 hardness grades to choose from for Mach VI; 5 hardness grades for Kaleidos/XXone), you would need to provide more information regarding your approx. weight and fitness level.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
ulysses

ulysses,

How much for the Van Eckle blades?

[ulysses]

cww180,

EUR 133* for the blades only
EUR 175* for the baldes with Omer Millenium pockets

*) plus French value added tax (19.6%), if you are resident in the European Union

Cheers,
ulysses

[cww180]

Originally Posted by ulysses

cww180,

EUR 133* for the blades only
EUR 175* for the baldes with Omer Millenium pockets

*) plus French value added tax (19.6%), if you are resident in the European Union

Cheers,
ulysses

That sounds like a great price for carbon, like the Rekords there is only one stiffness then?

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by cww180

That sounds like a great price for carbon, like the Rekords there is only one stiffness then?

As mentioned above the PVE Mack VI come in 3 hardness grades (no price difference):

- strong : recommeded for people weighing 85-110kg
- light : recommeded for people weighing 65-85kg
- super light : recommeded for people weighing 65-85kg or below

The light version is the one Omer 'up-grades' with Record 3 stickers and a 'little' manipulation on the price tag

Cheers,
ulysses

[cww180]

Ulysses,

Sorry I didn't read that in your initial post, even though I fall in the strong category I think I would go for the light since I have heard such good things about them on the surface and at depth.

[av8405]

Hi Ulysses, many thanks for your comprehensive reply. Definitely food for thought and much appreciated. I shall take your advice on board. Thanks also for the offer of the blades - I may yet take you up on that, once I've checked out the links in your response. I'm hoping to baptise the new fins in June, maybe on the west coast of Scotland, so I hope to report back here then.

Andy

[kjflyfish]

Originally Posted by ulysses

Hello Andy,

Considering your regular shoe size (45/46) and the neoprene socks you will need size 46-48 pockets.

However, forget the fins you are considering, except maybe the Omer Millenium footpocket.

The BAT blades are totally flat, i.e. they don't have an appropriate angle where the blade enters the footpocket (normally 12-18°). Not very comfortable, not very efficient. Actually, I am happy to send you a pair of BAT 20 or 25 blades for free, if you pay for postage to the UK.

The Pegaso is rediculously overpriced (apparently, the advertising costs are bearing down on the consumer ). At this price you can buy the Omer Records 3 under the 'original' branding Mack VI by PVE
=> Bienvenue sur le site d'Histoires d'eau
or even C4 Falcons at the currently discounted prices
=> http://www.scubazar.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=251

If, however, you prefer fiberglass over carbon blades Kaleidos/XXone are the way to go
=> Pale Kaleidos - 160.00Euro : Scubazar, Aquista qui la tua attrezzatura subacquea
=> http://www.bluworld.com/test/Scheda%...20Kaleidos.pdf
=> http://www.apneateam.it/Fai%20da%20t...gio%20Pale.htm

I am yet to find a spearo who has managed to break them and when not having a boat available, i.e. starting from shore with lots of surface swimming and hunting at moderate depth, these are my favorites.

As for the blade stiffness (3 hardness grades to choose from for Mach VI; 5 hardness grades for Kaleidos/XXone), you would need to provide more information regarding your approx. weight and fitness level.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
ulysses

Ulysses,

If you are still offering the BAT blades, I might be interested, as I have just cracked a new pair of Fishers.

What would shipping be to New Zealand (ballpark)?

Cheers,

Kolt

[Marwan]

never tried the pegaso..but had a pair of bat 30's which i didnt like...they are flat with no toe angle so really uncomfortable for surface swimming..didnt get to feel much of an advantage at depth either...i wouldnt recommend them..

[Janner]

Hiya guys, i may well be looking at buying a new set of fins this summer aswell. But i am a bit unsure of which fiberglass fins to go for. I would like fiberglass fins as i dive around rocks allot and would like something that is going to be hardy and won't snap on me if i clip a rock or boulder. I am aiming to buy a fin that is good for surface swims and has the required 'grunt' to get me off the bottom if i dive to 20meters. Im 22 years old, 192cm tall and weigh 93kg.

At present i use omer ice fins, which are great for long surface swimming and dives to around 10m any deeper than that though and i find they lack the necessary 'grunt' to get me going. I also own a pair of c4 falcon 40's which are great for blue water spearing (no rocks to hit), but poor for surface swimming. Ideally i would like an in between of the ice fin and the c4 40's. Any suggestions?!

Ulysses, I see you suggested the Kaleidos/XXOne blades, do these fins have an angled blade to make surface swimming easier. And what sort of stiffness would you suggest for me?!

Cheers Ian

[ulysses]

Originally Posted by Janner

Ulysses, I see you suggested the Kaleidos/XXOne blades, do these fins have an angled blade to make surface swimming easier. And what sort of stiffness would you suggest for me?!

Cheers Ian

Hi Ian,

Yes Kaleidos/XXOnes Pro mimetic have an angled blade (around 14°).

Considering only your height (which btw is also mine ) and weight stiffness MH = medium hard would seem appropriate. However, you could also go with M (= my favourite when hunting without a boat / starting from the shore).

Both stiffness grades are not worlds apart, so even MH will be much softer than your Falcons 40.

Cheers,
ulysses

[oflow]

hey man, let me drop you my 2 cents. I've been using the Omer Pegaso for about 3 months now. They totally rock!!! But they were pricey. (one of my buddies at the dive shop dropped the price to $350 US) I'm waiting for a pair of xxone mimetic blades in the MH stiffness, from which the guy who makes them, tells me that they are phenomenal. And from his testimonials and emails, I'd have to agree. I'm also going to buy some of his Edge fins. Fiberglass that can withstand a fucking trainwreck. Definitley check them out dude!!! 20Fathoms
-ofLow-

[twentytwomonk]

I just got my Edge #3's a few weeks ago, and they're phenomenal. I was using a Waterways #2 before, and the difference is incredible. These things power me donw to 40 feet in a way tha tno other blades I've used before can. And for $210US, they're about the same as most other blades. I'd highly recommend them for someone looking for something new. And Dennis, the owner of 20 Fathoms, is a great guy and has a TON of knowledge about diving and spearfishing.