Hybrid Pro blades/Fireblade pockets-reveiw

[sunfish]

I promised to reveiw this combo so here goes.
I bought the footpockets from Diveshop Greece and they came promptly.
The fins took a lot longer as they were made specially and Karmo got sick and was off work a while.The blades finally arrived a few days ago. When I tried them in the pockets, the angle on the blade wouldn't quite meet the angle on the pocket. I sawed 3ml off the heels of the blades the sanded everything smooth and they lined up fine.
Next I carefully cut off the rubber side rails from the blades, where the footpocket siderails would go.
The next problem was that the blade was a little narrower, at the angle, than the space for it in the side slits of the footpocket. I decide to place the blade centrally, marking it with a sharpie pen so I'de make no mistake.
I then sanded the blade lightly, with 320 wet and dry, in front of the toe angle, where the fornt of the footpocket is.
Gluing was next, using Sikaflex 291 in black. If I was doing this again I'd mask the blades with tape and paper!
I left the fins now for 58 hours, trying them out this morning.
My first impression was that the fins were very soft and lacked power.I bought Medium/hard as I thought Hard might be too stiff.With the fireblade pockets I think Hard or even Extra Hard may have been a better choice.
I swam for two or three hours, making 41 dives, deepest 31 feet. By the end of it I was getting a better performance from the fins.
My plan was to try them next time out with deeper dives but when I examined them I found the glue had come loose from the pockets, in front of the toe angle. Seems like I'll have to try to get some loctite 406, or adapt a fin fixing kit from Spora or Omer, or do both.
Anyone got any suggestions?
(Photo of fish caught in Irish thread). http://forums.deeperblue.net/uk-irel...2008-a-32.html

[sunfish]

I forgot to mention that these fins are beautifully light in weight compared to Garas or Beauchat Elites.
The pockets were very comfortable and felt secure at all times.
When the glue came loose it came off the pockets rather than the blades.

[Trelawney]

Hi Sunfish

How do the fireblade footpockets feel for fit and comfort, compared to a Gara or Beuchat footpocket?

[hteas]

Sunfish,
You probably need to scrub the footpocket rails with isopropyl alcohol or acetone. Then break the surface of the rubber with medium sandpaper. After that the glue will hold better. It may still not work, but the chances are much better.

I had the same problem with re-coloring blades when I glued BlueWater Specials into Picasso footpockts. I now have interesting "camo" patterns in black on the blue blades.

[sunfish]

Trelawney, the footpockets are the most comfortable I've tried. Very light, and soft yet with a sole stiff enough to transfer power properly. They felt secure on my foot at all times. After almost 3 hours of swimming, my feet had only faint pink areas on top. Three hours in the beauchats leaves definate red marks over my insteps though the Beauchats are also comfortable.
I never got on with the Garas, which didn't seem to fit my feet properly and needed fin retainers before I felt they were secure. The Garas also seemed to bend under the power of the HF blades.
Hteas, the rails were fine. The part which came unstuck was the bit of footpocket directly under my toes. I guess this comes under most strain as it directly pulls the blade. I have ordered some loctite 406 to reglue this bit.

[jimdoe2you]

sunfish,

Can post some close up photos of the footpockets? I would love to see them!!!

[Janner]

Sunfish how do you find the fireblade pockets compare to OMER foot pockets? I have only ever used imersion or OMER footpockets and found the imersion pockets were far too soft.

[sunfish]

2008_07110001.JPGFireblade on top, Beauchat underneath.
2008_07110003.jpgFireblade left, Beauchat right.
2008_07110004.jpgBeauchat left, Fireblade right.
2008_07110005.jpgFireblade.
The pockets siderails are narrower and softer on the fireblade. The rubber of the fireblade pocket is lighter and softer overall but the sole is hard and the rubber running over your foot, just behind your toes, is also harder than the rubber over your instep.

[jimdoe2you]

I sooooooo need to get my hands on a pair of those!!!!

Thanks for the pics!

[sunfish]

If you get a pair, remember that they have the affect of making any blade seem softer and that the blades must be glued into the pockets.
The slits in the pockets' siderails are only wide enough for bare blades, so the side profile rails of the blades must be cut off where the footpockets' siderails will go.

[Trelawney]

I might get a pair of these!
Bit of personal question Sunfish, but what size feet have you got and what size pocket did you buy?

Thanks, Chris

[sunfish]

My feet are size 10 (British size 10). The fireblades pockets say 44-46 10-11.5 .
The beauchat pockets say 45-46 11-12 .
The beauchats are noticeably bigger but feel only a little bigger on the feet. I wear a 3ml sock with both.The beauchats can take a 5ml sock. I haven't tried a 5ml with the fireblades, but suspect I could squeeze one in.
I've only tried the fireblades once so far, so although I'm impressed with them so far, don't read too much into my review 'til I've given more testing.