I'm sure there are many threads like this, but here goes, I paddled out yesterday and this guy asks me, do you know anyone that is selling fins? I just so happened to have a pair of slashers in my car I end up selling them to this dude for $24 good deal I suppose so I paddle out and I'm happy I have lunch money for the day! I catch one wave and as I am paddling back out and on second wave I go over falls and get my ass handed to me and I lose a viper!!!! Is that like Karma??? Wtf?!?! And I thought vipers were supposed to float?!?! So needless to say I'm looking into getting a new pair, am juggling the idea of some Ally's, ERS4's, or pods, or hydros which look super comfy and bad ass.... Anyone know of any of these or anything else?
I have Ally's. They are comfortable and have really good thrust. I would recommend them. Everyone's feet are different so you could use the same fins and hate them. If you have the opportunity to try them on first then do so.
any of you guys use Da Fin? picked up a pair this summer for lifeguarding/bodysurfing & they're possibly the best fin for that i've ever worn. had churchill makapu'u & voit duckfeet, & they were both good (w/ duckfeet being the better of the 2), but the Da Fin is just head & shoulders above them both. a shirt, stiff fin w/ lots of thrust & control. i highly recommend them.
Yes, the DaFin is increasingly my fin of choice. A bonus is that the foot pocket is large enough to accomodate 3 to 5 mm of fin socks for cooler/colder water. My fin of choice the prior 10-15 yrs I have been using Vipers Orange Dots (Flexi blade) and Yellow Dots (5 in, stiff blade); however, the Viper has a narrow foot pocket and is not good for even sizing up for 3mm+ of fin socks (cramps your foot badly).
Never tried DaFin but I think that'll be my next purchase. OP I use Hydro Tech2s and I like them. Not as much thrust as Maks/Allys(very similar imo), but they're comfy, no prob getting front foot up for dk, and I rarely miss waves. Welcome to SI.
On my second pair of Hydro T2's. Love em. I'm a EEE wide foot and these are the only ones that dont cramp my foot width wise. A little less thrust/not as stiff as the Maks/Ally/Da-fins (had/lost/donated each) but for comfort and all-day sesh's by far my favorite. (could never use the stewarts or any super stiff fins - turned my feet into bloody knots) I dont see changing anytime soon. Kinda pricey and they do not float so teathers are a must. My only complaint is that the gravelly replinishment sand used at my home breaks does not flush well from the foot pocket. typical jerz sugar sand is never a problem.
I've used DaFin in the winter because of the generous foot pocket, my only gripe with them is they seem almost too light and floaty, like I have to consciously sink them when I'm kicking. Has anyone on here tried the Viper Vectors? It seems like most people who have tried them don't really like them? I always wished they would make a v7 flex, that seems like it would be an ideal fin. To help answer OP's question, what don't you like about the Vipers that has you considering different replacements?
Agreed, pebbly sh!t does get stuck in them. Those are the new ones right? When I spotted the hunter he was rocking them. I didn't wanna bother him and ask about them though.
Not sure how well they would work on a boogie, they're reasonably short but that blade is wide, and for me they really need a full leg stroke to get going. I think they work great bodysurfing and on a mat, but they might not work for that quick short burst kick you use on a boog (although I have never tried them for that, maybe someone else with experience will speak up). Kicks are made by the same folks and I believe have the same foot pocket, I see a few guys with them around here, and some people swear by them for dk, might want to give those a look.
my $.02 - too soft. was lacking that "snap" with the quick burst kicks when catching/pulling ahead of sections. I'm a prone rider so the DK bennies for me are a non-factor. If DK is your thing maybe there is added value. DANG COMFY though...
Kicks. Great all-around and super comfy. They also float, as I confirmed today. Dropping a HH closeout beachbreak bomber, right into backwash so big it was breaking. Holy sweet monkey crap did I get blown up! Stripped a fin/sock off while I was upside-down or something. Lucky it was the last wave of the set. Found both the sock and the fin floating in the soup after the cataclysm.
