Did some research and could not find much information on this system. My question is what are your experiences with it? Is it really better as compared to Futures or ProBox? Oh and no, don't even mention FCS, I am never going back to them. I can't decide if I want to give it a go, or just go back to Futures.
I have lockbox fins on my Jeff Clark 7'8 big guy thruster, tri-fin... What I like about them is the ability to slide them forward or back to loosen or tighten the tail... all 3 fins, not just the center... They work in that respect similar to the center fin of a longboard... as far as quality... I haven't noticed any difference between lockbox and futures. It also appears that if you snap one, it won't damage the box... but I don't know for sure
give probox a try. can move fins front and back and change cant angles between 0,2,4,6,8 i believe. they can fit an array of fins into them in case you have favorite FCS fins you like. they are the only fin system i use. they seem to have a good array of fins for sale. also making your own fins you dont have to worry about putting cant into them since the inserts give the cant.
Thanks for the input. Shortboard, 6'x 18 3/16 x 2 3/16 Rocket Fish, 5'10 x 19 1/4 x 2 3/8 My goto boards for most conditions, both currently a ProBox setup, I like ProBoxes, but at the same time I think I might want to revert back to futures, but I have been hearing better things about LoxBox lately. I like how the box itself is glassed in like Futures. It just seems like a more solid setup than Futures as well. Yea you can change the cant with ProBoxes, but I don't like how the fins sit in the box, its not really a flush fit using FCS fins. Oh and going to be for a new PU shortboard btw.
Lokbox is my favorite system by far. I can't say that I've tried Probox, but it's not a bad system in theory, but I can't say more than that because I would just be making crap up and nobody wants that in a review. Yes, it's MUCH better than Futures and FCS. The reason is that I can move my fins around. I can make the board tighter or looser, which is huge. How many boards have you ever bought that you thought was a dog, and it might have just been the fin set up? You don't really know because the fins are usually set when you get the board. You can switch the fins around, get bigger, smaller, more flex & less flex, more cant & less cant, etc... but with LokBox you can adjust the fins. Need it a little looser? Close up the cluster... need to tighten the board up? Spread the fins out a little. It just give you so much more than "put fins here". Besides, I've also become addicted to Marlin 101 fins made for LokBox. Mmmm... bamboo. I love bamboo. So much flex and memory it's friggin nutso. Talk about snapping outa turns. My humble opion... try 1 board with LokBox. Get the Marlin 101 Taylor Knox bamboo fins. My only warning would be that you might soil yourself that first snap you get out of your board when you come out of that bottom turn and crank it off the top. BTW, some good shapers on the East Coast all use LokBox regularly, such as Josh Hall, Larry Mabile, Brian Wynn, Matt Kech, and Johan Elder. Also, LokBox does have an adapter for FCS & Futures, so all your old fins wont go to waste. Also, if you travel with yours (most of my boards are glassed in, only my travel boards have systems and those are all LokBox) you can find FCS fins anywhere and they can plug right into your LokBox adapter. Oh, and LokBox is owned and operated by some good quality guys who surf (and rip). Jimmy & Kasey are great guys. Hit Jimmy up on the surfermag.com forum. His name there is JJR. Tell him Mofo sent ya! The website is ...www.lokboxfins.com and his email is jim@lokboxfins.com. Very cool people, great to work with, and they get back to ya. They might be a little occupied with the Fish Fry in Ireland right now so if you have any problems reaching him let me know... I hope this helps and answers your question...
I think that of all the fins systems lokbox is probably one of the best system structurally ( however, it is also the heaviest and has a fairly large footprint vertically). At this point, I think that you cannot go wrong with any of the fins systems when they are properly installed (with the exception of the tradition FCS plugs--not the fusion system). However, I would recommend to use a system that is installed prior to the lam (including the new FCS fusion---light weight and you probably already have fins)--they typically are the most structurally sound. Just my $.02.... Also there is a ton of information on lokbox at swaylocks...http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1026841, http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1011156, http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1023185?page=1, http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1012472,
I have been installing lokbox in a lot of my boards lately and have been real happy with them. As stated above, they are definitely the strongest fin system out there and have the most flush fit, closest fin system to glass ons. Everything above me that says something good about them is true, i would suggest you give them a try on your next board.
Great links over on swaylock forums, thanks live4truth. Yea Mofo, I am def going to give LoxBox a go, but those bamboo fins, ouch, those damn things are pricey! Oh yea, the one guy said the system was much heavier than the others? I thought I heard otherwise?
Pay some attention to the surfermag.com forun classifieds. You can sometimes find them and score a deal. Maybe even put up a post asking if anybody has an older set for sale? They are pricey, but the best fins I've ever had in my life. Ever. Oh, and if one pops out in the water... they float!
