I'm getting really into bodysurfing with handplanes, and I would really dig a pair of fins. Ive heard 'da fin' and vipers are great, any advice? ALSO sell me some for less than a $50 new pair if you want, thanks
you're unlikely to find a good pair of bodysurfing fins for less than $50. da fin has always gotten great reviews from those who use them. i never have, so i can't comment. i wear duckfeet when i bodysurf, & i really like them. they're fast, semi-stiff, & accelerate really well, so you get up to speed quickly. i'm also a fan of the churchill makapu'u fin. i would tihnk that vipers are too short for bodysurfing & that they're more of a bodyboarding fin. i suppose it could just come down to personal preference, tho, so the best advice would be to try a bunch of different fins if you can before you go out & buy a pair. if you're ever in ocnj & want to try my duckfeet, i'd be happy to let you give them a go. i wear a size 10-10.5 shoe. my fins live in the back of my truck, so i've always got them.
You can get Vipers in 7" lengths as well as the 5". My preference for bodysurfing. I don't know much about bodyboarding, so on the rare occasion when I do it, anything works for me.
churchills. i had vipers and if you surf in the winter you can use them. get churchills. they are so nice.
Thanks yall, I've worn a pair of my friend's tech 9's or something and they literally make my ankles bleed when i take em out without socks haha. im definitely going to try to find a more comfortable pair.
I bodyboard alot and have tried a lot of fins. Vipers are really thick and heavy. Get kicks. Super light and fast. So comfortable. Feels natrual instead of clunky fins. Blisters arent a problem. http://www.atlanticbodyboards.com/kicks-bodyboard-fins.html If u are doing it in winter you may need a second bigger pair with booties on. BO$$
its personal preference more than anything... i always wear fin socks, because no matter what fin I wear, then wreck my feet.
I'm using Hydro Tech 2s currently. Love them. Even when it's warm I usually wear socks. Lightweight Smartwool short socks work really well for me (minimal drag and they stay put). When it's colder, I layer heavy wool socks under 3mm neoprene socks - that's good for almost any temps. The Churchill Makapuus are easy to find at a lot of surf shops. I found them to be hard on my old arthritic feet (ie, too stiff). Maybe I'd feel differently about them now that I'm more conditioned for fins. I'd like to check out the various Viper models - lots of people swear by them. Same with the Kicks. Definitely get fin leashes.
Grow a pair and dont use fin socks. Buy the right fins and dont hassle with socks. Build up calices and ur set for life.
Tech's aren't bad... not quite as much thrust as a heavier fin though. You can't beat churchills man. And like SI said, always wear socks and you'll never have the problem of them tearing your feet up, and you won't lose them if they slip off. I seem to forget socks in the summer sometimes tho and have lost a few fins because of that...
Sure if you want rotten flesh and scars. Traveling in Central America for many months the sores on my feet got bad enough to put a nickel and a quarter in each hole. At least I always had 60 cents.
The stiff blades Vipers are available in 5" and 7" blades and have Yellow Dots - there is also a flexible blade 5" model - look for the Orange Dot. The "Techs" are available in three basic models for surfing: Hydro Finz Original, Hydro Tech and Tech 2. Swim fins are highly personal due to blade lengths, widths, and stiffness; foot pocket comfort and size; floatability; and other factors. What is great for one can be awful for another person. I was a long time user of Churchills until the company reformulated their "rubber" and the fin became very hard and stiff. Now my favorite warm to cool water flipper is the Viper V5 Orange Dot and for cold water I use the Hydro Tech because of its very large foot pocket.
BZ Rubbers I am currently using BZ Rubbers without fin socks for the warmer months and use my other fins (Which are larger to allow booties to fit) for the colder months.. The BZ fins are soft and helps avoid ankle cuts, plus they fit snug. With any fin set that fits loose or are made of hard material then you will need fin socks. Go sockless and get soft fins that fit right. BZ or BSD equipment rules... http://www.bzproboards.com/ http://www.benseverson.com/ http://www.eastbreak.com/ I just looked them up and they go for $49.99 >>> http://www.eastcoastbodyboarding.com/shopping/rubbers-swim-fins-p-344.html
