I just got a pair of these V-7 Viper fins in the mail. Anyone use them before? I'm thinking they'll come in real handy on big days when you need to be able to punch out. I like longer fins so I thought these would be really good for me.
Between the vitriole you've been spewing and the fact youre talking boogie boarding... Dont think anyone cares.
I never cared for my V-5's. I thought they were too long already, so I sawed off an inch. That was better, but they are heavy as sin. People say they give you a lot of power, but I've never noticed it. I bought XL fins to put over hard soled booties for walking on reefs and over medical/farm waste the year of the star bar. That worked okay, except I pretty much never bodyboarded over coral after that, and El Nino hasn't come back until just this year. I don't like longer fins because they're tougher to DK. I don't like heavy fins because why carry the extra weight? For big maneuvers and airs, I prefer to stay light and agile. IMO, Vipers would be more useful for big-wave (20'+) bodyboarding (which I also don't like) or getting into really slow, mushy, small, or backing-off waves. As much as I dislike vipers, I hate Churchills even more. Non-symmetric fins are just garbage. My favorite fins are Kicks. Light (they float), rounded and great for DK or prone. Just today I was flopping one leg out to sloppy stall into the barrel. Couldn't do that with anything but a round blade fin. Best set of equipment is a pair of kicks a board and a pair of shorts in some 80 degree water. Freeing. The only drawback is you have to consciously submerge them because they're so light. If you're not used to them or you get caught off-guard you'll splash around like a moron and miss the wave. Of my fins: Kicks - Awesome and light. Surprisingly powerful. Toobs - Solid all-around fin. A little bulky. H2O's - Pretty good all around. Nothing special. Custom-X - Marginal. I used them for a gap-filler and wished I had saved my pennies. Too long. Vipers (5's) - Too heavy. Very specialized. Kind of an uncomfortable foot box too. Churchills - Wonky crap. Hated them. Weird blisters and foot pain thanks to the asymmetric thrust.
I'm a fan of V5's - Heavy, yes. Powerful? Oh yes. Kick early and deep, hard short bursts and they deliver. Better for bodysurfing and life rescue. I would like to check out the newest Delta Vipers, the asymmetrical ones, they look sick as hell. NOTE: I am in the hunt for a single XL Viper fin, the original V5 - I ripped the heel strap on one of mine. Willing to work out a deal.
