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Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 12:08 pm
by rodndtube
I have heard of the heal strap issue with DaFins but all has been good with me for 2 years and for a couple of other friends.

Two of my buddies swear by Force Fins. They are not inexpensive but watch on eBay and deals can be had. They especially like being able to strap the swim fins with fin booties for extra reef protection.
http://www.forcefin.com/

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 6:48 am
by krusher74
rodndtube wrote:I have heard of the heal strap issue with DaFins but all has been good with me for 2 years and for a couple of other friends.

Two of my buddies swear by Force Fins. They are not inexpensive but watch on eBay and deals can be had. They especially like being able to strap the swim fins with fin booties for extra reef protection.
http://www.forcefin.com/

very interesting design, but at that price to expensive too give a try. :?

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 11:32 am
by GeoffreyLevens
While living outside Tucson AZ I found a pair of Force Fins that fit me for $2, in perfect shape! Comfortable as bedroom slippers BUT much less thrust and drive than my Vipers. Ultimately ditched the comfort for the acceleration and speed.

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 5:47 pm
by rodndtube
I have not tried out the Force Fins. Nonetheless there are some real advantages: (1) walking in reef booties (instead of fin sock or flip flops) to the beach and (2) walking on a lava reef. Some places the walk to the waterside is impossible without foot wear and most fin socks quickly wear out. The sand might be blistering hot, the ground may be prickly or rocky or you might be walking on some form of reef rock. Or you need to walk on a mud ridden path. And you may not want to leave your walking shoes/sandals on the beach due to expected theft. Then there is the situations where you find yourself on the reef--can't walk with your swim fins and can't walk with bare feet. In these situations the reef booties can come in handy and the Force Fin readily accommodates them!!!

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:45 am
by Uncle Grumpy
GeoffreyLevens wrote:While living outside Tucson AZ I found a pair of Force Fins that fit me for $2, in perfect shape! Comfortable as bedroom slippers BUT much less thrust and drive than my Vipers. Ultimately ditched the comfort for the acceleration and speed.
I found a pair of the standard model Force fins at the swap meet a few years back, paid 8 bucks.
Wore them twice and then sent them to the thrift store.
Flippy floopy no thrust clown shoes as far as I was concerned.
I'm sticking with my UDT's.

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:06 am
by mrmike
had some force fins they cracked on the blade no more plastic over priced fins I will stay with my UDT

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:37 am
by krusher74
mrmike wrote:had some force fins they cracked on the blade no more plastic over priced fins I will stay with my UDT
I'm certainly not trying a pair of force fins then as UDT' are the worst fins I have ever owned! lol :oops:

I got a reply back from the uk dafins distributor. I agree with their method of putting the fins on will make then last and not snap, but imo this is bandaid for a overly thin poor heal strap. I have seen both pairs I have been in contact with snap there in less than 10 uses and (yanked on in winter over thick shock/boots) every other fin i have owned hundreds of times with never a single problem.

"We are always slightly wary when people say the strap snapped when they were putting them on, as the strap is for keeping them on, not pulling them on.
Pulling them on by the strap could well snap it, even if it is in perfect condition – it just isn’t deigned for that purpose."

HOW TO PUT ON DAFIN:
1. Fins should be wet.
2. Hold fin by side rails with both hands.
3. Slide foot all the way into pocket until toes reach the end.
4. Pull strap over heel.

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:05 am
by soulglider
or just use maakapuu's. no snap wide foot pocket, long lasting.

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 11:02 am
by GeoffreyLevens
"We are always slightly wary when people say the strap snapped when they were putting them on, as the strap is for keeping them on, not pulling them on.
Pulling them on by the strap could well snap it, even if it is in perfect condition – it just isn’t deigned for that purpose."
Kinda sad logic seems to me. Think when wave rips them off your feet (they have straps, at least partly, specifically to counteract this). This is the same force just applied from other side, as using strap to pull them on.

Re: swim fins - DaFin

Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:10 pm
by jbw4600
I have been using Force Fins since they came out except for one brief stint with Redleys. They are very comfortable and lots of power, if use the Pro Force model. The regular and Rip Force do not have enough thrust for me. If just got a new pair of ProForce fins (my third pair. I left my last pair in a parking lot at the beach. ) and they are very stiff and have tons of thrust. How long can you surf with your regular fins before your feet get tired? I have gone 4 hours in big surf and had no foot cramps etc. I had to get out, because I was tired not because my feet hurt. A new pair will last 6-10 years. How much do you spend on coffee and going out to dinner?

They recently moved their factory. So in December they said that they will start selling their Underwater Hockey fins again, which I think will be ideal for prone surfing etc.[img]
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The only disadvantage to the Proforce is when you are manuvering around and getting ready to catch a wave they can get in the way. Also they can drag when the wave slows down to a crawl. I am thinking about cutting an inch or so off the tips.