swim fins - DaFin

A forum for discussing paipo board gear such as swim fins, leashes, skegs (board fins) and other related wave riding gear.
User avatar
ClanB
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:48 am
City: Ventura
State or Province: CA
Country: USA
Interests: surf hunt fish chili bbq paipos, nerd rpgs lol, yup music
Location: SoCal

swim fins - DaFin

#1

Unread post by ClanB »

OK right now Im using Vipers V-7....I like them in the water, swimming and just getting around..slower on take off and...when I exit the water, even when paying attention, I sometimes stumble and trip. This must look great to people on shore :oops: I realize that I spend 99% of the time in the water but my last "trip" ended up wrecking my knee. Now Im gonna spend the next week or so out of the water. Im looking at a new fin puchase maybe an asymentrical fin. I have an old pair of Churchills but they are one wave away from breaking. Im looking at the newer Churchill Slashers, Pod3's, Stealths, etc. or any other fin that you can walk in easy but not loose too much performance in the water. I like to wear fin socks if that matters. Any opinions?
mrmike
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 192
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:36 pm
City: coronado
State or Province: ca
Country: United States

Re: swim fins

#2

Unread post by mrmike »

look at a pair of kicks by dafin they have rounded blade tips and have a soft foot pocket
User avatar
rodndtube
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 1158
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:34 pm
City: Arbutus Land
State or Province: Maryland
Country: USA
Interests: Waveriding, travel and the Paipo Research Project
Location: Maryland, USA & Where the Waves Are Breaking
Contact:

Re: swim fins

#3

Unread post by rodndtube »

If you like the Vipers style then try the 5" versions, yellow dot for stiff fin and orange dot for flexi blade. I used both of the 5 inchers.
rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
I love my papa li`ili`i

"The sea doth wash away all human ills."
-- Euripides.
User avatar
ClanB
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:48 am
City: Ventura
State or Province: CA
Country: USA
Interests: surf hunt fish chili bbq paipos, nerd rpgs lol, yup music
Location: SoCal

Re: swim fins

#4

Unread post by ClanB »

I have both v5 and v7..the v5 puts some pressure on my big toe that hurts enough that I dont use 'em anymore....but they are 20 years ols and do not have the neoprene in the foot pocket. Im gonna look for a pair of Kicks to try on.
SJB
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 221
Joined: Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:39 am
City: Santa Barbara
State or Province: CAL
Country: USA
Location: Santa Barbara

Re: swim fins

#5

Unread post by SJB »

I vote sticking with the classic Churchills....fin socks are a must. If you can figure out how to avoid an occasional stumble coming out of the water onto the beach with fins on let me know the secret.
jbw4600
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 289
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2011 6:08 pm
City: Kentfield
State or Province: CA
Country: USA
Location: Fairfax, CA
Contact:

Re: swim fins

#6

Unread post by jbw4600 »

I can't wear regular fins. But if I could would use the Churchill Makapu Hubbs model. They are stiffer throughout with padding.
User avatar
ClanB
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:48 am
City: Ventura
State or Province: CA
Country: USA
Interests: surf hunt fish chili bbq paipos, nerd rpgs lol, yup music
Location: SoCal

Re: swim fins

#7

Unread post by ClanB »

Well...I ended up getting Dafins. I will get wet Sunday. Very nice fit so far.I can almost run in them. SJB the ONLY fins I have ever fallin' while having on is the V7 Vipers. I realy like them for swimming, getting around, lotta power, but...catching waves is slow, like a semi going through the gears, and....walking(for me) sucks a$$.
User avatar
rodndtube
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 1158
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:34 pm
City: Arbutus Land
State or Province: Maryland
Country: USA
Interests: Waveriding, travel and the Paipo Research Project
Location: Maryland, USA & Where the Waves Are Breaking
Contact:

Re: swim fins

#8

Unread post by rodndtube »

Looked closely and played around with a pair of DaFins during the Paipo Gathering in San Simeon. Believe it was Jeff Chamberlain that had a pair. They were XXL. Too bad he had to leave before we hit the water so I didn't get a test run. The XXL might be a bit large for me even with 5 to 7mm of wetsocks on. Need a "fitting" to see what are best, XL or XXL. What size did you get, ClanB? Could you make a mm measurement of the foot pocket width?
rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
I love my papa li`ili`i

"The sea doth wash away all human ills."
-- Euripides.
User avatar
ClanB
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:48 am
City: Ventura
State or Province: CA
Country: USA
Interests: surf hunt fish chili bbq paipos, nerd rpgs lol, yup music
Location: SoCal

Re: swim fins

#9

Unread post by ClanB »

I got Large ,shoe size 11-12. Im a 10.5 shoe size. The ML was a bit snug. The L fits nice and add 3mm fin socks and its perfect. Garage sale today...so no surfin' but tomarrow Ill give em a test run.
User avatar
ClanB
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:48 am
City: Ventura
State or Province: CA
Country: USA
Interests: surf hunt fish chili bbq paipos, nerd rpgs lol, yup music
Location: SoCal

Re: swim fins

#10

Unread post by ClanB »

4.75 inches or about 120mm wide. for the Large.
User avatar
ClanB
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:48 am
City: Ventura
State or Province: CA
Country: USA
Interests: surf hunt fish chili bbq paipos, nerd rpgs lol, yup music
Location: SoCal

Re: swim fins

#11

Unread post by ClanB »

Used them today. Comfort is the best of any fin I have used. Stiff, seems like long slower kicks work best, I was hopeing for better burst speed but still cool. Thay have about the same power as my Vipers. Did not cramp up for several hours. Easy to walk in and out of the water. Bottom line= I realy like them. I would recommend them to a friend. ;)
User avatar
ClanB
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:48 am
City: Ventura
State or Province: CA
Country: USA
Interests: surf hunt fish chili bbq paipos, nerd rpgs lol, yup music
Location: SoCal

Re: swim fins

#12

Unread post by ClanB »

Second time out. Very compfy, nice power, close to my Vipers. The best fins I have used so far.Very happy with them. I think I will get Kicks too.
User avatar
rodndtube
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 1158
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:34 pm
City: Arbutus Land
State or Province: Maryland
Country: USA
Interests: Waveriding, travel and the Paipo Research Project
Location: Maryland, USA & Where the Waves Are Breaking
Contact:

Re: swim fins

#13

Unread post by rodndtube »

Thanks for the information reports on the DaFins, ClanB. I will be checking these out.
rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
I love my papa li`ili`i

"The sea doth wash away all human ills."
-- Euripides.
mrmike
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 192
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:36 pm
City: coronado
State or Province: ca
Country: United States

Re: swim fins - DaFin

#14

Unread post by mrmike »

kicks are a little more flexey higher kick speed
User avatar
RNT808
Tube master
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:07 pm
City: Makawao
State or Province: Hawaii
Country: United States

Re: swim fins - DaFin

#15

Unread post by RNT808 »

I’ve always had problems finding fins that didn’t double as implements of torture. My feet aren’t really that big at size 13 but they are real wide (EEEE+) and have freakishly high arches. My poor dogs have been squeezed into cramp hell and rubbed raw to the point of bleeding by just about every pair of fins I’ve ever had.

But then I bought a pair of XXL Da Fin “Big Bu” model fins and it changed my life. They’re a little loose on my bare feet but worn over a pair of fin socks they’re absolutely the best I’ve ever had. I can stay out for hours now and I love it. Needless to say I’m a huge fan of Da Fin!
mrmike
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 192
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2011 3:36 pm
City: coronado
State or Province: ca
Country: United States

Re: swim fins - DaFin

#16

Unread post by mrmike »

everybody foot is not the same just like buying shoes
try to let you try them before you buy them or have a good return policy if you don't like them
User avatar
krusher74
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 842
Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:53 pm
City: easkey
State or Province: co sligo
Country: Ireland
Interests: Surfing, vintage cars and motorbikes
Location: Easky, Co sligo , ireland
Contact:

Re: swim fins - DaFin

#17

Unread post by krusher74 »

Any longevity reviews on the dafins.

When i got mine (mail order) I was very unhappy with the width of the heal strap, I hardly used the fin maybe 10 times (left them at a friend in california) upon return the next year I was surfing up in santa cruz and camping at a site south of town, so I had an adventure idea of gettin a buddy to drop me in town and i would surf the points back to the site (about 4 miles)

so he drops me off I head down to the beach sit on the sand pull on my fins and snap! snap! both heal straps gone looked really dry rotted. I had to walk a ile into town in y wesuit board under arm and leave my gopro at a store as payment (till i returned the next day) fo a new pair of cheap fins (all they had) to get be back in the water and surfing back to my camp site.

so check your heal straps for dry rot. :?
User avatar
rodndtube
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 1158
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:34 pm
City: Arbutus Land
State or Province: Maryland
Country: USA
Interests: Waveriding, travel and the Paipo Research Project
Location: Maryland, USA & Where the Waves Are Breaking
Contact:

Re: swim fins - DaFin

#18

Unread post by rodndtube »

Fin walking and not rinsing them off with fresh water are sure fin destroyers. I have walked in my Vipers V5 Orange Dots (flexi blade) a bit too much and the one fin finally cracked along the outer ridge. That fin is down way too flexible... even for me. The other fin is borderline so I will keep my eye open for a cheapo/free Orange Dot size L.
rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
I love my papa li`ili`i

"The sea doth wash away all human ills."
-- Euripides.
User avatar
bgreen
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 1232
Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2011 5:17 pm
City: Brisbane
State or Province: Qld
Country: Oz
Contact:

Re: swim fins - DaFin

#19

Unread post by bgreen »

Applying minimal amounts of silicon was recommended to me as a way to preserve fins. haven't tried it as yet as I need to get to a camera store to buy it.

Bob
Nels
Big Wave Charger
Posts: 254
Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:58 pm
City: Camarillo
State or Province: California
Country: USA

Re: swim fins - DaFin

#20

Unread post by Nels »

Applying minimal amounts of silicon was recommended to me as a way to preserve fins. haven't tried it as yet as I need to get to a camera store to buy it.
Bob - Try hardware or DIY stores. I think what they are talking about is silicone spray- basically a lubricant, but my bottle says for sports equipment it is used as a protective medium.

I was given the same advice at a dive shop when I got my first pair of full-foot Cressi Rhondine (sp?) fins decades ago. It works. That said though, it is a lubricant, so use sparingly. When I get off the couch and try to do things right I spray a bit on a paper towel and wipe it on. I'm a lazy sack though so I seldom keep up on this one. Can't remember if it makes sand stick to the fins or not when you're out of the water, but then you'd be out of the water anyway.

Saw an online interview with Spyder Wills...he said he'd had the same pair of Duck Feet going back to the 60's I think it was. Said the sun was the enemy, always buried his fins in the sand while on the beach.

Nels
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests