yucca fins

[flojo]

anybody tried Yucca surf fins.? they are made in costa mesa ca.

[GeoffreyLevens]

Have not. Nice they have various flex options. Funny as hell that they charge same $$$ for ones made out of their "scraps" aka trash

[belly rider]

Don't know if I am understanding the above Geoffrey message correctly
But if they are made from recycled rubber materials please beware that
recycling rubber material is NOT recommended as the rubber compounds
all differ from each other and they chemically can not bond perfectly
Therefore, over time, the rubber will start delaminating by flacking off
If the rubber is recycled it must be vital that it must come form the same
rubber base compounds or else pay the consequences

[Nels]

Dig the colors, dig the vibe, even the clothes and crap.

That said, they look like Vipers and those were instant pain merchants for me when trying on. Not sure my Duck Feet will last the winter, Churchills are aging. Wish it was easier to try fins. Mollusk in Santa Barbara closest to me but short of being completely out of fin options at home I'm not going to risk the plague (in the cosmic "Third strike" criteria I already have two against and the third strike with COVID is something to avoid). That's not just for Yucca fins. The hip sporting goods stores are gone, the surf shops tend to keep a few sizes of one or maybe two brands.

So yeah, anybody who can provide an independent review...please do.

[rodndtube]

I'd love to give them a test drive some time but don't know where to begin with all the different stiff to flex gradients combined with "what size" will really fit, or will they fit? I used Vipers for quite a while after Churchill had discontinued their rubber softer blade fins and then transitioned to DaFins, for increased comfort (width) and being able to range from 1mm rubber to 4 or 5 mm rubber before sizing up... sizing up with the Vipers only increased length, but not corresponding width--additionally the interior height became squeezed with 3mm rubber fin socks.

Viper Orange Dots (flex blade) were my favorite but warm water weakened the flex too much over time. So, I moved to 5" Yellow dots which eventually flexied, and separated my warm and cold water Yellow dot versions.

Overall, my paddleouts and wave catching improved with DaFins. The flip side was the very flat water surface side of Vipers providing an extended planning surface for body and board and could function as a flex tail.

The Yuccas appear to have potential but I would need to try on a variety of sizes using 1mm to 4mm of fin socks and then water test the flex ranges.

[Pes78]

I have a pair off the ultra softs. I started with the standard flex but they were hurting the joint on my big toe and foot come together. Been going through a lot of differant fins and I am glad I found these. They have plenty of thrust for most conditions but if it is really small I struggle getting waves. Now I'm only riding wood and cork boards so take that into consideration. As far as the scraps go I think they are made in the soft flex, I'm sure if you email them they will say what they use. And I don't think they are made out of all scrap material. Rod on your next trip out I'm sure you could arrange something with them. The also put padding in the pads for you. The fins are very comfortable and haven't had any fatigue from them. May get another pair in the soft flex for smaller days or lot of water moving around.

[bgreen]

matsurfers FB page had a big discussion on Yuccas. This link should take you to it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/matsurf ... 344548257/

[GeoffreyLevens]

Funny as hell that they charge same $$$ for ones made out of their "scraps" aka trash

To clarify, that comment was made tongue firmly in cheek. I think it's nothing but wonderful to reduce the waste stream and a good product is a good product.

[rodndtube]

The Yuccas are expensive, probably about double of Vipers and DaFins, and they are also heavy along the lines of Viper 5" Orange and Yellow Dot models and DaFins are about half the weight, a big factor for anyone that travels and needs a spare pair.

[GeoffreyLevens]

Don't know if I am understanding the above Geoffrey message correctly

Always go to the source. ALWAYS!

https://yuccafins.com/products/yucca-fi ... lex-scraps

We are very excited to release the Scraps fin. After a year of tinkering we found a way to take our manufacturing waste rubber and grind it up and add it to a new fin. Keeping our waste rubber out of the landfill and using less new rubber in the Scraps fin. It also looks amazing so its a win win for us.

[belly rider]

Yes Geoffrey you are right I just went by what I read here above on your statement
So let me be more specific -- as long as the "scraps" recycled are all from the same rubber compound then everything is fine
However if the Rubber compounds used to achieve different flex on the fin product is and contains deviations from the others
then what I stated remains a true fact
I have been working for the past 23 years in the rubber hose industry -- specialized in rubber hoses used for loading/offloading
Oil tankers, Gas Carriers and Chemical tankers-- as well as marine fenders for port vessel pier mooring.
I've learned a lot about recycled rubber especially when the oriental countries were building marine fenders from melted recycled
rubber -- seen these things half their product life expectancy with the distinct characteristics of "flakes" developing on their surface
David Rigo

[OG-AZN]

Anybody remember the Scott Hawaii fins from the 1980's? Yuccas look like they're based primarily off that old design. The Scotts were good fins, more power than Churchills and more durable than the Vipers of that era.

[nomastomas]

Its been a couple of years since this thread was started...any new reviews of the Yucca Standard Flex? DuckFeet have been my goto fins for nearly 40yr, due to their stiffness and resulting thrust. But, there has always been a certain amount of pain that goes with wearing them. Primarily that has been sores on my feet where they rub. Fin socks help reduce this, but make it difficult to remove the fins. I've been applying Vaseline to the inside of the footpocket entry and the side of the strap just below the anklebone (but not in the heel area), and this has been very effective in reducing friction. (contrary to urban myth, the Vaseline does not cause deterioration of rubber. I've been doing it for a couple of years with the same fins and no problem) But now, I'm getting wear on the top of the toes next to my big toe (same toe on both feet). I think the cause is a combination of the foot pocket not being wide-enough or soft enough. I think the design of the Yucca fins will fix these problems, but I just want to get feedback from prone riders who have used the Yuccas before forking over $85.
Besides DuckFeet, I've used Voit UDT, DaFin, Viper V7, Churchill, possibly others (lesser known and unimpressive)

[bgreen]

There are also https://www.facebook.com/kpaloa.oficial/reviews/

[flojo]

Got a pair of Yucca fins today for 40 bucks -really good holiday sale.

[Nels]

Flojo - have you had a chance to try the Yuccas yet? And what flex level if you know? I'm considering...I tried a couple on for sizing and if I go with Yuccas I'll have to commit to fin socks or not, I'm right on the size edge.

[flojo]

Hi Nels, just saw your post-I think the fins are great. I got a pair of ultra soft flex size xl. I wear them with 2mm booties.the pocket is roomy and soft.

[rodndtube]

Its been a couple of years since this thread was started...any new reviews of the Yucca Standard Flex? DuckFeet have been my goto fins for nearly 40yr, due to their stiffness and resulting thrust. But, there has always been a certain amount of pain that goes with wearing them. Primarily that has been sores on my feet where they rub. Fin socks help reduce this, but make it difficult to remove the fins. I've been applying Vaseline to the inside of the footpocket entry and the side of the strap just below the anklebone (but not in the heel area), and this has been very effective in reducing friction. (contrary to urban myth, the Vaseline does not cause deterioration of rubber. I've been doing it for a couple of years with the same fins and no problem) But now, I'm getting wear on the top of the toes next to my big toe (same toe on both feet). I think the cause is a combination of the foot pocket not being wide-enough or soft enough. I think the design of the Yucca fins will fix these problems, but I just want to get feedback from prone riders who have used the Yuccas before forking over $85.
Besides DuckFeet, I've used Voit UDT, DaFin, Viper V7, Churchill, possibly others (lesser known and unimpressive)

Nomas, you probably have had a chance to try out your Yuccas by now. Until yesterday, I had not really handled a pair much less known what exact size and "flex/softness/stiffness/hardness" I might want to size up at a store. Yesterday a friend of mine loaned me a pair in my size group so I could give them a try. I asked why he was now going with the new DaFin flexi model. He told me he loved them until he didn't--after much use over a week or so the fins were wrecking his feet.

Well, looks like I won't even be able to try the Yucca Longblade (some-kind-of) Flexi Model out, not I would spring for a pair anytime soon because they weigh twice as much as my DaFins and thus would weigh way too much for airline travel and I just don't drive from home to go surfing that much anymore. And I have plenty of spare pairs of DaFins already.

Why could I not try them out? I can't close to getting my feet into the foot pocket, left and right feet. And measureing my feet and the internal width measurements the best I could it would have been a snug fit much less with 1 to 2mm of fin sox.

I did photograph the fins, measured them several different ways and want to try to weigh them.

Below is a photo of the foot pocket entry and it is easy to see that at least this pair of Longblade Flex-something do not provide as ample a space as my DaFins (same relative foot pocket size for my foot size). Moreover, the Yucca straps do not stretch at all where as the DaFin straps provide some stretchability to slip a foot into the pocket.

DaFin on top of Yucca Longblade Showing Difference in Footpocket Entry Space

[Pes78]

Rod what size are you? I have another pair of larges that I don't use. The regular yuccas have a wider foot box. I think they are ultra soft flex. I'm heading to San Diego for a few days so I can get them and send them to you.

[rodndtube]

Thanks for the offer but please spare the offense. If you bring them back I could give them a go for evaluation purposes, take some measurements, weigh them and shoot some photos.

I do suspect they would fit on in part because the yucca short vs long fins have a structural design problem. I also suspect they will not live up to my DaFins performance for quick start-up thrust AND steady. casual kicking during paddleouts.

One feature I do appreciate in the Yuccas are the drain channels which would great to emptying out broken shells, pebbles and such.

Pes, hope you are doing well. Sorry we have not hooked up. Will you be back in Metro DC anytime soon?