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"You are best writer in the whole damn universe!!! You are the Holy Typewriter of consumerism, and the understated Barcode of reviewers. in my opinion" Timbo3107
Member since:22.02.2004
Reviews:287
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I have always maintained that you have to go a long way to beat a day spent dressed in rubber, breathing through specialist apparatus in a wet, dark environment. A few weeks back my enjoyment was curtailed somewhat when one of my fins cracked open with a large split in them, now it could be argued that a split fin design is the latest fashion however that only really works when the both fins are a split design and the split in your fin does not get bigger with every kick of your leg. One aborted dive later I was thus thrust onto the market for a new set of fins as my back up pair are fine for the odd dive but not for an extended period of diving.
There have been huge developments in fin designs over the past couple of years, each new design making claims of better power, more efficient diving and better manoeuvrability in the water. After trying out a few different types from friends in the pool I opted for the latest set of fins made by Sherwood called the Kinesis Ex Fins. I had read a positive write up about them already and I fund them to be the most suitable for my style of diving and although at the top end of my price range they were too good in the water to pass up.
According to the marketing blurb the fins incorporate Optimal Pivot Blade (OPB) technology. What this means is that on the downward stroke of the kick the blade flexes around its mid point making it more efficient throughout the entire kick cycle. Well that is the theory and naturally with increased efficiency comes less tiredness and greater speed. The fin is a solid design with a grooved front panel running down the centre of the fin and two side vents.
In reality these fins worked very well for me, I was really impressed with how much power I could exert without much effort, this is really useful to have especially while diving in strong currents when occasionally you become exposed and need to get an extra spurt of speed to reach some shelter. I liked the fact that although they were able to flex around the mid point the actual structure of the fin was quite stiff, this suits me as I sometimes utilise a frog kick particularly when on longer dives as a way of stretching and using other muscles and the design of the fin suits this style.
I found the fin very responsive to changes of direction and I was able to manoeuvre with ease. The fact that the fin is quite robust means that the handful of dives I have used it for so far it is showing little signs of wear and tear despite the fact that I tend to do most of my diving on wrecks in British waters.
The foot of the fin is very comfortable and quite wide for when diving in a dry suit with the necessary two pairs of woolly socks underneath. If I have one slight criticism of the fin it is that the buckle release which is a pinch clip design is a little difficult to operate with your gloves on which is a annoying as there is no way you can take the glove off if you are taking fins off before exiting the water, not a big problem is these days of lifts on boats.
The fins retail for £80 and can be purchase from the Sea and Sea website and come in three colours, black, blue or yellow.
Richard great review, rather you than me diving in British waters, I'm more a tropical waters myself, however, when I emmigrate to NZ I'll be trying some cooler water dives.
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