Best first tail?

[Sassenach]

My absolute favorite tails are Merbellas, but seeing as I'm pretty much a full-time student saving up for college I don't have the money right now to buy one. I've been swimming in my monofin (finis wave) for a few years now and I made myself a fabric tail awhile back, but I want to start saving up for my first professionally made tail. I was thinking a Mertailor partial silicone; it looks realistic enough and I like the movement of the fluke, but it's not so expensive that I'll be saving for up for years and years.

Of course I still have to do a little research, see what people like and dislike about it, but any opinions or suggestions right off the bat?

[AniaR]

Hey welcome to the forum. Are you an Outlander fan by any chance? hehe ;) Be sure to introduce yourself in the introduction section. The best tails is pretty much in the eye of the beholder, and what they' re looking for, what they're willing to spend, and how long they're willing to wait. Check out the review section of the site and the tail maker discussion area.

[Sassenach]

Aye, I verra much am!(; I've been on the forum before but it so was long ago that I don't remember my account information nor do I even have access to that email before, so I better start over. The reviews of the mertailor are kind of old, so I was just wondering if anyone had/knew of any recent occurrences that they hadn't posted in the reviews.

[Meronica]

I have one of his silicone-neoprene tails (now called "basic silicone" I believe). He did mess up the middle scallop of my fluke, but overall the fit is great, I haven't had any issued with it stretching, and people love it. I was one of the first to receive his new raised scale texture as well.

Also worth noting is that he said that he is now willing to offer custom paint jobs other than the single color schemes already offered, for an additional fee. The customer service isn't great, but I'm happy with my tail and that's all I really care about. (:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AniaR]

I think the reviews havent changed much lol pretty much half and half. Some people are good with their tails, some still have a lot of complaints. Seems to be a russian roulette of ordering mermaid tails :p Have you considered keeping an eye out for a used tail? Sometimes you can get something more reliable and you'll know the history and can often get full silicone for less!

[Ashe]

Hey there and welcome! Deciding on a new tail is always exciting but yeah, can get kind of frustrating. You say that you're a full-time student saving for college - ouch. It's going to be extremely hard to save up for a silicone - even partial silicone - tail in that case. A question to ask yourself is "am I committed enough for a tail like this?" You've been monofin swimming for years, so it doesn't sound like a phase. I've heard horror stories about people purchasing high-end tails only to find out that they lost interest a year later :doh: Even so, going from a handmade fabric tail to a professional silicone tail may be a big jump. No worries, there are many types of tails if you start to rethink silicone.

Pros and cons
I advise against latex tails. Many people have allergies and they have a reputation of not lasting very long. The paint doesn't stick and they rip and tear.
Neoprene tails are a nice way to go for mers who want to move on past the fabric tail but are not yet ready for silicone. They keep you nice and warm and can be painted beautifully as demonstrated by Morticia Mermaid (http://morticiamermaid.wix.com/sirenscalling) and Courtney Mermaid. But, up close they don't look or feel very realistic.
Sequin tails are stunning and are becoming popular. They look realistic if done correctly and have believable scales. The issues with these is that the scales often break and chip, and they require a LOT of maintenance.
And finally, silicone. Aside from SFX tails made for shows like H2O, these are the best tails on the market. They look and feel realistic and when bought by the right maker, are painted with the most stunning colors you can imagine. But, these beauties come with a price as I'm sure you already know...

So there are some negatives to different types of tails, but don't let this discourage you! Use these as a guide when deciding on your tail. As Raina said, the type of tail you chose is completely up to you and what you can afford. Unless you know this is exactly what you want, don't feel rushed into purchasing a silicone tail. Patience is key in the mermaid world :)

There are dozens of tailmakers selling gorgeous tails, have you checked them all out? I suggest consulting with the 'Upcoming Tailmakers.' They are trying to get their businesses going and will usually ask a reasonable price. Tailmakers (http://mernetwork.com/index/content.php?133-mermaid-tailmakers)

If you're thinking of making a tail... Tailmaking reference
(http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2633)
Be sure to check this out as well :) How to save for a mermaid tail (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?8902-♦-How-to-Save-for-a-Mermaid-Tail-♦)

And if you need anything else... Resources (http://mernetwork.com/index/content.php?152-The-Merfolk-Resource-Page)

[Ashe]

I am also making a new kind of tail that I don't believe many people have attempted. The goal is realism and durability but using inexpensive materials. Just an idea if you're up for possibly making a tail...
How I'm bringing my tail back to life (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?10525-Back-from-the-dead)

[Mermaid Olivia!]

My first tail was a FinFun, and I liked it a lot, especially since they offer all the realistic patterns and colors now! I also liked the fact that it was not super-expensive, and I could practice without having to worry about messing something up that would be costly or difficult to repair. The only drawback was the fact that I had problems with the inserts breaking pretty frequently, and I am a very careful person. I never bent the insert or stood on it, but about every month, it would snap in half. :eye twitch: I still think they are great starter tails, as long as you're prepared to shell out a little extra for some replacement inserts.

As far as experiences with Mertailor, I can say that mine was definitely a positive one. I just received my partial silicone tail a couple of days ago, and it is beautiful and swims very well. My tail shipped 4 weeks to the day that I ordered it, and looks exactly like the concept art that I sent!!! The staff was great with communication and the product I received was exactly I wanted! :yay:I plan to post a review in the next few days if you want more detail about my experience.

[Prairie Mermaid Jamie]

With eric you get what you pay for. Unless he has changed materials and miraculously learned to attach monofins you can be in for a boatload of issues with it.

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?9537-What-a-silicone-quot-neoprene-quot-monofin-looks-like

Thats what my silicone neoprene (neoprin) tail is like. Its not even a year old and ive taken it in mulitple times and had to rip it apart to fix erics disaster. It was a 1000$ paperweight for months. He uses a different shape but the same materials. Pretty sure hes still punching holes in monofins. But I hear his fabric tails arent bad so going with him, thats all id recommend.

Id stick with fabric and save for full silicone. Tell your family and friends what youd like and see if they will help as a grad gift. What better gift then a beautiful tail?

[26494926bdgqifkwb]

I really like my Mertailor Partial Silicone, but it can get a bit uncomfortable if you wear it for too long because the seams are sewn together, so you'll have the neoprene/silicone poking you down your legs. It doesn't have as much push as a monofin (I used one of the finis at my University pool for a while), but it's good for maneuvering.

[MermaidCelesteFL]

In regards to a silicone tail, I would save up for a Mernation single color. They are relatively inexpensive at the moment, the customer service is nothing short of incredible, and everything is customizable! I would check out the reviews for them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rett]

I definitely wouldn't purchase his basic tails as a first. You're likely to get frustrated. Among other problems, the monofin will be riddled with holes beyond belief (and, thus, not last as long) and the neoprin (not neoprene) he uses just stretches and stretches until it is utterly useless. I think a nice Neoprene tail (maybe sequined?) would be a better go, or like Mermaid Celeste suggested, a Mernation single color. Those would probably last longer and be a better fit. Good luck and keep us posted :)

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