Black Mahina softer and lighter?

[Mermaid Selphy]

Hello Merfolk!
I have a question about the black Mahina monofin. A friend of mine bought one and she said the black Mahina is softer and lighter than the orange/green ones. I tested it and yes! It is. But how? Do you know something about it? How does this difference come?

Greetings to y'all!

[Mermaid Alea]

Wow, I can't believe no one replied to this thread! I was actually about to post the same thing when I came across your topic.
I started off with the orange mahina merfin in medium and I love the fin, but I don't like how it hurts my feet. I finally decided to just buy the black one in a size large to see if that would solve the foot issue.

When I un-boxed the black one, I instantly thought it felt different. The main difference is it isn't as stiff feeling as the orange one I have. I laid the black one over the orange one and they are the same size. The black one is more floppy and smoother to the touch. The foot pocket straps feel softer and the foot pockets in general feel softer.

I do think the black one feels a little lighter as well.

When I took the black one to the pool, I wore neoprene socks with it and it didn't hurt my feet at all like the medium. In fact, there was zero hurt.

It has me thinking that maybe the black version should be recommended to those who are having trouble with the mahina hurting their feet since it is softer. Of course I can't say for sure because in my case I think the main problem was I just needed to go up a size.

Mahina is probably using a softer type of rubber to make the black monofins. I wonder if they are using a softer rubber for any newer produced monofins in the other colors as well, or if this is just a material difference in the black fins?

Anyways, I'm just excited to finally have a Mahina that doesn't hurt my feet.

[Echidna]

this is really good to know.
I like the Mahina's propulsion, but not only does it feel like a medieval torture device on my feet (I have the turquoise one), it's also quite heavy and stiff.
Even underwater, it feels like a huge stone tied to my ankles, which makes fancier movements very difficult.

Maybe I'll try the black one and see if it is better.

[Mermaid Avalynn]

Same here I had the blue and orange one in medium and even though I could swim in them they were just uncomfortable. I got the black in large to see if going a size up would solve any of the discomfort and found the black to be a lot softer and floppy. Have not had the chance to swim in it yet, I just hope it's not too loose.

[Mermaid Alea]

For me it is too loose if I don't wear the neoprene socks with it in the water. So I went from not being able to fit neoprene sock into the medium to not being able to go without socks in the large because without them it won't fit. I would rather have that though instead of blisters. :)

[Saelyyia]

I wonder if it has to do with the recycled rubbers than make up the black ones vs the classic ones. That is definitely interesting though.

[MermaidLiara]

To those who have both: which one swims better, *regardless of foot comfort*? Do you prefer the stiffer blue / orange; does it give more propulsion? Or do you prefer the floppier black one?

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[AniaR]

The Mahina are made from recycled rubber and black rubber tends to have a different density than any other. Someone else alerted me to this after having actually contacted Mahina, I guess each colour is slightly different.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Maybe the black ones are made from recycled tyres, and the colored ones from premade rubber products?

[Nerdmaid Faith]

Now here's my take: I think that the different rubbers also change blistering. It might be just me and my indestructible unicorn feet but I find that my softer black one actually rubs MORE than my blue one!

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[MermaidLiara]

Now here's my take: I think that the different rubbers also change blistering. It might be just me and my indestructible unicorn feet but I find that my softer black one actually rubs MORE than my blue one!

Sent from my SM-A205W using TapatalkWhich would you say swims nicer, which has more propulsion?

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[Nerdmaid Faith]

Which would you say swims nicer, which has more propulsion?

Sent from my SM-N960F using MerNetwork mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=95032)I'd say that I'd probably prefer the blue mahina with the added propulsion

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[MerEmma]

Now here's my take: I think that the different rubbers also change blistering. It might be just me and my indestructible unicorn feet but I find that my softer black one actually rubs MORE than my blue one!

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Dang! I was hoping to hear that the black one was better on the feet for sure. I miss my old blue Mahina so bad, but I couldn't find anything to fix the blister problem :(

[Mermaid Alea]

Now here's my take: I think that the different rubbers also change blistering. It might be just me and my indestructible unicorn feet but I find that my softer black one actually rubs MORE than my blue one!

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Are you wearing neoprene socks with the fin and where do you get your blisters?

My orange mahina gave me blisters underneath my ankle bone and on my heel.

[Sirenea]

I have the mahina and took it for a test swim. I found that if you wear socks with it it doesn't hurt at all. The material is 100% softer than both the blue and orange one, and it feels kinder to the feet. You can swim way longer with it without cramping! Definitely was worth getting

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[MerEmma]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u702M6kKyRE

Found this video that really shows the difference in how stiff the two colors are!