Is a Finis Foil Monofin a good first monofin to get?

[spottedcatfish]

When I joined this site, I was considering buying a commissioned tail, but I think I'm going to make my own. I have to get the monofin first. I've seen a lot of articles praising the finis Rapid monofin, but I'm working on building up strength in my legs and core. I looked at finis website, and I think to first start off with, I'm going to get the Finis Foil monofin to work on movement through the water. Then I'm going to make a tail for it. Would this be a good monofin to start off with?

[Mermaid Karin]

If only there was a way to do a test run on them all. >.<

[MermanJesse]

I think to first start off with, I'm going to get the Finis Foil monofin to work on movement through the water. Then I'm going to make a tail for it. Would this be a good monofin to start off with?

Yes, I love the Foil Mono fins! They are very easy to swim with, and are very affordable. You can get some nice speed with the Foil, too!

[Cordelia]

Do they run smaller than the size listed? Grr. Sizing.

[spottedcatfish]

I have a Foil. BE WARNED-- THE SIZING IS OFF. That's all I have to say. BE PREPARED FOR PAIN.

So what is the real sizing? I have pretty small feet, and looking at the sizing now, I'd be an XS!

[spottedcatfish]

I have a Foil. BE WARNED-- THE SIZING IS OFF. That's all I have to say. BE PREPARED FOR PAIN.

Unfortuntley, I did not take your post seriously enough. I recently got my monofin... and it's fine on the left foot, but my right foot is too wide! It really hurts when I try to put my right foot in the foot pocket! Why are the foot pockets so darn narrow!

[Merrow Erie]

Should I get a size larger and compensate with swim socks? O.O I have hobbit feet this is not okay

[Mermaid Varshana]

I'm an 8 1/2, and a medium fits me perfectly.

[Merrow Erie]

This the fluke I want and I think the foil is my best bet http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs26/i/2009/246/7/8/Mermaid_Tail_X_by_Linzee777.jpg

[Seraphina Suds]

Going by their size chart and my shoe size, I should be a medium. But I read reviews that they run small, so I got a large and I'm glad I did.
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The foot pockets fit fine, but my toes stick out quite a ways. The pockets are cut in a way that they rub against my big toes and it really hurts while swimming. I think I'm just going to get some neoprene socks to wear. I'm afraid if I returned the fin for the next size up, it'd be much too big. My feet are wide, by the way. So the rubbing issue might just be because of that.

[Jessica]

I have a size small foil and it fits perfectly. I wear a size 7 1/2-8 in shoes. I originally ordered a medium because they were running small, but it was way too big for my feet.

[Imogen Finnly]

yeah ! I ordered my foil a few weeks ago and just based on reviews a lot of people said that they had the same size issue so out of safety I ordered a Medium and I am SO glad that I did because they fit so comfortably and I don't experience any pain! I am going to test it out Sunday:D

[selkie13]

I've ordered a foil, and chosen small. I have Very narrow feet which is one of the reasons I got the foil in the first place. Yay genetics for narrow feet, now I just need to find a pair of heels I can wear that aren't too wide!
I'll post again once I get my fin and test it out :)

[spottedcatfish]

Update: Foils are great monofins. They really teach you how to do a dolphin kick well. I have one in my tail now, and I miss just being able to swim in the fin separately. But I recommend the foil as a great starter fin!

[selkie13]

Foils are great, mine came three hours ago and it fits my feet perfectly! Can't wait to swim in it
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[Gem Stone]

I love my foil, its great to teach other people with. all I have is a small, and for a few minutes, it will stretch to just about any sized foot. my dad could only handle about five minutes before he needed help pulling it off though

[ducktails]

I've only tried the finis foil so far, and I have mixed feelings about it. I just finished writing a rather in depth review of it. Its rather long winded, but I hope it can help answer any questions other mers might have about it.
http://forgotten-trinkets.blogspot.c...l-monofin.html (http://forgotten-trinkets.blogspot.com/2014/08/reviews-finis-foil-monofin.html)

[phoenixbaltimore]

Only got my Finis Foil Monofin recently......and I am loving it, very easy to use and you can get a lot of speed up, I managed to do a 1km with it fairly easily....now the only thing left to do is buy myself a mermaid tail....

[Ayla of Duluth]

My Merbellas tail had a foil in it. The foot pockets rubbed on the insides of my feet and around my toes, so I used swim socks and it worked out perfectly. It also kept the monofin's straps from slipping off my heels when I would do power swims and kick really hard.

[catchan1980]

Is the Foil made of the same material as the Wave and Rapid? I read reviews that these crack after a few uses.
I hope the Foil is much sturdier. I am really looking to get a monofin of my own soon but I am confused about which one to get.


I've only tried the finis foil so far, and I have mixed feelings about it. I just finished writing a rather in depth review of it. Its rather long winded, but I hope it can help answer any questions other mers might have about it.
http://forgotten-trinkets.blogspot.c...l-monofin.html (http://forgotten-trinkets.blogspot.com/2014/08/reviews-finis-foil-monofin.html)
Nice review! Thanks. I love how you ended your post:In the hopes that I could look a bit more like a mermaid, and a bit less yellow tailed manatee.
;););)

[Mermaid Wesley]

The wave and rapid should not crack at all. If they do, finis should replace it for you. The foil is made out of rubber though, instead of plastic.


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[phoenixbaltimore]

I have used my Finis Foil for over a week now and had no cracking of the rubber. One thing I noted was not to dry them in direct sunlight. I also know that like a pair of shoes one foot is larger than other, hardly ideal when it comes to a monofin but I find I can work around it.

[catchan1980]

Thank you, Mermaid Wesley. Unfortunately, I live outside the US so if a fin cracks, it will be expensive for me to send it back for a replacement. :(

Either I get a rubber one like foil or just get a Mahina merfin (because the shipping is cheaper from AU).

[phoenixbaltimore]

The foil is a great starter monofin in my opinion. I did a two kilometre monofin the other day....next will be learning to hold my breath and then travelling underwater.....looking forward to being able to do that...

[-Annwyn-]

I have a foil monofin in my ShellTailLabs tail, which I specifically asked Shelly to do for me. It's a neoprene tail, but she filled in around the monofin and over it with silicone. You've never know it was there and the fluke of that tail is so fantastically floppy!

[Moonchild]

hey guys!! sorry I'm a little late on this thread but has anyone ever modified a finis foil monofin??
I bought mine a few weeks ago and I can't wait to make my first tail, but I want a bigger fluke than the monofin itself...
Would zip-strips work for this??

[Mermaid Menanna]

Got my finis foil today. Fits pretty tight, going to try to stretch the foot pockets a little bit with some hot water and a shoe stretcher... watch your size if you order one. My shoe size is US women's 8 - 8.5. I ordered a small which is supposed to fit a 6.5 - 9 and it's a really tight fit.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Got my finis foil today. Fits pretty tight, going to try to stretch the foot pockets a little bit with some hot water and a shoe stretcher... watch your size if you order one. My shoe size is US women's 8 - 8.5. I ordered a small which is supposed to fit a 6.5 - 9 and it's a really tight fit.
Mine was the same. It was really really tight. It felt like circulation was being cut off. But after a couple of swims plus wearing it on my bed when I relax and read a book, does help to loosen them.

[Moonchild]

Same here, I was thinking of putting petroleum jelly on my feet to help them slip in the foot pockets hahaha

my monofin is comfortable once I'm wearing it but putting it on is a nightmare!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Same here, I was thinking of putting petroleum jelly on my feet to help them slip in the foot pockets hahaha

my monofin is comfortable once I'm wearing it but putting it on is a nightmare!
Easy to put on when its wet. When dry, its a lot of pulling and tugging!

[OceanWhisper]

Easy to put on when its wet. When dry, its a lot of pulling and tugging!
*lol* spit >.<

[Mermaid Menanna]

I was also thinking about petroleum jelly, lol. I'm going to try some hot water and a shoe stretcher to see if I can loosen up the foot pockets just a little. I'd rather need a pair of neoprene socks to tighten the fit than to have my circulation cut off. I had it on (dry) for about 5 minutes last night and my feet & ankles were turning a bit purple/blue from lack of circulation... and today while working on the pattern I put it on and noticed after I took it off that one of the heel straps had left a deep impression in my skin (plus it hurt). The last thing I need is blisters. :-(

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Just don't go rushing to the home phone when it rings... I forgot I had it on one time!

[Mermaid Menanna]

My phone seldom rings, but it's cordless so I always keep it near me anyway, otherwise I can't hear it, lol. No worries. I plan to wear my fin while I'm sitting here at night, 15 minute intervals to start, then will increase by 5 min at a time and hopefully that will help. I noticed today that wearing it is putting a lot of strain on my bad leg due to the position it requires me to sit in... so I'm praying that also gets better and not worse. It would really suck if I go through all of this and end up not being able to wear/use it because of my leg.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Just lie on the sofa, bed, floor, whatever takes your fancy, and wear the fin. I found sitting at my computer table with the fin on to be uncomfortable, as I have long legs and like to stretch, but my pc table sits by the wall, so no stretching of the legs.

[Merman Lir]

hey finis foil wearers: I'm making a tail for a friend (female) who wears a size 10 foot. I'm assuming you'd go with a size large? any ladies here wear that size?

[Moonchild]

hey finis foil wearers: I'm making a tail for a friend (female) who wears a size 10 foot. I'm assuming you'd go with a size large? any ladies here wear that size?



I wear a size 8-8.5 and mine is a small, so maybe a medium

[Moonchild]

http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=32160&stc=1

this is the size chart, Lir

[CheshireKat]

Im a size 10 and wear a medium

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Buy a pair of 1mm neoprene socks too. The foot pockets stretch out after a couple of swims.

[suzanne86]

Thanks for the advice. I got a pair of Finis Golden Zoomers for lap swimming, and followed their size chart. They are too tight and uncomfortable, and I can't last more than about 1600 yards in them. Then I take them off and swim breaststroke to give my feet a rest and a chance to recover. Am seriously thinking about getting a Foil, but will follow your advice and buy the next size larger. Better to pad up with socks than to suffer from a fin that is too tight.