PDA

View Full Version : What Monofin do you use? or do you make your own?



Nixen Nicole
07-31-2012, 10:21 PM
I have seen lots of suggestions on monofins...as a competition swimmer I have always just worked out with a Wave or Foil from Finis so am using these right now. I want to upgrade as I am beginning to swim in the sea and would like a stronger fin than what I have. I have not tried the other Finis options nor have I tried any other fins, what have you tried? Please tell me what you use, do you modify them, and the pros and cons you have found.

Ayla of Duluth
07-31-2012, 11:40 PM
ps. you put leaderfins in there twice.

MerAnthony
07-31-2012, 11:44 PM
As it stands now I have 2 monofins I just received my finis rapid monofin today and the other I made. They are so different between the 2 it is unreal. The one I made is on the stiff side and the finis I got it is more flexable. But I love them just the same.:)

Mermaid Narina
07-31-2012, 11:52 PM
making my own (right now) with rubber i found around my backyard and water shoes! ill post a pic...
the rubber it strong but it very flexible. i have long feet, so as you can see this monofin is huge!49484949

Mermaid Fenicia
08-01-2012, 03:51 AM
I have 4 monofins at the moment :) 3 are from Finis (mermaid (pink), wave (blue) and rapid (black) and 1 is from Leaderfin (white). For my exercises and mermaiding I only use the blue and white ones. The pink and black monofins are for others to try, and I also have tails to cover those to. ;)

spottedcatfish
08-01-2012, 04:15 AM
Monofins I intend to own:

- A Small size of the Finis Foil to practice and work on monofinning, so I can be comfortable with swimming in a monofin.

- One day hopefully a competitor monofin, inside a tail. I will only do this when I feel really comfortable with swimming in a monofin, and I have enough strength in my legs and core to use this monofin.

speaking of monofins the rapid and the wave are made for narrow feet, so they probably won't fit my feet. Are there any monofins that can accomodate wider feet that are inbetween the flexibility of a foil and the fibergalss competitor?

Mermaid Lira
08-01-2012, 03:43 PM
Xfins are really good ones ! I have the smaller size for this brand and it's truly magical ! The swimming is really easy and fast and the monofin has a great "cut" to be inserted into a fluke =)

RobertEvans
08-02-2012, 08:52 AM
Though monofins provide better resistance for fast swimming, it also aids in cardio-vascular exercise. So always consult your physio-therapist when to choose swim fins and get those suits better to you.

Nixen Nicole
08-07-2012, 12:51 AM
teehee...I see that now the second one is supposed to be Goldfins.

MermaidAiera
08-12-2012, 11:01 AM
I use the Finis Competitor~~I cut it into the shape it is now which caused it to lose a bit of it's power, but it still works really awesome and looks amazing. It takes a good deal of strength to be able to use it, but being a competitive swimmer of 12 years, it comes easy to me <3 I think my mermaid abs are what I'm most proud of on my body XDXDXD

Merman_Shawn
08-12-2012, 12:39 PM
I have 4 monofins at the moment :) 3 are from Finis (mermaid (pink), wave (blue) and rapid (black) and 1 is from Leaderfin (white). For my exercises and mermaiding I only use the blue and white ones. The pink and black monofins are for others to try, and I also have tails to cover those to. ;)

That's a GREAT idea! Maybe I should buy a few smaller sized mono-fins for kids to try out! You know they always ask to try out your precious-precious tail, and this would be a good way to avoid the awkwardness of letting someone use your very expensive tail.

Mermaid Fenicia
08-12-2012, 03:52 PM
I'm going to make some small fabric tails for kids to try and be on pics with it. ;) I also going to try to make the monofins for those myself as I'm on e very limed budget.

Mermaid Petronella
10-05-2012, 06:11 AM
68846884

I made my monofin out of a rubber doormat and plastic shoes, it works well!
I made a tutitorial on my Youtube of how to make it.

Morticia Mermaid
10-05-2012, 05:14 PM
Modified Oceanika here

New York Mermaid
10-05-2012, 08:08 PM
i have a dol-fin monofin and a finis wave, I just ordered a waterways model 2 monofin,(waterways Ive tried my friends model one and it was amazing) I personally love the WW monofin it has good push especially fora girl like me lol., the wave for me has no power, its way to loose swimming for me. And i love my dol-fin monofin though its a bit on the bulky side, it works great.

Ashe
10-05-2012, 11:20 PM
So i have a Finis Wave that i use ALL the time, but doesnt have a tail for it yet. I also have two monofins from Magictail.de. One came with the Magictail, and i then ordered one separately to put in a neoprene tail of mine. Currently, one is being alternated between both the neoprene and Magictail (can come out of both) for whichever one i feel like wearing. The second one is living with a friend of mine to put in a tail i made her, until she can afford her own monofin :)

Coradion
10-06-2012, 01:04 AM
Tabatafish for me! Custom fiberglass.

Coradion
10-06-2012, 01:07 AM
6900

Merman Chatfish
11-27-2014, 10:40 PM
making my own (right now) with rubber i found around my backyard and water shoes! ill post a pic...
the rubber it strong but it very flexible. i have long feet, so as you can see this monofin is huge!49484949

I don't suppose you have more information on how you made your fin? I have a size 15 foot so shopping for a good mono fin has been hard.

Mermaid Jaffa
11-27-2014, 11:04 PM
I have a Finis Wave, Mahina MerFin and a Fin Fun monofin.

Out of the three, the merfin is my all time favorite. I have swum in the Wave twice before I got the merfin, maybe it was then my lack of skill, but I didn't find it very good at propelling me anywhere! I'll have another try at it once, I've sorted the boxes in my new place.

MermanOliver
11-29-2014, 02:53 AM
Got a Finis Competitor, a MatMas (an Italian manufacturer) Mascotte and made a lexan fin for my fabric tail.

The competitor has a fiberglass blade, is quite stiff, gives excellent propulsion, but you have to have suitable muscles powering it.

The Mascotte is softer, has a polypropylene (stiff yet flexible plastic) blade and still gives a decent push, whereas considerable less than the Finis, of course. But it is not so demanding muscle-wise and due to the softer blade easier to maneuver in narrow and shallow pools. Plus, the plastic blade can handle scratches and dents better than the fiberglass of the Competitor.

My tail (fabric) I made to suit the Mascotte plus my self-made lexan monofin, but that one snapped on a fin-slap I tried.

I've swum the Mascotte in the ocean, but without a tail, the push was more than good, but I guess if I am trained enough I'd prefer the Competitor for tail and ocean. The Mascotte I prefer for training and muscle build-up as well as for swims when I have to do a lot of maneuvering.
Sent from my phonebrick using Tapatalk

Miyu
11-29-2014, 03:17 AM
So Dive Hydra in clear!

Mermaid Jaffa
01-20-2015, 10:35 PM
Add to say that I now have a Finis Foil too. Its nice and light, and even fits into my big bag pack that I use when I go swimming.
Its a nice practice fin. I use it when I try new tricks. And so I get used to the different moves before I do them in my big tail (merfin).

Echidna
01-21-2015, 06:16 AM
I have many monofins, but none of them is "ideal" in my eyes although the Hydra comes close.
It also makes a world of a difference whether the fin fits you really good or not.

I owned two competitors.
The first fit me snugly, but broke after the first use due to the flimsy (read: none) packaging I had received it with.
It propelled me with the speed of an aeroplane in water!
The replacement I got barely fits me (the footpocket was made for someone with metre-long feet, it seems), and all I get from it is blisters and very little propulsion
26806

I'm a fan of good bifins, though.
Nice propulsion, very good manoeverability, easier to transport, and they fit in almost any tail :D

Mermaid Kelda
01-21-2015, 07:09 AM
Oh no! Have you tried wearing neoprene socks with it?

Echidna
01-21-2015, 08:37 AM
You mean with the comp?
Not possible, the footpockets are very tight and narrow, I can barely get my feet in even though I have narrow feet.
The length of it is astounding tho, I really don't know what kind of creature could possibly have feet that narrow but long lol!

CowgirlMermaid
01-21-2015, 09:05 AM
I own a Waterway Model 2 The only monofin I knew before I found this site, my monofinclub had no other monofins.

Recently I bought a fabric tail, which came with a Finis Foil.
The Foil is cute, although I don't like how the footpockets fit me, they're big and long enough but they're a tad narrow which cause my feet to slighty curl up(?) the side of the footpockets.

I prefer my Waterway though, since I'm used to big powerful monofins from the beginning.
My feet hurt after a while if I don't use shampoo or soap to lubricate my feet to slip in the footpockets, but it swims wonderful!
I once swam in het IJsselmeer (a big saltwater lake in the Netherlands) and even with all the waves, I could swim very fast and far and all the way back to the beach. An awesome experience!

Triton-Mahtlinnie
01-21-2015, 06:44 PM
I use a So-Dive Hydra as my main fin, and have the Finis Aquarius as a backup. I love my Hydra, but it's in my latex tail, so the Aquarius is a fun monofin to have when I don't want to get my tail on.

The Water Phoenix
02-17-2016, 07:27 AM
I use the Leaderfins sport monofin. It's quite heavy but my experience and strong legs, it's easy to come by!

Kuda de la Mer
03-01-2016, 11:11 AM
I use the finis wave (or rapid, but I think it's the wave). I find with the socks, my feet really want to slip out of the holders. Anyone have suggestions for this? Also, my knees are a bit trashed from snowboarding.. any thoughts for keeping them from knocking while in a fin/tail?

I didn't realize there were so many brands.. didn't see very many when I was in the market for mine.

suzanne86
03-01-2016, 10:21 PM
Jaffa — Did you sell your Foil?

suzanne86
03-03-2016, 04:56 PM
Jaffa — Saw your YouTube video about the orange tail you made for your Foil. How did your swim in it go?

Merman Storm
03-03-2016, 07:02 PM
I clicked Lunocet and "Other", other being the monofin built into the low cost fabric tails. My current one if from The 2 Tails, but I expect to retire that one (its a little small, both the monofin and the tail skin) and move to Fin Fun.

You poll should include the Fin Fun monofin, the Sun Tails monofin, and the Two Tails monofin

Also, I have a waterways, but have never used it as the foot pockets are too narrow for me to get my feet into. As Ive never used it, I did not choose it in the poll.

Mermaid Jaffa
03-03-2016, 09:00 PM
Jaffa — Saw your YouTube video about the orange tail you made for your Foil. How did your swim in it go?
Good! That is my Aloha Tail. It was the first tail I ever made, and after the adjustments i made recently, it actually fits much better.

No, I never sold my Finis Foil. It has become my fave monofin. The Mirage Rubber Mermaid Fin was another fave fin for awhile too. But the foot pockets never stretched out as I thought it would. So it sits gathering dust until the manufacturer DOES make an adult size fin and then I can sell off the kids one.

Kunoichi Ribeiro
03-03-2016, 10:52 PM
Hi merfolks! At the moment i have 3 monofins and the fourth will be arriving very soon. My first one came on my Turquoise Mermaid Kat tail, a white Hydra, the second one is a Coral Mahina Merfin, the third one a Blue Aquarius who came with my Caribbean Blue Eco Tail from Eric, and the fourth one will be a Finis Competitor inside my new silicone tail(im so excited for it! Will be the first time using this type of monofin.)! My list in order of preference for now is:
1- Mahina Merfin
2- Hydra
3- Finis Aquarius
With the Mahina Merfin im like a speed bullet! The buoyancy and propulsion she gives is just fantastic! In the hydra which enchants me is the fluidity that she transmits to movements. Really a very beautiful thing to see. And is very comfortable to wear. About Aquarius Finis... Well, I'll be honest. I do not know what it feel for her. I think I'm a little disappointed. To swim with it I need to make a greater effort, the good in it is automatically I exercise more my core. Also more effort to dive, the rubber band on the back usually get loosen enough. Before buying I had enough expectations about it, and now I think I do not recommend it for people who want to be a professional. To play with friends and have fun ok fine. Now is wait the competitor to see if' is so good as everybody speaks! ;):cool:

Sabrina the Selkie
03-04-2016, 10:24 AM
I have a finis rapid. It's a little big on my feet, but I wanted the larger blade. Still swims great. I technically own two, because I bought one for my mom to use, but until she renews her pool membership, it's basically a second one for me. She has tried it, though, and LOVES it. So yay for being a good daughter who brought her mother into the world of mermaids.

And then I also have three other monofins that I made myself from hard plastic three ring binders and the more flexible plastic from two pocket folders. They are then put together with lots of duct tape. They also swim great. One of them fits my finfun, and the other two fit my home made tail. The finis will go in the finfun once I modify it. And then I can retire the duct tape fins.

Mermaid Jaffa
03-04-2016, 09:07 PM
Oh and a Sun Tail Nunui monofin soon as the staff get around to my kick starter order.

Amphitrite
04-20-2016, 10:00 PM
I just bought and used my first ever monofin. Tis a Mahina mermaid one. A little rubby at spots so I'll need to add socks or something. Beautiful and easy enough to get on and off. :D

Arya
04-27-2016, 11:56 AM
I voted "other." I have an older model Oceanika Merfin I purchased used. It says it fits size US 7-9, but the foot pockets are extraordinarily tight. I might size up to the medium in the Mahina Merfin which is supposed to fit US 8.5-10.5. I have been working on trying to stretch the foot pockets by wearing thick neoprene with it, and it has helped some. So far I am please with it and got a very nice tail made for it on Etsy for a really reasonable price. I'll post pictures of the tail once I have better ones then in my messy living room!

Coral Corey
04-28-2016, 09:20 AM
I just this month got my Mahina merfin in the mail. I have been able to swim in it two times and I love it. I did buy neoprene socks to wear with it because it would likely cause blisters if I went without them. The monofin is flexible and can be bent in half but in the water it also gives great propulsion. I do not have any other monofins to compare it to but I do highly recommend it.

The Water Phoenix
04-29-2016, 04:04 AM
I use the leaderfins sport monofin. It's similar to the competitor.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mermaid Aglaia
04-30-2016, 02:13 PM
I use a Lunocet but i can't recommend it. There are some weak points. And my one ist after 1.5 years no longer usable.

AniaR
05-18-2016, 10:06 AM
Hey folks I also need to know what monofin you use, but I need the answer in my own personal survey so I can publish it in my book. Please fill out the survey here
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DQ5CKZM