MONOFINS, THE OFFICIAL THREAD

[Winged Mermaid]

Hey guys, this is an excerpt out of something I've been working on. It's in progress (will add on more later), but I figured you guys could use the reference information, so here it is! All commercial monofins, DIY monofin information, cutting monofins, and monofin shaping additions.


MONOFINS


In the bottom of each tail is a fin used to propel the wearer through the water. The most common type of fin used in mer tails are monofins. They are a single (mono) fin with a dual foot pocket. These fins were made for fast and lengthy swimming- mostly for freediving. Instead of kicking like you do with dual fins, the monofins use your body motion for the propelling force, like a dolphin kick. It is a fluid like motion that concentrates more around your abs and not your legs- this movement is not only very mermaid like, but is a very efficient one.

Monofins can be made from a few different materials- mainly polyethelene, fiberglass, carbon, or lexan. The more stiff the material is, the faster propulsion you can achieve with the fin.


COMMERCIAL MONOFINS

Plastic Monofins:

The most popular monofins for mers are the recreational monofins, which are made of a flexible plastic like material called polyethelene or polypropylene, and have adjustable rubber foot pockets.



27687
The Wave by Finis (http://www.finisinc.com/Wave-Monofin) is made for men's US shoe size 1-7 or women's 2-8. The blade is on the small side and is less stiff than most.


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The Rapid by Finis (http://www.finisinc.com/Rapid-Monofin) is made for men's US shoe size 8-12 or women's 9-13. The blade is large and stiff. For this reason most recommend the Rapid over the Wave for most tails. If you wish to use the Rapid but have smaller feet, use aqua shoes or a few pairs of neoprene socks can help with size difference.

For reference, Finis also use to make a Tempo monofin (sizes 4- 9 ½ F), but it has been discontinued.

Here's a size comparison of a the blade size of a Wave and a Rapid:

5512



5513 27686
There are two types of cheaper mermaid shaped fins from finis. One is the Mermaid and Shark fins, by Finis (http://www.finisinc.com/Mermaid-Swim-Fin). It comes in pink, purple, and blue; it fits male sizes 1-6, and female sizes 2-7. The other is the Aqarius monfin (http://www.finisinc.com/Aquarius-Fin) by Finis that comes in blue and pink and fits sizes male 4-10 and female 5-11.


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The cheaper alternative to the Rapid would be the Finis Foil (http://www.finisinc.com/Foil-Monofin). With the ability to order a range of sizes, this fin is designed to fit Men size 3-15, and Women 4.5-17.5. This is a popular option to put in silicone tails so the fluke will have a more flowing movement but still be able to achieve good propulsion.


5514
Sweammer Monofins (http://www.sweammer.com/en/menu-principal/caracteristiques) Are polypopylene fins, favored for their smooth (no ridge) and shapely blade. They come in three sizes- the “Triton” sizes for children, the “Hydra” sizes for women, and the “Minos” sizes for men. Also available in 5 colors.


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Mahina Merfins (http://www.mahinamermaid.com/shop.html)- Based out of Australia, Oceanika provides the first monofin specifically made for mermaiding. They're eco friendly, made completely out of recycled rubber, and known for their beautiful shape and colors. They are made for both children and adults, ranging from the smallest being able to fit a US size 2, to the largest for a US size 12.5 (please see the sizing chart on their website for more information). They come in teal and orange colors.
Please note that you now can get adult Mahina Merfins from Urban Outfitters (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=32230062#/) (in the US) with FREE shipping!


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Dol-Fin Monofin (http://www.dol-fin.net/products.html) comes in once size that will accommodate up to a Men's size 11. Made of carbon, it is somewhat heavy in the water and will not float.


27697
Custom Monofins by Victoria (https://www.etsy.com/shop/CustomMonofins) are uniquely shaped made-to-order monofins with mermaid shapes, specifically made for mermaiding! They currently come in two shapes, "Classic" mermaid and "Sirena".


Fiberglass Monofins:

Monofins made of fiberglass offer large, stiff, very propulsive blades. Mers who swim in the ocean and face strong ocean currents prefer the fiberglass fins for this reason. However, they are more expensive than their polyethelene counterparts, starting at over $100. Here are 3 popular choices:


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Finis Competitor by Finis (http://www.finisinc.com/technical/monofins)- With the ability to order different sizes of foot pockets, the competitor can accommodate Men's 6.5-16 and Women's 7.5-17 sizes. This monofin is made of fiberglass, made to competition standards. The blade is quite large and very stiff, giving it excellent ability to propel you. This fin is reccomended for mers who do a lot of open water swimming.


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Leaderfins (http://www.leaderfins.com/category.php?id_category=8) is located in Estonia, and offer a variety of different fins in which you can chose your size footpockets and softness of the blade. They are a good choice for a realistic look inside of a tail, as several of the monofin's foot pockets taper down to the blade, giving it a more seamless and less bulging look.


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Specialfins (http://www.specialfins.com/eng_products.php?menu_id=14) is located in Estonia, and provides affordable alternatives to the competitor with a choice of size and softness of the blade.


Finis is currently the only monofin maker in the US. However, there are many different monofin distributers throughout the world. Often there are more choices and the blades are far more customizable outside of the US, since finswimming is has many serious enthusiasts and competitors. Here is a list of some of the options for other monofin sellers, taken from an article in Finswimming Magazine. It is a translated article, so forgive the slips in translation.


(http://www.finswimmer.com/tools/monofin-manufacturers/)Monofin Manufacturers (http://www.finswimmer.com/tools/monofin-manufacturers/)



1) BINFINS Binfins are Chinese Monofins built by Chen Bin [INTERVIEW (http://www.finswimmer.com/2010/04/19/kings-of-the-monofins-chen-bin-from-binfins/)], former World Champion in Underwater Races. He has some web sites such as http://www.binfins.com (http://www.binfins.com/) and http://www.chen-bin.com/.


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/lunocet-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/lunocet.jpg)2) LUNOCET Lunocet is a new kind of monofin, ultra technologic and futuristic. They are made in the USA. Website: http://www.lunocet.com/


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/matmas-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/matmas.jpg)3) MAT MAS Until 10 years ago the Mat Mas Monofins were one of the bests, used mostly by Italians Finswimmers, good for all kind of distances. Now they are used for Apnea. Website: http://www.mat-mas.it/


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/rocketfin-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/rocketfin.jpg)4) ROCKETFINS A lot of people says they are the best, but imho I never find them confortable. They are made by some Ukranian Guys, Viktor Panev and Igor Soroka [INTERVIEW (http://www.finswimmer.com/2010/01/18/kings-of-the-monofins-viktor-igor-from-rocketfin/)] and a lot of World Championsh use them. Website: http://www.rocketfin.com.ua (http://www.rocketfin.com.ua/)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/leaderfins-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/leaderfins.jpg)5) LEADERFINS These monofins comes from Estonia made by Maksim Mercuri [INTERVIEW (http://www.finswimmer.com/2010/04/05/kings-of-the-monofins-maksim-merkuri-from-leaderfins/)]. Website: http://www.leaderfins.com/


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/starfins-150x150.png (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/starfins.png)6) STARFINS Starfins company is a manufacturer mainly specializing in monofin, giperfins and bi-fins production, as well as all kinds of finswimming accessories. The company was founded in 1997, by Alexandr Lichenko. Website: http://starfins.com (http://starfins.com/)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sharkfins-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sharkfins.jpg)7) SHARKFINS Sharkfins made by the Ukraine Kotov Max. Email: sharkfin@ukr.net


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/goldfins-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/goldfins.jpg)8) GOLDFINS Goldfins made by the Ukraine Alex Zolotov. Email: zolotov@starline.lg.ua


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/glidefins-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/glidefins.jpg)9) WATERWAY (GLIDEFINS) Waterways are probably the most used in trainings sessions, and Glidefins are good for competitions. They are made by the Ukraine Bogdan Lyashuk [INTERVIEW (http://www.finswimmer.com/2010/03/08/kings-of-the-monofins-bogdan-lyashuk/)]. Website http://www.waterwayfins.com (http://www.waterwayfins.com/) and http://www.finswimworld.com/


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/finis-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/finis.jpg)10) FINIS Finis are from the USA and I think that no finswimmers use it, maybe some classical swimmer for trainings. Website: http://www.finisinc.com/kids/monofins/wave-monofin.html


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/triton-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/triton.jpg)11) TRITON Tritons are made by the Ukraine Maksim Moroz [INTERVIEW (http://www.finswimmer.com/2010/02/15/kings-of-the-monofins-maksim-moroz-from-triton/)]. Website: http://www.finswimming.net (http://www.finswimming.net/)
http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/20120323-192547.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/20120323-192547.jpg)13) YAKOVLEV YAKOVLEV Monofins are made by the former Ukranian Champion Evgeny Yakovlev from Kiev. Email: yakovlevfins@bk.ru


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/smithaerospace-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/smithaerospace.jpg)14) SMITH AEROSPACE Smith Aerospace is similar to the previous Lunocet, ultra-tech Monofins and they are made by in the USA. Website: http://www.smithaerospace.us (http://www.smithaerospace.us/)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/shumkov-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/shumkov.jpg)15) ANDRONOV MONOFINEvgeny Andronov is a Russian Monofin Maker. Good monofins from him. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003034619128


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/shakov-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/shakov.jpg)16) GRANKIN MONOFIN Alexey Grankin from Tomsk (Russia). Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002575749336


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/salmin-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/salmin.jpg)17) KERSHKOV MONOFINVitalyi Kershkov is Ukrainian, from Kiev.Email: kershkov@i.com.ua Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1052223766


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/pudov-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/pudov.jpg)18) ARSENAL FIN [KUTIKOV]This is an Estonian Monofin Maker from Tallinn. Emails: aastuudio@gmail.com arsenalfins@gmail.com serkutikov2010@yandex.ru Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sergei.kutikov Website: http://videoprazdnik.com/index.php?o...=88&Itemid=197 (http://videoprazdnik.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=197)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/kutikov-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/kutikov.jpg)19) PUDOV MONOFINMonofins created by the Russian Oleg Pudov, now trainer of Aix Natation. Email: pudov.oleg@yahoo.fr – monooleg@mail.ru (pudov.oleg@yahoo.fr). Facebook: http://facebook.com/monooleg (https://www.facebook.com/monooleg)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/kershkov-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/kershkov.jpg)20) SALMIN MONOFIN The builder is Aleksandr Salmin and he was a Russian Champion. His monofins were the bests like 10 years ago. Email: yan7@yandex.ru (http://www.finswimmer.com/tools/monofin-manufacturers/yan7@yandex.ru) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php...903127&sk=info (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=645903127&sk=info)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/grankin-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/grankin.jpg)21) HYPERFINS [SHAKOV MONOFIN]Russian Monofins, used for some time by the World Champion Cherevko Brothers in Immersion competitions. Website: http://www.hyperfins.ru/ (http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hyperfins.ru%2F&h=EAQEqsFbE)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/andronov-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/andronov.jpg)22) SHUMKOV MONOFINThis is a Russian Builder Mr. Alexander Shumkov. Website: http://news.yandex.ru/people/shumkov_aleksandr.html


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/aquamaster-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/aquamaster.jpg)23) AQUAMASTER MONOFIN This is a Russian Builder, it is also a Finswimming Club. Website: http://aquast.narod.ru (http://aquast.narod.ru/)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/specialfins-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/specialfins.jpg)24) SPECIALFINS Another Estonian Builder. Probably they have just Training Material. Website: http://specialfins.com/


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/maxdivepro-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/maxdivepro.jpg)25) MAXDIVEPRO Another Russian Builder. Probably they are used mostly by Apnea Divers. Website: http://www.maxdivepro.ru/


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/c4-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/c4.jpg)26) C4 CARBON MONOFLAP It’s an Italian Builder, not only of Monofins. Used specially by Apnea Divers. Website: http://www.c4carbon.com (http://www.c4carbon.com/)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/tropol-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/tropol.jpg)27) TROPOL MONOFIN It’s a Czech Builder, used probably by Apnea Divers. Website: http://www.tropol.cz (http://www.tropol.cz/)


http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/anemosfins-150x150.jpg (http://www.finswimmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/anemosfins.jpg)28) ANEMOSFINS It’s an Italian Builder, used probably by Apnea Divers. Website: http://www.anemosfins.com (http://www.anemosfins.com/)




CUTTING MONOFINS

Some people are glad to work around the shape of monofins, others like to cut theirs to shape. Polyethelene can be cut with sharp sissors or a raxor knife. Fiberglass monofins can be cut a dremel, bandsaw, or jigsaw- be sure to use proper safety equipment, including eye and nose/mouth protection!

Be sure not to cut sharp edges into your the blade, but instead round ones- cutting sharp edges will lead to tears in the blade later down the line. The reason for this is stress concentration at a corner- basically things are more likely to crack or tear at a sharp notch or inward corner because stress is concentrated there (such as package that has a small cut in the plastic to make it easier to tear there).


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The correct way is shown on the left, the incorrect way on the right.

If you have already have a tear or crack in your monofin, you can stop it by drilling a hole at apex of the crack.


MONOFIN SHAPING ADDITIONS

Some people chose not to shape the the monofin by cutting it, but rather by adding additional material to extend it to their preferred shape (example video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNLqf7ZritI)). The most common way of doing this is to either attach vinyl or sheet rubber. Some attach the rubber by glue, others by sewing with fishing line or other highly strong thread. The important thing to remember is that you must either completely seal (watertight) the rubber to the monofin, or leave plenty of space in the bottom, via holes/gaps in glue or stitching. This is because as water flows in and/or through the fabric it can become trapped in the rubber insert, greatly weighing down the fluke as you swim or try to lift it out of the water. Holes allow the water to flow freely in and out of the rubber, fixing the issue. A water tight seal of course would avoid the issue, although with the natural ridges in most monofins this may be difficult to accomplish.

Mermaid Moonflower made a terrific tutorial on how to do a monofin extending mod! (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?4750)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77BfuRGnamM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R3Tsgrgdv8


DIY MONOFINS

There is also the option of making your own monofin. There are a few sites and some information on how to make custom monofins, but nothing extensive. Most people would much rather buy a commercial fin than go rounds of trial and error with materials. One thing I highly suggest is to do extensive testing before you glue them in any tail. I have seen people that seem successful in making a custom fin, only to find out that somewhere down the line (from the 2nd time of usage to a month or two later) the monofin fell apart or cracked due to a stress point (which would be a design flaw). The last thing you want is to glue a fin in a tail you spent lots of time, energy, and money on only to have it fall apart or break in the tail and not have a way to get it out. Here we will compile all the information we can to help you to build a sturdy monofin successfully.

Lexan (polycarbonate) is the preferred material of choice for homemade monofins. It is durable and clear, making it preferable for those with sheer fabric or people looking for translucent or transparent flukes. Sheets of Lexan can be found at hardware stores such as Lowes or Home Depot.

Making monofins out of PVC is not recommended, as it stress fractures (not durable). NEVER MAKE A MONOFIN OUT OF ACRYLIC/PLEXIGLASS- it will snap and/or shatter into razor sharp pieces, leading to severe injury!

Monofins need stiffeners. These are needed to to stiffen the blade to reduce bending forces at the footpocket and to increase the power of the kick. The more force that bends the blade, the more force transmitted to the wake and the faster you go.

You can make stiffeners by layering material on lexan monofins. They can be adhered together by solvent welding with methelene chloride.

You can cut Lexan with a jigsaw or bandsaw for coarse/general cuts, and router for finish cuts, then sand to smooth after. Jigsaws can bog down and get hot in Lexan and begin to melt the chips leading to nasty looking cuts. Use a new blade every time you start a plastics project, and have several extra on hand to swap out if the blade begins heating up.

For more information on DIY monofin making, look at the design for Capt Nemo's Titania Monofin (http://mernetwork.com/imgs/Titania_Monofin.pdf).

For foot pockets on DIY fins, there are several different options. Some people attach aqua shoes via screws. Some people use footpockets from bifins. Finswimworld offers individual monofin pockets for sale here. http://www.finswimworld.com/finswimming/footpockets.htm

There are sites around on how to make custom monofins, but nothing extensive. Most people would much rather buy a custom monofin than go rounds of trial and error with materials. One thing I highly suggest is to do extensive testing on the monofins before you glue them in any tail. I have seen people that seem successful in making a custom monofin only to find out that somewhere down the line (from the 2nd time of usage to a month or two later) the monofin fell apart or cracked due to a stress point, which would be a design flaw. The last thing you want is to glue a fin in a tail you spent lots of time, energy, and money on only to have it fall apart or break in the tail and not have a way to get it out.


BIFINS

Regular bifins can be used in a tail, but they are not as athletically pleasing, and less efficient for propulsion. The vast majority of mers prefer to invest in a monofin rather than using bifins.


HOW TO GET A MONOFIN OUT OF A TAIL

Provided your monofin is not glued into your tail and is made of polyethelene or rubber, it is easy enough to get it in and out. Simply roll down the body of the tail to the fluke, reach in and grab the opposite edges of the fin and roll them in on themselves to roll the monofin blade into a tube like shape. Keep a hold, and pull it gently out of the fluke opening. To put in, roll down the body again, roll the monofin up as before, insert into the fluke hole, release so it unrolls, and adjust to desired position.

[meremily]

hi!!! im making a monofin with lexan , i took a photo of what i did caus i so not sure if im heading in the good direction so i need advice.
the heal of the swim fin is positionn at the beginning of the lexan but after watching a lot of photo im wondering if it ok. i did not cut the lexan yet please help!!!
thanks5550

[meremily]

me again, i was thinking if i use my tempo monofin and seal it in my silicone tail, do you think if i cut strip of lexan and seal them in silicone it will make an extend of my monofin? caus the fluke is bigger than my tempo

[meremily]

what is solvant welding with methelene chloride? where can i buy it?

[AniaR]

great work

[Azurin Luna]

Dol-Fin Monofin (http://www.dol-fin.net/products.html (http://www.dol-fin.net/products.html)) comes in once size that will accommodate up to a Men's size 11. Made of carbon, it is somewhat heavy in the water and will not float.

Great list, but I saw something off. I have this monofin and I can tell you it's made of rubber and not carbon, on land it's heavy but in water it isn't, it's almost weightless.

And I really do advise everybody using this one to use socks or neoprene toes as you might get blisters on top of your feet.

[Mermaid Sirena]

Exceptionally wonderful thread! Thank you so much for compiling this information & making it understandable for all of us on here. <3

[starlite]

hello

Do you have adviced for how choosing my monofin ? because i don't know wich one is the best : an expensive monofin like for competitor or a monofin for leasure ?

thanks

[Winged Mermaid]

If you're mostly swimming in lakes or pools, go with a recreational monofin. With heavy currents, or swimming in rivers and/or oceans frequently, go with a fiberglass fin. There are plenty of fiberglass fins for hundreds less than the competitor and more custom ability also. The most popular for tails are LeaderFins and SpecialFins. For recreational fins, you're willing to spend a little extra, I've heard that the Oceanika Merfins are worth the extra price. They have nice propulsion, no monofin ridges to worry about, and have a beautiful shape. Hope this helps :)

[starlite]

Thanks you so much for your help.

Is there a thread for presentation ?

[Winged Mermaid]

Is there a thread for presentation ?

What do you mean?

[starlite]

where people present them :-) hello i'm Virginie, i live in France ...

[Winged Mermaid]

You can introduce yourself here: http://mernetwork.com/index/forumdisplay.php?7-Introduce-Yourself

[Mermaid Narina]

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?3405-HOW-I-MADE-A-RUBBER-MONOFIN-at-home-)&p=43695#post43695
how i made my rubber monofin :)

[Mermaid Momo]

hi!!! im making a monofin with lexan , i took a photo of what i did caus i so not sure if im heading in the good direction so i need advice.
the heal of the swim fin is positionn at the beginning of the lexan but after watching a lot of photo im wondering if it ok. i did not cut the lexan yet please help!!!
thanks5550
the heel of the fins you're using as footpockets should be a bit further off of the blade ( from the
Picture it looks like maybe where the pocket for the foot begins at. So where the hole for your actual feet starts. ) I suggest looking at other monotone to see where they placed theirs. Sorry if I'm replying too late to be of any help

[Gem Stone]

Would a foil fin be a smart choice to put in a latex tail?

[Mermaid Allie]

The foil is good with propulsion ive heard, but when I look at pictures of it, i see that the ankles are very spread apart, so i'd say to put in a tail... the wave or rapid are good ideas. If youre willing to spend a bit more, id suggest the fiberglass monofin from this website, its like the competitor and has awesome reviews!!! http://www.freedivinginstructors.com/proshop/gear?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=37&category_id=1
OR if thats too expensive and you don't like wave or rapid, maybe some on this website? the hydras :) http://www.scubastore.com/scuba-diving/Fins-Monofins/1081/s
Good luck!

[Mermaid Mads]

Thank you so much for posting this. I found a mono fin I love so much better for 1/3 of the cost of the finis competitor!

http://youtu.be/fXAjty1zu14

[MerAnthony]

By the look of the monofin I just might have to invest in one of those or even a hydra monofin.

[Mizuko]

I've got a question for anyone who has purchased a Competitor monofin from Amazon! Unfortunatley there is nowhere in Australia that stocks them (or has them in stock) so the only place I can buy it is from Amazon; the issue is, it doesnt state the hardness of the blade!! Has anyone purchased from there and knows what hardness they send? :) Thanks so much!

[jazz2453]

Are there any monofins you could use to avoid less heel showing in a silicone tail?

[MerAnthony]

For less heel showing depends on how the tail is made an who makes it. But if you want to show less heel I would say get a monofin that covers the whole foot / without open heel.

[MerEmma]

The Competitor is known to have less of a heel appearance.

[Mermaid Hamant]

Hey guys, I just went online to buy a Finis Tempo monofin for one of my friends as a graduation present, but I couldn't find any anywhere online. The websites are all out of stock. Did this fin get discontinued?

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Yep, they stopped making them. If you want an in between-size monofin, you could buy a Hydra ;)

[Goldie]

Hey there, I think that the link for the Oceanika Merfin is an old link. This one goes right to it https://mahinamermaid.com/merfin

[Arella]

Anyone have tips for getting your feet in the pockets when you put your tail on? :)

[Mermaid Dottie]

I think Raina tied shoelaces to her straps and pulls them upward while pushing with her foot.

[Anahita]

Has anyone tried the Finis Shooter monofin in a tail?

I kind of want to try it on my "test" tail. I don't want to put my Competitor in my first ever silicone tail (for fear that it doesn't go so well), but I also don't want to make my first silicone tail something I can't wear in the ocean or a river (Obviously silicone does not come cheap, so making it with a Foil or Wave when I do most of my swimming in places with currents and tides is not a great investment)... The Shooter seemed like the likely choice to put it because it's half the price of my Competitor, and rigid in construction like one, but has anyone else tried it?

[The Harlem Mermaid]

thank you for this page so helpful!

[spottedcatfish]

This is an old thread but I just wanted to update it with some new informations and a question. First, I have been and will be doing some ocean swimming, and I've been using bi-fins. I want to use a monofin, and I have been recommended the Rapid to use, however my feet are on the smaller size and a wave would be a better fit, though it would give me less propulsion than the rapid could. I also can't wear my diveboots with them (too big) and I have some neoprene booties, but I think that still wont fill the footpockets. So, if i can't or don't want to use a rapid monofin for fear of it falling off, should I go with the wave, or save up for a proper ocean freediving fin?

Secondly I wanted to update the Lunocent product. This is the new 2014 design:

16354 Drool... :jawdrop: that is one sexy monofin!! :mermaid kiss:

More info: http://caw-designs.com/?page_id=460

It's also cheaper $599 vs $1000 from last time. And they are having a sale from now thorough Christmas for $399!! I can't wait to see some new video and reviews of this fin!!!

[Mermaid Oshun]

that IS one sexy monofin!!

[PearlieMae]

The mind reels with the possibilities of a tail with this beauty!

[Yulia]

That monofin can be used to make some nice extended tails!

[Ariel-Starfish]

They remind me of the extended fins they where using for the H2O tails.

[Soulstrifer]

The Lunocet Monofins are awesome. I have one of the regular ones

[Seatan]

Damn that is awesome! I have a mermaid crush on that fin! I have heard they are hard to swim in though. Or maybe thats just my perception fron looking at them? i dunno... What does it even feel like?

[Anahita]

That fin! I kind of really want it... But I'm not sure I can justify that $400 for it, especially since I've been nagging for Disneyland passes, and a new Wolf dress form, and all sorts of other stuff that is pretty much bordering on frivolous. I think if this popped up on my list too, someone would put their foot down.

[Miyu]

UGH PRETTY NEW MONOFIN... So much want!!!

I need to get a Hydra first. Then get good at swimming, so I can use the new Lunocet :D

[Echidna]

If it swims as well as they say on their site, I might have to get one.
Maybe in a few years ;)

But it DOES look like a dolphin-fin. Very impressive.

[Gem Stone]

Has anyone checked out the trainer fiberglass fins from the freedivinginstructor website on the page before?

[tempest.mermaid.designs]

My name is Victoria, (some of you know my YouTube name Vickylynne) I've spent over 5 years and thousands of dollars creating one of a kind, Custom Monofins-that are specifically designed for mermaids. A long time ago, I created my very first mermaid tail, and was dissatisfied with the choice of monofins that were on the market. So I decided to create my own! When I saw there was a growing trend of mermaids with similar problems, I set out to provide unique monofins unlike anything out there.

So was born my new business: Custom Monofins

-These monofins are hand crafted. It has taken me over 5 years and thousands of dollars to perfect them.
-They will not snap under pressure. They are resistant to salt and chlorine water.
-They retain their shape.
-Made of a high grade plastic. Very soft, comfortable rubber boots (you choose your size). Many people have tested these monofins and have loved the softness of the boots. Compared to the rigid plastic boots of a Wave or Rapid monofin.

-Each one is custom built an hand crafted.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdZ1-4VDBTA&amp;list=UUvIKJKllv9f1yZQ_cLse9NA

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CustomMonofins?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Sirena Style Custom Monofin
21658
21659

Classic Style Custom Monofin
21660
21661

[MermaidRinsenity]

Anyone who is looking to buy a monofin, here's my tip: Check e-bay first! I just got a used finis competitor monofin on e-bay for $117! I just swam in it for the first time today, and I'm impressed with it. It was very gently used and hardly shows any wear. And gosh, it's AMAZING how fast I can get from one end of the pool to the other! :) Though e-bay isn't necessarily always reliable, I find it good to check once in a while, because you can sure find bargains sometimes!

[Froth]

I have a question. I have a size 8.5-9 in womens feet depending on the brand, that's right about in between the Hydra and Minos from what I understand.....what should I order?

[Mermaid Wesley]

well without knowing the sizing on the fins, i would say go for the bigger one. you can wear fuzzy socks or neoprene booties to make your feet bigger and fill out the pockets, but if its too small it might really hurt.

[Slee]

well without knowing the sizing on the fins, i would say go for the bigger one. you can wear fuzzy socks or neoprene booties to make your feet bigger and fill out the pockets, but if its too small it might really hurt.

You say "fuzzy socks," and I wonder, have you had good luck with fleece socks for filling out the space and preventing chafing? As I hail from the frozen north, I have an abundance of those, but not neoprene.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I don't use socks myself, you would have to test it :)

[ducktails]

I just finished writing a rather in depth review of my first, and currently only, monofin the finis foil. 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)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I really love the Classic style monofin!

[Slee]

I just ordered socks for use with my rapid. I appear to be allergic to the foot ockets. Doh. So much fun to swim in, but about 10-15 min in, the stinging sets in.

[Ilyena]

My hydra should be here in a few days. Can't wait to compare it to the wave I use now ^_^

[Trident True]

Does anyone know the length and Width of the Finis Competitor Monofin? also for mers that have them in their tails would you say that this monofin is easy to use or difficult?

[Winged Mermaid]

Does anyone know the length and Width of the Finis Competitor Monofin? also for mers that have them in their tails would you say that this monofin is easy to use or difficult?

It's 29.0 x 28.0 x 4.0 according to website listings. This monofin is more difficult to swim in than rubber or plastic ones for sure. It is very unforgiving in my experience. If your technique is off you will have to adjust to swimming with it. Also doing turns and rolls/twists in it is very hard. Flips are a bit more difficult (many find they hit their head on the fin when they try and do them). They also tend to give people cramps, even if you haven't had cramps with rubber or plastic monofins. I always tell people to stretch REALLY well before swimming in these! Taking a magnesium and/or potassium supplement and hydrating well a few hours before you swim can help a lot with that as well. But all that being said, they're very powerful! I have on in my Merbellas tail, and I love it :)

[Mermaid Zandarra]

I am hoping someone can tell me; on the lexan what thickness is recommended for making your own monofin? I am planning to order a lexan sheet and want to know approximately the thickness I should be looking at. Thanks :)

[AmbrGlows]

I am hoping someone can tell me; on the lexan what thickness is recommended for making your own monofin? I am planning to order a lexan sheet and want to know approximately the thickness I should be looking at. Thanks :)
It depends on how you're making your monofin. I had to replace my lexan insert in my Fin Fun monofin but the company was sold out. Being a crafty person I tried to do it myself with lexan I bought at Home Depot. It works as a temporary fix. The sheet was too small so I had to bolt a small section on the complete the heel area. The measurements on the lexan I used was 18 inches x 24 inches x 0.093 inches. It is a very thick piece and it has a lot of drag when swimming through the water but that said it is a very fast fin. I just didn't like how it stretched the neoprene sleeve.

[Usagi]

Will a Finis Wave be enough for a silicone tail? I'm about 5'1" and somewhere under 120lbs and plan on losing a few. Idk if that matters at all lol will I just be a bit slow with the Wave? Raina had a Foil in hers, right? How does that compare with the Wave?

[Mermaid Wesley]

Well for the wave it's just gonna be very flowey and not good for ocean swimming but it should be ok.


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[Usagi]

Well remember I told you that the ocean terrifies me and I don't swim in it, even out of tail. Haha what about lakes, though? The currents aren't as rough as the ocean. Think it would be okay?

[Mermaid Kelda]

The wave is a bit more flimsy than the foil, but it's certainly swimmable. I mean people swim in tails without monofins without issue. As long as you're comfortable in the water and know the water that you're swimming in, you should be fine :)

[Winged Mermaid]

Will a Finis Wave be enough for a silicone tail? I'm about 5'1" and somewhere under 120lbs and plan on losing a few. Idk if that matters at all lol will I just be a bit slow with the Wave? Raina had a Foil in hers, right? How does that compare with the Wave?

The only thing is I STRONGLY advise against using the Wave or Rapid in any silicone tail. The reason is becuase the straps are very finicky and require a lot of adjusting, usually even while swimming. This is impossible to do in-tail if it's silicone, and would be difficult with the tail off becuase of the small space to maneuver things down in the ankle area. Also the strap holders/mechanisms can look very bulky in a silicone tail. The foil and competitor are great becuase it's just a solid foot pocket (with the straps connected to the foot pockets with no straps or adjustment mechanisms) making it very secure, and very sleek looking on the outside. So those points are something to consider!

Also Raina currently has a finis competitor in her tail, but I believe her new tail she'll be getting in a few weeks has a foil :)

[Usagi]

Well I hope she gets it soon and lets us know how well it works :) I have a lot of trouble with my straps falling down in my fabric tail..I can't even make it a short distance. :/ so if I have to get a new monofin, I'd rather get the foil because of the price haha only if it works well, though.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Well I hope she gets it soon and lets us know how well it works :) I have a lot of trouble with my straps falling down in my fabric tail..I can't even make it a short distance. :/ so if I have to get a new monofin, I'd rather get the foil because of the price haha only if it works well, though.

I now have a foil... Its fun to swim with and easier to do turns and stuff. I bought it to put inside my play tails which have a smaller fluke like the Wave, which I don't wear anymore cos the straps kept slipping off during swimming, even when i have it at the tightest!

The one thing that bothers me, is that the sizes for it seem a bit weird. I have an S which fit 7-9.5 ladies shoe size. I wear 7.5. But it feels very very tight, though not tight so there is immediate cramping in feet, but tight so uncomfortable. I have read that after a few wears, it will stretch out a bit. I wore regular shoe socks with it the first time and got a blister on my toe bone, but I think that was because I kept trying to use the left foot scrunching up the toes in an effort to loosen the foot pocket. And to say my left foot is slightly bigger!

Other than that, its nice to have a small fin for the days when I just want to wet my tail!

[OceanWhisper]

hey everyone :) (Not sure if this is the right thread to ask this in, but it seems close enough.) does anyone have any tricks to keeping the straps on/ tight with a strapped monofin? I recently got my finis wave, and have noticed that this is really annoying. thanks :)

[Yulia]

I wear regular socks with my wave to save me from blisters, it also keeps the straps on a bit better. :)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Sew one side of velcro to your fave fin socks, and glue the other side to the straps.

[Tolgarr]

In case anyone is interested, the Finis WAVE monofin is on sale for $40USD here. http://www.swimoutlet.com/p/finis-wave-monofins-1266/
Not sure how long it will be on sale, but it is right now. :)

[Fun123joker]

The one thing that bothers me, is that the sizes for it seem a bit weird. I have an S which fit 7-9.5 ladies shoe size. I wear 7.5. But it feels very very tight, though not tight so there is immediate cramping in feet, but tight so uncomfortable. I have read that after a few wears, it will stretch out a bit. I wore regular shoe socks with it the first time and got a blister on my toe bone, but I think that was because I kept trying to use the left foot scrunching up the toes in an effort to loosen the foot pocket. And to say my left foot is slightly bigger!

Other than that, its nice to have a small fin for the days when I just want to wet my tail!

yeah i think thats the case with every monofin. you just need to break it in because the first few times wearing it you will get blisters. my advice is wear the monofin when you can just sit down and do somthing without leaving the couch. i break mines in by wearing it while im on the computer or watching tv

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Oh. I just ordered half socks... I will try them tomorrow, just in front of the computer.

[JamesGunnels]

I am trying to find a Minos monofin through Sweammer Monofins and I cannot find one that I can buy! They only sell to distributors. Anyone know of a place where I can find one of these that I CAN buy? Any and all help is appreciated :D

[Mermaid Fenicia]

http://www.scubastore.com/scuba-diving/fins-monofins/1081/s# ;)

[Yulia]

I am trying to find a Minos monofin through Sweammer Monofins and I cannot find one that I can buy! They only sell to distributors. Anyone know of a place where I can find one of these that I CAN buy? Any and all help is appreciated :D
http://www.scubastore.com/scuba-diving/so-dive-minos--deep-black/31963/p

[JamesGunnels]

yay! It's pretty cheap, too. Kinda sad that the shipping has doubled the price :/ meh...it's only 100 bucks...so...not too bad regardless, plus it's a good, durable monofin :D Thanks so much!

[JamesGunnels]

26896

CONFIRMED! Just bought my monofin! Cannot wait! Only problem it is shipping from Spain...so...who knows how long it'll take.

[Trident True]

I bought the same Monofin from the same store. it took about 4 to 5 days to come. very fast shipping. that's to Australia.

[JamesGunnels]

I bought the same Monofin from the same store. it took about 4 to 5 days to come. very fast shipping. that's to Australia.

How do you like your monofin? I really love the look of it. Does it have really good propulsion?

[Elle]

I'd like to know too. I was looking at this one recently

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[Trident True]

for what you pay for it deff has good propulsion. its flexible and just the right stiffness you need. its also good for beginners and doesn't give you cramps in legs or feet. the foot pockets are comfortable to, but they do have adjustable straps which could be a pain in a silicone tail, however if you adjust the straps before placing them in your tail it will be much easier to just pull the strap over the heal. depending if your using it in silicone or fabric.

[JamesGunnels]

I am making a silicone tail. I am just taking it step by step. As enough silicone is freakishly expensive...this will have to do for now :) I used to have the Finis Rapid Monofin, but it was stolen out of the back of my car when someone broke into it :/

[Trident True]

For People the have bought or a currently using the Hydra mono fins or Mino Mono fins. I went swimming today and misplaced one of my straps. fell off while walking into the water. the straps SINK they do NOT float. so if you are in deeper water and you drop it, it will sink. I lost it in the shallows so it was quiet easy to find.

[JamesGunnels]

I went through that with my rapid monofin.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Can this be added to the list?

Its like a foil but without the ridges. I've not got one myself though. Thought it would far more accessible for those on the other side of the world.
https://www.shop4swimming.at/item.asp?item=009575&menuid=30000&lang=EN

And a bigger one like the competitor.
http://sport.wikimart.ru/water/swimming/model/32097229/maska_mad_wave_madwave_monolasty_monolasty_trainin g_monofin/

[JamesGunnels]

I just got my Minos Monofin today!!! I LOVE THIS THING! Cannot wait to finally use it next week :D

[Rogue Siren]

Finis's discount code no longer works Since their site update. Ugh. When I finally can order a monofin....oh well. Not using finis then.

[Winged Mermaid]

Finis's discount code no longer works Since their site update. Ugh. When I finally can order a monofin....oh well. Not using finis then.

I double checked, you're right it doesn't work anymore :( Boo! Well it had been around for like 7 years so I guess they finally decided to give it the axe. :thumbdown:

[AniaR]

There are other active discounts

[Winged Mermaid]

Could you post them? I tried the one Kariel and Hannah were posting about last year ("HANNAH") and it no longer works either.

[Winged Mermaid]

Since Finis website change broke all the links, I fixed the links, and while I was at it cleaned up the formatting, added new monofins and links (including Victoria's custom ones- check her out!) :)

[AniaR]

I just google finis discount codes. They put out changing ones. I just used some in December. And the person who donated fins to us also used some.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Since Finis website change broke all the links, I fixed the links, and while I was at it cleaned up the formatting, added new monofins and links (including Victoria's custom ones- check her out!) :)
You didn't add the ones I posted...:(
Is it because its not yet well known?

[Anahita]

Does anyone know where the Mermaid20 coupon code came from on Finis? I complained to them about the coupon codes not working, and while they responded saying that Hannah's should be reinstated because of her contract with them, they said of the other code:
"We've asked that dealers, ambassadors and teams that we've worked with in the past get back in contact with us to set up new codes if available. Please reach out to whomever it was that supplied this code and let them know that we would like to review the program with them and get codes issued if appropriate."
So who do I pester? Because I want that 20% off code. Lol

[OceanWhisper]

Hey guys :) Does anyone know if finis has discontinued the 'rapid'? because I was going to get a replacement for my 'wave' that was faulty, with the next size up ( a rapid). then when we were sent another wave, the lady said they'd stopped making them?

Edit: it seems that Aquashop has stopped selling them as far as I know, my mistake :)

[Winged Mermaid]

You didn't add the ones I posted...:(
Is it because its not yet well known?
Sorry I just completely missed your comment! I'll get on that :)

[Winged Mermaid]

Does anyone know where the Mermaid20 coupon code came from on Finis? I complained to them about the coupon codes not working, and while they responded saying that Hannah's should be reinstated because of her contract with them, they said of the other code:
"We've asked that dealers, ambassadors and teams that we've worked with in the past get back in contact with us to set up new codes if available. Please reach out to whomever it was that supplied this code and let them know that we would like to review the program with them and get codes issued if appropriate."
So who do I pester? Because I want that 20% off code. Lol

It was Hannah's code. It use to be on her website. That was like.. 7 years ago I first saw it. Last year she got a new code that's only 10% so that's why they're not bringing the old one back :( boo.

[Anahita]

It was Hannah's code. It use to be on her website. That was like.. 7 years ago I first saw it. Last year she got a new code that's only 10% so that's why they're not bringing the old one back :( boo.

All I can say is DAMN!!!!

ثصیبشتهیثبشاتنقاتبنمقالکنعالقثشتنکالقبشتنکالبشثتنک لبثشک

(That was a keyboard smash in Farsi, because what I want to say is a lot of curse words that I can't bring myself to asterisk out. ;) )

[AmbrGlows]

Just got replacement insert for my Fin Fun monofin and it claims to be much better than the clear polycarbonate of the original. As soon as I manage to get in the water with it I'll post on update for y'all.

[Princess Pearl]

Just got replacement insert for my Fin Fun monofin and it claims to be much better than the clear polycarbonate of the original. As soon as I manage to get in the water with it I'll post on update for y'all.

Just ordered my replacement insert last night! They didn't really make it clear on the website until recently that the replacement wasn't just better quality polycarbonate.


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Fin Fun now has a new one made of recycled rubber. No more plastic of any kind.

http://www.finfunmermaid.com/mermaid-monofins/monofin-plastic-insert-replacement/monofin-insert-replacment.html

[Mermaid Wesley]

awesome!

[Rennara]

I have wide little feet. Like a women's US 7.5 (euro 38)double wide (or a men's US 6 wide). Any recommendations on which monofin will be least likely to pinch my square paws?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I have wide little feet. Like a women's US 7.5 (euro 38)double wide (or a men's US 6 wide). Any recommendations on which monofin will be least likely to pinch my square paws?
It also depends on whether you have the core strength to move a big fin. Or if you like solid foot straps like the MerFin, Foil etc or adjustable straps like the Wave, Aquarius etc.

[Rennara]

It also depends on whether you have the core strength to move a big fin. Or if you like solid foot straps like the MerFin, Foil etc or adjustable straps like the Wave, Aquarius etc.

I'm not concerned about not having the core strength to move the big fins, that I've got. I'm more concerned about foot cramps.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Can just order one with a bigger size and wear neoprene socks.

I have the Mahina Merfin, Finis Wave and Finis Foil.

Out of the three, I find the foil has the most comfy foot pockets for my 7.5 skinny hamster feet.
Finis Wave, I could only just get my feet in it and can't wear socks.
Mahina MerFin, I have size 7-9 adult fin and I have to wear thick sports socks + neoprene fin pads. When I don't wear socks, they slide around in the foot pockets but the fin won't fall off.

[Shelley]

I'm not sure that I'm putting this in the right thread but I need some advice.
Is there a way to manipulate the shape of the plastic portion of a Finis Rapid monofin? My Finis Rapid monofin has become warped somehow. It is digging into the side of my inner foot/heel area on both sides. So much so, that it is making an indentation in my skin! Ugh! I think it must have gotten too warm in the back of my car in the last trip I took since I haven't had it on since then. I wondering if I could heat it with a hairdryer or heat gun and gently lift that area back into shape. Has anyone had this problem? Tried this solution? Have another answer that works for sure? Thanks for any help you can provide. ~fish kisses~

[Mermaid Wesley]

I havent heard of any remedies for this, but you could try it.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Hot water that you can stand to be in, wear it in the bathtub. Soak in the water until you're happy with the fit.

[PearlieMae]

Mine did that and I was never able to fix it. Then I broke the blade right at the point where my feet bend.

[MerEmma]

The Lunocet has had some new updates! Still $500 but I don't recall it having these videos or anything.
http://www.ultimateswimfin.com/

https://www.deeperblue.com/lunocet-pro-2015-review/

The old link goes to an error page on the creator's website.

[Seraphina Suds]

Oh man, that's cool! It'll be a great option for those looking for the "extended" tail.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

HOw would you hide the shoes in a fabric tail?

[kat.hendriksen]

Hi, is there a way to make bigger foot pockets on existing monofins?
I found a good second hand one but its three sizes to small.. If there is a way to mound bigger foot pockets on it, that would be great :)

Greets,

Kim.

[Ashe]

The only thing I can think of would be to get spacers (the things that you put in shoes so they don't collapse) that are a few sizes to big and stick them in there for a while... but i'm not even too sure if that would work :/

[Seatan]

Hi, is there a way to make bigger foot pockets on existing monofins?
I found a good second hand one but its three sizes to small.. If there is a way to mound bigger foot pockets on it, that would be great :)

Greets,

Kim.

What kind of monofin is it? Do you have pics? I would need more details before making any suggestions...

[kat.hendriksen]

Here are some pictures of the monofin (: 2979929800

[Yulia]

I don't think there's an easy way to remove or change the footpockets on that type of monofin. ):

[PearlieMae]

Spacers won't modify the size of those pockets.

There's no easy way to change footpockets reliably on something like that. I don't know if you could remove the existing ones without compromising the integrity of the fin.

[Feilian]

Haha, saw that advertisement too ;) I don't think there is much you can do size wise. If you just want a good competitor monofin (like a waterway model 2) you can also buy them new here (in The Netherlands) for roughly the same price :)

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

I just bought a fibreglass monofin from Leaderfins through etsy. Their customer service is amazing! Half an hour after placing my order I got a message asking to confirm my size and blade hardness, and if I wanted any extras. Next day they've made it and shipped it! Plus it came to just over $200 with shipping to Australia (compared to $500 for a competitor) and with free neoprene socks. I'm looking forward to testing it out!

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Hello,

I introduced myself in another thread but wanted to put myself out there if there are any Lunocet questions.

I wanted to formally introduce myself. My name is Jeff and I operate UltimateSwimFin.com which is the exclusive retailer of the Lunocet monofin.

I am a trained / competitive Freediver myself and LOVE "dolphin kicking" and swimming with a monofin.

I actually was instrumental in the design of the current 2015 Lunocet Pro and it is by far my favorite monofin. So much so, that I decided to take my passion for it and start selling them, taking over the customer service and marketing from the product inventor.

It is easy to get behind a product that you are passionate about.

I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself.

I am more than happy to answer any questions about the product, or any freediving / breathhold questions or technique tips.

I will also put a $50 off coupon code here for the first 5 mer-people that buy a Lunocet from this awesome community. Enter "INTRO2MERNETWORK" at checkout for your $50 savings!

See you in the blue!

Jeff
UltimateSwimFin.com


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[Leilari]

Just wondering, but has anyone tried making a mould of a fin and then melting down polypropyline pellets to create their own monofin? Are there any key dangerous elements that I seem to be missing that would pose as a reason to not do so?

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

That's sort of what we do with rubber pellets for the Lunocet.

We use an aluminum core for structural integrity and the correct performance characteristics.

It's not a small undertaking to make the aluminum moulds and would likely be very prohibitive for a small production run.

You may also have to make a few iterations to get it to work the way you want.

I say... Go for it!


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[Kumori Kitsune]

I have been fin hunting for my man online and they actully sell them online at target and sears

[Kumori Kitsune]

Does any one have a rapid finis fin I need to know the length and how wide it is. Please help I cant find it online

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[Mermaid Mystery]

has anyone tried to put real footpockets on a magictail or finfun monofin? I have trouble with the ones on mine and I'm thinking of modifying but I was wondering if anyone has tried it?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

has anyone tried to put real footpockets on a magictail or finfun monofin? I have trouble with the ones on mine and I'm thinking of modifying but I was wondering if anyone has tried it?

I glued water shoes to my Fin Fun monofin. It worked well until I started reading that the monofin was prone to breaking, then I stopped using it out of fear and paranoia! This is the old polycarbonate one.

[Mermaid Mystery]

What glue did you use?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

What glue did you use?

poly zap glue

[Mermaid Mystery]

thanks!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I've put up a review of my Finis Foil if anyone's interested in getting one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyk3pcfNG48

[suzanne86]

MM Jaffa — Thanks very much for your review of the Finis Foil monofin. It was very informative and helpful. Xièh-xièh from Arizona, U.S.A.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Oh here is another monofin I found whilst youtubing...
https://www.facebook.com/Soprassub/photos/a.383911164962943.87166.118108814876514/999745576712829/?type=3

[Mermaid Wesley]

i like it!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

They don't make smaller feet sizes, so I think its good for mers with bigger and wider feet.

[Kelby The Mermaid]

Ok i have a question i don't know if its already been answered (probably on another post but i am gonna be tedious i am sorry) I'm new to mermaiding and I plan on getting my first Monofin for christmas and I have womens 8.5 sized feet. Mine are relatively narrow as my family calls them dancer feet haha. Anyways So i keep hearing and researching the differences between the two and low and behold some people have said the rapid is to big for feet that are even 9 sizing, While the wave being "child size" is to small and is to tight. I know nothing about these fins so its really stressing me out. i don't want to have blisters because of a very tight fin. :$ :sweat drop:

thanks for the info and putting up with this new fishe's obnoxious questions! Happy Holidays may the tides be in your favor! :group hug:

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

The fin I sell solves the fitment / comfort issue via a cycling shoe attachment system.

I've just put a new mermaid video up on our homepage and it's worth a look just for the beautiful statue itself!

Check it out at UltimateSwimFin.com

Another great way around blisters is to wear a 2mm neoprene bootie (Argos are the best) but make sure to account for the added thickness in choosing a size.

I'm sure I'm the only guy to bring 3 sets of neoprene dive socks into a cycling store, based on how they were looking at me... [emoji12]


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[Kelby The Mermaid]

wow thanks i'll be sure to look into it for my next fin~! <3
I chose the rapid because other people (gal with the exactly same size and foot type (hella narrow XD) had a rapid and said it fits her perfectly! As for the socks, i think i'll hold off till i know what they're like ya know? i have a shop i know that sells the socks so i can go buy some if need be. Thank you so much though! hahah yea well who cares what the Norms think? Not us obviously haha:lol::neener:

[Keiris]

The fin I sell solves the fitment / comfort issue via a cycling shoe attachment system.

I've just put a new mermaid video up on our homepage and it's worth a look just for the beautiful statue itself!

Check it out at UltimateSwimFin.com

Another great way around blisters is to wear a 2mm neoprene bootie (Argos are the best) but make sure to account for the added thickness in choosing a size.

I'm sure I'm the only guy to bring 3 sets of neoprene dive socks into a cycling store, based on how they were looking at me... [emoji12]


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I LOVED the video! She's gorgeous! :D

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

I LOVED the video! She's gorgeous! :D

WHAT ABOUT ME!?!?!?

;)


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[PearlieMae]

I would love to see a tail built around one of these, because the logistics are gonna be a bitch.

I love how the fin moves in the water, and the mers on here that are trying to make extended tails will probably be very happy.

But damn! Four bills for a fin...:fallover:

[Mermaid Wesley]

^yep. I'm kinda past my extended tail hype after learning how much it would cost, but I'm surprised no one has done this yet


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[Keiris]

WHAT ABOUT ME!?!




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:lol: Yeah, you look pretty hot too! lol

[PearlieMae]

Anyone need a strap for a Rapid monofin? The clasps and center hook are great, the strap may have one more season in it...I paid $17.95 plus shipping, but it's yours for postage, probably around $5 in the contiguous U.S.

Let me know. I don't need it, and I don't want to trash it. :mermaid kiss:

[Elodea the Mermaid]

Anyone need a strap for a Rapid monofin? The clasps and center hook are great, the strap may have one more season in it...I paid $17.95 plus shipping, but it's yours for postage, probably around $5 in the contiguous U.S.

Let me know. I don't need it, and I don't want to trash it. :mermaid kiss:
I'll take it! A spare strap has saved me more than once.

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[PearlieMae]

You got it! I'll pm you for an address swap. Thanks!

[Stefani]

monofin yellow mark " Finis " is advisable for silicone tails ?

I doubt the ankle strap adjustment

[Mermaid Wesley]

It works fine in silicone tails! I'm sure the ankle strap is annoying though.


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[wildheart237]

I am looking to buy my first monofin,but I am torn between the finis rapid and the hydra monofins. any suggestions on which one to get, or which one is better?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I've tried the hydra, it is too soft for me.

[Triton-Mahtlinnie]

I, personally, prefer the Hydra. Mine has lasted 2 years, while my friend has broken 2 Rapids in the same period of time.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Okay, so I've likely missed it if someone has already answered this, but I'm looking for a monofin for with REALLY big footpockets. My husband has huge feet and finding anything that fits has been a challenge. Anyone know specifically of a monofin that could fit US Size 14 mens?

[Seraphina Suds]

Okay, so I've likely missed it if someone has already answered this, but I'm looking for a monofin for with REALLY big footpockets. My husband has huge feet and finding anything that fits has been a challenge. Anyone know specifically of a monofin that could fit US Size 14 mens?
The Sun Tails adult monofins are supposedly going to fit a men's size 13+. I don't know how much propulsion they'll give him though.

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[Mermaid Lorelei]

Hmm. I'll look into it. We're hoping for something more like a competitor, but we'll look at anything at this point. :P

[Merman Storm]

Okay, so I've likely missed it if someone has already answered this, but I'm looking for a monofin for with REALLY big footpockets. My husband has huge feet and finding anything that fits has been a challenge. Anyone know specifically of a monofin that could fit US Size 14 mens?

Yes. The Lunocet will fit anyone. Reason: You buy the shoes separately. They are cycling shoes, and you get them at a cycling store, where you can get just the right fit. Its an expensive way to go, but it absolutely guarantees a good fit. Also it's a really good monofin, and looks like a dolphin tail.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Urg, I'd LOVE to get him a Lunocet, but unfortunately that's a bit out of our budget.

[Sherielle]

I bought my husband a finis foil and he has 13 1/2 size feet. It fits him just fine

[Marlin]

Competitor might not be big enough. I have like a size 12, and the large Competitor in my tail is very tight on my feet, and the heels stick out a bit.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Hmm. He's tried on my foil, but it was too small. He does have really wide feet though, so that could have been the problem.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Thanks everyone for your help, by the way. I really appreciate the suggestions.

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

You can modify the footpocket on a waterways model 2 strap to make it larger.

They are super uncomfortable for more than :20 mins of use, but might be able to get to the size you need.


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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Oh - and I have sold a Lunocet to a guy with size 14 feet but I have to wonder why... At that size just use some rope to tie your ankles together... Your feet are so big it's basically a monofin when going foot-commando! [emoji41][emoji227]


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[Mermaid Lorelei]

Haha, yup! His feet are basically flippers at this point. :P

I think I'll keep searching, but he's tempted to try a foil again and see if maybe it was just a user error that made it not fit right.

[Triton-Mahtlinnie]

The Minos says it fits up to US size 13.5, that might be an option? Gosh, I wish there was a way to try monofins before you buy.

[suzanne86]

Would bi-fin dive fins work? If they would work for him, there would be a greater choice in fin styles and sizes.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

There are monofins that you can buy where you choose the foot pockets size before they glue it on.

Or you can make your own and glue swim fins or buy the foot pockets separately.

[Mermaid Nelly]

Hey guys! So I'm looking to buy a monofin for a tail project. For a while I was thinking about fin fun, but those seem to be a little flimsy and have a very small amount of propulsion. So I've been checking out magictail.de and I'm wondering if anyone likes that product or would suggest something else instead. I don't plan to do a lot of ocean swimming at the moment so it doesn't necessarily need to be crazy good propulsion. I like that the magictail monofins already has a nice shape that I wouldn't have to cut, it's a foot pocket instead of ankle straps, and it's affordable. Please let me know if you could suggest another monofin with those criteria that's under $100! Thank you!!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Hey guys! So I'm looking to buy a monofin for a tail project. For a while I was thinking about fin fun, but those seem to be a little flimsy and have a very small amount of propulsion. So I've been checking out magictail.de and I'm wondering if anyone likes that product or would suggest something else instead. I don't plan to do a lot of ocean swimming at the moment so it doesn't necessarily need to be crazy good propulsion. I like that the magictail monofins already has a nice shape that I wouldn't have to cut, it's a foot pocket instead of ankle straps, and it's affordable. Please let me know if you could suggest another monofin with those criteria that's under $100! Thank you!!

Sun Tail. It has foot pockets and no ankle straps. And affordable.
http://www.suntailmermaid.com/mermaid-monofin/nunui-teen-adult-mermaid-monofin/

[Mermaid Nelly]

Thank you!!! I'll look into sun tail monofins!

[Mermaid Lisa]

HI. I'm looking to expand into a new monofin. My daughter and I make spandex tails at the moment. I started with the finfun monofin which was clear (they recently changed to a partially recycled black plastic which i do not know how it is). This was a fine start with us. Our feet are very comfortable. not as strong as i would like now and did not work in the ocean. Recently we tried the Mahina Merfin tails. they are eco friendly and shaped beautifully. i do not know how it would hold up in a fabric tail. they are heavy on land. they have great propulsion and were super fun to play in. My feet did hurt though and my daughter got a blister. im not super keen on wearing neoprene socks but i could open to the possibility. there are a wide range of monofins. i feel a bit overwhelmed and thought i would ask for support and advice. I want propulsion, flexibility and fluidity with comfort in the feet. I would like them to be fabric friendly (or could fix to make so). i would love a monofin for pool/lake and a great one for ocean - calm day off the shore and springs. i know there are suntails and 2tails, mirage, and mertailor, various finis, hydra, competitor and foil and the new finfun. and more! phew. so many. so so grateful for all these goodies available! so much mermaid love! thank you for helping me. xo

[Mermaid Jaffa]

HI. I'm looking to expand into a new monofin. My daughter and I make spandex tails at the moment. I started with the finfun monofin which was clear (they recently changed to a partially recycled black plastic which i do not know how it is). This was a fine start with us. Our feet are very comfortable. not as strong as i would like now and did not work in the ocean. Recently we tried the Mahina Merfin tails. they are eco friendly and shaped beautifully. i do not know how it would hold up in a fabric tail. they are heavy on land. they have great propulsion and were super fun to play in. My feet did hurt though and my daughter got a blister. im not super keen on wearing neoprene socks but i could open to the possibility. there are a wide range of monofins. i feel a bit overwhelmed and thought i would ask for support and advice. I want propulsion, flexibility and fluidity with comfort in the feet. I would like them to be fabric friendly (or could fix to make so). i would love a monofin for pool/lake and a great one for ocean - calm day off the shore and springs. i know there are suntails and 2tails, mirage, and mertailor, various finis, hydra, competitor and foil and the new finfun. and more! phew. so many. so so grateful for all these goodies available! so much mermaid love! thank you for helping me. xo
https://www.facebook.com/Soprassub/photos/pb.118108814876514.-2207520000.1454556172./1062485860438800/?type=3&theater

[Mermaid Lisa]

Thank you Mermaid Jaffa! that one looks it could meet all the criteria! do you know if it is possible to shape more?

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

I sell the Lunocet, so I'm biased... And the Lunocet is super comfortable (cycling shoes)... But even still I wear neoprene socks and they are MAGIC in a traditional monofin for comfort.

Argos 2mm low socks are INCREDIBLE!

http://www.neptonicsystems.com/argos.php


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Thank you Mermaid Jaffa! that one looks it could meet all the criteria! do you know if it is possible to shape more?

Don't know. You could ask them on fb.

[Mermaid Lisa]

will do Mermaid Jaffa - thank you. have you tried them?

ultimateswimfin - thank you - will look into them. do you use high or low socks?

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

I use the low socks. Less drag. They are great little, durable neoprene booties.

And who doesn't like a great bootie! ;)


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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Leisurepro.com has some inexpensive low-cut 2mm booties as well.


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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Just order the fin a bit larger to compensate for the added size of the sock. It's about 1/2 of a shoe size


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[Keiris]

And who doesn't like a great bootie! ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]
Did someone mention a great bootie???

[Mermaid Nelly]

HI. I'm looking to expand into a new monofin. My daughter and I make spandex tails at the moment. I started with the finfun monofin which was clear (they recently changed to a partially recycled black plastic which i do not know how it is). This was a fine start with us. Our feet are very comfortable. not as strong as i would like now and did not work in the ocean. Recently we tried the Mahina Merfin tails. they are eco friendly and shaped beautifully. i do not know how it would hold up in a fabric tail. they are heavy on land. they have great propulsion and were super fun to play in. My feet did hurt though and my daughter got a blister. im not super keen on wearing neoprene socks but i could open to the possibility. there are a wide range of monofins. i feel a bit overwhelmed and thought i would ask for support and advice. I want propulsion, flexibility and fluidity with comfort in the feet. I would like them to be fabric friendly (or could fix to make so). i would love a monofin for pool/lake and a great one for ocean - calm day off the shore and springs. i know there are suntails and 2tails, mirage, and mertailor, various finis, hydra, competitor and foil and the new finfun. and more! phew. so many. so so grateful for all these goodies available! so much mermaid love! thank you for helping me. xo

I've recently been through this struggle. I FINALLY decided on a Mahina merfin (I plan to wear neoprene socks). One monofin that I was looking at for a long time was Magictail.de, I don't know if you stumbled across them (you didn't mention that brand in your post) but they seem to maybe be what you're looking for. I've never tried one, but from what I understand, they're a lot like a finfun except SLIGHTLY larger, and a lot stronger. I've seen videos of people swimming in the ocean!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

will do Mermaid Jaffa - thank you. have you tried them?


No. I only came across it some months ago. It looks pretty decent in terms of size, shape, propulsion and speed. I may get one once I sell some off some of my things. Moved from 4 bedroom house to 2 bedroom unit... UGH!

Here's a video of it in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xBTwe5BNiE

[Daphne]

Have bi fins/stereo fins ever been used in mermaid tails? Would they be better or worse than using a monofin?

[suzanne86]

The problem with using bi-fins in a tail is the possibility of your dolphin kick—there are times when your two feet are not kicking together exactly in unison. That, added to the fins being in the fluke (with its added weight) could cause your kicking to lose rhythm, and cause you to be a candidate for a lifeguard's help. One might try using nylon tie-wraps to keep the two fins together to simulate a monofin. But the end result would be a bad compromise. The monofin is designed strictly for the dolphin kick, whereas bi-fins can be used for the flutter, scissors, and dolphin kicks. Dolphin kicking WITHOUT being in a tail is fine—I do it all the time in workouts. But in a tail? No way. Hope this info helps.

[Daphne]

The problem with using bi-fins in a tail is the possibility of your dolphin kick—there are times when your two feet are not kicking together exactly in unison. That, added to the fins being in the fluke (with its added weight) could cause your kicking to lose rhythm, and cause you to be a candidate for a lifeguard's help. One might try using nylon tie-wraps to keep the two fins together to simulate a monofin. But the end result would be a bad compromise. The monofin is designed strictly for the dolphin kick, whereas bi-fins can be used for the flutter, scissors, and dolphin kicks. Dolphin kicking WITHOUT being in a tail is fine—I do it all the time in workouts. But in a tail? No way. Hope this info helps.

It confirms what I thought. Thanks!

[Triton-Mahtlinnie]

I've used the ol' "two bi-fins lashed together" in a tail before. And while it kind of works if you're in a pinch and all you can afford is a pair of $10 used bi-fins from the second hand store, really any monofin is probably going to be a lot more effective and comfortable.

[Mermaid V]

Thank you so much for posting this. I found a mono fin I love so much better for 1/3 of the cost of the finis competitor!

http://youtu.be/fXAjty1zu14


how did you get your hydra monofin?? I am having a hard time finding it

[Mermaid Nelly]

I just received my Mahina Merfin a couple days ago and went swimming with it this morning, so here's a few videos so you can see how the fin looks:
https://vimeo.com/155253977
https://vimeo.com/155254045
https://vimeo.com/155254101
https://vimeo.com/155254167
https://vimeo.com/155254244

If the videos aren't showing up, you can follow me on Instagram (jellydockter) where I posted a video or look up "Mahina Merfin" and you will find plenty of swimming videos! My quick review is that this monofin is AWESOME. I looked at basically every other monofin out there and I think this was absolutely the best option for me. I was swimming in a shallow pool so it was a little difficult to maneuver at first, but still flow-y enough to work in a small swimming area. It's also large enough and provides plenty of propulsion to swim in open waters. The design looks incredibly beautiful underwater. The only thing with this monofin is that if you're not wearing neoprene socks, your feet might get a little sore after swimming for a long time. I bought the size (large) bigger than my measurements to leave room for the neoprene socks; but even when I swam without the socks, it took a long time for my feet to get sore and the monofin didn't come off at all when I didn't want to (even though it was very large on my feet without the socks). It also wasn't impossible to get on and off, though I had more trouble when I tried to put it on dry. Your best option is to do it while in the water. I swam for hours and it was very comfortable the whole entire time. I love that the heal straps aren't adjustable so I don't have to worry about breaking or them coming loose while in my tail. This monofin is a little pricey, but definitely cheaper than a competitor. It was $118 new on Amazon including shipping and tax. If you decide to buy this, please buy it one size bigger than you need and factor money to buy neoprene socks into your budget. I don't want you to hurt your feet! The socks I got were about $24. I'm washing the fin and socks right now with some gentle laundry detergent in my bathtub [emoji5] Thank you and I hope this is helpful!!!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I had an ocean swim in my merfin tail earlier today. Well ok, not right in the ocean, more like a couple of laps in a netted beach in Sydney Harbour. Even though there was no currents, the only current were the waves from the ferries that docked nearby. I found it quite hard to get moving underwater unless I was swimming at the right time, where the waves were coming over to the beach. And when there was no waves, parallel if you were standing on the beach. Does this mean I need to have a stiffer monofin?

[Mermaid Nelly]

Hm! That's good to know, I thought it would be fine to swim in the ocean because I've seen lots of videos, but I'll be cautious when I swim in more open waters. The Merfin is made out of rubber, so maybe something like plexiglass or a stiffer plastic? Have you owned any other monofins before?

[Mer-Crazy]

Personally (as someone who swims in the ocean on a regular basis) I wouldn't recommend anything less than something like a finis trainer (shooter maybe if you're a strong swimmer) unless you're swimming in a clam bay like area. If there are waves or currents I know my monofins tend to frustrate me with their flimsiness if I use anything less than a trainer. I'd love to get my hands on a competitor in my size and take it for a spin.

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Smaller people can "get away" with "less monofin". Having said that, one that creates a lot of thrust / acceleration is always ideal, regardless of your size / weight.

And remember that great technique goes a LONG way and most people use WAY too much knee-bend.


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[Mermaid Clara]

maybe something like plexiglass or a stiffer plastic?

Never use plexiglass as a monofin!!!!! It isn't strong enough and will shatter into very sharp pieces and might cut you very badly. The stuff used for DIY monofins is polycarbonate, look for the brand name Lexan at Home Depot.


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[Mermaid Nelly]

Never use plexiglass as a monofin!!!!! It isn't strong enough and will shatter into very sharp pieces and might cut you very badly. The stuff used for DIY monofins is polycarbonate, look for the brand name Lexan at Home Depot.


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Eep! That's really good to know!!! What are magictail.de monofins made out of?? I thought it was plexiglass... I guess I didn't read it right.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Ok. Thanks mers! I will get a... I don't know which brand yet! But I'll get a stiff monofin, once I sell off some of my hand made jewelry, and other stuff, AND get a job!

[Merman Andrew]

Apologies if this has been answered here or elsewhere already, is there somewhere I can read about the pros and cons of each type of monofin that is on the market? I currently own a FinFun tail which is reasonably flexible and looking for a larger/more powerful monofin that still has some flexibility to it so that when I put it in a tail the motion is quite flowy. Does such a monofin even exist? I currently swim in pools but the thought was for having something for a beach/ocean swim. I have tried a Finis Wave, and found it ok but a little stiff and not too much more powerful than my FinFun.

[Mermaid Nelly]

Apologies if this has been answered here or elsewhere already, is there somewhere I can read about the pros and cons of each type of monofin that is on the market? I currently own a FinFun tail which is reasonably flexible and looking for a larger/more powerful monofin that still has some flexibility to it so that when I put it in a tail the motion is quite flowy. Does such a monofin even exist? I currently swim in pools but the thought was for having something for a beach/ocean swim. I have tried a Finis Wave, and found it ok but a little stiff and not too much more powerful than my FinFun.

If you read up this thread a little, the Mahina Merfin I think is great! It sounds like it doesn't have enough propulsion to swim in the ocean, but I had no issues swimming in a pool. Look into it, maybe you'll like it- it flows really nicely.

[AmbrGlows]

Apologies if this has been answered here or elsewhere already, is there somewhere I can read about the pros and cons of each type of monofin that is on the market? I currently own a FinFun tail which is reasonably flexible and looking for a larger/more powerful monofin that still has some flexibility to it so that when I put it in a tail the motion is quite flowy. Does such a monofin even exist? I currently swim in pools but the thought was for having something for a beach/ocean swim. I have tried a Finis Wave, and found it ok but a little stiff and not too much more powerful than my FinFun.
Fifi of Tigg's Tails uses the Mahina in the tails she makes. I don't know how they are for ocean swimming but she's who I'd talk to about them.

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Maybe its just me, but ocean swam in mine last Sunday... It was hard to get going! Sea water didn't help me when I was underwater either.

SO FLOATY!!!

Memories of my first few swims emerged. Where I had epic battles with the water's surface, thrashing about trying to break the surface to dive underneath. And that was in chlorine.

It. Was. Exactly. Like. That.

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Gotta learn how to "duck dive" freediving style. [emoji12]


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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Gotta learn how to "duck dive" freediving style. [emoji12]


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How do I do that? Sounds difficult!

[Merman Andrew]

Have you tried a weight belt?

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

Have you tried a weight belt?

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I swim alone. Wearing one when I'm alone isn't safe.

[Mermaid Livou]

Hey, does anyone know, Finis doesnt sell fiberglass monofins anymore? Im checking their website since months and its not listed; just out of curiosity

[Mermaid Nelly]

Hey, does anyone know, Finis doesnt sell fiberglass monofins anymore? Im checking their website since months and its not listed; just out of curiosity

I think the competitor is fiberglass?

[Mermaid Livou]

I think the competitor is fiberglass?

Yep I saw their competitor when I was looking for a monofin earlier, but now its not on their website. mmm

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

There are no shortage of fiberglass monofins available (waterways, Starfins, etc.) that are way better than anything that Finis makes.

Having said that... I think FG blades and uncomfortable footpockets are a thing of the past...

But then again... I'm biased! [emoji12]


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[Mermaid Livou]

There are no shortage of fiberglass monofins available (waterways, Starfins, etc.) that are way better than anything that Finis makes.

Having said that... I think FG blades and uncomfortable footpockets are a thing of the past...

But then again... I'm biased! [emoji12]


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HHH ok, i was just curious :P

[Rett]

Huh, its not showing available for me either :confused: I even google searched and clicked the link and it says the page is not found... I hope they haven't discontinued it (or, if they have, that they will at least release a new (maybe improved?) one). Fiberglass is really the way to go for the best fins for mermaiding

[Rett]

Finally got it to work when going through the products on the finis website! Its weird though, only some of the competitor listings work. The XXL and L work fine, but the S and XL say 'Item unavailable' for the description and the product images say 'image not found'. Also, the M says it is out of stock. Maybe Finis is dealing with a website glitch/malfunction?

[Mermaid Livou]

they sent me the exact same link to try as what I opened before: my search doesnt shows, theirs does :D
heh just stupid infotechnik glitch, so, they still do have fiberglass monos (y)

[suzanne86]

Aren't the blades of the Finis Shooter, Trainer, and Competitor still made of fiberglass?

[Mermaid Livou]

Aren't the blades of the Finis Shooter, Trainer, and Competitor still made of fiberglass?

yep they are-they are, I just was not able to see them somehow

[Mermaid Lisa]

thank you!

[Mermaid Lisa]

I've recently been through this struggle. I FINALLY decided on a Mahina merfin (I plan to wear neoprene socks). One monofin that I was looking at for a long time was Magictail.de, I don't know if you stumbled across them (you didn't mention that brand in your post) but they seem to maybe be what you're looking for. I've never tried one, but from what I understand, they're a lot like a finfun except SLIGHTLY larger, and a lot stronger. I've seen videos of people swimming in the ocean!

thank you :)

[Mermaid Lisa]

Mermaid Jaffa - thank you. i was able to try the sprassub mono fin. it was great for the price. much easier on the body and stronger easier propulsion. I'm worried about the foot pocket thickness but I'm going to try it. i have not tried any other mono fins. i like the merfin for its shape and fluidity on film.

[Obelia]

Just adding in a bit about the Mahina merfin and ocean swimming - I guess it might vary between individuals and settings. I've taken my merfin out ocean swimming a few times - mostly in calmer bays, but also in low swell and mild current - and I've not had any problems with it at all. Plenty of propulsion when needed. I also find they're fine with fabric tail covers, even in the ocean.
I've done a solid 6-7 hours in a fabric-covered merfin off Rottnest Island (broken into three shorter chunks, over about a 9 hour day), wearing neoprene socks, and never felt uncomfortable in it :) Kudos to Mahina!

[Merman Andrew]

Question for all of you, has anyone purchased a Special Fins Monofin? If so what did you think? I was asking about them on a free diving group and I was told that the coloured fibre glass they use is really crappy quality and I should go for something else. I'm hoping that maybe they are using better quality fiberglass now?

If Special Fins are a no go, does anyone have any good recommendations for a cheap fiberglass monofin? The reason I want a fibreglass monofin is so I can go swimming in the ocean and have lots of propulsion. I don't want to spend $500+ on a monofin, looking more at the $150-$200 range.

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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

For that price, get a basic waterways model 2 and be prepared for massive foot pain, cramping and discomfort.


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[Merman Andrew]

For that price, get a basic waterways model 2 and be prepared for massive foot pain, cramping and discomfort.


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So, you're suggesting I should just pay more? :) What monofin would you recommend for my needs (very occasional beach swim) that is still comfortable?

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[UltimateSwimFin.com]

A waterways nemo is much more comfortable and a bit more $.

The Lunocet that I sell is the next most further comfortable, but more expensive still.


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[Merman Andrew]

A waterways nemo is much more comfortable and a bit more $.

The Lunocet that I sell is the next most further comfortable, but more expensive still.


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OK here's a question for you - what makes some monofins more comfortable than others, and is it something you can tell from looking at photos of it or do you really just need to try it out? I realize that the foot pockets would have a lot to do with it, in that if they were too narrow for your feet or the foot strap was too tight/cutting in or the band not thick enough, but besides that is there any other factors you know of I should be looking for? Surely it would be different depending on the person's shoe size and shape.

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[Mermaid Jaffa]

The merfins can be used in the ocean. I've used mine in Sydney Harbour, it has good propulsion. Be prepared for squeaks! When I used mine in the little netted beach, all I heard underwater was the Mahina Merfin squeaking because I forgot to bring socks!

[Merman Andrew]

The merfins can be used in the ocean. I've used mine in Sydney Harbour, it has good propulsion. Be prepared for squeaks! When I used mine in the little netted beach, all I heard underwater was the Mahina Merfin squeaking because I forgot to bring socks!
Thanks Jaffa, though I'm specifically after a fibre glass monofin as I find the merfins a bit too heavy and too floppy. I'm sure a fibre glass fin would have much more propulsion.

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[Echidna]

My fibre glass fin gives no more propulsion than, for example, the Rapid or any kind of bi-fins I used with dolphinkick.

Granted, I remember trying one competitor which seemed to me at least 3 times faster than any other fin I have, but that was a long time ago and there is no way to verify this with a timed test now.

It probably also depends on the swimming style, but for me personally, I find swimming with not so stiff fins much more comfortable- and not slower in the long run.

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

OK here's a question for you - what makes some monofins more comfortable than others, and is it something you can tell from looking at photos of it or do you really just need to try it out? I realize that the foot pockets would have a lot to do with it, in that if they were too narrow for your feet or the foot strap was too tight/cutting in or the band not thick enough, but besides that is there any other factors you know of I should be looking for? Surely it would be different depending on the person's shoe size and shape.

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It's generally the TYPE of footpocket that determines comfort.

You can always go for a slightly larger size on the typical FG fin footpockets and get less foot pain / cramping... But you will get worse power-transfer and you'll need to wear the right sized neoprene sock so that your feet don't rub and cause blisters.

I like a tight fitting fin for power transfer and can't last :20 mins in a Model 2.

[Merman Andrew]

It's generally the TYPE of footpocket that determines comfort.

You can always go for a slightly larger size on the typical FG fin footpockets and get less foot pain / cramping... But you will get worse power-transfer and you'll need to wear the right sized neoprene sock so that your feet don't rub and cause blisters.

I like a tight fitting fin for power transfer and can't last :20 mins in a Model 2.
So is a full footed foot pocket better, or is it just more comfortable? What type of foot pocket do you recommend?

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[Merman Storm]

I can answer that, as I have a Lunocet. Its comfortable because the "foot pockets" are actual shoes. You know, with a left and a right, and made in the shape of a foot. You go to a local store and buy ones that fit your feet, and you find to be comfortable. You get bicycle shoes (the type that bolt to cleats that lock into bicycle pedals), and bolt them to the Lunocet.
36792

[Obelia]

Have you tried the Finis ones? - the Trainer or the Shooter? I think they're in your price range, and fibreglass (unless I'm mistaken)

[Merman Andrew]

Have you tried the Finis ones? - the Trainer or the Shooter? I think they're in your price range, and fibreglass (unless I'm mistaken)
Hmm while the shooter looks good and is in my price range I don't want a stiff monofin. The trainer is an ugly shape in my opinion and the Lunocent I also don't like. I guess I'm fussy :)

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[Mermaid Abigail]

Help! :( I was just trying on the base of the new fabric tail that I'm making and when I was putting my monofin in, I saw that there was a crack in it! it's a small crack, around 5 or 6 centimeters. It's a horizontal crack, in the middle of my monofin, towards the end (where the most pressure is during swimming). I haven't been in contact with walls, floors or anything else that could cause a break. I did not step on it, didn't smash into something. I just don't know how it happened :( I haven't used it since Januari 31th of this year! After that i wasn't allowed to swim, due to a surgery on my ear. But the crack wasn't there yesterday, when we made the pattern for my new mermaid tail :(

It's the Flyer Carbon Monofin from Leaderfins, I have it less then a year now . I've already send an email to Leaderfins for advise, but hopefully I'll get some tips here as well. I need my monofin this Sunday! I put a layer of E6000 glue on both sides of the monofin, where the crack is and tried to rub it into the crack as much as possible (if even possible with a crack of hardly 0,5 mm in width, but still). I let that sit for a few minutes and then I added another layer of E6000, covering the crack and some area around the crack.

I'm going to let that dry an entire day and then I'll add Ducttape. Hopefully that will be enough for this Sunday. But I'm pretty sure it won't be enough to fix it 100%.

So, any tips? I read about drilling holes? why? where?

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Drill a hole at the end of the crack to stop it from spreading.

If leaderfins gets back to you, I suspect they'll say to cut the entire strip off of the blade all the way across.


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[Mermaid Abigail]

So I've has some back and forth mailing with Leaderfins. First they kept me on the line for a bit and told me that the warranty did not apply here because that only applies to factory errors or delivery damage. (right).

I told them that several professional Freedivers had taken a look at the monovin and they all told me that the place and shape of the crack were indicating that this wás in fact an error in the monofin itself and not a result of rough handling or impact. The monofin simply seemed to have a very weak spot.

They then suggested to send me stuff to repair the monofin with. I kept on saying that I was really dissapointed that they would not help me some more with this, seeing how the monofin has been hardly used and been taken really good care of.

They finally offered to repair it if I would send it back to them. They told me later on that we could arrange to have it shipped back for €25 (otherwise it would have cost me €106).

Now I'm just waiting for an answer on the repair and return of the monofin, if those are free of charge as well.

If so, then I'm a happy customer once again and then I'll send the monofin to them for repairs. To be continued :)

[MermaidClaudy]

What do you guys think of those? 37820

[AmbrGlows]

What do you guys think of those? 37820
I have a FinFun monofin and I love it. It was a great first fin for me. I still use it when the swimming hole I'm at is very crowded and it's not as big as my Mahina Merfin. I still love the fin and so do all my friends that have borrowed it.

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[Merman Andrew]

What do you guys think of those? 37820
I have a Fin Fun monofin and 3 Fin Fun tail skins now, as a beginner monofin it's great! My favorite aspect of it is the shape. It is instantly recognizable as a Mermaid tail shape so I always get looks of amazement and surprise from kids and adults alike when I take it to my local pool (especially when I'm putting it on for some reason!) It's extremely light and therefore easily portable, the plastic insert is also incredibly durable and strong even with rough handling. I also like that the design of the Fin Fun tails means the monofin is very easy to remove and interchange tail skins as well as wash/dry out the monofin cover. The neoprene cover in my tail has worn quite a bit in just a few months (some holes and runs starting to develop in the neoprene as the insert presses into it, plus the foot pocket fabric has deteriorated from overstretching) but it might be because I am pretty rough with my tail since I haven't yet found anyone else who has had this problem.

In terms of power in the water it is definitely low powered compared to a larger monofin, but in a way this good training for beginners since if you are not doing the Dolphin kick quite correctly you will not find you get much propulsion, so swimming with it is a good way to ensure correct technique, where other larger monofins you could maybe get a way with more. It is slightly frustrating that your feet are not secured to the the monofin insert in any way other than through the tension of the neoprene cover, this does mean that you don't quite get maximum power transfer to the fin as your feet can slip around and loose contact with it slightly as you do your stroke, especially if you just swim with the monofin and not the tail. I found that generally this is fixed when I wear my tail over the top of the monofin, which seems to give added tension and keep the feet in place. I also found that when I added a rigid fabric repairer patch to the back of the monofin this helped prevent the feet from slipping also, I think because the neoprene was being stretched too much and the patch I added keeps it from stretching.

[Mermaid Mia]

What do you guys think of those? 37820

My first fin was one of these :3. I love how moves and the shape. Also, it allows me to let all my friends try it (and many have) because there is not standard- size foot pocket.
There is not much power from this fin I have found because of how soft it is and that on the downstroke your feet can lift away from the insert. However, the lift can be easily fixed by sewing a stiff strap on over the arch area of the foot. Also, their new inserts are stronger so they provide more power and last longer. (They don't even sell the old ones anymore so don't worry about it)
Over all I would say its is a GREAT starter fin.


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[Merman Storm]

I found it too flexible for me. I ended up making my own insert. I used polycarbonate, as it is stiffer. Also, with the stiffer fin I found that if I bent the Lexan 30 degrees downward right at the toes, the fin works better for me. To keep my feet from sliding about, I added an extra neoprene strap.

[MermaidClaudy]

Thank you for your help guys but I think I am going to go with a Black Mahina Merfin , they look fab!!!!

Question: I am a UK size 6 would you take the Small or Large?

[Hinalea]

Does anyone have a Finis Rapid Monofin for sale? The new ones are sooo stiff. I'm looking for an older one if anyone has any to sell?

[Mermaid Lisa]

Thank you for your help guys but I think I am going to go with a Black Mahina Merfin , they look fab!!!!

Question: I am a UK size 6 would you take the Small or Large?

i am a size usa 7 and i took the adult small with 2mm argo neoprene booties. I had tried to take the Kids Largest size because i like the small fin and less weight. however it was too tight and gave me blisters even with thin 1mm socks on. the smaller size was easier on my knees too. I do not get blisters with the adult small and the booties. my feet still do get crampy though. i have to keep my feet as relaxed as possible. Is there an adult medium size? I would recommend getting booties with the fin as it makes it easier to get on and off and prevents blisters. if you are in between sizes, i recommend going up a size with a bootie.

[Mermaid Lisa]

Is the Trainer monofin a stiff blade? does it bend more like a foil or a wave? how does it compare to a competitor? thank you.

[MermaidClaudy]

I received it!!!!! I am so happy with my Mahina Merfin!!!! Just slightly bend on the edge on the corner of the fin but I am sure if I lay it flat in the sun with a book on it it will it will straight it up it's perfect!!! I am taking it next Friday in south of France to swin in a pool, in the sea and in a river the ultimate test! It was easy to put on , I covered my feet with lub and slipped in it like a banana in a suitcase (aka without any efforts :) ) I LOVE IT!

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[suzanne86]

Mermaid Lisa asked: "Is the Trainer monofin a stiff blade? does it bend more like a foil or a wave? how does it compare to a competitor? thank you."

The Trainer monofin has a relatively thick and rigid blade. It does not bend or flex like a Foil. Compared to the Competitor, it is heavy, stiff, and less flexible. The blade is so thick and heavy that over time it will tend to contribute to the rubber foot pocket straps breaking and snapping.

[Merman Andrew]

My new customised fibreglass fin from Special Fins is finally completed! Karmo from Special Fins actually fully customised the fluke shape for me to a Mermaid tail shape which I am super grateful for as I was dreading how much it would cost me to have it professionally cut after getting the monofin. Not only did he did he custom cut it he actually custom built it from the ground up which is pretty cool! I am still waiting for it to arrive so I can take it for a test swim but I am very happy so far with his great work on my monofin! http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160723/a84249f9ad3d0eae0349b1f09f69d19e.jpg

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[Sammi the Sleepy Mermaid]

I'm a size 7 in women's and I want a slightly bigger monofin, the finis rapid doesn't adjust down to 7? :/ I read all the info at the beginning but was curious if anyone had experience with it before I ordered. :)

[Merman Andrew]

I'm a size 7 in women's and I want a slightly bigger monofin, the finis rapid doesn't adjust down to 7? :/ I read all the info at the beginning but was curious if anyone had experience with it before I ordered. :)
No but you can order the Finis Wave instead which is the smaller sized model.

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[Mermaid Arabella]

My new customised fibreglass fin from Special Fins is finally completed! Karmo from Special Fins actually fully customised the fluke shape for me to a Mermaid tail shape which I am super grateful for as I was dreading how much it would cost me to have it professionally cut after getting the monofin. Not only did he did he custom cut it he actually custom built it from the ground up which is pretty cool! I am still waiting for it to arrive so I can take it for a test swim but I am very happy so far with his great work on my monofin! http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160723/a84249f9ad3d0eae0349b1f09f69d19e.jpg

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:swoon: I WANT ONE!!!

[Nerdmaid Faith]

My review on the mirage rubber monofin!
https://youtu.be/aHyBIzAL0ZE

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[Iryna]

Found Finis Competitor on sale for $218 dollars... So tempted to buy it right now! [emoji24][emoji24][emoji24] Please someone hide my credit card [emoji33]

[UltimateSwimFin.com]

Our Lunocet Pro is on sale for the lowest price ever offered! $274.99 [emoji33][emoji33][emoji33]


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[Iryna]

Our Lunocet Pro is on sale for the lowest price ever offered! $274.99


Thank you for advertisement [emoji58]

[Mermaid Mystery]

Thank you for advertisement [emoji58]

chill they're just tryna be friendly


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[Iryna]

chill they're just tryna be friendly


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I'm cool! just saw it quite a few times you know


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