Wave, or Hydra? (or something else?)

[Lila]

Hi all :)

Been lurking on here for a long time, and as I'm going to be living near the sea soon, I'm (finally! :D ) looking to buy my first monofin.

The Wave and the Hydra I think appeal to me most. I like that they aren't too costly and yet seem to be well appreciated quality-wise; also they're not toooo big (as I'll be travelling with them), and I like that they don't look too stiff and so the movement is really smooth when seen with a tail, for when I get a tail later (but that's an aesthetic preference, might not be the best option for what I need).

I'll be swimming mostly in ocean water but in probably more lagoon-like conditions (so not heavy waves, and though there are some areas with more current I probably won't be exploring those with the monofin, for safety reasons)
The water there is warm, and I'd like to be able to slip the fin on/off easily. For this reason I'd like to avoid actual socks, though you might be able to convince me to wear water shoes with the fins... maybe :p I just generally prefer to be barefoot.
I wear size 38 shoes (EU-size) and have rather narrow-ish feet.
I haven't had a monofin before but I have regular bi-fins, and often use the dolphin kick when I swim even fin-less. Maybe some models are easier to get used to swimming with, or are more comfy?

What are the pros/cons of these models when compared, which would you recommend? Or would you recommend something different altogether?

Thanks in advance for your help! :)

[Maethor]

Hi Lila! I bought the Hydra 6 months ago or so and it's great! I used it a ton over the summer and it still looks brand new! The footpockets are super comfortable and it feels very natural. I don't wear socks or anything when I use it and I've never had aproblem with blisters (although I once stubbed my big toe on the pool bottom while wearing the monofin???). I personally like the look of the Hydra more because of the shape and the clear color looks so cool in and out of the water. My best friend recently bought the Hydra as well and she studies in Miami now, and she says it works super well in the ocean!

[Lila]

Hi Maethor!

Thanks for the info! :)
How does the Hydra fit you? I ask because, according to here (http://www.sweammer.com/en/menu-principal/caracteristiques), for my size 38 I should be getting the kid's version (Triton); especially as I tend to have slightly narrow feet, I'm wondering if I should size down, or up? My bi-fins are sized 37, but they're open at the toes; my street size is 38, but shoes tend to be kinda loose on me...

(... but then, the kid's version has neither the clear, nor the pink colors, that I like best ;) ...)

[Maethor]

So I just looked at a conversion chart because I wear size 8 US which is like a 38-39 Euro size. The toes are open on the monofin and the straps are pretty adjustable. A friend swam with my fin the other day and she has smaller feet and it still worked for her! I'd say to go with the color you line the best because I'm nearly positive that the Hydra will fit you!

[Mermaid Daenerys]

I second the decision to buy a Hydra! I bought mine at the beginning of summer (about 4 months ago) and used it a lot - once a week or so in the public pool (though they eventually banned me from using it) and every day while on holiday for 10 days, and it still looks gorgeous, just some slight scrapes on the bottom where I banged it on the pool sides, and they're barely noticeable. I used it in the sea too, and it swims like an absolute dream - enough propulsion to get you going, but still floppy enough to look organic.
The one thing I would say regarding foot sizes is to get the Hydra, not the Triton (the kids size); I have size 6 feet and was worried the monofin would be too big, but although I always wear it tight, I'm nowhere near the smallest setting (suggesting the sizing is a little small). Go for the Hydra, and you'll know that your feet will fit - and if the footpockets are a too loose, (which they might be, considering you said your feet were quite narrow)invest in a pair of neoprene socks.
I'll be posting a full review of my Hydra in a couple of days, if that's any help, but I definitely recommend it!

[Mer-Crazy]

I would also recommend the Hydra. I haven't owned one, but I've owned a wave and I don't recommend it really. For me anyway, it's not powerful enough (especially if you are planning on ocean swimming) and doesn't encourage technically correct dolphin kick. Whilst using it, it's very forgiving, meaning if your technique isn't correct you don't really notice too much (at least in my personal experience, I'm still pretty new to all this myself so I may be mistaken). However I recently upgraded to a trainer 1 from Finis and I can certainly feel when I'm getting slack with the dolphin kick and has much more propulsion and power (however may be too stiff for that 'organic' look you're after).

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

I have the same size feet as you, and the hydra fits really well. The foot pockets are super adjustable, even my partner who has average man sized feet can wear it comfortably!

[Lila]

Thanks so much for all the info, girls!!
Hydra it is, then! :D

[Merlia]

Did you already buy the hydra?

[Miyu]

Late to the party, but I also recommend the Hydra! I've swam in it twice, and in a Finis Wave (I think) once - I couldn't swim very well in the Finis (my first time in a monofin), but when I switched to a Hydra (in the same swim session), I could swim WAY better. I also like the fact that it's clear, I like to make translucent flukes and fins :) It also seems to provide pretty decent propulsion, though I've still only gotten to swim twice (shortly) with one.

[Ilyena]

Does anyone with a Hydra think it bends quite a bit where the toes are? Tried mine out today for the first time and it was startling at how floppy it was, mind you I had a blast and the propulsion is bit more than the wave. Just got to get used to it I suppose XP

[Miyu]

Yep, the Hydra does get pretty flexible in the water! I think maybe the "stroke" technique is a little different for the Hydra, as opposed to a Wave, due to the different material + biger "blade" on the monofin.

[Ilyena]

Thank you Miyu!!, little worried that's where it might snap but they should have accounted for the design in that matter.

[Echidna]

I snagged a Hydra yesterday :yay:

Can't wait to try it out (and compare it to all my other monofins)!
I'll post here how it swims once I get it.

Although, I could tell some strange tales regarding monofins.
It seems not all swim the same, even if it's the same brand/model.

I owned 2 competitors (both which were sent to me in an open cardboard box with zero filling or buffers), the first swam like a dream, the second looks exactly the same but has little propulsion, I honestly have no idea what that is about :p
Man, do I wish I had kept the first and just repaired it.

[Mermaid Wesley]

They do come in different stiffness levels, maybe you first one was stiffer.


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[Lila]

Update! :-)
So I got the hydra in January, and swam about 2h a day with it every day for like 6months. It's my first monofin and I had no difficulty at all adapting to swimming with it. I absolutely love it! I made sure to rinse it after every use but it survived the daily salt water just fine.
Now that I'm back home I've started taking proper finning lessons. The hydra is a pretty flexible fin, and it's propulsion isn't huge apparently, it's true I sometimes had a hard time when there was a lot for current in the lagoon, but overall I love it. Bonus, it being a clear fin, and since a monofin creates less turbulence than two fins, fish are less scared and even come up to inspect the fin. It's awesome! :-)

Now that I've tasted monofinning and am sure I wanna dive deeper into this... if I want to get another, stiffer fin, what would you recommend?

[Lila]

Woops I'm on my phone, I don't know why the font is so big!

[Echidna]

I see I never made it back to this thread.

Long story short, of all my monofins (several Finis and customs) I like my Hydra most.
It gives good push without being as cumbersome as other fins.

It's easy to get on (closed footpockets require soapwater and stuff) and stays comfy for a while, no blisters or wounds.
I can only recommend it.
The translucency is a huge plus for me too.