Posts: 228
05/31/11 10:02:11 |
Hello everyone!
I've been getting alot of emails with questions about Mike's tails, so here is my official review. I've tried to answer as many questions as possible here, and hopefully this will help you all with your decisions.
I have a latex tail and a silicone tail by Mike.
The latex tail has a stiff fluke which propels you through the water nicely. It is easy to swim in. Your feet are inside the fluke even if it doesn't appear that way, they are. The tails look very nice. The fluke is not too heavy to move out of the water. There is no liner, just the latex against your skin. If this bothers you like it does me, you can wear panty hose with it. (It doesn't hurt, I just like a softer feel.) There is no monofin inside, but a custom "foot pocket". The latex has very little stretch to it, so I had him add a secret zipper on the side, hidden in-between the side fin. This was a necessity for me because I have a small waist and large hips. There is no way to get my hips through an opening the size of my waist. If you have a similar body, you should really consider a zipper. Putting this tail on in the water is a breeze, you slide right in. The paint is on there very, very good, but it will come off if you scrape it. But in comparison with other tails I've had, it is very minimal. He will send you some touch up paint with your tail if you ask him. Here is video of this tail:
My silicone tail has a soft fluke, unlike the others with his silicone tails. He made mine differently to give it a flowing appearance. The silicone tail is heavy, very heavy. Due to the difference in how my fluke was made, I can lift the fluke out of the water.� However, this fluke is not made for speed, it's made for looks. The top part of the fluke has some stiffness for propulsion, but the rest of it is floppy silicone. (Other silicone flukes can be made for speed, but you will probably have the trouble with the weight of the fluke, altho in water it is not an issue.)� The tail is really stretchy, and easy to get on. It also does not have a monofin, but a custom built foot pocket. My feet sometimes come out of it and I have to pull the tail up to get them back in. Again, no liner in the tail, just silicone against your skin. The silicone is really soft and does not bother my skin. I have not had any paint come off the tail. I did manage to put a small hole in the tail, and I honestly can't figure out how I did it because the silicone is very thick and strong. I did not need a zipper with this tail because it stretches easily. Here is video of this tail:
I hope this answers everyone's questions. If you still have questions, post them here and I will try to respond. However I am very busy right now so please be patient if I can't answer right away. Alasea
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Posts: 168
05/31/11 10:08:18 |
bluemermaid wrote:
However, this fluke is not made for speed, it's made for looks.
Ah, 'lowriders'! My tail is like that, as far as I can tell.
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Posts: 117
05/31/11 19:09:44 |
Very good review Alasea! Thanks for taking the time to type it all out and give examples! |
Posts: 7
05/31/11 22:49:13 |
Thanks Alasea for the info. I was wondering if the zipper is metal, prone to rusting and if he hides it well? I was thinking about that for my tail but I might put it in my dorsal fin. Also he doesn't put a strap inside to hold your feet inside the foot pocket like a monofin strap? I had no idea he even did zippers so that's a good thing to know beforehand! Has the paint worn thin (faded) on your bottom from sitting in it? |
Posts: 109
06/01/11 01:49:45 |
Thanks for the beautiful review, Alasea. You, your tails, and your videos are gorgeous!
Aloha SeaMermaid, Mike can make the monofin to your specs -- I requested that he put a strap on his footpocket monofin model, and i worked with him to have a stiff monofin that would propel well in the ocean. The foot strap goes around both my heels and my feet are together inside the foot pocket. He can also put a regular monofin inside the tail for the extra cost of materials, if you'd prefer. |
Posts: 3
06/01/11 02:44:35 |
Well, that was exactly what we all needed :-) spectacular review, thank you so much for that!
I'll be saving up for one of his gorgeous latex tails now for sure! |
Posts: 7
06/01/11 19:49:21 |
Thank you for the info Aloha mermaid. I just wondered if there was a strap to hold your feet inside or if it isn't needed. By all the positive feedback I'm seeing from everyone I think I will be ordering one as soon as he begins taking orders again! I think there's no doubt that he knows what hes doing and he doesn't scam anyone. Sounds like hes true to his work and puts a real effort into each one to make each and every one special exactly the way his customer wants and that's a plus because you just don't find anyone willing to do that anymore. You get your very own one of kind tail it sounds like and that is so wonderful! I look forward to working with him. I already have a design in mind! Thank you everyone |
Posts: 836
06/02/11 08:27:19 |
thank you, very helpful and insightful. |
Posts: 16
06/04/11 17:48:18 |
Thanks alasea for the helpful info! I know for sure now that I will be ordering from him as soon as he takes orders again! I do have 2 more questions concerning the shipping. Which shipping company does he use? How does he pack the tail and what does he ship it in (flat box like mertailor or a regular large box with bubblewrap or something)? |
Posts: 228
06/11/11 04:13:47 |
"I was wondering if the zipper is metal, prone to rusting and if he hides it well?"
Yes the zipper is metal, but so far, no rusting. It is not at all visible. It is completely hidden between to pieces of fin. I'll try to get a picture.
"Also he doesn't put a strap inside to hold your feet inside the foot pocket like a monofin strap?"
No because it would be almost impossible to get it on. I actually had him add one to my silicone tail, but it just ended up in the way so took it out. If you ask him to add one, I'm sure he will!
"Which shipping company does he use? How does he pack the tail and what does he ship it in (flat box like mertailor or a regular large box with bubblewrap or something)?"
I'm not sure because I live very close by and I just go to his shop to pick up my tail. Maybe someone else can answer that one? |
Posts: 168
06/11/11 08:22:30 |
bluemermaid wrote:
"Which shipping company does he use? How does he pack the tail and what does he ship it in (flat box like mertailor or a regular large box with bubblewrap or something)?"
I'm not sure because I live very close by and I just go to his shop to pick up my tail. Maybe someone else can answer that one?
When I bought my tail on eBay it came FedEx in a regular large box with bubble wrap, if that's indicative of his usual practice. |
bluemermaid
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