04-22-2003, 04:18 PM
[cool]Hey, C-fish. Glad you liked the reports. As always, our opinions are usually tempered by what we are used to. I am used to the Plana fins. I have used them against all challengers for almost twenty years now. I am a big boy with strong limbs and a serious desire to "move the water" when I hit the pond. I can't tow a skier, but I can almost put up a roostertail. With the force fins, my best efforts only splashed a lot of water and moved me slowly backward. Just not the same amount of blade to push against water, nor the total length of the foot being involved.
The one factor I allow as a distinction is that I was using the models designed for float tubers, who sometimes like to use wading shoes with their fins. Even when I tightened down the rigging as tight as I could, there was still a "flip-flop" feel, and a loss of direct push on the water. If I had had the chance to try a set of Force Fins more like the diving fins I already use, the feel would probably have been more to my liking, but there is no way to make up for the smaller blade in propulsion.
Unless you are a terminal masochist, don't even think about packing a tricked out craft like mine more than a hundred yards or so. I don't know what the exact weight is...and I probably don't want to know. I probably couldn't heft it if I knew how much it weighed. Seriously, I can actually trudge my gear for a long ways. I'm big and tough, for an old bird.
For packing in to the high mountain lakes, however, always look first at the basic weight of your craft...without the amenities. Most manufacturers have models that they promote as "pack in" systems...with thinner fabric and lighter air chambers. Every ounce saved can seem like pounds by the time you are a few miles up the trail. For example, do not buy a round tube, with a truck tire inner tube, for back packing. Go for a similar model with a light vinyl or butyl air chamber. Those air chambers can usually be inflated with lung power too...saving you the weight of a pump for airing up your craft.
There are also several brands of lightweight fins and waders ideal for packing in. Do your research or I will be happy to offer some suggestions if you wanna pick up the PM thing again.
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The one factor I allow as a distinction is that I was using the models designed for float tubers, who sometimes like to use wading shoes with their fins. Even when I tightened down the rigging as tight as I could, there was still a "flip-flop" feel, and a loss of direct push on the water. If I had had the chance to try a set of Force Fins more like the diving fins I already use, the feel would probably have been more to my liking, but there is no way to make up for the smaller blade in propulsion.
Unless you are a terminal masochist, don't even think about packing a tricked out craft like mine more than a hundred yards or so. I don't know what the exact weight is...and I probably don't want to know. I probably couldn't heft it if I knew how much it weighed. Seriously, I can actually trudge my gear for a long ways. I'm big and tough, for an old bird.
For packing in to the high mountain lakes, however, always look first at the basic weight of your craft...without the amenities. Most manufacturers have models that they promote as "pack in" systems...with thinner fabric and lighter air chambers. Every ounce saved can seem like pounds by the time you are a few miles up the trail. For example, do not buy a round tube, with a truck tire inner tube, for back packing. Go for a similar model with a light vinyl or butyl air chamber. Those air chambers can usually be inflated with lung power too...saving you the weight of a pump for airing up your craft.
There are also several brands of lightweight fins and waders ideal for packing in. Do your research or I will be happy to offer some suggestions if you wanna pick up the PM thing again.
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