Freediving Fins

elliotlaster@hotmail.com (Elliot Laster) wrote in message news:<a5448223.0406280936.41565337@posting.google. com>...
> I am finally going to bite the bullet and buy some Cressi-sub Gara
> 3000s for a trip in july. None of the dive shops in my area carry
> them, so its cataloges for me, and because I'm leaving so soon, I'm
> only going to get one chance to get the size right. So here's the
> question: I wear a 9.5 US or 43.5/44 EUR so which size Garas do I need
> (42/44 or 44/46)?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Elliot

Elliot, I don't know jack about Cressi-sub Gara 3000s, or diving in
general for that matter, but I wear a size 9E according to a foot
measuring ruler (or whatever those damned things are called). On a
dive boat last year, every version of a size 42 fin I put on fit
perfectly (Mares, TUSA, etc.). I'd say you can't go wrong with a
42/44. You probably want them a little snug anyway. OT: My cycling
shoes are a 43 (a hint of extra room in the toe).

Good luck...
Rich

> > I am finally going to bite the bullet and buy some Cressi-sub Gara
> > 3000s for a trip in july. None of the dive shops in my area carry
> > them, so its cataloges for me, and because I'm leaving so soon, I'm
> > only going to get one chance to get the size right. So here's the
> > question: I wear a 9.5 US or 43.5/44 EUR so which size Garas do I need
> > (42/44 or 44/46)?

I presume that you're going freediving on your trip. That's the only
reason I can think of that anybody would chosee to travel with freediving
fins. Actually, even that's not a good enough reason for me, but YMMV.

My suggestion is that you hold off until you can do it right. Normally,
full foot fins are worn without thermal protection. At most, divers wear
lycra socks. A poor fit, either too small or too large, will lead to
problems that may ruin your trim and will make you wish you had tried the
fins on before buying them. Wait until you can the fins on before buying
them. If you can't wait, at least take the fins you normally use with you.
That way, you can save the trip if things don't work out in your favor.

Lee

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:0fzEc.2380$yy1.1602@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> > > I am finally going to bite the bullet and buy some Cressi-sub Gara
> > > 3000s for a trip in july. None of the dive shops in my area carry
> > > them, so its cataloges for me, and because I'm leaving so soon, I'm
> > > only going to get one chance to get the size right. So here's the
> > > question: I wear a 9.5 US or 43.5/44 EUR so which size Garas do I need
> > > (42/44 or 44/46)?
>
> I presume that you're going freediving on your trip. That's the only
> reason I can think of that anybody would chosee to travel with freediving
> fins. Actually, even that's not a good enough reason for me, but YMMV.
>
> My suggestion is that you hold off until you can do it right. Normally,
> full foot fins are worn without thermal protection. At most, divers wear
> lycra socks. A poor fit, either too small or too large, will lead to
> problems that may ruin your trim and will make you wish you had tried the
> fins on before buying them. Wait until you can the fins on before buying
> them. If you can't wait, at least take the fins you normally use with
you.
> That way, you can save the trip if things don't work out in your favor.
>
> Lee
>

I freedive with Sporasub H Dessault full foot fins and had my first
experience with European sizing through that. Now here in Canada, some sort
of thermal protection is a must so getting fins a bit too big worked
reasonably well. I think the size on mine was 38-40 which makes them like a
Size 8 - my sneakers are a bit big if I get a Size 6. So I wear two pairs
of 3mm neoprene socks when diving in open water - in the pool I'm happy with
just the one pair with fin keepers just in case. (I wear the fin keepers in
open water as well because I didn't want to lose a fin)

Incidentally I do believe that although the sizes are supposed to fit two
different sizes, they tend to favor the smaller size listed. Again you want
them reasonably snug but not too tight. A freediver I know still dives his
full foot fins despite the fact they're really too small and his toes "fall
asleep" regularly after long dives.

I am finally going to bite the bullet and buy some Cressi-sub Gara
3000s for a trip in july. None of the dive shops in my area carry
them, so its cataloges for me, and because I'm leaving so soon, I'm
only going to get one chance to get the size right. So here's the
question: I wear a 9.5 US or 43.5/44 EUR so which size Garas do I need
(42/44 or 44/46)?

Thanks,

Elliot

elliotlaster@hotmail.com (Elliot Laster) wrote in message news:<a5448223.0406280936.41565337@posting.google. com>...
> I am finally going to bite the bullet and buy some Cressi-sub Gara
> 3000s for a trip in july. None of the dive shops in my area carry
> them, so its cataloges for me, and because I'm leaving so soon, I'm
> only going to get one chance to get the size right. So here's the
> question: I wear a 9.5 US or 43.5/44 EUR so which size Garas do I need
> (42/44 or 44/46)?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Elliot

Elliot, I don't know jack about Cressi-sub Gara 3000s, or diving in
general for that matter, but I wear a size 9E according to a foot
measuring ruler (or whatever those damned things are called). On a
dive boat last year, every version of a size 42 fin I put on fit
perfectly (Mares, TUSA, etc.). I'd say you can't go wrong with a
42/44. You probably want them a little snug anyway. OT: My cycling
shoes are a 43 (a hint of extra room in the toe).

Good luck...
Rich

> > I am finally going to bite the bullet and buy some Cressi-sub Gara
> > 3000s for a trip in july. None of the dive shops in my area carry
> > them, so its cataloges for me, and because I'm leaving so soon, I'm
> > only going to get one chance to get the size right. So here's the
> > question: I wear a 9.5 US or 43.5/44 EUR so which size Garas do I need
> > (42/44 or 44/46)?

I presume that you're going freediving on your trip. That's the only
reason I can think of that anybody would chosee to travel with freediving
fins. Actually, even that's not a good enough reason for me, but YMMV.

My suggestion is that you hold off until you can do it right. Normally,
full foot fins are worn without thermal protection. At most, divers wear
lycra socks. A poor fit, either too small or too large, will lead to
problems that may ruin your trim and will make you wish you had tried the
fins on before buying them. Wait until you can the fins on before buying
them. If you can't wait, at least take the fins you normally use with you.
That way, you can save the trip if things don't work out in your favor.

Lee

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:0fzEc.2380$yy1.1602@newsread2.news.atl.earthl ink.net...
> > > I am finally going to bite the bullet and buy some Cressi-sub Gara
> > > 3000s for a trip in july. None of the dive shops in my area carry
> > > them, so its cataloges for me, and because I'm leaving so soon, I'm
> > > only going to get one chance to get the size right. So here's the
> > > question: I wear a 9.5 US or 43.5/44 EUR so which size Garas do I need
> > > (42/44 or 44/46)?
>
> I presume that you're going freediving on your trip. That's the only
> reason I can think of that anybody would chosee to travel with freediving
> fins. Actually, even that's not a good enough reason for me, but YMMV.
>
> My suggestion is that you hold off until you can do it right. Normally,
> full foot fins are worn without thermal protection. At most, divers wear
> lycra socks. A poor fit, either too small or too large, will lead to
> problems that may ruin your trim and will make you wish you had tried the
> fins on before buying them. Wait until you can the fins on before buying
> them. If you can't wait, at least take the fins you normally use with
you.
> That way, you can save the trip if things don't work out in your favor.
>
> Lee
>

I freedive with Sporasub H Dessault full foot fins and had my first
experience with European sizing through that. Now here in Canada, some sort
of thermal protection is a must so getting fins a bit too big worked
reasonably well. I think the size on mine was 38-40 which makes them like a
Size 8 - my sneakers are a bit big if I get a Size 6. So I wear two pairs
of 3mm neoprene socks when diving in open water - in the pool I'm happy with
just the one pair with fin keepers just in case. (I wear the fin keepers in
open water as well because I didn't want to lose a fin)

Incidentally I do believe that although the sizes are supposed to fit two
different sizes, they tend to favor the smaller size listed. Again you want
them reasonably snug but not too tight. A freediver I know still dives his
full foot fins despite the fact they're really too small and his toes "fall
asleep" regularly after long dives.