What fin pockets are similar to Omer milleniums?

[ApneaSpearo]

I have a pair of millenium fin pockets that are uncomfortably big, they are size 42-44 which are supposed to be 9-10.5, I have a size 10 foot. I have tried on the smaller size, 40-42 (8-9) which are way too tight. This leads me to conclude that I need to get foot pockets from another company that might have an intermediate size that will fit me well. The problem is that I don't want to drill any new holes in my blades as they are fragile to begin with and any new holes might weaken them. Are there any other footpockets that have the holes for screws in the same place as the milleniums?

[Gerald]

Hi Kris,

Sporasub pockets have the same holes if you can find them. They are wide though, and if the OMERs are large on you, these will probably also. on top of that comes that they stopped making them, so they might be hard to find.

The picasso pockets only have one hole in the center, so they won't work for your blades. I don't know about the beachat pockets, maybe someone can chime in about those...

Good luck,

G

[Speareasy]

Kris, I have experience with the following pockets; omer, sporasub and Picasso. Size wise the omer and sporasub are identical and work perfectly for me. I'm size 10.5-11 and use thin lycra socks if at all. I use the omer because I find the current run softer than the sporasubs. The picasso however will not fit me properly, the 42-44 is too small and the 44-46 is too big, so you are right about different manufacturers filling in a possible gap in sizing.

Here's a response I just pm'ed a person asking my opinion on the exact same thing.

Originally Posted by SpearEasy

The only thing I found out for sure is this. Before you commit to buying try them on. Even then you need to have experience to know how they'll behave in the water. There is no logic in finding the right fit based on peoples descriptions and the foot pocket size. I like and will stay with omer foot pockets.

As far as putting holes in blades, for my blades it's a non issue. 2 for omer or sporasub (same holes) and then drilling another 1 for picasso does nothing to weaken the blades.

[float 'n stalk]

what's up Kris,

I have two pairs of fins currently both size 42-44. One pair is Omer and one pair is Sporasub. My opinion is somewhat contrary to Gerald's in that my omer's seem larger on my foot then the Sporasubs. I also wear a size 10 shoe. However, I do wear 5 mil booties regardless b/c either pair is too big with 3 mils. Plus I like the added bouyancy of the 5 mills to offset the negativity of the fins themselves....(perhaps this is all in my mind, but to me it feels like I do less finning to keep my feet afloat with the 5 mills...) I also use finkeepers, which really help to anchor your heel to the bottom of the footpocket. Anyways, hope this helps.

RC

[Gerald]

Hey Kris, try the fin keepers, they might fix it.

I have really skinny feet, and my Spora pockets seem A LOT wider than my OMERs, and the OMERs are definitely softer...

G

[jimdoe2you]

Here are a couple of links to DB which is more of an international freediving site and not as spearfishing focused as Spearfishing Planet. I love both DB and the new Spearfishing Planet but seeing as DB has been around for 10 years, there is a lot of great info there that I want to bring over to this site.

Hopefully, a small following of freedivers will develop here and threads regarding monofins, photography, and apnea related phsyiology will begin to kick in, some of which greatly benefits us as spearos.

http://forums.deeperblue.net/freediv...your-info.html

http://forums.deeperblue.net/bi-fins...tml#post656765

http://forums.deeperblue.net/freediv...ial-sport.html

http://forums.deeperblue.net/contest...aption-me.html

[FREEK]

Originally Posted by Gerald

Hey Kris, try the fin keepers, they might fix it.

I have really skinny feet, and my Spora pockets seem A LOT wider than my OMERs, and the OMERs are definitely softer...

G

He was using fin keepers on saturday, so I dont think that helped. I too have skinny feet and use Omers. Fin keepers worked for me.

[ApneaSpearo]

Originally Posted by Gerald

Hey Kris, try the fin keepers, they might fix it.

I have really skinny feet, and my Spora pockets seem A LOT wider than my OMERs, and the OMERs are definitely softer...

G

Thanks for the responses.

I started out using 2mm booties with the pockets and the fins are very loose. I then got some fin keepers which keep my heel in very tight, which I like, but the front of my foot moves around in the pocket, which sucks, and gave me some blisters after 15 hours of diving last weekend.

I might try Ryan's idea and pick up some 5mm booties and try them with my fin keepers, that could solve the problem completely without having to get other pockets. Hopefully it will work. If not I will get other pockets and drill the blades if I have to, does anyone know if that would void my warranty from C4? Thanks again for all the advice.

[Speareasy]

Remember that the thicker the socks the more the transfer of energy suffers. The ideal is to get the closest fit possible.

[float 'n stalk]

Originally Posted by SpearEasy

Remember that the thicker the socks the more the transfer of energy suffers. The ideal is to get the closest fit possible.

This totally makes sense. However, I've found that the "more snugger" fit with the 5 mil sock, has less energy loss then a poor fittting footpocket with a thinner sock.

I actually kind of stumbled onto the 5 mil sock b/c I have poor circulation in my feet and was looking for a way to overcome numb toes...

[jimdoe2you]

Originally Posted by float 'n stalk

This totally makes sense. However, I've found that the "more snugger" fit with the 5 mil sock, has less energy loss then a poor fittting footpocket with a thinner sock.

I actually kind of stumbled onto the 5 mil sock b/c I have poor circulation in my feet and was looking for a way to overcome numb toes...

Agreed. If I am not wearing a pair of my Imersion or Cressi fins while barefoot, I wear a pair of 5mm socks because I like the added comfort, how it fills the voids around my foot, and makes the footpocket snug.

In my opinion, most of the current footpockets just aren't made ergonomic enough or contour to the human foot properly to use a real thin sock. I am sure the reason for this is due to the variety of people's foot shapes and widths, the manufacturers needed to make just one universal pocket for everyone.

[ApneaSpearo]

Originally Posted by SpearEasy

Remember that the thicker the socks the more the transfer of energy suffers. The ideal is to get the closest fit possible.

I agree, but I really don't want to screw up the warrantee on my blades by drilling another hole, which seems to be the only option as the sporasub pockets are impossible to find. I read on another forum that Omer is about to release footpockets in all the in-between sizes, I will definitely get those when they come out and go back to my thinner sock. For now I will try the 5mm sock.

[jimdoe2you]

Omer has gotten away from the screw attachment system, and have indeed created intermediate sizes such as the 41, 43, 45 size footpockets (they are out now). Possibly your foot is a good match in size and shape for using Omer. For me there is just too much room in the heel area unless I use a thicker sock. It really breaks down to preference after trying on the different brands, similiar to the Chevy, Dodge, Ford truck choices.

During the half a year when I am barefoot, Cressi 3000 and then Imersion Sea Run is great for me. When I do use a sock, Imersion Carbon and Omer/C4 FLAP 80 are my personal choices (fin on far right).

[Speareasy]

Kris, here you have an inexpensive possibility to try Beuchat pockets http://www.subprof.com/tienda/index....f890c2d6dc6b73 I would see Pablo of spetton about the spetton pockets, he's in Hollywood. Those just may have the same holes. The sporasub have the same fit as the omer so don't waste your time looking for them.

Jim, that's some good info on the omer pockets. Do you know what system they will use to hold the blades? I guess this explains the sudden drop in price of the omer pockets, from $120 to $80.

[jimdoe2you]

Dan,

Omer's new attachment system is a small knob that sticks through and hooks onto a small hole underneath the new footpocket. I would guess part of the motivation is to urge people to use Omer's line thermoplastic blades and the C4 line of fiberglass, carbon composite, and carbon blades. With Sporasub and Omer dropping out of the screw-in blade market, Pablo says it may be a good thing for him.

[Speareasy]

Jim, If you run into a pic of this system please post it.

I think the old system works fine, I'm all about streamlining but this new system you speak of is not likely to be an improvement in that area, I'm still very curious to see it. The in between sizes is a very good thing, that may just steal the market for omer. Believe it or not I was just thinking about in between sizes yesterday after my debacle with the Picasso pockets. I remember that each mold costs a few thousand dollars but for a company like omer this is peanuts, I don't know why they didn't do it sooner. I'm lucky in that the old 42-44 fits me perfectly, maybe I should stock up at the current price.

[jimdoe2you]

Here ya go.

[Speareasy]

Jim, thanks, do you think there is a way to fit blades without that knob into the new omer pockets using a screw? Maybe gluing an identical size knob on to standard blades will do the trick, there are some very powerfull glues available especially made for plastics. I used to glue acrylic strips onto acrylic sheets for sign installation. You'd break the original material rather than be able to separate the glued pieces.

[ApneaSpearo]

Thanks for all the help guys, I ordered the 5mm socks today and we'll see how well they work. I know I will lose some efficiency due to compression of the neoprene but will have to deal with it I suppose until a better solution comes along.

[Oto]

Originally Posted by surfUNC

Thanks for all the help guys, I ordered the 5mm socks today and we'll see how well they work. I know I will lose some efficiency due to compression of the neoprene but will have to deal with it I suppose until a better solution comes along.

Kris,
OMER now makes a 41-43 size, I have a similar problem with a 9.5 size, my OMER 40-42 are tight but barely manageable with 2mm socks. I heard Spetton makes a nice pocket too, Wolf uses them and loves them.

I sold my C4 falcon 40 blades and I'm getting the OMER rekord the new size 41-43, you can try them when I get them.