need an opinion on swim fins
Don M
and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit much.
One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin. They
are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we wind up
renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive and
limits us to snorkeling tours from the ship or at beaches that rent
equipment. The solution seems to be – why not make a fin in two parts,
one half would be a sandal (which can be used alone as a water shoe)
and the other part is the blade that can be clipped on to the sandal
when swimming. What I would like your opinion on is: what do you
think of a two-part fin? I actually made, and am using a prototype.
It's ugly but it works. After seeing the rough model, a friend
suggested that I patent the idea. So I took out a provisional patent.
But I would like to use this forum to get your opinion before I sink
a whole lot of money into a venture that may not have any commercial
value. Any ideas or opinions would surely be appreciated. Thanks,
Don Macnow
Charles
<dma...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> My wife and I have been cruising the Caribbean for the last 20 years
> and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit much.
> One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin. They
> are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we wind up
> renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive and
> limits us to snorkeling tours from the ship or at beaches that rent
> equipment.
I usually don't take the fins, just the mask and snorkle. Every
independent snorkeling tour I have been on provides fins so it has not
limited me to the ships excursions. The rental price for fins at
beaches is $3. I don't consider that expensive. Fins can also be rented
on many ships.
> when swimming. What I would like your opinion on is: what do you
> think of a two-part fin? I actually made, and am using a prototype.
> It's ugly but it works. After seeing the rough model, a friend
> suggested that I patent the idea. So I took out a provisional patent.
> But I would like to use this forum to get your opinion before I sink
> a whole lot of money into a venture that may not have any commercial
> value. Any ideas or opinions would surely be appreciated. Thanks,
I don't know if it has commercial value but if it works, takes up
little space and is not expensive, I could see buying something like
that. The appearence probably would not have any effect.
--
Charles
TO REPLY-@optonline.net Rich Cacace
inflatable vests) and smaller version would definitely be an advantage on a
cruise.
"Don M" <dma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bf2c5d5e.03100...@posting.google.com...
> My wife and I have been cruising the Caribbean for the last 20 years
> and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit much.
> One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin. They
> are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we wind up
> renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive and
> limits us to snorkeling tours from the ship or at beaches that rent
> equipment. The solution seems to be - why not make a fin in two parts,
Diva
June
"Don M" <dma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:bf2c5d5e.03100...@posting.google.com...
My wife and I have been cruising the Caribbean for the last 20 years
and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit much.
One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin. They
are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we wind up
renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive and
limits us to snorkeling tours from the ship or at beaches that rent
equipment. The solution seems to be - why not make a fin in two parts,
GRL
someone already said, these (and others) are flat enough to go in the back
of a suitcase with little lost room. I doubt that what you propose would
save any additional room unless the shoe part really was comfortable and
durable enough to use as a sneaker and did not look goofy. In any case, you
still have to transport the fin part.
What you are describing is an elaboration on what many people already do:
buy a pair of dive booties to use with open heal swim fins. The booties have
enough of a hard sole to be used on beach rocks.
Good luck with your idea, but it's not something I'd be interested in and I
suspect the market would be very limited. Serious divers would not want it
and people who don't want to transport normal fins, would not want to
transport your 2-piece fins either.
--
- GRL
"It's good to want things."
Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
"Don M" <dma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bf2c5d5e.03100...@posting.google.com...
> My wife and I have been cruising the Caribbean for the last 20 years
> and the luggage we have to take along is getting to be a bit much.
> One of the things that take up a lot of room is the swim fin. They
> are just too big to carry with all the other necessities so we wind up
> renting some of the snorkeling equipment. This gets expensive and
> limits us to snorkeling tours from the ship or at beaches that rent
> equipment. The solution seems to be - why not make a fin in two parts,
Charles
<GLitw...@CHARTERMI.COM> wrote:
> For about $25 one can buy a pair of compact US Divers SplitFlex fins.
Thanks for mentioning those. I just checked on google and it looks like
a good compact packing solution. Even found them at $24.95. I will
probably order them.
http://www.sportsunlimitedinc.com/usdivsplitfi.html
--
Charles
GRL
to cruisers and the people come back and say they give a lot more "push" for
less effort than more conventional fins. Bought a pair for my wife, but she
has not tried them yet. They are pretty compact.
Hope they work out for you.
--
- GRL
"It's good to want things."
Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
"Charles" <fo...@his.com.remove.invalid> wrote in message
news:051020031808238667%fo...@his.com.remove.invalid...
Bare Nookey
>
>Thanks for mentioning those. I just checked on google and it looks like
>a good compact packing solution. Even found them at $24.95
Nothing like that nickel savings!
> I will
>probably order them.
Well wasn't that enlightening.
While on the subject of gear used in or around the water, find any good buys on
fishing equipment lately? We are looking to upgrade our inventory for a big
grouper fishing tournament coming soon in Nassau. Should be a real laugh since
all the Yahoo's will be there. We will proly just drop the hook and watch
instead of doing the actual fishing ourselves. Last year's winner was on a boat
named "Read Between The Lines". See what happens when you troll? If you are a
big grouper you get caught.
NB
Who won't bait the hook no matter how much the prize money ;-)
Odysseus
won't have to put something in my mouse that has been in somebody else's
mouth. I don't use the vests unless I am required to. Even then, I don't
put air in it. I am a decent swimmer and can stay afloat without the vest.
It's also an encumbrance if I want to swim underwater.>
Blimey...@webtv.net
Walmart for $19.46 for myself and will be taking them to Belize next
month for a tryout!
BL7
GRL
ones don't.
--
- GRL
"It's good to want things."
Steve Barr (philosopher, poet, humorist, chemist,
Visual Basic programmer)
<Blimey...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:17893-3F8...@storefull-2298.public.lawson.webtv.net...
RayC
That design was on the market quite a few years ago. It
proved to be just a gimmick as they weren the best in
comfort as a shoe and didn't thrust well as a fin. Plus,
fins are cheap to buy, cheaper to rent and available just
about everywhere there is water for swimming!
Spend the $2 on rentals!
Just my $.02
--
Ray Contreras
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Webmonkey for:
http://www.ossystems.com
http://www.bobs-garage.com
http://www.rayzplace.com
Reef Fish
I am late reading this thread (but SURPRISED to find it in r.t.c. rather
than in some diving ngs) because I just came back from some diving in
Trinidad carryiny my LONG (34" in length :-) fins, which is longer than
most fins you'll ever need for snorkeling, or diving for that matter.
Cressi-sub Gara 2000 HF fins:
http://www.underwaterconnection.com/equipment/cressifins.htm
They fit (barely) diagonally in the largest (62" L+W+H) luggage
allowable as a checked luggage in air travel these days.
But before commenting on RayC's remarks, I'll comment on the original
poster's questions first.
> Don M wrote:
> > The solution seems to be ? why not make a fin in two parts,
> > one half would be a sandal (which can be used alone as a water shoe)
> > and the other part is the blade that can be clipped on to the sandal
> > when swimming. What I would like your opinion on is: what do you
> > think of a two-part fin?
I think your idea of a "two part fin" is a hybrid of two ideas:
1. A fin (any fin) with a strap and pocket for "bootie" (which you
can dub as a water shoe if you like). This is as old as sin.
The fins are generally "short" enough to fit just about any size
luggage.
2. A LONG fin of the Cressi-sub type that comes in two parts. E.g.
http://www.sporasubusa.com/PAGES/products/Variant_comp_fin.html
This is not well-known, and both parts are just breaking down a
(very) long fin into shorter components. It's sold in Europe,
but not in the USA to the best of my knowledge.
> > I actually made, and am using a prototype.
> > It's ugly but it works. After seeing the rough model, a friend
> > suggested that I patent the idea. So I took out a provisional patent.
> > But I would like to use this forum to get your opinion before I sink
> > a whole lot of money into a venture that may not have any commercial
> > value. Any ideas or opinions would surely be appreciated. Thanks,
> > Don Macnow
I hope you don't mind my saying so, but I think your idea will
sink like a rock, even if the idea can be patented.
> That design was on the market quite a few years ago. It
> proved to be just a gimmick as they weren the best in
> comfort as a shoe and didn't thrust well as a fin.
Not sure what THIS one is. Any webpage reference?
> Plus, fins are cheap to buy,
Very true, for the casual snorkeler. Seems like you can BUY the
whole fin/mask/snorkel cheapie for as little as $10 USD total. :-)
Not true for other fins. A moderately prized set of fins for
divers run about $100 USD. The Cressie long fins run close to $200.
> cheaper to rent and available just
> about everywhere there is water for swimming!
Pretty much true. (Exception, the ultra cheapies to buy). But
good fit, comfort, efficiency, and frequency of usage also come
into play in the decision of "buy" vs "rent".
>
> Spend the $2 on rentals!
>
> Just my $.02
My NP$.20 peso or Tahitian $2,
-- Bob.