OMS Slipstream fins vs. Scubapro Jetfins

[aggie99]

Are the newly listed OMS Jetstream fins just a remanufacture of the Scubapro Jetfins with a spring strap under OMS's name or are they truly different in design? I like the factory spring strap and was looking to get some Jetfins after taking Woody's excellent and highly recommended Intro to Tech class! If these are the same design as the jetfin and now available for purchase through the always helpful and low priced Scubatoys that is an added bonus!!

OMS SLIPSTREAM fin, DIR and Technical, OMS, OMS SLIPSTREAM fin

Thanks!

Self nomination for post of the month

[Scubastud16]

I don't know, but those fins look nice, and CHEAP!

[NitroWill]

The OMS are similiar to the jets but not the same. The slipstreams are lighter then jets and have a more comfortable foot pocket.

[aggie99]

Thanks, I think I am going to try them out.

[Scubastud16]

Aggie, please do a write up. I really like the look of these.

Danny

[CompuDude]

XL Jets and XL SlipStreams are nearly identical. The foot pocket on the SlipStreams is a smidge bigger... but a tiny smidge. Essentially the same fin, except one is heavy rubber that will last forever, and one is a lighter weight thermoplastic that may or may not last a long time (no long term tests to show yet, but they seem pretty rugged).

The foot pocket of XXL Slipstreams are not as large as XXL Jets (which are more like XXXXXL!). The downside is, if the XXL SlipStreams aren't big enough for you, you're SOL for SlipStreams, because there is no larger size.

In the water, the SlipStreams are a bit stiffer and I feel they provide a smidge less feedback as a result, but they are still very nice, and otherwise perform identically to Jetfins. If you like the extra weight on your feet from Jets (to avoid floaty feet in a drysuit, for instance, without needing the crutch of ankle weights), you may find your feet a bit too light with the SlipStreams. Conversely, if your feet are too heavy with Jets, the lighter SlipStreams may be a good option.

Jets are negative in water, no matter what. SlipStreams are about neutral, stock, and every so slightly negative with spring straps.

Spring straps that work with Jets will work with SlipStreams, and vice versa. The mounting point is identical.

[Netsloth]

I've owned Jets and I now have the Slipstreams. I prefer the Slipstreams. They are more comfortable, and seem to be stiffer to me than the rubber Jets I used to own.

As has been mentioned, they are lighter and near neutral.

I have Manta springs. By far the best fins I've ever owned. So far they seem to be holding up well against wear. I've been using them in the springs, and they don't seem to be taking a beating from the contact with rock.

[floater]

I've used XL jets and XL slipstreams. You can find my detailed comments about them on scubaboard, but the short version is that they both performed about the same for me. As far as I'm concerned it just comes down to personal preference.

In particular, it depends on whether you prefer heavier, more flexible (but still stiff) fins or lighter, (even) stiffer fins. Heavier fins essentially act as ankle weights and thus give you more trim control through the shifting of your leg position. OTOH, the jets are just too heavy for some people.


I've also considered the mechanics of heavy vs. light fins for displacing water. See I also play squash, and in squash (cheaper) "beginner" rackets tend to be heavier, while higher end rackets are light. The popular theory (maybe an air fact?) is that heavier rackets are easier to play with at first because Force=mass*acceleration, so supposedly the added mass of the heavier rackets adds force to your swings (at least on the downstroke), whereas lighter rackets require better technique to generate force, but are superior for little flicks and such and presumably easier for "acceleration." Of course, many people find that heavier rackets cause their arm to tire faster. Now back to fins, I wonder if some of the same principles might apply. Perhaps a heavier paddle adds momentum to your kicks, but also tires your legs faster. At the very least they should be easier on the downkick (consider swinging a lead club down through water verses a neutral buoyant delrin club - obviously the gravity would do most of the work with the former, whereas you'd do all the work with the latter). That said, the reverse should be true on the upkick. Therefore, if the downkick takes more effort than the upkick for some people or some kick styles, then the added weight of the jets should be an advantage, and vice versa if the upkick takes more effort. Of course this is all academic. In practice both fins performed about the same when I tried them in a pool with doubles on (they felt different, but my SCR, speed, etc. remained the same).

[aggie99]

This is great info....thanks! Ok, so let me ask this. I am 6'-3" and around 175. Being that I am taller would it better to have a heavier or lighter fin. I would assume since the fin is farther away from my center of gravity then a heavier fin is better, but that is just my assumption. I really don't want to get into ankle weights, that just seems like to much of a pain. I used Woody's jetfins for the Intro to Tech class, although they worked well the foot pockets tore the tops of my feet up. It sounds like the Slipstreams might resolve this problem.

Thanks in advance!

[Scubastud16]

I think all it really depends on whether you have "heavy" feet or "light" feet.