Mares Avanti Quattro and Volo Fins

[mixahl]

Do you think the Quattro fins are good enough for an average diver or is it worth it to pay up double and get the volo fins? or are there better fins out there? thanks all!

[No Misses]

I dive a pair of Mares Avanti Tre fins (3 channels instead of the 4 on Quatros). I fell for the sales pitch on the Volo fins. $150 later, I realized that I got better propulsion from my Avanti's! The Volo's are sitting in the closet. The Avanti's go diving every weekend. They have >350 dives on them. I found the volo's to be too floppy for my finning style. They are good for slow cruising. But, I feel that they fold too easily when I need to kick it into high gear (into a strong current). JM2c

My personal recommendation is to get the Quatro's. They are proven, rock solid fins. No gimmicks. YMMV

[CompuDude]

Quattros are great fins. The volos have their fans, but I'm not one of them.

[mixahl]

I think I will go with the Avanti Quattro then!! Is it possible to wear them without booties? Thanks everyone...

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by mixahl

Do you think the Quattro fins are good enough for an average diver or is it worth it to pay up double and get the volo fins? or are there better fins out there? thanks all!

One is not "better". They are different. The Quattro is about as good as it gets if you want that style of fin. They have loads of power but are not as stiff as Jets.

The Volo is a different kind of fin that is hugely more flexible more like a split fin but at least allow you to stop and turn. When you put on a pair of Volos after being used to paddle fins the feelsing is "I forgot my fins" but this is mostly a good thing unless you are towing or pushing something

What kind of diving will yu be doing? How often? Do you do enough swimming with fins on to keep your legs in shape? I think the Quattro is great. But I gave them to my son who was 14 years old at the time and he got leg cramps, he had to move to the very soft Tusa split fins. I use Turtles now only because the Mares fins don't fit over the dry suit boots.

The Volos eventually fail at the hinge. Maybe it takes 400 or 500 dives but I've seen a number of them with the hinge worn through

[mixahl]

My lower body is built well enough. No cramping issue at least. Mostly recreational diving, once a week or so. When I use the rental split fins, I feel like Im spending more energy than I need too.

[ChrisA]

Originally Posted by mixahl

it possible to wear them without booties?

Then how would you walk to the water?
When you pick out fins you have to first pick out the boots and then try on the fins over those boots. Many times when you change the brand or style of boots you will have to replace your fins. What happens is that you may want thicker sole bots to keep the rocks off your feet and then find that the fins don't fit over the boots. So buy the thick sole boots first

If you are diving in tropicl warm water and never have to walk on a beach then yo can buy full foot fins that don't have a strap. These are made for bare feet. The fins with a strap need boots or you chaffe your feet on the hard foot pockets. Either buy this kind of fin or a strap-type sized for thick sole boots

That said, most divers I know own a half dozen pairs of fins

[mixahl]

I usually do boat diving, so not much walking done. As of now its mostly tropical waters but I will also be diving in so. california waters so I dont want to 2 sets of fins.

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by mixahl

Do you think the Quattro fins are good enough for an average diver or is it worth it to pay up double and get the volo fins?

IMHO, the Mares Avanti Quattros are far better fins than the average diver needs, but the average diver can certainly appreciate their quality! Check out the new Mares superchannel fins too though. They're similar to the quattros, and they've been getting great reviews.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by mixahl

I usually do boat diving, so not much walking done. As of now its mostly tropical waters but I will also be diving in so. california waters so I dont want to 2 sets of fins.

If you will be diving SoCal, you will be wearing thick booties when you dive. Open heel fins with booties are going to be your only option if you only want one pair of fins to cover both locations.