anyone used the Tusa Xpert Zoom split fins?

[missnumnutz]

hi peeps.. this question is directed primarily at women but decided to approach as men have different finning strengths to women and may guage differently.

i might be opening up the great debate here about split fins but, here goes!:-

i currently own a pair of oceanic v12 splits and would like to know if anyone owns or has tried a pair of tusa xpert zooms and what are your thoughts.
i have been offerred to try these out at a LDS but don't want to feel obligated to buy them if they aren't any different from my current setup!

- what fins do you use and how do you like them
- does it make finning easier? as i tend to find even with split v12s my legs still get achey/sore, albeit less ankle crample as with full foot or non-split fins
- can you use them snorkelling? i've been told you can't due to the angle of the fin
- overall just what are everyone's opinions and if you have any other recommendation besides these


thanks!

[Bigg_Budd]

My buddy dives Zooms. His biggest complaint is that his toes feel mashed up. He has big feet, and has found that the ScubaPro Twin Jets are more comfortable due to the open toe.

I dive Jet Fins (paddle) and Twin Jets (splits). I dig them both.

[caroln]

I tried these a bunch of times and ended up hating them. Mostly because I've been a swimmer my whole life, and to get maximum power from these fins you basically swim from your knees rather then your hips as I always trained. It was just too much of pita to overcome years of training to make it worth it to use these. BTW you can use them swimming 'normally', but they are super efficient if you use them 'properly'.

[missnumnutz]

hmm interesting takes so far.. might go try and see if my toes feel mashed in them..

[caroln]

They are definitely worth a try. They fit me better then any other fins I had tried so far and were really comfortable. You can also get spring straps for them which is a huge +

[Bigg_Budd]

Originally Posted by missnumnutz

hmm interesting takes so far.. might go try and see if my toes feel mashed in them..

He's got a size 13 foot. It may not be an issue for you...

[missnumnutz]

Originally Posted by Bigg_Budd

He's got a size 13 foot. It may not be an issue for you...

oH.. in that respect i should be aok

[mike_s]

I've got a pair and love them.

However, if you use them to kick really hard with, I found they 'burn out' almost like spinning your tires in your car. You have to kick up slowly and not overpower them. For normal cruising they are great.

I think they are sorta overpriced at $189 list and $129 MAP though. You should be able to find them on sale for $99 somewhere eventually. LUckily I picked mine up from someone for $40 bucks used.


As for snorkling, they work ok... not great. But in my opinion no heavy bootie/foot fin works that great for snorkling. buy yourself a pair of $35 good flexible snorkle fins (full foot ) and you'll be much happier.... the heavy scuba fins just are hard to use if you get them out of the water any. (just my opinion)

[Anne Eastwell]

I've just bought a nice new pair from ST (great price compared to Aussie prices!! US$116 I think). My first dive with them was last weekend and I found them very comfortable, but did find that if you tried to kick hard you got nowhere.

I struggle with getting any fins with clips off... nearly drown myself everytime, my dive buddy enjoys the event and ends up pulling them off for me when he's finished laughing. I think I'll be replacing them with the springs shortly and that feature is a bonus!

If you can trial them, then go for it.

[missnumnutz]

Originally Posted by mike_s

I've got a pair and love them.

However, if you use them to kick really hard with, I found they 'burn out' almost like spinning your tires in your car. You have to kick up slowly and not overpower them. For normal cruising they are great.

I think they are sorta overpriced at $189 list and $129 MAP though. You should be able to find them on sale for $99 somewhere eventually. LUckily I picked mine up from someone for $40 bucks used.


As for snorkling, they work ok... not great. But in my opinion no heavy bootie/foot fin works that great for snorkling. buy yourself a pair of $35 good flexible snorkle fins (full foot ) and you'll be much happier.... the heavy scuba fins just are hard to use if you get them out of the water any. (just my opinion)

geezalou they are cheap over there and on ST!! aust LDS have them for 399 Retail.. cheapest I found was $270!