Alternative to ala fins

So we can not get ala any more yeh, dose anybody hae a recomedation on what is just a good to replace my ala's
Belle

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Underwater Hockey Rules!

I've got those new Avanti Excel ones (they are very pretty) - they are supposed to be the "new" version of quattros.

They're pretty good - speed and direction changing. They are shaped a bit different at the foot than most fins. Not as heavy as the alas.

My brother and I both have them - but we've never used alas so they might be horrible in comparision

would be cool to do a speed comparison, do you have to ware booties or socks? How much are they?
Hope you are keeping well,
Belle :idea:

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Underwater Hockey Rules!

I've just bought a pair of Cressi Pluma fins which seem to be ok. Definitely not as good as Ala's but I don't think there's much that is! The Pluma's are pretty comfortable (I don't wear socks or booties) but I don't know how long they'll last. At $69 I thought they were worth a go. I've only played about 6 games in them so I'll keep you posted with how they hold up.
Gav

I wear booties. They are $195 retail but we got them for $155 cos we buy a lot of stuff from them.

Thank's, i guess I will check everybodys fins out at the Perth Nationals!
I have a coupple of sets or arla fins that Im saving for futrue worlds, just need some for local comps and swim training.
Belle

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Underwater Hockey Rules!

Gavin, let us know how those Pluma's? stand up. we had a guy get a pair of Cressi- Pro Star Light or some such, advert for them described them as the smaller cousin to the Gara (you know big stiff freediving fin loved the world over) any way his pro star's cracked and broke after just a few practice sessions, and he's a fairly slightly built guy. They were Exceptional fins for the time, very light and manuveralbe with great accelleration, and top speed.

What about the technisub stratos? Imported to the states as US Divers Blades FP. A bunch of the Kiwis in 2000 and a few in 2002 wore them, according to the few guys I spoke with they thought they were better than the alas when brand new but kicked out really fast, like two games, (they were going through 4 or 6 pairs during worlds).

For recreational play and practice they should be a fine replacement and I think are still being manufactured but everytime I mention them as fins to buy no one does.

as far as the avanti excel... uh... well they are a fine replacemet for the mares HP if you feel like replacing a $30 fin for $150 that is. To make them work you need a nice quick little flutter kick and be less than 170 lbs err... 77 kg. For me they are worthless.

heya,

i dunno what the plumas are like... the excel seem a little floppy tho seems to work ok. alas were just the best, lets face it. they are worth gold now.

the avanti tres arent too bad, but definitely not as good as the alas... i think they're about the same as the stratos.

stratos are good cheap fins for kids but they just dont perform fantastically... just average. you can get through a game with them but you'll hardly be setting the play alight with speed. their good point is they last for donkeys years so a good backup fin... i've used them at a worlds before, and they still work fine when a little old... sure as heck no kiwis were using 4-6 of them through a tourney. benson has used them on and off and he's the guy you would have got that from as he likes all fins new, must have just got a little exaggerated along the line.

vortex v6 are out there too, think thats what they're called, the kung-foo split fins. they save you energy in your legs bigtime and have ok topend speed but acceleration suffers a bit, and turning too as theres not much to push off...

the old cressi pro were pretty good too but naturally they were stopped and replaced with freefrogs which were just rubbish.

i've been hoping the leader fins are the business but the rep over here has been slack in getting us some trial pairs...

seems we're doomed to live in the shadow of the ala forever. unless of course you are a big guy with slower cadence and you like power fins, in which case you should probably be wearing mares quattros (or cruises are from the same mould but floppier material) anyway.



liam

Scratch the Plumas off the list. They started off well, very comfortable and I thought they would suffice as a good training fin, but 6 games later I snapped them! I knew I was taking a chance but at AUD$70 I thought they would be worth a shot. I've now replaced them with a pair of technisub IDEA3 ( http://www.technisub.com/eng/pinne/p_ideafp.htm ). They were a similar price and look a bit more robust and the blade dimensions look reasonable, just a bit heavier though. I've seen Dave Simpson (aka Old Man - UK Coach) wear them but haven't tried them myself. I'll give them a go on Sunday and let you know how they go.
As for the Vortex V6, I've seen them advertised as the fin of choice by the UK UWH team. Says a lot for them!! I agree with Liam though on their performance, nothing to get a decent kick off out of a turn or for quick acceleration.
So, for now the search is still on and my 2 new pairs of grey Alas can stay wrapped in cotton wool in cool darkness of my wardrobe, only to be unvieled at the next World's!!

lucky!

i havent had a new pair of alas for years, when me and benson were in holland i used a semi-new pair of jolyons for a club night and it was amazing, i was zipping around feeling like a formula one car....

then i had to go back to my old spare fins when i got home... sigh