FORCE FINS

When divers talk about fins they always talk about power and when it comes right down to it, the power in a pair of fins comes from you, the user. You're the one who has to move that fin through the water, the fin just takes that water and forces it backward which makes you move forward. The real key to the power of fins is their efficiency, or how much thrust they generate in relation to the power you have to exert. We only have so much power to expend when we are swimming and the design of Force Fins, along with the materials used to make them, ensures that power is efficiently translated into motion.

The blade of a fin does not need to be big to be effective and nowhere is this more evident than on the Excellerating Force Fin. Made from polyurethane, the blade is no wider at the base than the foot pocket itself and then flares out at the tip. The secret behind their effectiveness lies in the two stiff ribs which form a concave area along the bottom of the fin. The ribs compress on the downward stroke, then rebound, whipping the ultra thin fin tips and providing extra forward thrust. The tunnel formed by these ribs also aids in stability when sculling and frog kicking.

The Adjustable Force Fins are different again and might serve well when travelling. They are compact and have a wider and shorter blade. They have an open foot pocket covered by an adjustable Velcro strap. With wetsuit boots, this system held my foot securely in place and offered the added bonus that they also work quite well with my dry suit.

The thing that makes the Force Fin line stand out, besides the basic look of them, is the arsenal of hydrodynamic helpers that makes them so efficient. On the bottom of the Excellerating and Adjustable Force Fin a series of bumps known as vortex generators help to pre-activate the water allowing for an easier passage of the fin through the water on the up stroke.

On the top of the blade a choice of Force Wings also helps the fin move through the water with greater ease and keep the water flowing over the blade of the fin, where it does the most good and enhances performance. The standard issue are the adjustable Whiskers which channel the water over the blade, accelerating it and provide stability and extra thrust. Whiskers can be substituted by Shark's Teeth which are shorter than Whiskers and stick up two inches above the blade. Their primary purpose is to break up the cohesion of water making the kick more effortless while also providing a stabilizing effect. The third choice are Speed Pods which resemble half a large raindrop and act to speed up the water over the curved hydrofoil shape, reducing drag and turbulence, resulting in an easier kick with more thrust.

Simply put, Force Fins, with their array of hydrodynamic helpers are designed to use as much of the exerted energy as efficiently as possible which translates into added thrust for energy expelled. For more information contact a Forct Fin dealer near you or visit Force Fin's website at www.forcefin.com