STAFF REVIEWS OCEANIC VFLEX SNORKEL FINS - VIDEO
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VIDEO - STAFF REVIEWS OCEANIC VFLEX SNORKEL FINS
In this video staff members, Cathy and Roy review and discuss the Oceanic VFlex Snorkeling Fins and the first words out of Roy's mouth is "nice fin". The Oceanic VFlex fins are more traditional in length but are still light enough to fall into the category of a travel fin and is made to be worn barefoot or with a lycra or neoprene sock.
They both agree that the Oceanic VFlex fins are a great pair of fins with great quality.
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STAFF REVIEWS OCEANIC VFLEX SNORKELING FINS - VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Roy: Nice fin.
Cathy: What do you have on?
Roy: I have the VFlex by Oceanic. Now this is a panel fin because basically what you're looking at, there's no split in the middle. This is nice because it does channel the water down here and on your downstroke, you do have some flexibility on the fin itself.
Upstroke, it's a little bit stiff because you have the bow here. On the upstroke it's a little bit weak but you're getting some snap back here and basically what you have, the reason for this here is to channel the water going down here so that as you're kicking, it's not going to be wavering on the way back down.
And the side rails on the Oceanic VFlex Fins are a little bit deeper on this one, than we had on the split fins, and it channels the water all down the center. So basically you're getting the power right off of here rather than the sides of the fin and you're losing energy on the side of the fin.
As far as the foot pocket, it's still soft enough to wear barefoot because it is made to be a barefoot fin. This is a fin that I am used to, okay, because it can be used for doing free diving, definitely. I went down on the Oceanic VFlex Snorkeling Fins and I got down farther than any of the other fins that I used.
It's got a great design to it. The buckle system's pretty neat on this one. Did you see this? Basically you have a quick release on it so if you have to change it, if it breaks or anything like that --
Cathy: Or the dog eats it.
Roy: Yeah, the dog ate my homework. The adjustment on it is nice and simple. Pull back, you have the finger pulls on both sides, which is a nice feature. The strap on the Oceanic VFlex Snorkeling Fins are very nice. It's thicker than a few of the other ones that we've tried before. Finger pull to pull it up over the heel, very comfortable fin to be wearing barefoot.
Now you used this too, didn't you? What did you think about it?
Cathy: Yes, I tried it. This is the brand new Oceanic VFlex Snorkeling Fins and we just got them in just actually a few days ago, and so I was excited to try it.
Roy: There.
Cathy: Thank you for the commercial, Roy. I felt that the foot pocket was very surprisingly soft. I liked the buckle system. I liked the strap, and you're correct, it is a little thicker but yet it does not wear on your heel. And again, these are made to be worn barefoot or with a neoprene sock or lycra sock if you choose, something without a sole.
Now, for when I tried it, I was surprised at how stiff it was, but I'm the type of snorkeler that likes to go slow. I mean, even if I stay in one spot and just look down and let the fish pass me instead of me passing the fish, is fine with me.
But I can see where the Oceanic VFlex Snorkeling Fin has a purpose in the snorkeling industry. Being one of the people who answer the phones and talk to so many snorkelers, you'd be surprised at how many scuba divers that haven't dove in a long time, who are used to the traditional paddle fin like this one, is looking for a stiffer fin. And I can see where it definitely has a purpose in the snorkeling industry.
Roy: Definitely, if you're going to be going down and looking at stuff on the reef or in a little bit deeper water, you're going to be getting down there with less kick strokes.
Cathy: Good point.
Roy: Now one thing, we've been trying several different fins out here and switching from fin to fin, you have to modify your kicks because basically I was checking to see how many kicks it would take to get me out a certain distance, and they were all relatively the same amount of kicks --
Cathy: Oh, so you were counting your kicks as you were going off the dock?
Roy: Right, and I found myself getting a little bit farther with these.
Cathy: So that one's got a little more power.
Roy: It's got a little bit more power off of it, but basically when you're snorkeling, it isn't a matter of 'I need to get out there fast!'
Cathy: Right.
Roy: It's a slow, lazy person's sport. When you're using the Oceanic VFlex Snorkeling Fins, the nice thing about this, the fin did stay underneath the water, because there's so many times with the ones that are made for scuba diving that are a lot longer than this that the fin constantly comes out and slaps the water all the time.
Cathy: Oh, good point.
Roy: So basically this is a good fin because it's still small enough, very light, it's easy to manage underneath the water and it's easy to keep it underneath the water.
Maneuverability was a little bit stiffer than we have with the split fins but if you're used to the paddle fin, it's a great fin to have.
Cathy: Right. And to also state that the Oceanic VFlex Snorkeling Fins has, it's your traditional length but yet not your heavy, bulky scuba fin whereas it's easy to pack and it's light and the airlines won't purposely charge you extra money to carry them on.
Roy: Right. Granted this will take a little bit more space in your luggage but not too much.
Cathy: Than the travel snorkel fin, right.
Roy: I did find with the travel fins, the shorter fins, it did take me a couple more kicks to get out a little bit further, but again, this isn't a race to get out there and see.
Cathy: Correct.
Roy: You want to take your time, be slow and enjoy it. And if you do have to kick fast, then you know that you do still have the power. For this particular fin, the idea is to kick nice and slow.
Cathy: Right. Okay, thank you, Roy.
Roy: Okay.
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