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Leaderfins blade lengths
The Leaderfins offer is amazing. Different materials, angles and lengths, plus infinite colors, make the offer of the company based in Estonia among the strongest on the market. The ample and unbeatable value for money fins line by Leaderfins wants us to look deeper into it. We have already analyzed the excellent options with fiberglass, sandwich (glass plus carbon fiber) and full 100% carbon fiber solutions. We have then studied the two blade angles offer, with 20° and 33° degrees. Let us now take a look at the different Leaderfins blade lengths and how to choose them.
3 different lengths
For freediving and spearfishing the Leaderfins blade lengths are 3 different values: 80, 70 and 60 cm. The lengths of the blade determine the stiffness and the feeling of the hardness of the blade by the diver. Moreover, depending on the height of the diver, a different length can best fit the diving needs. In general, for non professional divers, Leaderfins indicates the standard 80 cm blade as the best solution.
Shorter blades
It is evident that shorter blades, for example the 60 cm ones, at easier to maneuver. So, in addition to the fit to the spearos’ height, they are extremely indicated for shallow water. Moving among the rocks in the sea needs good and fast direction and not bulky fins. Short fins are also good for simple snorkeling, and are great to carry around, fitting in almost any diving bag.
The shorter the blade the quicker and more reactive it is. Acceleration is so greater. This is determined by the time taken by the bend on the blade, and so the water moving along it, to go from the area in front of the foot to the tip. With shorter fins this happens in a faster way and so the kick gives immediate thrust. Also, having less water to move, like with gears on a car, the kicks can be faster, as so again, acceleration is greater.
Still, as less water is moved by a short blade at every kick, such blade necessitates more kicks to move the same distance. This is true especially after the initial acceleration has been effected, and top speed has been reached. In fact, a shorter blade, and we have tested this many times as Apneapassion test team, reaches lower top speed.
Longer blades
Longer blades are today’s tendency among freedivers and spearos. This is mainly because a longer blade gives higher top speed and necessitates of less kicks to move the same distance. With freedivers evidently the choice is quite natural. A freediver tends to make medium to deep dives and so needs high top speed and low effort, more than strong acceleration. Also in spearfishing, especially nowadays where fish is found deeper and deeper, high top speed is needed with low energy consumption. Evidently, for spearfishermen, moving among the rocks, or in caves and dens of fish, can become tricky with very long fins. Hitting the rocks with the tip of the blades will scare fish and also risks to damage the composite material.
Different seasons for different depths
In many areas of the world, like in the Mediterranean sea, the depths of the dives for spearfishermen can vary depending on the season. With Winter and colder water, the fish tend to move in shallow water for a number of reasons we have analyzed some years ago. In such conditions a shorter blade, for the aspects just indicated, can be a better choice. For such reason, the choice of the length of the blades does not only follow the height of the diver (smaller needs shorter blade, taller needs longer ones). During the hotter periods spearos tend to go deeper and so a longer blade can be the right choice.
Kicking techniques
In addition to all these analysis and explanations of the behavior of the fins with longer or shorter blades, there is a final choice. Everyone has a different diving and kicking technique. On this basis a longer or shorter blade can adapt better to one diver or another. What is important is that with the offer by Leaderfins blade lengths of three different values, 60, 70 and 80 cm, practically any need of the diver is met. All this, with the quality and amazing value for money of the fins by the Estonian company.