RealSurf Surfers' Forum

Curious as to what fin constructions you all prefer, and the perceived value of adding the bells and whistles, and if anyone can feel the difference between plain rtm honeycomb fins, the ones with "carbon" patches (which I believe do sweet fa), bamboo cores.

Using Shapers fins price points:
Core-lite (regular RTM) - $99
Stealth (RTM with Carbon Overlay) - $119
Carbon Flare (RTM with carbon) - $129
Spectrum (RTM + Carbon + Innergra) - $139

Which would you be willing to buy? Are the extra bells and whistles worth it for you, or like me can you not tell the difference between a core-lite and Spectrum in the same template?

so for the Poll below - IF the fins were half the price, which would you go for?

Discuss!

I wish i could tell the difference - but i don't think i can in thrusters and quads. Other than size and shape, plus weight - i find it difficult. I can feel the difference in single fins though - especially volan.

Tried a bunch last year, couldn't tell the difference.

I can feel the difference between nylons and rtm, and can notice the weight difference between solid glass and rtm. But as far as all the carbon flex crap plastered all over them, cannot for the life of me feel the difference.

I think it was huie, a while back, who said that the carbon was just a fake look a like fabric anyway!

I can't tell the difference riding. But I can feel the difference in flex pushing at tip of the fin when its mounted on the board.

But some of the epoxy fins have a thicker foil and these can be stiffer than a skinny foiled glass fin.

I believe all the fcs "plastic" fins are epoxy and they are much more resistant to damage when you hit the reef than glass or carbon fins.

There are still a few plastic fins around, especially in bali, and they really are flexible compared to the epoxy. I avoid the plastic ones.

I believe I can tell the difference between plastics and corelight and then full fibreglass. Other stuff, not so much. I like full fibreglass a bit smaller than corelite. Too stiff IME if theyre the same size.

Glass ons ftw!

To me the best fins are CAD cut glass sandwich, the quality in every aspect is well ahead of the pack

Pretty much every fin material feels different, but the differences are sometimes only felt at the edges of turns and in high energy parts of a wave, for most surfers I wouldn't reckon it matters too much. The CAD foiled glass lets you feel the whole range of a fin's potential for control and the foils are so accurate these days, the drag to control thing is reduced way down.

Long since over the glass on thing.

I have some hand layed up, hand foiled fibreglass fins.
Foiled for my taste, with stiff bases and a bit of tip flex.

My other favourite fin was the TC Redline quad set ....that was a unique fin set up with the extra cant on the fins and the small rears, single foiled and set back towards the tail.
Very unique, drag free, carvey feeling.

Unfortunately they stopped making them.

Anyone got a set they want to sell?
I've got the fronts but the rears got destroyed when a leggy snapped and the board ended up on the rocks.

Got a set of Medium Large (S6) corelite tri/quads in the EVO I bought second hand the other week.
Great size for a 80kg rider.
Super light, good flex in the tip. Stiff base. Anything more techie than that is wasted on me.

My favourites over the years have been
PG7's in my 6'8 waterskate.
MRTFX (tri) in my elfuego.
FCS PG K3's in my now sold 6'2 waterskate.

Common theme - flat foiled fibreglass.

FCS AM2's in my shorties recently. Flat foiled PC fins.