Preliminary review after opening box. . . dimensions and quality
By
NICHOLAS P.
-
Las Vegas, NV, US
Thought I'd post some things I haven't been able to find on the net. .
Overall length: (to back of foot pad) Spring strap sticks out another 3.25 inches, but it's flexible.
Foot pocket is 4" wide and 3.25" tall. Solid, but flexible. Will "squish" to about 5" wide and 2" or so tall. Handles about 3/4 of my foot.
Blade is 9" wide for nearly the whole length of 14 inches.
I wear a men's size 9 US and with 6.5mm soft boots they fit like a glove and are more comfortable than any full foot f...in I've worn. Barefoot won't work. . . but a 3mm soft should be OK.
Spring strap has 3 settings on each side at about 1/2 inch each position. The rubber pull strap slides on the spring, so you could adjust one side only and the loop will still center. Nice touch. My fitting with the 6.5 mm boot has the spring strap on the tightest setting so plenty of room for a larger boot. Had the spring strap pulled up over my Achilles and was still comfortable. Spring is not too stiff. Easy to pull on.
I got the black and yellow, and the yellow kind of turns green towards the foot pad - I think they're gorgeous.
Build quality and materials are excellent. This is not a "flimsy fin". the center channel is made of heavier material than I expected. It appears in will slightly flex for tooling around, but will probably flex more and really push the water when you turn on the coals.
Hope it performs in the water as good as it is built, feels, and looks - but I think it will. Will add a pool review with full gear next week. So far I'm impressed. . .even at the price point.
Super powerful! I was diving with split fins for years because of nerve damage in my back and legs. I bought these because I purchased a travel BCD/JetPack unit and they were shorter and fit on the side of the JetPack system perfectly. I figured I’d lose some speed and I’d be more tired. It was just the opposite. I’ve got a pair of splitfins for sale now. I’m sticking with the comfort and speed of these fins until I’m too old to dive.
OCEANIC'S MANTA RAY - INSPIRED BY NATURE
Techno-Polymer Blade
Advanced materials as strong as bone maximize power, speed and efficiency, while remaining extremely lightweight and durable.
Power-X System
By replicating the motion of the foot's tendons and joints, revolutionary material optimizes propulsion by flexing during the downstroke and releasing stored energy prior to the upstroke.
Power Channel
The flexible material simulates the skin's elasticity by directing water flow off the back of the blade for increased thrust.
Soft-Pad Heel Strap
Newly designed heel strap has a comfortable and ergonomic finger loop that allows you to easily remove and replace the fin, even with thick neoprene gloves.
Easy Buckle Adjustment (EBA)
Our unique easy buckle adjustment system allows for more than 2" (5 cm) of precise adjustments for a custom fit without tools.
Winglets
Strategically positioned along the length of the blade to increase efficiency and improve maneuverability.
The Oceanic Manta Ray Open Heel Fins, inspired by nature, three advanced materials simulate the shape & mechanics of marine animals. Fin blades are made from techno-polymer advanced material that provides the strength of bone to maximize power, speed & efficiency, while being extremely lightweight & durable. Oceanic's Power-X System is a revolutionary material that acts as tendon & joint, optimizing propulsion by flexing during the down-stroke and releasing stored energy prior to the upstroke. Unique positioning allows the Power-X System to deliver maximum power to the blade while evenly distributing pressure over the foot to minimize fatigue. Blades have power channels that are flexible material simulates the elasticity of skin by directing water flow off the back of the blade for increased thrust. Inspired by aircraft technology, winglets along the length of the blade increase efficiency and improve maneuverability.
Fins come equipped with soft-pad heel spring straps that have an ergonomic finger-loop which allows the fin to be easily removed & replaced, even with thick neoprene gloves. Easy buckle adjustment (EBA) allows for more than 2" (5 cm) of precise adjustments for a custom fit without tools. Easy to use spring straps automatically compensates for different size feet and boots. Spring fin straps are depth compensating because they will compress to changes in the thickness of your boots. The Oceanic Manta Ray Fins have a non-vented blade design and are available in multiple colors and sizes.
This product can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.
Oceanic Manta Ray Open Heel Fins with Spring Straps Features
Oceanic Manta Ray Open Heel Fins:
Inspired by Nature, 3-Advanced Materials Simulate Shape & Mechanics of Marine Animals
Blades Made from Techno-Polymer: Advanced Material Provides Strength of Bone Maximized Power Speed & Efficiency Extremely Lightweight & Durable
Power-X System: Revolutionary Material, Acts as Tendon & Joint Optimizing Propulsion by Flexing on Down-Stroke Releasing Stored Energy Prior to Upstroke Delivers Maximum Power to Blade Evenly Distributing Pressure Over Foot to Minimize Fatigue
Power Channels: Flexible Material Simulates Elasticity of Skin Directs Water Flow Off-Back of Blade for Increased Thrust
Inspired by Aircraft Technology: Winglets-On-Length of Blade Increase Efficiency, Improves Maneuverability
Soft-Pad Heel Spring Straps: Ergonomic Finger-Loop Allows Fin-to-Be Easily Removed & Replaced Even w/Thick Neoprene Gloves
Easy Buckle Adjustment (EBA)
EBA: Allows More than 2" (5 cm) of Precise Adjustments, Custom Fit w/o Tools
Strap Springs Automatically Compensates for Different Size-Feet and Boots
Depth Compensating: Compress-to-Changes in Thickness of Boots
Non-Vented Blade Design
Available in Multiple Colors and Sizes
Warning
This product can expose you to chemicals including BPA Bisphenol, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
darrick c
Hello Trish, no, those fins with the spring straps are designed to be worn with a boots. These fins are not designed for a bare foot.
REBECCA D
If your feet are large enough, I suppose you could but it would be pretty uncomfortable. For size reference, I wear an 8.5 ladies tennis shoe and I have the XS fins. I wear a 2mm boot with mine and they are comfortable that way.
Karen B
I love my Oceanic Accels but looking for something better suited to strong currents. Are these much more powerful than the Accels? How do they cope with current?
JOE S
These fins have great power and excellent for all applications of diving. They have a hinged middle that will collapse on your return stroke, easing the stress on your legs and allow for a more powerful thrust on the down/power stroke. They also channel water much more fluidly with the curved edges, giving you a more stable kick when extra power is exerted. The middle baffle also assists in channeling the water when kicking to provide maximum thrust on the power stroke.
Shopper
What is the weight of the manta fin?
REBECCA D
I have the XS fins and each fin weighs just over 1.8 lbs, so both fins are just over 3.6 lbs. Obviously larger fins will weigh more.
JOE S
right about 4lbs depending on size.
CHARLES F
How do these fins handle kicks other than flutter?
JOE S
These fins work well with a frog kick and helicopter turns. Back kicking is a challenge anyway, but they can do the job if positioned correctly.
SCOTT S
They work well but I find wearing a thicker. Boot helps with the fit otherwise they tend to twist in your feet when kicking really hard in sift current.
JOE M
For me, these are a stiff fin for flutter kicks. But for frog kicks, very good. Good power for frog. For flutter, too much effort for me. Everyone is different.
Dave S
I often do 2 dive trips per day which is 4 dives. I wear split fins to minimize fatigue. Will I have an issue with these fins? Are you worn out after a couple dives? Any keg fatigue ir cramping?
JOE S
The Manta Ray fin is designed to maximize every part of your kick cycle. They have an assist at the end of your power stroke and the blade of the fin collapses on the return/up stroke to let it cut through the water with as little effort. They won't feel like split fins and you'll have to reacclimatize to the new feel of the manta ray, but you should get more power and not have much fatigue.
ONEAL T
I doubt it. They are a medium stiff fin and extremely smooth. I have not had any issues.
TIMOTHY F
I traded my split fins for these. I’ve had 5 back surgeries and that has affected my leg mobility. These fins worked much better for me. They are designed with a more natural angle for a parallel kick. The soft rubber in the center of the fin works as a propellant on the up and down stroke. I’ve only got good things to say about them. They work much better than the split fins for fatigue because you get much more thrust without losing water flow like through the split fins.
MATT B
I just got these and love them. We were in Cozumel over Christmas and dove every day with no fatigue. My old fins had more flex kinda like a split fin and I found that those were more work than these.
