My duckfeet are dying, need some sugestions!

[Mason]

My trusty old duckfeet are about nearing its end, I love them and trust them but I cant find them here in the stores, and if thats the case i may need to choose another brand... But heres the problem, there are so many out there now, call me an old school or old man but when i started kneeboarding there was basically only two fins and they were my duckfeet and churchills and i ve been using duckeet for as long as I can remember, but now that they are about to go, i ve been wondering maybe my old school mentality about fins has kept me from discovering and using the technology these newer fins claim to have. So if any of you have used these newer fins and swear by them like I did my duckfeet, id love to hear from you and why you swear by them!

[Nov]

If you're going to wear flippers, wear Hot Buttered Octoblades.

They're super short (so they don't drag that much), yet stiff, so you get plenty of drive out of them. They're so compact you can even stand up with them quite easily.

I'd recommend against wearing flippers full-stop though, they kill kneeboarding. You need to able to feel your board, flippers don't let you do that.

[Hoppo]

VIPER

[Masons]

Hey fellow mason

I grew up bodysurfing/kneeriding in So Cal(mostly newport beach) and Vipers are king there.

I'd advise the V5's, fairly short fins with plenty of flex but lots of drive. They have the orange spray on them.

Otherwise, like Nov and others say, its nice to keep the fins off atleast in the smaller surf. Heavier stuff I love the fins heh

[Kauaikneelo]

Masons, chech the forums for discussion on fins (flippers) and check out the local kine Dafins...should be some near you to try on. Island proven.

Your still young if the had churchills, it was duckfeet and "sea hunt style". We went with the "new" duckfeet because the old guys used the others.

[Masons]

Ive checked out DaFins before, and I think they are just too wide. Vipers are no nonsense, last forever, proven. Love em!!

But to each their own!!

[Mason]

Wow im amazed to hear that you kneeboard without fins, how big are your boards as opposed to your size(height and weight). I think i get a better feel for my board with my fins, but then again I ve never tried kneeboarding with no fins, maybe with one fin and thats only because i lost the other in the surf, or tried kneeboarding on a surfboard but that isnt the same. When I say a better feel i mean with fins on, it creates a larger base or it extends the legs by as much as 8 inches (for my duckfeet) which means more stability, better balance and more area to transfer the power created by pumping my hips, and believe it or not i sometimes in smaller hollow surf use my fins to stall with. But hmm, that might be something to try in small surf as my board is 5'4" and i am 5'4" and weigh 143 pounds. As for fins do those shorter fin provide enough drive for the North Shore. Im always open to new things so i think im gonna try some of these newer models. thanks for the input guys if you have anymore let me hear from you!

[albert]

Wow im amazed to hear that you kneeboard without fins!

He aint the only one!

[Craig]

Try Orca fins, you get them @ Wallmart in the islands 21 bucks.

The pocket is way softer than Ducks w/ plenty of drive as good or better than Ducks.



sTilL a gROm

[gumby]

What size duck feet do you need? I too am old school. 20yr of Quackers. Will find the best discount and ship to you at cost. The nice thing about being inland is at this time of year SURF gear is on discount. that will change in the next few weeks.

[southpeakbrad]

Hey Mason,

I too am a devoted duck foot user. I had to p/u up a new pair at Sport Chalet in San Diego a year and a half ago and they were only around $30-35 I think.

That said, I agree with Nov and others who say you can feel your board better without fins. It wasn't until I did it that I really saw what people meant but it's true, and a great ride! I went flipperless about 4-5 times last year on small days. If nothing else it's fun to mix it up

Brad

[Bill E.]

There is a nice pair of UDT Voit Duckfeet XL on the bay 360030728213 and the price is only like 10 bucks now (but not for long now).

I prob wore ducks for the first year or so way back in the early 70's. Maybe even just one foot (flipper). They just rubbed my feet wrong and have been using the Makapuu CH ever since.

The last few months I tried wearing them on the wrong feet -DONT DO IT- there can be serious damage done to yourself. So I took another pair and cut them off even with the short side and now I am happy. No more fallin on my face on the rocks and tryin to break my big toe off.

[Nov]

Wow im amazed to hear that you kneeboard without fins, how big are your boards as opposed to your size(height and weight).

I'm 6'5" and 87kgs (191.75 in pounds apparently) and I ride a 5'11". My gun is 6'4". I don't use flippers in any size surf anymore.

As for fins do those shorter fin provide enough drive for the North Shore. Im always open to new things so i think im gonna try some of these newer models. thanks for the input guys if you have anymore let me hear from you!

I don't see why not, Octoblades provide plenty of thrust.

[RW]

Sport Chalet in SD: Ducks are still under $27.00 US including tax. Sometimes you can catch a sale and they are $24 out the door. The UDT's being sold by Deets are $50 but are only conducive when used to ride spoons; they are too big and cumbersome for normal foambaording frolics.

The Duck is still the best fin out there for durability in all size ranges. Never leave home without them....never surf without them. The flipperless visitors in the Islands always pay the price for being unprepared for the conditions they are faced with: long paddles, strong currents, open ocean ruggedness, and a need for sustained power....all criteria that the short blades consistantly fail to meet.

When ya gotta cover a lot of ground and conserve energy at the same time....the Duck's the go to fin. All the other's make ya an eggbeater and a quick burn out casualty to cramping and/or fatigue with little or no return for the energy expended.

Keep in mind.....Rule # 1....there are no absolutes......only solutions.


Someone gives ya an absolute, ya best question that "authority." Small minds come in even smaller packages....but then they got lot's of glitter and gloss and titles to make them appealing.....but not functional.

Like Geno says...if ya gotta ask......

...always smart ta question those points of reference by who's speakin' up.

[Nov]

The Duck is still the best fin out there for durability in all size ranges. Never leave home without them....never surf without them. The flipperless visitors in the Islands always pay the price for being unprepared for the conditions they are faced with: long paddles, strong currents, open ocean ruggedness, and a need for sustained power....all criteria that the short blades consistantly fail to meet.

Just how do the standups do it?

EDIT: I just checked out the duck feet, they look farkin' ridiculous. The drag created by them must be horrific.