Every part of a successful diver’s kit is important, but one of the most crucial elements (and one of the hardest to get right), is the scuba fins. This is the tool that transforms an hour-long submarine float into a dynamic journey beneath the sea. For her aquatic-dwelling denizens, Nature has spent millennia developing a variety of appendages that enable them to propel themselves efficiently through the water. And just as we do for so many of our innovations, humans have borrowed that knowledge to help us achieve feats we couldn’t dream of without augmenting our natural abilities.
That said, we’ve adapted so many different fin designs that finding just the right one for your individual needs can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be. The Mares X-Stream open heel scuba fins combine some tried-and-true technologies with new innovations to create a fin that’s light to carry, easy to don, and powerful in the water.
The perforated foot pockets cut way down on resistance as you move through the water, and the rigid bottom of the pocket provides a solid surface for your foot to push against while you fin. The soft silicone in the center of the blade provides maximum thrust with each kick, so you don’t have to work as hard to create forward momentum. This is especially helpful in situations such as liveaboards where you’re doing many dives in a condensed period and can use the help to minimize fatigue. An OPB notch at the top of the blade gives these fins a nice snap that has make it easy to wrangle snorkeling teenagers, penetrate WWII shipwrecks, and keep up with manta rays in Hawaii.
Lightweight materials make these great travel fins — they’re not too big to toss in a standard suitcase and will far out-perform any rental fins you might run across in your travels.Â
The Mares X-Stream fins are available in blue, pink, red, black, white, and yellow, and feature a sharp aesthetic with a black X centered over the foot pocket. The lower legs of the X curve around and act as struts to reinforce the articulation point between pocket and blade. The blade itself is rimmed with the color of your choice, while the silicone blade channel and hard plastic foot cup are a frosted clear that gives the impression of a streamlined fin pared down just to bare essentials.
Whether you dive regularly at home or only occasionally on vacation, the X-Stream fins will help you handle any conditions with speed and maneuverability. They handle ripping currents and long surface swims without missing a beat, and are compact enough to faithfully propel you in the tight swim-thru's. These fins definitely earn the space in your luggage!
Features
- Available in sizes XS, S, R, and XL
- ABS plus buckles and perforated pull tab
- Riddled foot pocket avoids “parachute effect
- Next generation OPB
- Tri-material blade construction reduces turbulence
- Channel thrust technologyÂ
X-Stream comfort, X-ceptional efficiency, the X-Stream fin is the result of 60 passionate years developing dive products. High-performance, comfort and lightweight design!
