Water temp here is around 31 at its coldest but during fall/spring I can get away with 5mm boots otherwise 7mm is mandatory.
My boots are size 10(ripcurl,xcel), shoe size is 10,5, pretty wide I guess. No chance to try on a pair, no retailers even for duck feet that I know of in Northern Europe.What size VOIT UDT’s should I get? XL maybe?
Have placed an order for a pair of the original flipsswimfins in the meantime, but I’m very interested in the VOIT UDT’s because of my 200lbs.
Anyone else out there surfing rely cold water, any info at all would be appreciated?
Flips are what I use and I like them. I had UDTs but they’re heavy - my legs and back didn’t like the effort used in trying to keep them out of the water when riding. Regardless of my likes and dislikes, I’m a size 11 and the following is exact email text from Prof. Deets to me when I was ordering…
sizing is a bit different
in the normal duck feet - like your orange ones
xl is supposed to be 9-11
xxl is supposed to be 11-13
traditionally… in the UDT’s
l is 9-11
xl is 11-13
xxl is 13 plus
but i have found out that foot shape affects sizing more than simple length and the foot pocket is larger or a bit more boxier than the custom ducks
you are right at the weirdo cut-off point but i sense
the XL UDT would be best also
the black navy seal is a bit softer in the pocket so you’ll have a bit more elasticity and play in
that for sure, the recent marbled blues also are like this, the first run was slightly firmer - and many people went up a size due to firmness which made for a real powerful fin
these are somewhat subtle things but in a pool test you notice it
http://navyseals.com/store/ You can see what shoe sizes for their boots / booties fit what size UTD’s. Its in US and UK sizes though.
UDT’s rock. I like the power they have. THe only issue you really need booties or else you’ll get blisters. I thought I could all be tough, and use them w/out them . . . but nahh, got blisters after one 3 hour swim sucks. Generally I live Southern California, US, so winters I need a 3/2 wetsuit.
. Also makes sure you are warm, and well hydrated (also helps to eat potassium rich foods), as a few times I’d gotten close to cramping (again going out w.out a wetsuit during winter)
They don’t accelerate too well (like Churchills), but for the power, and speed its great. Also some have said for swimming they aren’t nice, since you get tired, but that hasn’t to me. The Churchill fins require less effort but don’t deliver what these do.
I only use them for swimming, haven’t tried them for sponging or mats.
They are much better than those split diving fins . . . but not as great as some of the free diving fins or the free diver mono fin.
Proper fitting is necessary, I was lucky a surfshop is nearby that has them and I could fit them.
Deets is awesome, he responded back and it was all good.