REVIEW: Mares Plana Avanti Fins

[TubeDude]

[cool]I have used and loved a pair of Mares Plana Avanti fins since about 1986. They have served me well for snorkeling and for tubing in both fresh and salt water around the country. After HEAVY use, over many years, they recently started showing their age and are developing some cracks in the soft rubber channels between the harder parts of the blade. So, I started investigating potential replacements.

I bought my first Avanti's for about $80, in a dive shop in Tucson, Arizona. I was sure that I would be looking at having to pay at least twice that for a new set. GOOD NEWS. First, the list price is still about the same as it was in the "olden days". Second, there are super new materials and features in the new models that make them worth more. Third, by cruising Skin Diving Discount suppliers on the net, I was able to score them for under $50.

I got new fins for both myself and TubeBabe. I got mine (XL) in black. Hers (L) are blue. They also come in bright yellow, but I suspect that might not be a good color for float tube fishing. In fresh water it could spook fish. In salt water, it might attract attention from large toothy critters. Only a theory, but I tend to go with the theory that in some cases "less is more".



TubeBabe's new fins on the left, with one of the replaced models on the outside. My black fins next to the old style Plana Avanti. The new models are slightly narrower, but seem to have plenty of power...and you don't tend to bang the fins together so much while kicking.



One new feature I find of great value is the push button strap adjustment. This makes it possible to quickly and easily adjust the straps, without having to take them off and fight with sticky buckles to get the right tension on the heel strap. There is also a quick release snap to disconnect the whole strap assembly if needed.



I rummaged in my gear boxes and found my old pair of "Paddle Pushers", along with a couple of the old tube rod racks made by the FishMaster company of Oklahoma. The paddle pushers almost ruptured me and the rod holders almost cost me a good rod. Wouldn't recommend either one.

OPINION: The Mares Plana Avanti is one of the better fins on the market for flotation fishermen who like the heel strap type of fins. They go on easy, they have a comfortable soft foot pocket and they have a good thrust with normal kicking effort. Also, in breezy conditions, they are maneuverable and deliver fast turns and good power. A good buy at $80. Even better when you find a discount.

TubeDude
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[JapanRon]

Hi TubeDude,

Thanks for the timely review. I'm in the market for something other than my 10 year old Caddis frogs feet. As I do with many of your product reviews, I've archived it on a disk for near-future reference.

Again, thanks,

JapanRon
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[TubeDude]

[cool]Hey, JR, it's a fact of life that we periodically have to replace gear that we have loved and enjoyed for a long time. It's an emotional thing sometimes. Those fins I replaced had kicked me around all over the country, in both fresh and salt water, for about 18 years. They were still serviceable, but were showing some cracks and wear. I retired them with full honors.

If you want to look at some of the other options available these days, here are a few links...beginning with the Mares home page and a couple of other manufacturers, and finishing with some discount online sources.

[url "http://www.divernet.com/blandfrd/mares/fins.htm"][#0000ff]http://www.divernet.com/blandfrd/mares/fins.htm[/#0000ff][/url]

[url "http://www.divedacor.com/fins.html"][#0000ff]http://www.divedacor.com/fins.html[/#0000ff][/url]

[url "http://s1059kxm.leisurepro.com/webapp/commerce/command/ExecMacro/LeisurePro/macros/main.d2w/report"]http://s1059kxm.leisurepro.com/webapp/commerce/command/ExecMacro/LeisurePro/macros/main.d2w/report[/url][url "http://www.diveshopper.com/py205/"][#0000ff]http://www.diveshopper.com/py205/[/#0000ff][/url]
[url "http://www.diversdiscount.com/resources/frameset-cat.asp?cat=Fins"]http://www.diversdiscount.com/resources/frameset-cat.asp?cat=Fins[/url]

Happy browsing.

TubeDude
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[ram4x]

TD that diveshopper link is a dead stick. Here's what I think is their new location.... [url "http://www.sportextreme.com/pq205/"]http://www.sportextreme.com/pq205/[/url] The prices are competitive (within $5), but the shipping is a bit more. I bought mine from Leisure Pro, and with shipping costs, my Mares Plana Avanti X3's totaled $66.17. I'm anxiously awaiting their arrival, and I'll post a review of the fins for everyone as soon as I get them wet!
Justin
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[Hellsangler69]

Thanks TubeDude for the report . I think I will get them too . i will follow ram4x foot steps or is that fin steps .
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[Hellsangler69]

Got my fins wednesday . Ordered them friday with the 3 day select UPS . Not bad considering they were closed friday . total cost 68.67 , lot cheaper than my force fins . Anybody need some force fins ? Will be checking them out this weekend .
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[ram4x]

I finally got out and tested my new Mares Plana Avanti X3 fins. I was dumbfounded by how fast I could move with very little effort. I was a bit worried because of the $67 price tag, but after putting those suckers to fresh water, I'm so ecstatic, that I can't wait till I can get out and actually do some real fishing with them. These fins made light work out of the stiff breeze that Strawberry Reservoir was dishing out on Sunday. Unfortunatley that stiff breeze and the extremely unusual cold temperatures, for this time of year, left me with frozen fingers and a shortage of fish. I'd recommend these fins to anyone, but don't be surprised if your friends ask you to town them out to the middle of the lake! LOL

Justin
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[TubeDude]

[cool]Thanks for the report. Sounds like the beginning of a long and happy relationship. Would have been a better first outing if Mother Nature hadn't been such a "mother".

It's always painful parting with a large chunk of change...for anything. But, when you find that you have made a good investment, it is easier to justify it. I paid about $80 for my first Plana fins, back in the mid eighties. I just retired them, even though they've still got a lot of kicks left in them. If I were to divide my cost by the number of fun trips I have gotten out of them, the cost per trip would be almost nothing.

NEXT...we gotta get you tricked out with SONAR.

TubeDude
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[ram4x]

I forgot to mention how easy it was for me to get the fins on, once I was down at the water. I dry fitted them at the car, so all I had to do was open a buckle, insert foot and close buckle. I should have made them a bit tighter before I got into the water, and I found out the hard way that the water temp up there is still rather chilling by having to adjust them in the water. On the bright side, the adjustment was very easy and I was ready for racing in just a couple of clicks.



The sonar is in the near future. It was in the back of my mind while I was out on the water, wondering if I was fishing someplace that was holding fish at the moment. You make a good point about the money issue. You have to look at these things as an investment, and realize that when you break down the cost, after about 5 or 6 trips the cost per trip is “always” less than the cost of the gas to get to where you are going. (unless you live right on the lake). It helps to get good advice from people who have tried and tested all the goodies, so you don’t have to blow your dough on things that aren’t going to be very beneficial.



Did I hear that you were going to be coming to Utah for a visit? You might just get to see some of the “Greatest Snow on Earth” the way the weather has been acting up here. Snow in the mountains on the 23rd of June…Unbelievable! Good luck and GOOD FISHING!



Justin
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[TubeDude]

[cool]I lived in Utah long enough to have seen snow in every month of the year...including a 4th of July picnic after the temp had been over a hundred two days before.

Yes, there are plans to spend a week or longer in the great state of Utah...around the second week of September. I figure I'll get all of my family visiting done in...oh, say about an hour or so...and then I will be on the water with priorities taken care of. Shall we plan on a float tube regatta and cup race? Or, should we just go fishing?

TubeDude
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[ram4x]

Well, if you can handle fishing with an amateur tubesman, we should schedule some time. I don’t know what waters you are planning to beat up on, but have car, will travel. I think it would be great to fish along side someone who has as much experience as you. We should work something out as the time draws nearer.



Remember not to lose sight of the real reason for the trip up here (fishing) and get in some good family time. I’m going to get my family visits over with during the first part of August, and like you, while I’m there, I’ve got plans to keep my priorities in order and fish as many times as allowed!



Justin
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[Hellsangler69]

Finally got out and tried my new fins . Not a good test because I got problem with a ingrown toe nail . I liked the ease of putting them on and removing them was a breeze too ! Bought the xxl size but could of done good with smaller size . Still got my 9.5 foot in and adjusted in good . Only pounded the water for 2 hours in the shallows but noticed I could get to a good trolling speed with these fins . Hope to hook some fish with my next attempt out .

TubeDude , hope to get out and fish with you when you make a trip to Utah . I only get weekends off , but would love to go on a float tube outing .
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[TubeDude]

[cool]Happy you like the fins. Sorry about the toenail. Those things are painful. Tests your determination to go out and have fun. Right?

You may have overgunned on the fins. I wear a size 13 shoe and the XL fins are almost too large on me, unless I am wearing neoprenes or ultralights with a couple of extra layers. If you do decide they are too large, you may be able to exchange them. If not, find someone who wears larger fins and get them to buy yours so you can get a set of smaller ones. If they are too big and too loose, you have a better (worse) chance of losing one while on the water. That really is a bummer.

As soon as I know for sure what my schedule will be for the Utah trip...if we are able to pull it off, I will work out a "dance card" so that I can get to meet and hopefully fish with as many BFTers as possible. We had also talked about finding someplace we could get together on a weekday evening and I could make up a big batch of my world famous fish chowder.

Good luck on that toe. If it doesn't shape up, you might need to stick it in the mouth of a mad tiger muskie and let him take care of it for ya.
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